Abraham Lincoln once famously said: “Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I would spend the first 4 hours sharpening my axe.” 

What does a dearly departed US president cutting down a tree have to do with adolescent periods you ask? Preparation, baby! We fare so much better in life when we dedicate meaningful time and energy to the task of preparing and that’s what we plan on helping you do today. Specifically, preparing your daughters for their periods.

Now that school has started, the probability of the dreaded in-class *surprise* period arrival has increased exponentially. But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. If you’re prepped, you’re golden. 

Here are some of our best tips and tricks for how to manage your teen’s period and avoid leaks at school – created with some help from the experts at Kt. by Knix.

**

Outfit them with a period emergency kit

Even if you have no idea when your child’s period will arrive, it’s going to be fine as long as they’re prepared with a period emergency kit. Basically, pack some period supplies and comfort products in a makeup bag or travel bag and have them keep it in their locker or backpack so they have it on hand whenever they need it. This can include an emergency pad or tampon, extra underwear, and self care products. If you want them to be extra prepared, throw in some back-up leggings.

Know when their period is coming

The easiest way to prepare for their period is to have a sense of when it will be arriving. You can track their period together through an app, though it’s best to research their data privacy policies before you download — Stardust and Clue have good policies. You can also track their cycle manually with your phone’s calendar or even a printable period tracker.

Wear period underwear

Period underwear you say? Yes, a miracle product that protects your child’s clothes from leaks by absorbing their flow. Kt offers all sorts of period underwear available from full-coverage sleepover shorts to classic bikinis, and even reusable pads. The best part? They’re so light and comfortable that your teen doesn’t even have to be on their period to wear them. 

Check undies regularly

If they don’t have period underwear, that’s okay! Make sure they’re going to the bathroom regularly to check for leaks and to change their menstrual product of choice. Depending on their flow, they should change their pad or tampon approximately every four hours. (Read Knix’s handy guide on how to put in a tampon here.) If they use a menstrual cup, they can go up to 10 hours before they need to empty it, which is great for when they have their period at school.

Teach them the ‘toilet paper hack’

It’s tried, tested and true. If they don’t have any period products on hand, there’s always the age-old trick that has been used by generations before them: roll up or fold a wad of toilet paper and stick it in your underwear as a makeshift pad. It doesn’t feel amazing, but it’s better than bleeding through their pants. Pro tip: They can wear darker clothes throughout their period to disguise any leaks that might occur.

Give them an emergency contact

Getting their period at school doesn’t have to be scary, but if your teen’s period is heavier than usual or they’re experiencing period pain beyond the typical menstrual cramps, they might need to call a parent or guardian to bring them some supplies, or come pick them up to go home. It’s important they take care of themselves whatever way they feel best.

If their period is too painful, as in, they think they may need to seek medical attention, let them know to not hesitate to go to the school nurse. (If they’re uncomfortable telling their teacher they need to go to the nurse for cramps, they can always say they have a migraine.) For manageable pain, check out Knix’s guide to dealing with period cramps at school here.

**

As always, open communication and an honest approach is truly the winning combination here and preparation is a MUST. While menstruation may have been taboo in the past, we need to do our part to deconstruct that bullshit for the next generation and empower them to manage their periods in a way that feels good to them. 

Parents, you’ve got this!

*

Want to learn more about KT by KNIX – head to www.knixteen.ca