7 Things You Need to Know Before Teaching Your Daughter About Tampons

This is a sponsored post as part of my #TampaxAmbassador partnership with Tampax

When our kids were in utero, no one told us that some conversations with our kids would be easier than others. Teaching your daughter about tampons can rank right up there as one of the more difficult and awkward teachable moments for parents, especially if you cringe when remembering your first tampon experience.

We can’t assume that health class taught our girls everything they need to know, that an older sister will be the repository of knowledge we hope she will be, or for you dads reading— the female head of your household will just take care of it.

If your girl is menstruating and using pads or hasn’t gotten her period, it’s time to start thinking about teaching to your daughter about tampons. The truth is that the idea of talking to our girls about their periods and tampons makes us all feel a bit uncomfortable because it is so personal but I’m here to make the conversation less intimidating.

Just like it was important to be knowledgeable about pads, it’s just as important to be educated about tampons to empower our daughters to feel confident about their periods.

7 Things You Need to Know Before Teaching Your Daughter About Tampons

1. Not All Tampons Are Alike

The tampons that are right for you or her sister aren’t necessarily right for your daughter. Your super tampons for heavy flow days can be intimidating for a tween or teen just starting her period.

Start by making your daughter comfortable by letting her know:

• There are different kinds of Tampax tampons that are designed to meet her needs
• She might need one kind now since she’s just starting her period, but her needs will change
• Tampax tampons are designed to provide protection and comfort so you can be confident in living your life exactly how you want to!

2. As a Start, Find the Right Tampons

Before you even get to the how-to part of using tampons, it’s important to find the right ones for your daughter. Start by watching this video called Choosing an Awesome Tampon for Beginners! In under 2 minutes it helps our girls understand that Tampax comes in lites, regular, and super and are designed to be used during different times based on your flow.

3. Why You Need More Than One Kind of Tampon in Your House

Now that you’ve taught your daughter the need to have different sizes of tampons for flow, it’s also important for her to choose tampons that fit her activities. Teach her to expand her horizons because tampons should be selected based on what you’re doing or where you’re going.

This doesn’t mean she has to stand in the aisle at your neighborhood drugstore trying to decide. Introduce her to Tampax Pearl.

The Pearl line takes the worry out of periods. Tampax Pearl provides the ultimate protection and comfort for the confidence our girls need to live their life exactly how they want thanks to a well-engineered product that is comfortable to insert, works to prevent leaks, and has features for easy removal. Pearl comes in Duo packs that feature Light and Regular absorbencies in one box.

The entire Pearl line features:

• A unique LeakGuard Braid channels fluid back into the core to help stop leaks before they happen
• FormFit technology helps eliminate gaps that cause leaks with width-wise expansion to gently form to your unique inner curves
• Comfortable Plastic Applicator has a smooth rounded tip to provide comfortable insertion and the specially-designed two-part applicator stays in one piece
• The Smooth Removal Layer eases tampon removal, even on light flow days

Products in the Pearl line range are based on your daughter’s need and include Pocket Pearl, Pearl Active, and Pearl Radiant. Here’s what you need to know about each of the three types of Tampax.

Tampax Pocket Pearl

Amazing protection in a discrete small package with a compact and comfortable applicator that’s perfect for tucking in your daughter’s small purse when she’s out with her friends or in a pocket of her beach bag!

Tampax Pearl Active

The most active girls will feel protected as they participate in the toughest sports thanks to FormFit protection that gently expands to their shapeyou’re your daughter is new to tampons she will appreciate the 20% slimmer applicator.

Tampax Pearl Radiant

If your daughter is worried or embarrassed about changing her tampon in a public bathroom, Radiant comes in a quiet wrapper that girls can use to discreetly tuck the applicator back in the package for clean disposal. Like the other Pearl lines, Radiant features the LeakGuard Braid that channels fluid back into the core to help stop leaks before they happen

All varieties of Tampax serve different purposes to help your daughter feel more confident about maintaining her lifestyle during her period. There’s a Pearl that’s just right for pool parties, soccer games, school dances, and yet discreet enough for school too.

4. How to Start the Conversation About Tampons

Now that we’ve covered the above, here’s how you can begin the conversation about tampons with your tween or teen. I’ve included some conversation starters along with YouTube videos that you can send her a link to in order to watch on her own or for you to view together.

Since summer is a natural time for girls to learn about tampons because of vacations, camps, and time at the beach or pool, you might want to start the conversation using these conversation starters:

• I know you might be worried about getting your period at camp so let’s make sure we pack the products that are right for you.
• Have you thought about what you might do if you get your period during the swim season? Since pads won’t work, it’s a great time for you to learn how to use tampons.

If your daughter is concerned about wearing pads with shorts or carrying tampons with her, assure her that Tampax are discreet by saying:

• It’s getting pretty warm out. If you’re concerned about wearing pads under your shorts, now is a good time to learn how to use tampons.
• I know you’re worried about taking tampons to your sleepover/party/movies/end of school dance, but Tampax can be really discreet.

5. Anticipate the Questions Before Your Conversation 

It’s impossible to predict how the conversation will go when you talk to your daughter but it’s important to be anticipate what kinds of questions might come up during this conversation. Here are some helpful resources that will provide knowledge for your first conversation and the ones to follow:

• Tampon Myths Busted— No question is too silly when your daughter is first learning about tampons. Tampax’s Tampon Myths Busted has straightforward answers to address fears about if tampons hurt, can they get lost inside me, can tampons fall out, if the string can break…and more! You get it. It’s a really fantastic resource that is a quick and easy read that provide answers to questions that she’s likely to ask.
• How Long Can You Leave a Tampon In— Stop the rumors about Toxic Shock Syndrome by giving your daughter the facts she needs to feel safe about using tampons during her period.
• Where does a tampon go— Don’t assume that she knows where the tampon should go. This helpful video is part of Tampax’s How-to series and since it’s geared towards tweens and teens, it presents an anatomy lesson in a way that will resonate with them.

• What to say to help guide her through tampon insertion— Girlology’s tips for coaching her through her first tampon are helpful and Tampax’s How to Put in a Tampon video is a helpful how-to that isn’t intimidating or gross.

6. Resources for Teaching Your Daughter about Tampon Insertion

The how-to part of teaching our girls to use tampons is what’s on every mom’s mind. YouTubers like to demonstrate on Girlology’s Coaching Her Through Her First Tampon is a helpful read and before you send your daughter into the bathroom with a box of Tampax, watch these videos and then share them with her:

7. Normalize the Conversation about Tampons and Periods

Once you teach your daughter about tampons, it might seem like a one and done conversation-meaning you talk about it once and you never have to discuss it again- but creating open lines of communications about periods is important.

We want our daughters to be empowered when it comes to their period. They should know where to get accurate information, feel comfortable talking with us if they have questions, and serve as a resource to their friends who might have questions too.

And while dads and brothers might not have personal experience with periods, it’s important to include them in the conversation too. Not only do boys need to know the honest truth about periods as much as girls do, they need to be knowledgeable about tampons too.

Things you can do to normalize the conversation about periods includes:

• Having tampons readily available in all the bathrooms of your home. Not only does this help you and your daughter but if your son has a female friend over, she might be too embarrassed to ask but let’s hope if she opens a drawer or looks under the sink that she will find what she needs.
• Helping your husband feel comfortable buying tampons. Sit down and talk with him about how asking him to buy tampons is just like you going to the store to buy protection. It happens. It’s important to know what kind to buy so acquaint him with the products you have in your house so he’ll know exactly what you and your daughter need.
• Check in with your daughter from time to time. You don’t need to know her cycle but a periodic check in helps your girl feel more comfortable and lets her know the door is open for a conversation if and when she needs it, especially if she needs you to restock her supply of Tampax.

Disclosure: I am an #TampaxAmbassador and received compensation for my participation in the program.