If you have a tween at home who is new to the wide world of getting their period, first of all welcome. It can be a little intimidating and there’s a lot to learn, but you’ve come to a safe place to learn about how to support them.

Tampons aren’t always the easiest option when a kid is just starting out but the good news is that there are plenty of options when it comes to period products, from pads to period underwear. If you’re currently wondering what the best period product for your tween to use is, the answer, plain and simple, is: whatever makes them feel the most comfortable.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to dealing with their period. If you’re ready to learn more about what their options are, read on to learn more about the best tween menstrual products on the market. 

Pads

Like old Disney movies or peanut butter jelly sandwiches, sanitary pads are a forever classic. Made out of absorbent material like cellulose, your teen will peel off an adhesive backing and attach the sticky strip to the inside of their underwear, which holds it in place while it does the job of absorbing their menstrual blood.

Some pads have wings, which wrap around the sides of the underwear and others don’t. Some people think that disposable pads feel like wearing a diaper while other people find them to be the most comfortable and easiest option, hands down.

There are even such things as reusable pads if you don’t like the idea of creating a lot of waste. (The average menstruator will throw away an estimated 11,000 pads in their lifetime.) It is recommended that people change their pad every 3-4 hours but your tween or teen can go up to 8 hours using a single pad depending on how heavy their flow is.

Fun fact: The first pads available for sale landed on the market in 1880. In the 1950s, pads used to have belts, which were used to keep them from shifting around! Read more about the history of periods here. 

Period underwear

Period underwear are like a regular pair of underwear but with a built-in liner that absorbs period blood. Kt period underwear have three absorbent layers, the first one pulls moisture away from the skin using natural seaweed fiber; the second one absorbs the liquid and locks it in; and the third one keeps any liquid from spotting clothes.

Your child can wear every day if they want (they're that comfortable), in place of a pad or a tampon, or any time when they're expecting your period. (Their quick-dry capabilities also make them good to wear any time of the month, especially if you are prone to sweating…just call them “sweating underwear.”) 

Your teen can also use them as a form of backup protection in addition to a tampon or menstrual cup. Kt by Knix sells period underwear for teens in a variety of styles for every need or activity, including leakproof bikini, boy short, boxer brief, and the super leakproof sleepover short. There are even full-gusset bikini underwear, our fullest coverage style, which are perfect for preventing overnight leaks when they're sleeping on their period.

Period underwear is reusable, very easy to clean and can be worn for up to eight hours. It's the perfect option for anyone who prefers a reusable option and wants to avoid leaks. In addition to period underwear, Kt by Knix makes leakproof swimwear and activewear sized specifically for busy tweens with active lifestyles.

Tampons

Tampons are a cylindrical-shaped plug of cotton that is inserted into the vagina to absorb the blood flow internally. Some tampons have applicators, which are tubes on the outside of the tampon to make insertion easier, and others do not. 

If your teen is not sure how to put in a tampon, Kt has a simple step-by-step guide to the process you can read about. Tampons come in different levels of absorbency based on flow. There are light tampons for light days, regular tampons for medium days and super tampons for heavy flow days.

Contrary to what some people may think, using a super tampon doesn’t mean someone has a bigger vagina. Tampon sizes reflect the amount of liquid they can hold, rather than the size of the tampon itself. Tampons should be changed every 4-8 hours, or whenever they are full. 

Once ready to take a tampon out, they can gently tug on the string and throw it in the garbage. Never flush a tampons, because it will not break down and it might cause plumbing issues.

Menstrual Cup

Menstrual cups are made from soft silicon material that can be folded and inserted into the vagina. Once the cup has been properly inserted, it will expand and catch the drips of menstrual blood, hence the name cup. When your teen is ready to empty the cup, they can tug on the stem to pull it out, empty the blood into the toilet, wash the cup and reinsert.

If someone finds themself needing to empty a menstrual cup in a public washroom, they can bring a bottle of water or a disposable wipe into the stall with them, or just wipe the cup down with toilet paper before reinserting. A menstrual cup can be worn up to 12 hours on a lighter day.

Other menstrual products that will make your tween or teen's life easier

Heating patches

Heat relaxes muscles, which can help soothe the pain of menstrual cramps. You can find disposable heat pads readily available at any drugstore, or you can purchase something reusable like a hot water bottle or this sloth or toast-shaped heating pad. Either way, heating pads will make having a period a little bit more bearable for your teen – and a cute reusable heating pad can make it feel a little bit more fun as well.

Pain relievers

Pills

Advil and Tylenol are the most popular pain relievers for when cramps come calling. Aleve, Midol and Motrin are typically used to help relieve menstrual cramps. Midol makes a special formulation for teens while anyone over the age of 12 can use Aleve. Tweens under the age of 11 should be taking children’s Tylenol instead of an adult dose. 

If your teen is experiencing extreme period pain, it’s a good idea to talk to their doctor.

Ointments

There are also a number of pain reliever ointments that your teen can use to help ease menstrual cramps. The should simply spread the cream or gel over the area of their body where they feel pain and the product will – fingers crossed – offer fast-acting relief.

Somedays has a Cramp Cream that contains castor oil and camphor for a slight numbing sensation, Saje’s essential oil period roll-on contains lavender and chamomile for a calming effect and Control cream contains anti-spasmodic ingredients that directly addresses inflammation caused by cramps.

There you have it: all the best tween period products you need in order for your child to go forth and bleed confidence. If they're worried about potential leaks at school and want to learn how to build a period emergency kit, here’s how.

Plus, learn all about what to expect throughout puberty and their menstrual cycle by downloading our Free Period Guide – it’s here to help!