How Do I Talk to My Daughters About Periods?

Talking to your daughters about their periods is one of the most important conversations you will have with them, and also one of the most awkward. Keep the line of communication open between you and your daughters by explaining menstruation including when it may happen, what to do and how to use menstruation products. You want to have the talk before they start their period, which may happen between eight and 14 years of age.

Things You'll Need

• Calendar
• Cosmetic bag
• Menstruation pads
• Wet wipes
• Pain medication
• Underwear
• Instructional book
• Water
• Empty cup

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Instructions

• 1

  Review the facts of menstruation such as when and how the body changes during puberty and the technicalities of monthly menstruation. You will be using this information when you talk to your daughters about their periods.

• 2

  Look for the early signs of puberty. The first stage of puberty will happen around eight years of age and will let you know around what time you will be having the first talk. Early signs of puberty include more hair growth on her legs, underarms and pubic areas, a growth spurt of both height and weight, changes in the breasts and nipples and a more rounder body.

• 3

  Choose a day to have the talk and schedule it on your calendar. Be sure to make all of the necessary preparations before this day including the products to show, charts of the female body and other items you might find helpful. Choose a day in which you will have alone time with just you and your daughters.

• 4

  Put together a first-period kit for each of your daughters. Fill a makeup bag with pads, pantyliners, wet wipes, pain medication and an extra pair of underwear.

• 5

  Choose a book meant for young women learning about menstruation to give your daughters after the talk is over. It may answer questions they forgot to ask or were to embarrassed to talk about.

• 6

  Begin the talk by giving each daughter the first-period kits and instructional book. Explain the basics of what a menstruation is and how it will affect them. Include what menstruation means such as how often it will come, always being prepared, the ability to get pregnant, possible pain from cramps, how to use pads and how often to change them.

• 7

  Open a package of menstruation pads and show how they work with water. Open up the pad and pour a bit of water onto it. Explain how it will absorb their menstruation and that they should be changed every few hours. Put a pad in a pair of underwear while explaining it.

• 8

  Share your own personal experiences about your first period to become more comfortable about the talk. These stories, which may be humorous or embarrassing, will make your daughters feel less awkward.

• 9

  Finish the talk by letting them know you are always available to talk, no matter what the question may be.