Teaching DD to use tampons

[IrishBelle]

DD got her period a few months ago. She's 12. She's supposed to go away with her cousin this week and there will be lots of swimming. Of course, she got her period this morning. She really doesn't want to use tampons but I bought some for her in case she changes her mind.

My question is, if she decides to try them, what's the best way to show her how to use them. My mom never taught me, I figured it out on my own. Is there a good step by step tutorial I can show her?

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

Mine is 10, so I have no advice beyond drinking. But I'm posting in here anyway in case anyone else is a genius at this stuff.

[Deleted]

My mom tried to teach me when I was in middle school and got my period while in Disney World (I wanted to swim, damn it!), but it was basically an epic fail that ended with me crying from stress. I ended up figuring it out on my own, but not until I was in my 20's (I didn't even bother trying again before that, because the first time had been such an ordeal).

ETA: On a more helpful note, I discovered thanks to Google that Tampax has some information on their website.  I don't know how much it would help, but here's the link to the articles they have under their "My First Tampon" section: tampax.com/en-us/tips-and-advice/my-first-tampon

[mcmel]

I would tell her to put a foot on the toilet, insert the applicator further than she would think, and point it towards her butt- not straight up. Tell her that she shouldn't really feel it and if it's uncomfortable to take it out and try again with a new one. You may want to give her some wet wipes to clean herself afterwards.

The first time I used one I didn't put it in far enough and I just thought they were supposed to be uncomfortable. Sitting down was miserable and I wish someone would have told me how to use one properly.

Good luck.

[wambam]

My mom handed me the pamphlet from the box and said have at it lol. I figured it out, but I wish she would've told me how far to put it in before pressing the applicator.

For some reason, my mom thought because I was small, I would have light flow (it had been 14 years since she went through it with my sister and over 20 since her own full hysterectomy - I'm adopted). So for the first few months, she was giving me panty liners and light tampons and I was changing them every 30 minutes. Don't do that HA.

[textbookcase]

We just went through this, I feel ya!

I just verbally explained how to do it, foot on toilet, etc. and she read the instructions. She was uncomfortable at first and I told her it shouldn't be uncomfortable so she did it again and she was fine.

My mom NEVER explained any puberty stuff to me and I hated having to figure it all out myself! I'm glad things are different for our kids!

[pumpkin]

I remember my first few tampon experiences being horrible! And honestly I remember being physically ill too. It was a few years until I tried them again and didn't have any issues then. I guess my point is to let her know that it's ok if they don't work for her right away, yes, it'll prevent swimming and stuff but she won't be the first girl to have issues. Good luck to you both!

[Leeham Rimes]

I don't have daughters but my mom showed me. Fully clothed, showed "the stance" she took, how far to insert the tampon applicator, and that I had to push the plunger in and THEN remove the applicator part.

My first time i did, without instruction, i left errrrything in there. Lol. I was all "how the fuck is this comfortable?!"

Man. I was really dumb, wasn't I?

[rbp]

Jul 4, 2017 16:19:05 GMT -5 Leeham Rimes said:

I don't have daughters but my mom showed me. Fully clothed, showed "the stance" she took, how far to insert the tampon applicator, and that I had to push the plunger in and THEN remove the applicator part.

My first time i did, without instruction, i left errrrything in there. Lol. I was all "how the fuck is this comfortable?!"

Man. I was really dumb, wasn't I?

I did the same thing!! 😂 My mom said "why are you walking like you have a stick up your butt?" And I was like, "mom, I kind of do..." Then she realized there was a problem. 

[turnipthebeet]

I taught myself by reading the pamphlet. It was honestly pretty helpful.

[Leeham Rimes]

Jul 4, 2017 16:24:58 GMT -5 rbp said:

Jul 4, 2017 16:19:05 GMT -5 Leeham Rimes said:

I don't have daughters but my mom showed me. Fully clothed, showed "the stance" she took, how far to insert the tampon applicator, and that I had to push the plunger in and THEN remove the applicator part.

My first time i did, without instruction, i left errrrything in there. Lol. I was all "how the fuck is this comfortable?!"

Man. I was really dumb, wasn't I?

I did the same thing!! 😂 My mom said "why are you walking like you have a stick up your butt?" And I was like, "mom, I kind of do..." Then she realized there was a problem. 

I feel better that at least i wasn't the only one to make that mistake. Haha.

[shamrockshake]

Jul 4, 2017 15:58:44 GMT -5 Ohhmm(bligo) said:

Mine is 10, so I have no advice beyond drinking. But I'm posting in here anyway in case anyone else is a genius at this stuff.

My 10 year old got hers last month 😭😭 of course it was while we were on vacation too and she was too afraid to try tampons so she just skipped swimming. Thankfully it was very very light and only lasted a day or two. But I know this is coming soon so I'm thankful for this post. My mom never talked to me about this and I figured it out on my own years later 

[readyin07]

Jul 4, 2017 16:08:55 GMT -5 wambam said:

My mom handed me the pamphlet from the box and said have at it lol. I figured it out, but I wish she would've told me how far to put it in before pressing the applicator.

For some reason, my mom thought because I was small, I would have light flow (it had been 14 years since she went through it with my sister and over 20 since her own full hysterectomy - I'm adopted). So for the first few months, she was giving me panty liners and light tampons and I was changing them every 30 minutes. Don't do that HA.

[br

Pretty much same. My mom was like "here ya go, figure it out. Pads are nasty." Helpful.

OP I wish you all the best lol. I would buy plastic applicators at least at first because they go in more easily and it is easier (imo) to judge how far to go in. I would also tell her foot up on the toilet as others have said and wait until flow is fuller. Until I had my second child most of the time my flow would stop overnight while I was sleeping after the first or second day and it would be hard to practice then.

[RoxMonster]

My mom didn't teach me because she never used them and wore pads. Therefore, I didn't even try tampons until I was in college. I know I am older than your DD, but I did find the instructions with the box very helpful and was able to do it successfully on my own just from those. I also agree with the other advice given on how to "show" her how to stand, etc. Good luck!

[IrishBelle]

Jul 4, 2017 16:03:09 GMT -5 @writererin said:

My mom tried to teach me when I was in middle school and got my period while in Disney World (I wanted to swim, damn it!), but it was basically an epic fail that ended with me crying from stress. I ended up figuring it out on my own, but not until I was in my 20's (I didn't even bother trying again before that, because the first time had been such an ordeal).

ETA: On a more helpful note, I discovered thanks to Google that Tampax has some information on their website.  I don't know how much it would help, but here's the link to the articles they have under their "My First Tampon" section: tampax.com/en-us/tips-and-advice/my-first-tampon

Thanks for the link. They have a pretty helpful video on their site that DD and I watched together.  DD is in the bathroom now so I'm hoping she can get the hang of it.  She has already missed out on one swimming party this summer, I would hate to see her miss out again.

[just]

Jul 4, 2017 17:22:41 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

I taught my DD with OB tampons to start, a friend of mine had just gone through teaching her daughter and wished she had started with OB (there's so much to fumble with otherwise was her teen daughter's complaint...it doesn't seem like it to those of us who've been doing it for decades but apparently...)
Anyway, I bought the smallest OB size and then just showed her the foot on toilet stance and gave her the instructions of "plastic off, rounded end first, as far up as you can, push it some more for good measure then let the string hang down and voila...hopefully you're done for a couple hours"
I think the instructions are good for backup...questions that is.

Ditto this. I found non-applicator tampons so much easier at that age, and in fact they are still my preference now.

[styme46]

I'm so glad you asked this. Dd is 12 and I know this is coming for us soon. My mom also never showed me how and I still don't use them unless I absolutely have to (but with my Mirena, I don't get periods) and I don't want that to be the case with dd.

[Jalapeñomel]

I've never used the foot on the bathtub trick.

My mom showed me. I'm still mortified. I had to use one the first day because I had swim team practice.

[Deleted]

Jul 4, 2017 16:25:28 GMT -5 turnipthebeet said:

I taught myself by reading the pamphlet. It was honestly pretty helpful.

This. My mom didnt use tampons so I just really read the little insert and looked at the pictures. No problems.

[polarbearfans]

The pamphlet was super helpful for me.

I will say it is great you are introducing tampons so young. My grandmother is the one who helped me with this and wasn't a huge fan of young girls using tampons. I HATED pads. I felt so gross using them. Luckily after a year she became ok with me using tampons but she was no help in how to work them lol

[cabbagecabbage]

My mom tried to instruct me and I shut her down. I read the box and got it fine on the first try.

Godspeed.

[ginger]

I'm pretty sure my mom brought out the hand mirror and we had a more detailed anatomy lesson. Then she left me to try by myself.

It was a good way for me to learn but have privacy at the same time.

[LanaLang]

I had to figure it out on my own, but my mom used OB (that I snagged) and I know that made it way easier.

[verycontrary247]

My mom never talked to me about sex or periods tampons (I got a religious "your body will be going through some changes" book with zero helpful information).

I used the pamphlets that came with the tampon box and an American Girl puberty book lol

[sugarbear]

I only had my dad, so...

I used the instructions in the box and called a friend for moral support. Also, I've never heard of this foot on the toilet thing. What's that about? Do all of you still put your tampons in that way?

[Deleted]

Jul 4, 2017 21:46:32 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

I only had my dad, so...

I used the instructions in the box and called a friend for moral support. Also, I've never heard of this foot on the toilet thing. What's that about? Do all of you still put your tampons in that way?

Sometimes after a shower but not usually.

[mcmel]

Jul 4, 2017 21:46:32 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

I only had my dad, so...

I used the instructions in the box and called a friend for moral support. Also, I've never heard of this foot on the toilet thing. What's that about? Do all of you still put your tampons in that way?

Not tampons, but sometimes I need to if I'm using a diva cup.

[UMaineTeach]

I never had success trying to follow the 'more back than straight up' direction. I think mine is pretty straight up.
I still don't know how to do a no applicator one.
TMI
I also can't seem to get them to work for swimming. They always get bloated with water and I have about 30 seconds to get it out before either pink water is running down my legs or it falls out.

Good luck to you. Practice was the only thing that worked for me.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

Jul 4, 2017 16:38:54 GMT -5 shamrockshake said:

Jul 4, 2017 15:58:44 GMT -5 Ohhmm(bligo) said:

Mine is 10, so I have no advice beyond drinking. But I'm posting in here anyway in case anyone else is a genius at this stuff.

My 10 year old got hers last month 😭😭 of course it was while we were on vacation too and she was too afraid to try tampons so she just skipped swimming. Thankfully it was very very light and only lasted a day or two. But I know this is coming soon so I'm thankful for this post. My mom never talked to me about this and I figured it out on my own years later 

STAHHHHP

She's been SO emotional lately. She has anxiety issues and with summer and vacations and sleepovers, she hasn't had her medication lately. I'm SO hoping that that's the case and not her cycle starting up.