Tips to make teen more comfortable with trying to use a tampon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to add - I didn’t start wearing a tampon until after I lost my virginity at 19. And that was back when pads were as thick as diapers. 😁

Same. I’m amazed at how many young teens today use tampons with apparent ease. Makes me feel a little less old-fashioned when I hear that some still have problems with it. But I’m sorry your daughter is so frustrated, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Demonstrate with an empty water bottle. Helps with understanding the angle. Also, explain that the applicator comes back and doesn’t stay! Small detail I forgot to be clear about that my kid was totally ok once she understood.

NP, thank you for this tip! My young DD is also struggling with tampons but struggling with being left out of pool hang-time with friends. The only thing I could think of was to demonstrate on myself, and there are some things your teen does NOT want to see!

[Anonymous]

My DD is ASD too. We watched some videos together. I found some helpful / informative ones on youtube and that seemed to allay a lot of fears. Another vote for lube too. I think it helps a lot, at first anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Demonstrate with an empty water bottle. Helps with understanding the angle. Also, explain that the applicator comes back and doesn’t stay! Small detail I forgot to be clear about that my kid was totally ok once she understood.

Great idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is ASD too. We watched some videos together. I found some helpful / informative ones on youtube and that seemed to allay a lot of fears. Another vote for lube too. I think it helps a lot, at first anyway.

OP here. Please don't laugh at me, but I was afraid to do this and come across illegal kiddie p-n. Any recommendations on proper search terms to avoid such a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is ASD too. We watched some videos together. I found some helpful / informative ones on youtube and that seemed to allay a lot of fears. Another vote for lube too. I think it helps a lot, at first anyway.

OP here. Please don't laugh at me, but I was afraid to do this and come across illegal kiddie p-n. Any recommendations on proper search terms to avoid such a thing.

“How to put in a tampon”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, she’s only 13. I didn’t use tampons at that age. It’s not a must.

Can she ask to go to the pool a different time?

I wrote this.

But also, the thing is, is her period heavy enough? Unless you are pretty wet, it can hurt to put in a tampon.

I spent a month at a camp on the ocean as a teen. I didn’t know how to use a tampon so I decided to practice at home before I went. Well..I practiced on a day I didn’t have my period. Of course it hurt!

Plus, if you put one in, and it doesn’t feel right, so you pull it out, then your valine can be chafed. It isn’t like you can just practice till you get it right in one sitting. If it does not work the first time or two, you need to wait another few hours till your flow has made you wet again

[Anonymous]

Use lube at first. Nothing worse than inserting a dry tampon.

[Anonymous]

If she’s already wearing shorts, why can’t she wear under and a pad under that? Wrap a towel around her bottom half when she gets out, and deal with everything in the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is ASD too. We watched some videos together. I found some helpful / informative ones on youtube and that seemed to allay a lot of fears. Another vote for lube too. I think it helps a lot, at first anyway.

OP here. Please don't laugh at me, but I was afraid to do this and come across illegal kiddie p-n. Any recommendations on proper search terms to avoid such a thing.

“How to put in a tampon”

I wonder if they have videos on the manufacturers’ websites?

[Anonymous]

I once had a conversation with a coworker in the break room and this topic came up. We both had daughters the same age. She said that she literally showed her daughter how to insert a tampon by inserting it into her daughter. She described a very casual but graphic situation that apparently put her daughter at ease because her mother clearly showed her what to do, what not to do, she was able to practice until she was comfortable with someone who knew how it worked overseeing the practice. I had never heard of anyone doing this, but apparently it worked for them and she seemed to think it was a normal thing that lots of people do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once had a conversation with a coworker in the break room and this topic came up. We both had daughters the same age. She said that she literally showed her daughter how to insert a tampon by inserting it into her daughter. She described a very casual but graphic situation that apparently put her daughter at ease because her mother clearly showed her what to do, what not to do, she was able to practice until she was comfortable with someone who knew how it worked overseeing the practice. I had never heard of anyone doing this, but apparently it worked for them and she seemed to think it was a normal thing that lots of people do.

This is what my friends daughter did, except it was her older sister that put it in.

I told my dd to try sitting down on the floor, we watched a little video, I put a little lube on it, and she used her finger first to see the angle because she was really confused about where it goes. She was only 12 though.

[Anonymous]

Never used one.

[Anonymous]

My DD at the moment says she is never going to use a tampon. She’s also not interested in shaving. It won’t help you for today, but I bought her period swimwear bottoms to wear under her swim shorts. She still avoids swimming on the heaviest days though, more out of fear they will leak. So I have no idea how well they hold up to that.

[Anonymous]

Tampons and contact lenses are similar. When you want to learn to use them, you muster up your courage and do it.