Tips for Your Active Daughter During Her Period

17 Comments
By the Dot Girl™ Moms

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more than three million girls participated in high school sports during the 2007–2008 school year.* The benefits to girls who play sports are numerous, and they should be encouraged to continue playing even during menstruation.

If your daughter is one of those girls, she'll need some advice on how to manage her period when she hits the courts, takes the field or dives into the pool. Even if she's not in organized sports, other physical activities like hanging out at the beach or hiking with friends may present a challenge.

Here are some helpful tips to share with your daughter.

  • Have her keep an "emergency kit" in her gym bag or sports locker. Fill the kit with feminine hygiene products, an extra pair of underwear and a wash rag. She won't be caught unprepared before the big game.
  • Get together with the mothers of your daughter's friends and donate a supply of pads to keep in the girls' locker room. Communicate with the coach and let all the girls know where to find the supplies.
  • Many sports uniforms require loose-fitting shorts. Wearing spandex shorts underneath the sport shorts will keep pads in place and provide a feeling of comfortable control.
  • If your daughter is a swimmer, you may want to introduce her to tampons. Have her practice at home until you find the brand and fit that she's comfortable with.
  • Sometimes bathroom facilities are hard to find when you're hiking or beachcombing. Tuck a few pads into any backpack or jacket she might use. Wrap the pads in plastic bags that can also be used to keep used products until she gets to a trash can.
  • Encourage your daughter to track her monthly cycle with a calendar. It may take some time before it's regular, but soon enough she'll be able to anticipate when her flow will start. Periods should not get in the way of an active lifestyle. Providing these tips to your daughter will help her manage her period with confidence as she participates in her favorite physical activities.

*"High School Sports Participation Increases Again; Boys, Girls and Overall Participation Reach All-time Highs". Press Release, September 4, 2008.

National Federation of State High School Associations

http://www.nfhs.org/web/2008/09/high_school_sports_participation.aspx

About the Dot Girl™ Moms

Two sisters, Terri and Kathy, founded Dot Girl™ First Period Products. Who better than two women who are also daughters and mothers to honestly address an uncomfortable topic?

Their motivation to create The Dot Girl's First Period Kit™ grew from their own awkward teenage experiences. Despite the fact that their mother was a wonderful nurturer to four daughters, she was never comfortable talking to them about their bodies. They found that this is more often the rule than the exception for both moms and dads. And the reality today is that parents often find themselves in the awkward position of having avoided the subject at all costs, to the detriment of their daughters.

Terri and Kathy's goal is to provide parents with the tools they need to explain the basics of menstruation to their daughters. And for the girls, they hope to lessen their anxiety about their first period and instead turn it into a positive experience. For more information, please visit www.dotgirlproducts.com.

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What others are saying.

Jane, 12/11/2008 6:24:16 AM
Great information.
My Mom never discussed our body or having our period with us (3 girls). I am raising my two granddaughters and feel comfortable talking to them as I did their mother and aunt. I share articles like this with them.

PJ, 12/11/2008 6:39:17 AM
This article told me nothing that I didn't already know. My neice and I frequently talk about these problems as she is very active. No matter what we have done she still seems to have a leaking problem.

dianne, 12/11/2008 6:56:59 AM
Good advice and practical too.

Anna, 12/11/2008 11:32:58 AM
Thanks for the information on wearing spandex shorts to hold the pad in place, because my daughter plays basketball and we often have the problem of the pad shifting.

jennay, 12/13/2008 7:47:21 AM
i am not a mom but my mom spoke openly with me about my period because of the horrible time she had. i had problems during sports but did find the spandex shorts helpful. i had heavy periods and often had to wear a pad and a tampon while being active. nothing really stopped that until my mom was brave enough to put me on the pill. she had raised me right and i knew that it was for controlling my period and if i used it for anything else it would disappear.

Helen, 12/13/2008 11:04:35 AM
those new sports tampons are easy to put in and they offer great protection

Tricia, 12/16/2008 1:44:29 PM
My daughter didn't realize that with a period, that it lasts more than one day - and use MORE than ONE pad per day at school. Her school does not allow them to visit their locker, carry a purse or take a trip to the bathroom. They have to visit the nurse in the school office for every occasion. Even though I understand their practices during school hours, they make it hard to conceal any extra pads during this time... I told her to start carrying extras in her binder in a pencil case.

Stefanie, 12/19/2008 6:38:06 AM
It is really good advice I play alot of sports to especially softball so i really have to be careful and the spandex shorts does work it always keeps the pad in place.

Nik, 12/22/2008 3:52:27 PM
I'm a runner for track and cross country and the spandex shorts help a ton especially with our short light colored uniform shorts

Elaine, 12/26/2008 1:57:08 PM
how do u go thru puberty with twin girls

Kathy - Dot Girl Mom, 12/31/2008 11:37:39 AM
Thank you for all all your comments - this seems to be our most helpful article so far. It is always interesting to hear from other women and the issues they are facing with their daughters.

As for facing puberty with twin girls - at least they have each other for support!

Lauren, 1/22/2009 7:47:16 AM
Elaine, with twin girls talk to them at the same time. Tell them not to be afraid to talk 2 each other. You might want to give them seperate bags with their names on them so they are always prepared. Also make sure they know that they can give eachother liners.

Kelsea, 1/25/2009 2:29:39 AM
thnx thins is very helpful,bcuz i think im going to get my period soon and i play basketball for my skool, and on myteam!

sadie, 2/24/2009 3:48:09 PM
One thing that the article didn't metion is that if you are on birth control it is easier to track your period so you know what events you will have it at. I am only 16 and i got birth control at 14. My doctor explained that just because i am on it doesn't mean that i should start having sex. Birth control made my periods lighter and i know exactly when i will get them so, i am always prepared.

melanie, 3/21/2009 5:49:33 PM
PJ,
if your niece always has a problem with leaking, have you considered switching brands? this might not be something you want to do but it might help. if she likes pads, try always infinity. when i used one i was amazed by how comfortable and absorbant they were.
if she likes tampons, i suggest tampax original, or pearl. they work great. and if she wants good protection in a discreet size, try tampax compak pearl. the applicator is extendable, so it can fit in the palm of your hand!
hope this helps =]

Kim, 4/4/2009 6:46:03 PM
my daughter started her period in october she is 12 and isnt to fond of it as she plays hockey she asked if there was anything we could do to get rid of it ai gave her ibuprofen to shorten it but she still wants it gone shell be 13 in about a month could she go on the pill? Also ive heard about a shot u can get tha gets rid of them? Please help i feel bad for her.
Kim

Aexis, 6/20/2009 9:17:25 AM
i have not got my period but this website has given me a lot of ifomation so i would know when i my period i would know how to take responsbility so i o'nt stink or do any thing wrong.i alexis an i am a begner of persinoasl hygineye. and puberyity

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