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Is 11 too young? I don't use them myself (could never get the hang of them). Just for swimming/holidays really

If your dd uses them how did she manage at the beginning?

Well dd is 15 on Monday and doesnt use them
I think I was about 17 when I started to use them
DD said none of her friends use them as far as she knows

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DD1 16 years
DD2 8 years
DS is 2 1/2
Angel 7/5/01 8 weeks

Oh right. That's good to know then (didn't want to project my dislike of tampons on to her lol).

I used them from my second period, so 13. I don't think any age is too young, as long as she knows how to use them properly.

I used them from when I was 13 - I swam a lot though and it was the only way!! Always used the applicator ones back then.

Is there a reason why they shouldn't??? Curious because DD is 12 but hasn't started yet, she swims too though.

Whenever she wants to try them, would be my suggestion.
I would suggest she tries, the first time at least, when her flow is quite heavy - a bit of lubrication makes it easier.

My mum was really anti-tampons and I hid them from her (totally unnecessary to feel embarrassed/ashamed about something like this).

I don't think medically speaking there's a problem with them using them.

Because I can't use them I don't want her in the same position in the future but I don't want to push them on her too early because of my own issues with them iykwim.

I'm probably overthinking as I always do I dont think she likes the sound of them at the moment but I'm thinking further down the months when we might have a holiday

There are two types of tampons, the ones that expand width-wise and the ones that expand length-wise. If it's a very young girl I would make sure she uses the length-wise ones (AFAIK Tampax are in that category, used to be anyway). I used a width-wise expanding tampon on my first period and removing it was like trying to get a champagne cork out of a bottle. Amazing how tight you are when you're young, though I probably panicked and tensed up and that wouldn't have helped. I then used towels for a few years until a friend told me to try Tampax (my mum was never much into tampons and no help).

Just pop one in a glass of water to see how they expand.

Of course if she prefers towels, there's nothing wrong with them!

Oh and of course this was decades ago, things might have changed, but it's easily checked!

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DS Little Fish is 8 years old
Little Fishette only stayed with us for one day

Another tip, put a dab of vaseline on the top of tampon to make it easier to insert. I did that at the beginning when I wasn't used to them. And if when she puts it in and feels discomfort then its not in far enough. I remember being in agony the first couple of times I used them because I hadn't put them in far enough. Once I got the hang of it, it was easy peasy

Personally I think they are great, I hate towels.

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My blog on DD's assessment journey http://ourjourneytoassessmentandbeyond.blogspot.ie/

I think I was about 13-14 when I started using them ; it's a bit of fiddling to find out how to use them properly, but after that, all was fine. I used to swim and run a lot, and there's nothing worse than running with a sanitary towel, esp considering the size they were at the time.
Now I'm back to ST, I had an eroded cervix a while back, and gp told me to use ST, but tampons are an awful lot easier if you're doing active things

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''If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit'' - WC Fields

I was 18 when I started using them. I've always used liletes tampons. I rem starting off on the lowest absorbency ones. Now, 16 years and almost 5 kids later, I have to use the highest absorbency and a pantyliner.

I never used the applicator ones, much preferred to 'feel' that I was putting it in right

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I used the lilettes ones as well. couldnt deal with the applicator ones and also liked to make sure they were in right. Dont use anything anymore since the coil!!

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DS Born Oct 08
DD Born Aug 10

I started using them on my 2nd period, so 12?
Put a bit of ky on the tip to aid it in, Vaseline works too but it stops the tip absorbing and can cause leaks.

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Mammy to the Monster, born 30th December 2007 at 30+2, weighing 1.29kg

Mammy to the Farticle, born full-term on 11th June 2012, weighing 4.14kg

I was 19 when I went to work in Spain, it was just too warm/disgusting to use pads.

I had tried them a few times before that but never put them in properly and it was painful.

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Forever waiting on my second miracle.

If she wants to use/try tampons, make sure the one she uses is suitable to the tow if flow she had. If the tampon is too big, ie for a heavier flow, it can be painful and hard to insert and remove.
Start off with the light one. When it comes time to change/remove it, and ur doesn't come out easily, tell her to wait another little while.nothing worse than trying to take a champagne cork out as another poster said!

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I started using them as a teen too, and find them much cleaner and more comfortable than pads. I would advise using the lowest absorbency applicator one, on her heaviest flow day. That will make it easy to insert and not too 'messy' and off putting for her. The trick is getting it in the right position, if she can feel it then its not in far enough. I found the leaflet in the pack a great help when I was starting off, it shows different ways of inserting and little tips on removing etc (or at least it used to, I havent looked at the leaflet in 20 yrs!).
I know a lot of women , who even now in their 30's, wont use tampons because they tried them once and it was painful. Its a pity because its really just a matter of trying a few times til you get the knack, and they make life so much easier then, esp for an active young girl.

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Never judge a book by its cover. The most worn out books sometimes have the best stories to tell.

DD1 was also 11 when she got hers first. She uses tampax pearl now, but I think she was 15-16 before she got the hang of it. She is 17 now. Possibly, imo, wait a while, its a lot to get used to having periods without introducing tampons as well.

i was young starting them too. i think they are cleaner imo.

after i had my kids and would have to use st i used to hate it.

if she wants to try i would agree with all said her. tampax lowest flow - get her to read the leaflet few times and its normal to take a few times to get the hang of it. once its in if it has been put in right she shouldnt feel it.

do talk to her about changing them on a reg basis a friend of mine got i think its called toxic shock something??? from using tampons and not changing reg. its very very very rare but something to be aware of.

all the info is in the box.

best of luck they will really give her back freedom

on another note arent girls getting periods younger these day my dn is just nearly 11 and has hers few months.

i was 14 and lot of my friends were 13 or 12.5 maybe its not much of a gap but 10.5 seems so young.

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Mom to 3 boys and one girl

step mom to 2 princess'

I used tampax from my 2nd period, so 12. Wouldn't see why she shouldn't use them if she wants to.

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Two lovely girls aged 3 and 1

Another with a Mum who didn't approve so I was in 17 before I started using them. Tampax do a small one, purple pack, they are fir light days & first time users so they might be one to start with. Just make sure she knows about how often to change them & taking the last one out. I had a brush with Toxic Shock Syndrome and it's a nasty thing, I was very sick.

Can't believe she's at that stage though, time is flying in!

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The Boy is 6
The Girl is 2

"A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience" - Doug Larson

I used the right from the start so 12, use a mooncup now though mostly.

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Reach high, think big, work hard, have fun! 

Tell me about it!!

Toxic shock thing is a good point. I'm not sure if she is able for that at the moment if I'm honest. Food for thought.

Thanks for the feedback to everyone. It helps a lot

I use one all the time!! Had to use a tampon a coupla years back when I got caught and ugh ugh ugh. Horrid things

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Mammy to the Monster, born 30th December 2007 at 30+2, weighing 1.29kg

Mammy to the Farticle, born full-term on 11th June 2012, weighing 4.14kg

If she wanted to use one from the get go she shouldn't be stopped. One of the other MM is right, there is a purple Tampax option for light flow. I'd recommend getting a box of purple ones and maybe a box of yellow ones and see how she gets on.


I know loads of people wouldn't agree with me on this but before I started having periods I used to try to insert a tampon so I knew how to do it I followed the instructions and knew what it was all about - I didn't wait until I had my period. My mum offered me pads but the thought of the bulk wasn't appealing. A tampon and a panty liner was the way to go for me.

Everyone is different and if she would prefer a tampon then that's what works for her. I'd recommend an applicator tampon to begin with and as she gets older she may want to try non-applicator types but that will be up to her at that stage.