Mark the date. Your first period (especially for teens). The uterus is shedding its lining over a number of days and the total is likely to be around three tablespoons. If your daughter is approaching their first period, how can you help them be ready without embarrassing them -- and yourself? If you are a parent who is worried about how to prepare your daughter for her first period… It doesn't need to be only one conversation (and really shouldn't be), so start young and revisit the conversation, creating open space for these chats." What to Do When Your Daughter Gets Her first Period? The blood might be red, brown, or even blackish, and they should change their pad every 4 to 6 hours. "The first two years after starting your period can be pretty irregular," Dr. Blanchard says. Confront concerns. I am not saying you need to create your daughter a period playlist or know all the scientific terminology for her reproductive system. Your daughter may start to feel too shy or embarrassed to talk about topics like her first period — even if she’s desperate to share her feelings or ask questions. However, if your daughter complains of a sudden increase in the amount of acne over a short period of time, it may mean she is about to get her first period. As a mother or caretaker, it will help if you talk to your teen about her impending periods and what she can expect. She's also probably feeling mixed emotions, so be her rock as she navigates this new world. Also, teach girls to have each other’s backs, Natterson says. How to help your girl, whose special needs make the first menstruation experience more challenging, cope with getting her period for the first time and develop healthy habits from the beginning. It’s nice to be reminded of this on a day when your daughter … Question. "I suggest girls keep a pad in their bag just in case their period comes when they're in school (mine did!). As every girl knows, one of the cruel aspects of mother nature is that you never really know when that first period is going to hit. 1 day ago, by Murphy Moroney See if you can get her to open up about what her fears or concerns are so you can address them. Our Family newsletter is a little parenting cheat sheet, delivered to your inbox daily. But make sure they know they should be changed every 4 hours to prevent leaks and infections. After all, this is the most natural thing a girl can go through. By signing up, I agree to the Terms & to receive emails from POPSUGAR. Try to avoid using phrases like 'the curse' or 'having your period sucks,'" Dr. Blanchard advises. Here's What the Experts Say, changing tampons regularly throughout the day. My daughter announced her period had finished just as matter-of-factly as she announced its arrival. She has not had another one since. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Your daughter will likely take it all in her stride. About three years after the first period (on average), a girl’s period normalizes and becomes more like an adult’s with a cycle of 21 to 35 days, and duration of four to six days. A “First Period Kit” to help your girl ease into menstruation. Tip 1- Don’t Freak Out! Included in this is the explanation of what a period is, and what to expect when you get your period. Make a period kit. "Reassure her that life doesn't need to stop when she gets her period," Dr. Blanchard explains. If it continues to be a struggle, it may be best to take a break and try at a different time. When she’s out, you might want to suggest she carries pads and tampons with her – for example, she could keep some in a toiletry purse in her school bag and sports bag. It's part of a healthy, female body.". You may notice them sticking out a little further or the nipple … Your daughter is probably wondering what her period will feel like, how long it will last, and how she can take care of herself each month. Please select the topics you're interested in: Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP? Let her know that asking questions is OK, says pediatrician Cara Natterson, MD. "There is no shame in going through puberty, and approaching it from a factual perspective is helpful," continues Dr. Blanchard. Many girls fear they’ll get their first period at school or when they’re away from home. “Put it in the context of natural functions, and it’s very easy for kids to absorb, says Zager. A girl's monthly cycle is the number of days from the start of her period to the start of the next time she gets her period. ", The clinical explanation isn't the only thing to cover. , 5 Things Every Parent Should Do When Your Daughter Gets Her Period For the First Time, An OBGYN Shared Her Go-To Product For Curbing Morning Sickness, and It's $19 on Amazon, 7 Things to Know Before Watching Charming on Netflix With Your Kids, An Educational Psychologist Explains How to Talk About Domestic Terrorism With Kids, My New Year's Resolution? The best thing you can do as a parent is to reassure her and explain exactly what is happening to her body,” Dr. Kreckman says. A Handy Period Kit– Your daughter may get her first period when you might not be around. First they bud. Even though you might be internally freaking out, be as calm as possible. 1 day ago, by Kelsey Garcia My daughter is sooo irritable now that she’s started her period. Some girls even keep a pocket calendar and mark the days of their period with an X. Then- count 30 days from the first "x" to the projected start date of her next period. Explain What's Happening. Make an action plan so you’re both ready. "What she's feeling is normal. "Let her know this isn't the end of the conversation, she can always come to you with questions about anything. ☝️, Awesome, You’re All Set! While she'll still be able to participate once she is able to use a tampon, this is not a good option for a first period as it often takes practice. "In preparation for the first period, it's good for parents to review what maxi pads are and how to use them," Dr. Blanchard advises. "Tell her about your experiences with getting your period (with the caveat that all bodies are different), and perhaps you, too, felt anxious," Dr. Blanchard continues. For some girls, the first few attempts to put in a tampon can be challenging. Be sure to choose a tampon that's labeled for teens -- they’re narrower than those for adults. Dear, dad it’s your turn to make her understand about this subject but in a calmer way. To help your daughter feel ready, buy a small zippered pouch and stock it with a couple of teen-size sanitary pads and a clean pair of underwear, Natterson says. You can start with the basics: Explain that their first few periods will most likely be light, and they might not be regular in the beginning. (2019). The first period is known as menarche (pronounced: MEN-ar-kee). "Some girls are afraid there's going to be tons of blood rushing out of them. Some young women are frightened by the sight of bleeding or embarrassed if it causes a stain on their underwear or clothing. “Tell her that if her underwear gets soiled, she can just wrap it in toilet paper and throw it away in the little trash can in the bathroom stall” and use the clean pair in her kit, Natterson says. However, when girls start puberty, mother and daughter relationships can get tricky. Dads, if this topic is outside your comfort zone, ask an older daughter or female relative to bring it up. “Tampons are usually leagues beyond their emotional development at this point,” she says. ", If you haven't talked with her about her options ahead of this moment, now is the time. Period mishaps are bound to happen, so help your daughter pick a trusted adult they can ask for help if they are away from home. Having your period is not a disease; the goal is to empower adolescent girls. You can start by telling your daughter it’s normal for some girls to have cramps, back pain, or tender breasts before or during their periods. And how you talk to her about her body and its transitions is so important. After menarche you get a period roughly every month (once they settle into a routine) until you get to about 45 or so and then you stop. In this light, it is necessary that her first period is dealt with care, positivity and reassurance. "Be open to and encourage your child to ask questions," Dr. Blanchard says. Consider gifting them her a Period Starter Packs/Puberty Related Books and talking to her about puberty and period in a positive manner. Maybe in a school or if she’s out somewhere. Your daughter's first period marks a crucial phase in her life. You can be practical and pour that amount of fluid into a cup. Like your daughter’s first steps and first words, her first period is a major milestone that both of you are unlikely to forget throughout your lives. Here’s my best advice on how to do it right: 1. You can plan this ceremony—or a special mother-daughter trip or event—anytime between the ages of eleven and fourteen—you don’t have to wait until she gets her first period. “If your daughter is going through puberty earlier than her friends and classmates, she may feel isolated and embarrassed. A lot of us probably also wish we’d been a little more prepared. Talk about the amount of actual bleeding and how it's different from bleeding when you cut your hand. Get to the doctor if there’s a problem. The “First Period Gift Kit” with all-natural … You'll need to teach your child how to insert a tampon and review the importance of changing tampons regularly throughout the day. De-mystify the physical details. Change is hard for all of us. Ensure to have a period kit ready which she can carry around with her. Your daughter might be just as uncomfortable talking with you about their period as you are. I gently suggested she might need to just wear something for another 24 hours, just in case. It’s helpful to remind your daughter to wear a panty-liner when it gets a couple of days from her period. Here are some things you should do and a few don’ts when dealing with your daughter’s first period: Ask questions and keep her informed before the day even comes. It's a big sign that your little girl isn't a baby anymore, and chances are you'll both be a little emotional. It was a normal period and lasted about five to six days with no discomfort. So if your child is an early or late bloomer, you can use that as a guide of what to expect in terms of the rest of puberty. The idea of bleeding for a week each month is so overwhelming for girls that you don’t want to give them too much information up front about all the other “joys” of having a period, like bloating, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and acne, Natterson says. She might feel awkward about it. Olympic swimmers, supermodels, and actresses get their periods. One of the most significant milestones is her first period.It’s a sign that the physical changes in her body have only a couple of years to go. Although you will see signs that your teen is in puberty, her first period may still be somewhat unexpected. Her kit can also be a way to deal with another of the biggest period fears: a leak. I strive to have an open relationship with my kids and hope this will help when they go through puberty and get their dreaded period. Go over logistics and some troubleshooting areas like cramps, leak prevention, and how to dispose of a sanitary pad or tampon. So if had your first period at the age of 11, you could then expect your daughter to be starting her period earlier than the other girls, just like you. They have pain when inserting or removing a tampon. My daughter had her first period a couple of months ago. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:  “Your First Period.". Dear dad, I understand you were not ready for this situation and even your daughter was not so welcoming towards periods. Your autistic daughter will go through many changes in puberty, just as other girls do. Use anatomically correct words like vagina, ovulation, and uterus. Here are some dos and don'ts to follow when your daughter begins to … "Reassure her that life doesn't need to stop when she gets her period," Dr. … Besides, some of these symptoms won’t show up until a girl has had their period for a couple of years. "It's important to present menstruation from a positive perspective. The day I got my first period is permanently implanted in my brain. It may take up to 6 years after your first period for menstruation to occur at a regular interval. Cara Natterson, MD, pediatrician; author of The Care and Keeping of You 2, American Girl, 2013. It isn't much. All rights reserved. It's important to talk about puberty before it happens. But this isn’t 100% accurate, as I hear from many parents who’s daughters started their periods much earlier or later than they did. While there’s no physical reason that most teen girls can’t use tampons from their first period on, Natterson feels it’s better for them to wait a few months. Don’t overthink the Big Day. Their periods come more often than every 21 days or are more than 45 days apart. Help your daughter keep a journal tracking her cycle. Tell your daughter to keep the pouch with them at all times, and keep one with you, too, just in case. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. Reassure your daughter this is common and normal. 1. 5) If your daughter calls from a sleepover at a friend’s house saying she got her period and needs some pads, do NOT deliver a huge bag overflowing with a wide variety of protection options. This is a perfectly natural part of life. Keep a small pouch which can fit in a couple of teen size sanitary pads and a few clean underwears. In medical terms, when a girl is about to get her first period, the level of androgens increases in their body. Here, 5 tips that'll put you both at ease. Helpful 7 Not Helpful 2 Start talking about periods in general terms from an early age. 1 day ago, by Monica Sisavat According to Dr. Blanchard, parents should keep the following five things in mind to make that first period an easy transition. "The average age a girl gets her period is around age 12," Dr. Deena Blanchard of Premier Pediatrics tells POPSUGAR. It may be a coach, teacher, counselor, or a friend’s parent. The particular supply one uses can of course change, so explaining to your child that there's a variety of options and she can try and figure out what works best for her is really important. Julie Strickland, MD, chair, Adolescent Health Committee, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); professor of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Missouri, Kansas City. 1 day ago, by Mekishana Pierre This is a great way to get her in the habit of planning for her period, and it’ll also be useful information for her doctor. Remind her she can use an app to track her periods and can always check in with you or her pediatrician. Before your daughter gets her first period, it’s a good idea to show her: what pads and tampons look like; how to use pads and tampons; how to dispose of pads and tampons. Talk about tampons. Another sign your child is close to starting their period: body hair. If your daughter is very active, they may insist on trying them. 1 day ago, by Brea Cubit You can also have your child keep a change of underwear and pants in her backpack as well. Just be there for her. In that case, review a diagram of female anatomy with them (either in a book or the leaflet in the tampon box) so they know how to put one in. Her experience of it can change her perspective about her body for years to come. Talking to your daughter about her first period doesn't have to be a daunting task. Thanks! Great, Click the ‘Allow’ Button Above Make a period kit. This is the most important one. Keep an eye on when her cycle starts and stops. "Let your child know that she may or may not get a period every month and that's her body's way of adjusting.