Thoughtful Gifts to Celebrate Your First Period Experience
- Erika Doty
- Jan 14
- 5 min read
Ugh. All of us women know just how that feels when you get your very first period. No matter the age, it can suck. From that moment forward you know that every month you will have to manage a period: schedules, calendars, underwear, pads, cramps, cravings... Every. Month.
It's no picnic. But it can be better than what we probably experienced, and certainly better than the generations before us. There are so many great products, tips and tricks out there for our girls to help make this milestone - and the periods to come - much easier to manage. We've curated a list of all the products your teen girl could use to help make that first period - and the periods to come - much more manageable.
⭐Before we get into the list below, let's take a moment to recognize this new generation and their openness on the subject of periods, reproductive care and all things female. They communicate openly and honestly with each other and with the adults in their lives. (My daughter has zero shame letting her teachers know why she needs to dash to the bathroom during class.) This generation is not interested in hiding the fact that they bleed each month. They are not ashamed. (Annoyed, maybe. But not ashamed.) Kudos to them and the generation they will raise one day.
Pads Just For Teens
Let's face it, unless your teen girl has to wear a tampon (she's a swimmer, gymnast, etc) they will likely opt for pads to start. But not all pads are created equal and when it comes to teen girls. Size matters! Their little bodies are, well, little. And their periods are typically not heavy in those first few years, so a smaller pad can make a lot of sense.
In our household we love these two products! Always is reliable - I've personally used their products my entire menstruating life and have found them to be leak free and comfortable. Pinkie pads are new to the marketplace - they come in smaller sizes, which is great for our teen girls. And their products are free of toxin, dyes, chlorine and fragrance.
Period Underwear
These are just genius! And so perfect for girls new to the whole monthly period thing. I personally tried some period underwear and found that they were great at doing their job - absorbent, comfortable and environmentally friendly. However, as a mom, I'm running around all day every day and found that switching these out when they're full was a big pain in the butt. However, I really liked wearing them when I knew I was going to get my period "any day now!" It was more piece of mind knowing I wouldn't leak all over my clothes if my period snuck up on me.
With that in mind I bought some of these for my teen daughter and told her to wear them those weeks when you know your period is just around the corner. These saved us a lot of tears, embarrassment and laundry.
These days there are a million different brands of period underwear out there. You don't need to go with the pricey versions - they are all great, especially if you're just using them as more of a preventative measure.
Period Swim Bottoms
Ok - where were these when I was a teenager!? These are brilliant! And - YES! - they really do work! Obviously if you're having a heavy flow day, you gotta either avoid the pool or go the tampon route. But otherwise, these are fantastic! They come in a lot of colors and styles - my daughter prefers the darker colors (I don't blame her). And most companies that sell period swim bottoms also sell cute tops to match. Literally no one will be able to tell once you're at the pool or beach.
Every Month Essentials
Some of our favorite items - for us and our teens - to make that time of the month more comfortable:
🩷Ibuprofen has been proven over and over again to be the best for cramps, and can help with heavy flow days too. As always, consult your doctor/child's pediatrician before giving any medication.
🩷Midol is still around because it works. It's a combo medication, so, again, consult your doctor/child's pediatrician before administering.
🩷Heating pads are life-savers on those heavy cramp days. There are SO many cute microwaveable heating pads out there - find one your daughter will love!
🩷 Soft cozy things just make us feel better. A cozy blanket to go with that heating pad will make anyone feel better.
🩷Scrunchies and other hair and beauty products can just help make your daughter feel more like herself when her body is just kicking her butt.
🩷Cooling eye masks are great to help with puffiness.
🩷A nice warm bath is so wonderful when you're on your period. Bath bombs are great!
🩷We LOVE Dr. Teal's Epsom Salts - they come is so many scents. And there really is power (and science) behind those magical salts.
🩷Flushable wipes for those heavier days. Stay feeling clean.
If you have a teen girl who is going to start getting monthly periods any day now, I encourage you to put together a gift package with some or all of the above for her. Celebrate the big day - even, and especially when she rolls her eyes at you. This is a big moment and it shouldn't happen in secret or under whispers. Our female bodies are AMAZING and these monthly periods are like little reminders of that.
If putting together a first period kit seems daunting, check out Saalt's Teen Period Kit below!
We LOVE everything Saalt offers to help us with our periods each month. We first discovered Saalt and their period cups. After falling in love with those, we explored their other products and just can't get enough. They get it.
For our first-timers, Saalt offers a "First Period Kit" which includes their essential products for our young teen girls. If period cups are something we think they'll love, why not get them started right from the beginning? The kit also includes a few other awesome essentials.
⭐Get 15% off site-wide at Saalt with this exclusive discount just for Babble subscribers: Saalt 15% Off
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