I was a swimmer. Started mine at 11. Discovered my period on the way to swim practice and immediately but a tampon in. It was completely fine.

My daughter started hers at 11. Tampons were a no. We tried a period suit but it doesn’t fit like a practice suit and my daughter felt self conscious. Tried tampons at 12 but she just wasn’t ready (she said she felt like vomiting when it went in) so I don’t know if that will be an option in the near or far future.

So, I let her skip practices and only commit to meets that work with her cycle.

I second try starting with the lite tampons that are thinner. good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they be “comfortable enough “ to use a tampon the first time?

It’s about comfort with the idea, not physical comfort. DD is getting her period about a year younger than I did. And she is less mature emotionally than many of her peers. She’s weirded out by the idea of a period and all the stuff that comes with it, including tampons. I’ve explained them (and I use them, so she has ready access to them to see what they’re like). I’ve been de-stigmatizing periods and period products with DS and DD their entire lives. But she needs time to get used to the idea of using a tampon or cup. Maybe she’s unique in that, but I suspect not.

I was a gymnast rather than a swimmer, but it definitely took teenage me a while to warm up to the idea of using a tampon. I think it freaks out a lot of young girls, and it has nothing to do with anyone stigmatizing periods.

I was just a 12 yr old whose mother was controlling and paranoid about toxic shock syndrome and forced me to use her diaper-like pads. It took until I was 17 to be able to steal two from a family friend's bathroom (again, see controlling) and was pleasantly shocked to find out they saved me from leaks like pads didn't, and I didn't feel like I was waddling around once a month. When my DD seemed to be approaching the age, we had a clothed demonstration in the living room, complete with diagrams and me improving putting one in. She got it first period, first try.

You do know toxic shock syndrome is real right?

There was a rash of toxic shock cases associated with tampon use in the late 70’s/early 80’s. Those tampons were made of primarily of rayon, were super super absorbant without guidelines on recommended duration. Since then, tampons are made mostly of cotton, they are less absorbant, absorbency is labeled, and there are guidelines for use. The rate of toxic shock has dropped 6-7 fold. Most cases of toxic shock are among the very young or very old, ie not due to tampons. And you can also get toxic shock from menstrual cups and diaphragms, so it’s not just tampons.

To put it into perspective, the incidence of tss for women who menstruate is 1/100,000. Not death, just incidence. The incidence of death from gunshot for kids is 5 or 6/100,000. Not incidence, but death. So it’s a risk, but I think a lot of it is lingering from the 70/80’s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they be “comfortable enough “ to use a tampon the first time?

It’s about comfort with the idea, not physical comfort. DD is getting her period about a year younger than I did. And she is less mature emotionally than many of her peers. She’s weirded out by the idea of a period and all the stuff that comes with it, including tampons. I’ve explained them (and I use them, so she has ready access to them to see what they’re like). I’ve been de-stigmatizing periods and period products with DS and DD their entire lives. But she needs time to get used to the idea of using a tampon or cup. Maybe she’s unique in that, but I suspect not.

I was a gymnast rather than a swimmer, but it definitely took teenage me a while to warm up to the idea of using a tampon. I think it freaks out a lot of young girls, and it has nothing to do with anyone stigmatizing periods.

I was just a 12 yr old whose mother was controlling and paranoid about toxic shock syndrome and forced me to use her diaper-like pads. It took until I was 17 to be able to steal two from a family friend's bathroom (again, see controlling) and was pleasantly shocked to find out they saved me from leaks like pads didn't, and I didn't feel like I was waddling around once a month. When my DD seemed to be approaching the age, we had a clothed demonstration in the living room, complete with diagrams and me improving putting one in. She got it first period, first try.

This also comes across as very controlling as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they be “comfortable enough “ to use a tampon the first time?

It’s about comfort with the idea, not physical comfort. DD is getting her period about a year younger than I did. And she is less mature emotionally than many of her peers. She’s weirded out by the idea of a period and all the stuff that comes with it, including tampons. I’ve explained them (and I use them, so she has ready access to them to see what they’re like). I’ve been de-stigmatizing periods and period products with DS and DD their entire lives. But she needs time to get used to the idea of using a tampon or cup. Maybe she’s unique in that, but I suspect not.

I was a gymnast rather than a swimmer, but it definitely took teenage me a while to warm up to the idea of using a tampon. I think it freaks out a lot of young girls, and it has nothing to do with anyone stigmatizing periods.

I was just a 12 yr old whose mother was controlling and paranoid about toxic shock syndrome and forced me to use her diaper-like pads. It took until I was 17 to be able to steal two from a family friend's bathroom (again, see controlling) and was pleasantly shocked to find out they saved me from leaks like pads didn't, and I didn't feel like I was waddling around once a month. When my DD seemed to be approaching the age, we had a clothed demonstration in the living room, complete with diagrams and me improving putting one in. She got it first period, first try.

You do know toxic shock syndrome is real right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn’t they be “comfortable enough “ to use a tampon the first time?

It’s about comfort with the idea, not physical comfort. DD is getting her period about a year younger than I did. And she is less mature emotionally than many of her peers. She’s weirded out by the idea of a period and all the stuff that comes with it, including tampons. I’ve explained them (and I use them, so she has ready access to them to see what they’re like). I’ve been de-stigmatizing periods and period products with DS and DD their entire lives. But she needs time to get used to the idea of using a tampon or cup. Maybe she’s unique in that, but I suspect not.

I was a gymnast rather than a swimmer, but it definitely took teenage me a while to warm up to the idea of using a tampon. I think it freaks out a lot of young girls, and it has nothing to do with anyone stigmatizing periods.

I was just a 12 yr old whose mother was controlling and paranoid about toxic shock syndrome and forced me to use her diaper-like pads. It took until I was 17 to be able to steal two from a family friend's bathroom (again, see controlling) and was pleasantly shocked to find out they saved me from leaks like pads didn't, and I didn't feel like I was waddling around once a month. When my DD seemed to be approaching the age, we had a clothed demonstration in the living room, complete with diagrams and me improving putting one in. She got it first period, first try.

Tampon from Day 1, same as myself (as a gymnast).

My daughter was 13.5 and in a top group, missing practice was not really an option. The girls in the group figured it out quickly. I think most of us gave our girls a pass the very first day if needed, but it’s just something to learn and move on.