Ah, the day has come. Your little girl is growing up, and she’s about to hit one of those major milestones – her first period. It’s a time filled with change, emotions, and maybe a bit of confusion for both of you. But don't worry! With a bit of preparation, open communication, and plenty of support, you can help your daughter navigate this new chapter with confidence.
Talking to your daughter about periods
Before you can help your daughter, it’s important to have a solid understanding of what she’s going through. The website ‘Wellbeing of Women’ found that 60% of girls learn about periods from their parents, contrary to the assumption that girls will learn about them through friends or social media. Educate yourself about menstruation: what it is, why it happens, and what she can expect. This way, you’ll be ready to answer any questions she might have and guide her through the process.
If you sense your daughter is a little apprehensive about talking about her period, you can always send her a link to some helpful websites for teens like here and here. Just let her know you’re there for her and that she can talk to you about anything if she wants to.
Try to arm her with knowledge sooner rather than later before her period begins which can be as early as 9 years of age but more commonly around the ages of 12-15. This will help demystify the process and normalise the changes she will be about to go through.
Here are some tips to make the talk a little easier:
- Keep it simple: Use age-appropriate language and avoid overwhelming her with too much information at once.
- Be open and honest: Answer her questions honestly and clearly. It’s okay to admit if you don’t know something – you can always find out together.
- Normalise it: Reinforce that menstruation is a normal, healthy part of growing up.
Let’s talk about ‘Period Shame’.
Although it’s 2024 and we’ve come a long way into normalising periods and ending shame, there still is some way to go until periods are no longer a taboo subject. Let's end period shame by keeping it real and talking about it like it's no big deal—because it isn't!
Start by chatting openly about periods at home and make sure everyone knows it's a normal part of life. After all, 50% of the population will have a period. Get the boys of the house in on the conversation too; understanding and empathy go a long way. A survey found that one in ten men have never had a conversation with a woman about periods so if we can start earlier; normalising and educating our sons and partners, things could start to change from a more systemic level and we’ll be well on our way to shutting down period shame.
Consequences of period shame
The consequences of perpetuating period-shame can be detrimental to your daughter. Misinformation found elsewhere could lead to the spread of myths or misconceptions that periods are shameful or dirty which could have complications for her mental health or social development.
A lack of knowledge around how to handle your first period could lead to hygiene risks including urinary tract infections (UTI) or reproductive tract infections (RTI) which may have longer term health consequences. Improper knowledge of suitable period care products may lead to using inappropriate or inadequate protection which may lead to infection.
Discuss Symptoms and Self-Care
Explain the common symptoms of having a period, like cramps, bloating, and mood swings, and offer tips on how to manage them. Encourage her to listen to her body and practice self-care.
Perhaps treat her to some new gym wear or a yoga mat to encourage her to make gentle daily movement a habit. Let her know that if she’s not feeling up-to much and watching her favourite movie with some snacks is what she wants to do, then that’s okay.
Suggestions for period friendly movie snacks don’t have to be boring… what about making some nutty cocoa energy balls, they’ll be full of good fats, sustainable energy and you can chop and change the flavours.
They’re super simple and can be made with a quick wizz of a food processor. You’ll need:
- Pitted dates.
- Cocoa powder.
- A nut of your choice (swap these for dried pumpkin seeds or for a fruiter ball, try dried apricots or bananas.
- A dash of milk.
- Any flavourings - try vanilla essence, zest of an orange or lemon. That’s it!
Create a Period ‘starter’ Kit.
Prepare a period kit for your daughter to keep in her backpack, locker, or at home. This way, she’ll feel ready and confident ready for when her period starts.
The NIXI Body starter kit for teens.
It’s important to give your daughter full knowledge and awareness of what’s on the market to help her navigate this change-heavy period in her life. Fortunately, NIXI has got her covered for when changing her period products are one less burden she needs right now.
- Period care: Pads are great for beginners and this might be what her friends will be using as tampons can be a bit intimidating to use at first. At NIXI, we think we can go one step further for your daughter where she might find traditional period products cumbersome or bulky. The Susie Sporty Knicker is an excellent, sustainable and faff-less way to ensure she feels confident and leak-free. This particular period pant comes in tween sizes, starting as small as 9-10.
Hand sanitiser: an essential!A spare pair of underwear: just in case.
- A small pouch: to keep everything together.
- Pain relief: Ibuprofen or Paractemol for pesky cramps.
A treat: She deserves it!
Navigating your daughter’s first period is a significant milestone, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. With preparation, open communication, and plenty of support, you can help her transition into this new stage of life with confidence and ease. Remember, this is a journey you’re on together – so embrace it with love, understanding, and maybe a touch of humour. You’ve got this, Mama!