Flag as Not Acceptable?
We review flagged content and enforce our Terms of Use, in which content must never be:
- Profane or sexually explicit
- Disrespectful or abusive
- Infringing of copyright
Parentpedia
Menstruation
What Experts Say
For a girl, getting her period is one of the most anticipated -- and most discussed -- milestones of growing up. The problem is, every girl reaches this developmental turning point at her own pace; your daughter could get her period as early as 9 or 10 or as late as 14 or 15.
Your job, then, is to reassure her that wherever she falls on the developmental spectrum, it's perfectly normal, says Judith E. Craig, author of "You're Grounded Till You're Thirty! What Works and What Doesn't in Parenting Today's Teens."
Secondly, you want to make sure she feels comfortable talking about any issues that come up (cramps, PMS, supplies) so she's not hiding in the bathroom worrying. Most kids today are perfectly comfortable talking about periods, Craig says, but may have questions they don't know how to ask.
You can initiate a conversation by asking if your daughter has any questions or needs help with anything -- some girls are perplexed by how to use tampons, for example. You also might want to warn her about the risk of toxic shock syndrome and talk to her feminine hygiene while you're at it; some moms find these bathroom conversations a good chance to get a dialogue going about boys, sex, and other related topics.
ParentPedia contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of ParentPedia, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.
The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
Thank You!
Thank you for helping us maintain a friendly, high quality community at Family.com. This comment will be reviewed by a community moderator.
