Hygiene during Your Daughter’s Period

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Next time you hear your daughter say she’s “on the rag” you can let her know how lucky she is to have disposable feminine protection. The term arose in the late 19th to 20th century because woman actually used cloth rags pinned inside their underwear to catch their monthly flow. Knowing this may be just the thing your daughter needs to realize that feminine hygiene this day and age isn’t so yucky after all.

Naturally you’ll want to teach your daughter to keep up with her normal bathing habits while menstruating but whether she decides to take a bath or shower is more about personal choice. There is no harm in taking a bath while menstruating. Rather it is a wonderful and natural way to relax and ease cramps. A quick shower rinse before stepping out of the tub can take care of any concerns about blood leaking in the bath water.

Even though your daughter keeps clean during her period she may still be concerned with odor while menstruating. Address her concerns but also reassure her that most of the time odor is only noticeable to her. If she is not allergy sensitive then using a lightly scented pad may help ease her mind.

You can also try feminine wipes or keep a supply of wash cloths handy for her to clean herself with each time she changes her pad. When to put in a fresh pad will depend on the amount of flow your daughter is experiencing. Be sure to check in with your doctor if either of you notice the odor to be especially foul smelling.

Even though we’re using more than just rags for protection it’s inevitable that leaks on clothing will occur. Treat stains using cold water as soon as possible. Try rubbing salt directly on the stain or presoaking in hydrogen peroxide for 15 to 20 minutes before tossing into a regular load. To lessen the worry over stains, you can always buy her a set of dark colored underwear to use when she’s menstruating.

All in all being “on the rag” is a lot easier than it ever has been. Passing this information on to your daughter is another opportunity to support her in feeling secure and confident when it comes to taking care of herself.

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What others are saying.

Melissa, 6/12/2009 1:25:41 PM
Very good article

Ladonna, 6/12/2009 1:52:31 PM
I liked this article! I thought it was great that the article gave a tip on getting the stains out.

Debbie, 6/12/2009 2:31:16 PM
Yes, thank God for pads. I'm 50 now, and I remember when I first got my period I had to wear a rag. I really didn't know the difference from the pad, but I remember how disgusting, and degrading it felt to have to wear it. When I came back from school my mom had bought me some kotex pads. Back then they had the strings on each end to use to insert in the plastic panty rings. Oh boy and then came the horrible cramping too! We were told back then not to get wet or you could die, so all we did was wipe off with a wet cloth. That was so stupid! I later decided I will just have to die I am going to take a shower. I did, and I haven't died yet. Then I tried tampons, and that was the best thing ever! I hated to feel that moisture against my body wearing the pads. GROSS! Well, yes indeed we've come a long, long, way, especially when there were no pads at all, just RAGS! Thank you Jesus for the inventors of kotexs! Teens nowadays be extremely thankful!

Jill, 6/12/2009 3:31:41 PM
Wow, I wish I'd info like this when I was teen!

Amanda, 6/12/2009 5:21:29 PM
I will have my daughter read this for herself

Brianna, 6/12/2009 5:50:46 PM
I often feel really blah when I am on my period and I don't feel like doing anything. So what I try to do on the second day of my period is take a nice warm shower to ease the cramps

Rosemarie, 6/12/2009 5:57:33 PM
i thought that it would be more difficult,with trying to keep my daughter
from feeling unclean,while during her period.But not so,she enjoys taking baths and going swimming even during her time.She is a special needs child,that is more in tune with herself during this time

Monica, 6/12/2009 6:15:29 PM
This article is great and is very informative! It offers an easy approach to how to talk to your daughter about her period.

Skye, 6/12/2009 6:31:25 PM
I read this and thought it was wonderful info. I was reading it as a daughter, my mom told me to of course and I'm so glad she did!!

Melanie, 6/12/2009 6:39:08 PM
Thanks for the great info! My daughters always say they feel 'gross' when they have their periods, and I remind them just uncomfortable it was for my mom and grandma who came of age in a time of belted pads and plastic undies. Yuk! I always have their favorite bubble bath on hand, and that really helps them feel cleaner, fresher and more relaxed.

Mary Ann, 6/12/2009 7:43:30 PM
Thank you for this interesting article. : )

Bridget, 6/12/2009 8:20:16 PM
I find these articles very refreshing. Although my daughter is not yet menstruating, I know it's coming around soon. We have talked about what happens when women get their periods and she's not really looking forward to it but these articles will make our conversations a little more easier.

barb, 6/12/2009 8:51:00 PM
Thanks got this great article it talked about this in a nice way. not rude.

Jennifer, 6/12/2009 10:05:56 PM
This article was so awesome! It really was helpful with the hints on how to remove the stains and the way the article was worded in a way that wasn't rude, crude or taken offensively. I also enjoyed the comment from the 50 something woman out there, it really makes the younger ones of us out there realize that even though our period is not something that we enjoy but it could be a whole lot worse! ; )

Carol, 6/12/2009 11:57:57 PM
Great article. Also want to add a tip my mom taught me - for clothing stains, baby shampoo works wonders. I've found this to be especially true with delicate undies.

Dawn, 6/13/2009 7:06:34 AM
Awesome stuff!! Please keep it coming.
THANK YOU!!!!!

Christianne, 6/13/2009 9:15:44 AM
I found this article to be very well done. I remember when I forst got my period. My mom acted liked it was a big, horrible deal and embarassed me to to my dad about it! I have learned over the years to feel postive about my period and take better care of myself, and I hope to teach this to my daughter too.

Heather, 6/13/2009 10:56:07 AM
I don't have any children so I read this article for myself. My period is always annoying to me. I only use pads (no tampons) and I think its a relief that there was such an invention. I read a book once about how the girls wore rags. I couldn't imagine how that must of felt. And washing them out. (yuck) Good article

Karen, 6/14/2009 4:25:23 AM
I didn't feel "moist" wearing a pad until I tried tampons as an adult. Then I could feel the difference, though I still wear pads on ocassion. My big problem was rash like bumps from the moisture. But warm baths help that.

cheryl, 6/14/2009 7:11:39 PM
i LOVED THIS ARTICLE!!!!!!!! like woahhh

Glynis, 6/15/2009 1:45:17 PM
I love love LOVE my cloth menstrual pads. They're comfortable, durable, washable, and eco-friendly. But they don't always cover it on the super-heavy days (I have a copper IUD), and on those days I'm grateful for the disposable pads. I go through them every hour.

Jamie, 6/15/2009 9:23:10 PM
This is a great article! Honestly I always felt a little gross on my period. Just knowing what women used to go through makes me feel a lot better! Like the women in her 50s, I remember my grandmother telling me stories about her period when she was younger, and it wasnt good. So thanks for a great article and modern inventions!

Jolanda, 6/16/2009 1:17:58 PM
I so appreciate this article. It was written so well in a comforting and informative manner. Thank you

Stephanie, 6/16/2009 4:22:48 PM
Very good article! I wish I could have read this when I first started my period as a girl--it would have been so helpful to me back then! Yes, I agree--Thank God for pads!!! I can't imagine what it would have been like back in the "rag" days, and feel very fortunate to have had all the options!

Kenya, 6/17/2009 12:17:12 PM
This was a very good article. Thanks for the tips. Thanks to Debbie for her comments and enlightening us younger girls on how it used to be. I liked reading tips from other women too.

Nikki, 6/17/2009 2:17:32 PM
I thought this was a very informative article! Especially for girls that just dont know or are too embarrassed to ask! Thanx again!

Carol, 6/17/2009 11:15:53 PM
My daughter doesn't like talking about such stuff, and when I do she reacts like I'm out of touch with the times, So I sent her an E-mail with your link. I don't know what else to do since she has the last word on everything. I guess I will take to the doctor's office and have a nurse talk with her. When I was growing up, periods were a curse, and wearing a belted pad that would bunch up and shift around was a pain and a concern. At least you fixed this problem.

Susanna, 6/18/2009 10:29:48 AM
Yes! I too reealise how lucky we girls are today regarding the Feminine Hygiene Products that are now available but were not some years ago. I remember reading that in times gone by women had to stuff cloth or cotton insside themselves just to soak up the menstrual blood. UGH! Thank God for Tampons & Sanitary Towels, Susanna

Rebecca, 6/25/2009 3:55:38 PM
Great info. this is a great way to discuss a topic that may be uncomfortable at first to a young girl. These are valuable tools and quality products...keep up the good work....these sites should be used in health ed. classes instead of those outdated videos.

Jennifer, 6/26/2009 9:49:07 AM
I use all those tips and they really do work.

lisa, 9/13/2009 6:40:36 PM
i think pads AND tampons are gross. My friends use to call me a vampire because i always bite them, but i actually get lightheaded at the sight of blood. I once fainted in art class due to low iron levels, so i have no idea what i'll do when i get my first period. Basically, i don't want to have to see, touch, or smell the blood. GROSS!!!!!!!

Lizzie, 9/24/2009 4:05:46 PM
Well lisa, believe it or not, like it or not, you will get your period! Maybe you should make sure your iron levels are high enough! And one last thing, why in the world would bite pads and tampons? Hopefully they weren't "used"

DANYSHIA, 10/3/2009 1:17:07 PM
Well i haven't had mine yet and reading this is helping me out on what i will need to know about starting my period

sherquetta, 11/6/2009 6:14:06 PM
i read the article lot of good information in it

Yosie, 11/9/2009 11:17:29 AM
Awesome artilce. Will definately share it with my young lady.

sydney, 11/10/2009 1:59:29 AM
this artical is very effective. Love it. Ps,your guys tampons have saved me on so many family vacations

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