Getting your first period can be very exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. As a parent, there are a few things that you can do to prepare your daughter for her first period. It’s very important that you’re there for her to help her understand her body as she goes through such a big change in her life. Here are several ways for you to prepare your daughter for her big day.
1. Be calm, positive and open.
It would be good to openly address the topic in a relaxed manner. As the thought of having her period for the first time can be a little anxious for your daughter, it would be ideal to calm her down and to be positive about it.
Your daughter should not have the perception that period is a negative thing. The period is something completely normal and every girl needs to go through it. That is something that you should always remind your daughter to prevent her from fearing it.
It’s alright to educate her about it early as periods can start as early as 8 years old for some girls. Getting her prepared earlier would give her more time to get used the idea. Be honest with her if she ever asks you any questions about it.
Some children tend to get a little curious when they see you handling or purchasing menstrual products when they are younger. That would be the perfect time to casually speak to them about it. Talk to boys about period too, they should be aware that girls go through this every month to keep them informed.
3. Avoid the ‘serious talk’.
Try not to have the “let’s sit down and talk” type of conversation with your daughter. That may make the topic appear to be a little too scary and overwhelming for your child. And we don’t want that now, do we? The last thing you want is for your daughter to make a big deal out of it.
Allow yourself and your daughter to be able to approach the topic in a comfortable way. She shouldn’t have to feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. Any discussions about period shouldn’t be tense or awkward at all. Share your own experience of your first period with her to help her feel better about it.
4. Be prepared.
Make sure to stock up on menstrual products before her first period. Teach her how to use and when to change it. If she’s curious about how it feels like to have a pad on, let her try it on and learn to adapt to the feeling.
Take the opportunity to also tell her about things like leakage and accidental flows as well as how to handle it. Educate her on how to keep clean during her period and how she should change her pads every 6 hours to avoid health risks.
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