We all have different first-period stories. Some of us got them without much hassle: at home, without too much pain with the comfort of our family’s help. Some of us might have had the opposite experience: in public, without many (if any) supplies, and our uterus feeling like it's caving in on itself. Most of us would have any number of experiences and combinations in between, because the bottom line is you just never know exactly when a first period is going to start!
The age most people get their first period is between 10 and 15 years old, but some get it even earlier, or much later into their teen years. This is why it’s so important to have your children prepared before they get their period, because it could come at any time and the last thing we want is for them to be unprepared and scared.
There are physical signs that their period may be coming soon that you can look out for, like breast buds, pubic hair growth and vaginal discharge. These signs usually start showing up a year in advance, but as we know, every person is different! Also remember that some young people may not tell you these changes are occurring (which is no biggie, just some girls are more private than others), so it’s best to use your instincts and get them prepared as soon as possible.
So, now that we know why both us parents/older loved ones and our children need to be prepared, let's discuss exactly HOW to be prepared.
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Destigmatise periods
The first step in helping your children prepare for their first period is ensuring they know all things periods and period-talk is normal! Talk to them about periods and be open with how your cycle impacts your mood, energy levels and physical wellbeing and how you try to regulate these changes throughout the month. This will help your children know what to expect in their future and start practicing regulation techniques early!
You can also share your first period story and perhaps get other menstruating people close to your children to share their stories too! Strive to create an open space for any questions to be asked, and be honest that you might not know the answer, or remind them that you can only speak about your experience. This could lead to you researching their questions and learning together.
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Equip your children with knowledge (and a plan)
The main reason we get scared about something is because we don’t know enough about it, so our brain fills in the gaps and goes to the worst-case-scenario. This is what we want to avoid with periods, especially when those first few physical signs start developing. So ensure your children know what to expect with a first period, why these changes happen and how different periods can be for different people. You can find plenty of parenting resources to educate yourself on and trickle facts into your everyday conversations (because let's be honest, how many of our tweens and teens are going to sit and read long articles about periods), or find resources (like videos) tailored to them. TV shows and movies are also doing a great job at sharing first period experiences and development in general. This might be a great way to include the topic in the lives of our more shy or awkward tweens and teens who don’t want to discuss these changes.
Making a plan of what to do when they get their first period is also important, even if it's a quick pop quiz every couple of months to ensure they have the steps in their brains! This plan could be as simple as “Put on a period product and call a parent”. As long as you have one, it’s going to make both you and your child feel more at ease.
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Explore period (and pre period) products together
Exploring different products together can make everything seem less daunting, and also help familiarise your children with all of the different options out there! It’s also crucial to educate them on the health risks associated with certain products.
Cycles can vary between 21 and 45 days (or longer), especially for the first year or two of menstruating. It’s also not uncommon for periods to be irregular at first, skipping every few months as it tries to find its natural rhythm. As we also discussed earlier, vaginal discharge can also occur before a first period comes, and continues all throughout the rest of a woman's life. This is why having pre-period products, like our pre-period underwear, is SO important for both before and after a first period.
Our period underwear offers an environmentally conscious alternative to period products, as well as offering comfort, peace of mind and protection from discharge or arrival of a first or unexpected period through their light absorbency. To learn more about all of our period underwear options, click here.
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Show them how to use the products
One of the most important things a tween or teen needs to know before their first period is how to use the products they’ve chosen. You can model it for them, or get them to try it out themselves. Ensure that they understand exactly how they work so they are the most efficient and you don’t risk leaks due to incorrect application or lack of changing products. With our period underwear, this step is simple. You just use the product like any other type of underwear, the only difference is you have to rinse them out at the end of the day!
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Pack a period emergency kit
Period kits are so important to have before your child gets their first period! It brings a sense of comfort as you both know, no matter the situation they find themselves in when they get their first period, they’ll be ready.
For some children, this period of uncertainty and waiting can be uncomfortable, and the last thing we want as parents is for our children to feel they have to sacrifice their lifestyle while they wait for their period. So encourage them to keep up with sport, swimming and staying over at friends’ houses, but ensure they always carry their period emergency kit, so no matter where they are, they’ll feel prepared.
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Start fostering positive thinking
Being a tween and teen is hard enough with unstable emotions, crazy hormones and uneven development across different areas of the brain, but adding in PMS on top of all that?! It’s a miracle they manage to get anything done. Reminding your child (and yourself) that this is a normal stage in almost everyone's life is crucial to getting through it, as well as prioritising their mental wellbeing. Make habits of positive thinking and equip them with confidence and kindness to help guide every aspect of their lives. And know that together you’ll get through this pre-period stage educated, prepared, and supported no matter what.
Like the sound of our period underwear? Here are some money-saving options!
We have a Pre-Period Bundle that you can grab which will SAVE you $19.95!!!! Inside the bundle are:
2 x Heavy absorbency
5 x Light absorbency
1 x FREE gift
... and the 7th pair is FREE which makes you save that much $$$!
OR you can try our WELCOME TO PUBERTY! Get Ready For Your First Period Pack. It comes with:
3 x Period Undies
1 x Hair Scrunchie
1 x Girls-Can-Do-Anything Bracelet
1 x Mini Set of Teen Self-Esteem Boosting Inspiration Cards
12 x Pocket Heart
12 x Silk Bag
1 x Silk bag
What are you waiting for? Grab yours now and help your children prepare for their first period!
