Getting a first period can be an exciting milestone in a young girl’s life. But what if it happens when she’s out and about, away from you? Here’s a foolproof guide to preparing for their first period.

Preparing for her first period

Parents and daughters may be worried about the first period arriving while at school or at a friend’s house, so it’s a good idea to prepare for this. First and foremost, having a frank talk about menstruation is very important. Arming your daughter with knowledge is vital in making her feel confident and assured. If she knows what to expect and what’s happening to her body, she’s less likely to feel scared or panic.

After a general discussion, you can move on to preparing your daughter in case her period starts while she’s out of the house. The best way to start is to talk about what will happen when the period begins, for example, that she’ll discover some blood on her underpants or when she wipes. Tell your daughter about the types of sanitary products available and discuss what she might like to use at first. A lot of young girls start off with pads as they’re simple to use. Period underwear is also becoming popular and can be an easy introduction to menstruation management. Remind her that it’s important to wash her hands before and after changing menstrual products.

Packing a kit

So your daughter isn’t caught short, pack a kit to keep in her school or sports bag. Getting your daughter to help you prepare a kit can be a good way to help explain what different sanitary products are for. Choose a small toiletries or cosmetic bag that is easy to store in her bag. Then you can fill it with:

• Her choice of sanitary products, ie 2-3 pads
• A couple of underwear liners for those days when you’re not sure if your period is coming or not
• A change of underwear
• A small, resealable plastic bag for soiled underwear
• A small pack of baby wipes is ideal for clean-ups
• If she’s old enough to manage some pain relief for cramps, include a couple of paracetamol or other pain relief

She may also want to carry a spare skirt/pants in case they get stained, but it’s unlikely that the flow will be that heavy at first. Remind your daughter that if she does start her period at school and for some reason she’s not prepared and doesn’t have her kit with her that the teachers are there to help. Schools will have some supplies and be prepared for this, so there’s no need to be embarrassed.

This article was written by Corinne Draper with editing by Kidspot NZ. Sources include Child and Youth Health and Healthinsite.

Read more:

• Stages of the menstrual cycle
• Boys need to be educated about periods too
• Reusable menstrual products