|
|
|
|
|
|
Man, I can't believe it but my oldest dd has just started her first period. She's turning 11 in a couple weeks so I think she's a little young but that's life I guess, girls are menstrating way earlier than ever these days. Not that I'd be ready even if she was 20!! LOL!
What's your opinion on starting her on cloth right off the bat? I personally use a Diva Cup with cloth pantiliners as backup but I think she's too young for a menstrual cup right now and the prospect terrifies her anyway. I'd like to just get her used to cloth from the start but I'm afraid of making that investment and having her end up not liking it and having it wasted.
Any opinions or advice welcome! For now it's just been a little spotting/streaking and I know it could be months before her next one, but I want to be prepared.
Karen. |
|
|
|
Wow, Karen! From diapers to menstruating in what must have seemed like such a short time...
I have no experience in the matter, but I would definitely talk about it with her thoroughly before you invest. In the end, you probably want her to feel like it's her choice. She may feel upset or powerless about being stuck with her period all of a sudden, trying to impose your views on her would probably not go over well.
At 10 or 11, she's still in elementary school, she may be one of the first girls to have her period, and she probably will want to avoid anything that makes her different from the other girls. It may seem easier for her to throw away used pads than have to pack them up. So if I was you, I would certainly try and convince her that it's better and more comfortable, but it may be too much for her.
Although cloth pads don't make as much noise when you unwrap them so you may be able to sell them that way, as being more discreet so all her friends won't hear what she's up to... |
|
|
|
Wow!
How does she feel about it? I was super embarassed and didn't tell my mom for about a year! I used folded up toilet paper as a pad. PP gave great suggestions! I also would leave it up to her. Maybe buy her a pantyliner light cloth set and also posie ones. She may want to try both for a while. The prospect of storing & carrying dirty ones from school to home kindof would terrify me as a middle schooler. So I'd be certain you address that issue as she tries cloth. You could also try jr tampons or when is the smaller cup okay? But as a kid and not understanding sex completely, the thought of a tampon or cup can be concerning for a whole other reason. So explaining anatomy & sex might ease her mind using something she inserts.
Wow. Just wow. Don't you have twins that just got PT? Life is crazy sometimes! But I would certainly follow her lead all the way. |
|
|
|
Wow! What an adventure (of one sort or another!) for you and your eldest! Something extra special to share too. My first thought was yikes! Not yet 11. My eldest DD is 5 in a week and that is almost too much for me. I have thought about when the time comes and what to do about cloth pads. I agree with Fanfreluche about giving her the choice. There are some super cute pads with fun prints and smaller sizes made for young ladies. Maybe show her some of those online?
If in the end she does decide to try disposable products, she may go back to cloth after she gets a handle on this big change. Plus, I believe you have a few other littler ladies coming up the ranks one day...so they may be used by them if your eldest does not care for them!
Best of luck celebrating this change. |
|
|
|
| Yes, give her the option. Plus, you might want to find out if the bathrooms have little trash cans in the stalls since she is so young. What about carring purses at school? Also lugging cloth pads might make it hard. Have a little variety maybe just a little pretty box in her room would help. |
|
|
|
Thanks everyone. Yes, it was quite a shock to me as well. I think I'll just make sure I'm stocked with everything and let her chose. Try to influence in an earth friendly way but in the end it'll be her choice.
I was reading that some girls as young as 11 or 12 are using the Diva Cup so maybe I'll talk to her about that a little more. I think I know of a place where I can buy a decent priced one so maybe I'll just get it for her and see what she decides. The good part about the Diva Cup is that she wouldn't have to worry about changing anything at all at school so that would certainly simplify things for her. I imagine that this could especially attractive to an active young teenage girl. Not something she'll appreciate right now though...
There are 'teen' beginner packs of cloth pads as well, probably have her sit down with me and pick some funky colors out together.
Any experience with the 'natural' disposable menstrual stuff? Are they significantly healthier/eco-friendly?
Karen. |
|
|
|
Hey Karen,
I was thinking about this today (and how glad I am re. this to have boys!), and was thinking that something like the Diva would really have appealed to me as a teenager. Getting supplies out of a bag/locker/desk, disposal, etc. can be very embarassing; I know in junior high carrying a purse to the bathroom was like stamping a big "I'm having my period" sign on your forehead. I started using tampons pretty early on because they were a little more discreet, but that carries all the TSS risks, etc., so if you could have the benefits of something internal with the ability to go longer, in my book that would be great. That being said, Im sure there's a learning curve, as there is with just about all of that stuff, even disposable pads and tampons.
I've used natural pantyliners (NatraCare? Something like that). They're supposedly better because of the materials used and that they aren't bleached. I have to say that I don't care for them because they have the separate meshy cover and the innards that can bunch, even with something as thin as a liner. That isn't unique to that kind, though, as there are disposable pantiliners with the same construction. |
|
|
|
| First off, wow! Sorry to hijack the thread but I've been wondering about this topic for myself. Until I had my DS, I never thought about cloth. We had a friend talk about cloth diapers so then I went ahead with cloth diapers. I've always used pads. So what do you ladies do? Diva cups or cloth pads? The Diva Cup looks really cool! |
|
|
|
| Hi, I like Lunapads but they are kind of $$- if she chooses cloth I would go with pads designed like Lunapads, though; I also have some that are stuffable and they are not as comfortable. |
|
|
|
Yes, I like the Lunapads as well. I haven't tried very many other brands but the other one I did had only one snap and shifted constantly.
aavt, exactly, I can really see the appeal of a cup for a young girl! One of the reasons I want to introduce her to it early on, is so that it's just natural for her. Once she's older it may seem too 'weird' for her to want to try. She'll be more influenced by the media and possibly her girlfriends and is likely to be reticent about trying something so unusual. If she's always just used it then she's more likely to stick with it rather than getting her to try it when she's 17 or 18. She'll have known the convenience by then and won't want to go back.
Of course she'll always have a choice, I'd never force anything so intimate and personal, but I plan on really trying to steer her in that direction now while I still have a little influence on her (cause we all know that by the time she's 16 her mother won't know a darn thing anymore! LOL!). I figure that for the next time I'll have all her choices on hand and let her pick (with some gentle influence perhaps!). It'll probably cost me about $100 for the disposable pads, tampons, Diva Cup and a few cloth pads but I figure with 4 women in the house (me and the girls), someone will eventually use them. One of them is bound to at least be curious at some point or another...
meisiu, I can't say enough about the Diva Cup (and cloth liners as back-up if necessary). It's way more comfortable, less messy and more convenient (empty and rinse once in the morning and once before bed - can't beat that!). There is a learning curve of course, and you do have to have a certain comfort level with your body, but once you're past that it's truly liberating!
For anyone interested I think one of the best deals for a Diva Cup is at iherb.com. Not as cheap as it was last year but still a very good price at less than $25. Even better with this coupon code for $5 off your first order: KAS985 . It's a US website but still cheap for Canadians with shipping at $3. And you're not likely to be nabbed with duty since the amount is so low (at about $25 it's just barely over the $20 no-duty limit so your chances are good).
There's also southcoastshopping.com that has the Diva Cup, the Keeper and the Moon Cup (same as the Keeper but in silicone like the Diva Cup) for very good prices.
HTH,
Karen. |
|
|
|
| Thanks Karen! I'm getting better with my body now that I've had DS. I only used a tampon for the first time this year b/c of his swimming lessons. So can you buy cloth liners from iherb as well and what brand am I looking for or easier to just use the disposable kind? |
|
|
|
Hi Karen,
Is this (Amazon) or iherb a better deal?
http://www.amazon.com/Diva-DivaCup-Menstrual-Solution-DivaWash/dp/B001GQ7AAU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1262548905&sr=8-3
Thanks! |
|
|
|
If you really want the Diva wash along with it then it seems like a fairly good deal yes. I checked and southcoastshopping has the same for about the same price.
However, the wash isn't necessary at all (I've never used it) so you can wash it with something you have at home already for less. In that case I think iherb is the best deal. Don't forget to consider shipping as well. For Canadian shipping iherb is $3, I think it's even less for US shipping. I haven't checked around but that seems pretty cheap.
I don't think you can get cloth liners at iherb. Personally I use Lunapads (www.lunapads.com) but there are tons and tons of other options out there. I think Lunapads is about the biggest company that specializes in cloth pads. You could also maybe try a local health food store or eco-store, they may have a small selection of cloth pads to try.
Personally I think cloth pads are a great back-up to a menstrual cup. If you use just pads then you have to soak them, handle them a bit like you would with cloth diapers I think. But just as a back-up, mine only get minor spotting at worst so I just wash with regular laundry (if they're a bit messy I store them in a mesh bag before washing). But if they're too intimidating there's nothing to say you can't just stick with disposables for now...
Karen. |
|
|
|
| I would have really liked the idea of cloth pads when I was a teenager. When I got my period I really hated the idea of using all those pads each month. Using a diva cup would have scared the heck out of me, though. But maybe that is just me. I never could even use a tampon for a loooong time. I agree that cloth pads being quieter would be a big plus for at school. I think your daughter is lucky to have all the options to try and to decide what she likes! |
|
|
|
| I started my period at 11 as well. I had just turned 11 and it was on Thaksgiving night... EEEK! Anyhow, I was terrified of inserting anything. I remember even in high school I tried the junior tampons and this is TMI but even that hurt. I don't have much advice but I wish you luck! |
|
|
|
KarenC - Thanks for the post & info. I'm going to give the Diva Cup a try! I have never been able to use tampons, but after being pregnant and without a period for almost two years, I've decided pads are AWFUL! I'm hoping I can make the D.C. work..
I also got my period when I was 11, and from what I remember (this was 25 years ago), I was one of the later ones. I know it's creeping earlier and earlier for girls these days.. Such a big change! I hope things go smoothly for you & your daughter.
Alexis
ETA: I agree that non-crinkly cloth pads would be much less conspicuous, your daughter might prefer that. I was wondering, is the snap on the Lunapads uncomfortable at all?
|
|
|
|
Wow, I'm surprised, I was 14 when I got mine and I think I was just about average. Although I was pretty quiet and shy so I didn't have a ton of friends to talk to this kind of stuff about... I'll never forget it though, first day of grade 8 is when I got mine!! What is it with landmark occasions? LOL!
There are three small snaps on the Lunapads and I can't feel any of them at all. They're very small plastic snaps, smaller than on diapers and clothing...
Karen. |
|
|
|
Karen-
After reading the whole thread, I had a couple of other thoughts to throw in....
For the Diva cup, while having nothing to carry around / take out of her bag is a real advantage, won't she have to rinse it sometime during the day in the public sink, where she'd be mortified to have anyone see her? Or can you just dump it and put it back in?
Second thought is on 'natural' disposable products. I have no experience myself (although have tried some 'natural' disposable dipes), and I think when you're 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15... the worst thing in the world would be to have a leak. I'd be willing to bet that the natural ones are not as leak proof as either cloth or the mass-produced 'top' brands.
Just a few more ideas / things to think about 
I can't imagine that my little girl is ever going to get that big |
|
|
|
Hi there,
Nope, that's the great part of the Diva. It only needs emptying twice a day (even then it's only for sanitary reasons, not because it's full). I've heard of some women with extremely heavy periods that need to change more frequently but I doubt she'd have to worry about that for a long time (if ever). And even if it does require emptying while out, you can just wipe it off with a little toilet paper (or some carry moist wipes), then reinsert and save the actual rinsing for later.
Interesting point about the natural pads... I've never used them myself so I can't really say. Maybe I'll give them a try myself to test them out first.
Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that she'll never get that big! Didn't work for me but it's worth a shot right? LOL! Do you think wishful thinking will get her small enough that the only absorbant products I'd have to worry about would be diapers! LOL! Life was so much simpler back then! ;-)
Karen. |
|
|
|
| I haven't read all of the replies, but I use cloth pads and love them. What I noticed is that I bleed less and my cramps aren't as bad, if I have them at all. You can find lots of cloth pads at http://hyenacart.com. Some are expensive, but if you look around you can find affordable ones. Good luck!! |
|
|
|
|
