I'm an adolescent medicine doctor who takes care of teens. I recommend pads for the first few periods so that the vagina is well estrogenized and there is a decreased risk of toxic shock (and yes, still a concern. I had a patient in the ICU with toxic shock).

Some teens are totally fine placing tampons on their own and others are terrified. I've "helped" a few with first insertion (and removal). Some teens will have a septate hymen making placement (and removal) very difficult. Don't force it! On average I refer 1-2 girls a year to my pediatric gynecology colleague for surgical management.

Www.youngwomenshealth.org has a great section in first periods, using pads and tampons and types of hymens.

Do I sense a First Moon Party?
http://www.xojane.com/family/my-first-moon-party

yikes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with the no tampon thing. I was pretty disgusted with the whole period thing (I was 10.5 years old) and didn't want to see gross blood constantly. My mom only used tampons so I stole a few of hers and LOVED them. I could swim like other girls and not worry about saggy pads (I realize pads are better now than they were 20 years ago). So I'd include a few tampons in her kit just to try.

+1 I got my first period and immediately used a tampon because I had to go to swim practice and didn't want my brothers to find out. Really was not a big deal. Definitely depends on your DD and her personal comfort though. Nice of you to be thinking about this already!

Did your mom show you how, or did you just read the package insert? Just wondering how much a 10 1/2 can figure out with that!

I'd like to know too. I got my first period when I was 13 and couldn't for the life of me "get" how to put a tampon in. I couldn't get it "in there," even after reading the instructions.

Tampons-plastic applicator and they sell styles that are "slender" or "teen" sized. Look for the "U" branding.