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This may not be the first thing you think about when you hear the words, “EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,” but that’s why I’m here; to make sure you don’t look past the little things like this.
I can think of very few things that could be worse to a 12-year-old girl than to start her period at school and not have any supplies with her.
This post is all about preparing a period kit for her backpack (and I would recommend making an extra one for her to keep in her purse or whatever she takes with her when going babysitting or to a friend’s house or wherever she may go).
So…1 for her backpack and 1 for her purse. This means you will want to make 2 of the exact same kit!
Of course, what you put in there is totally up to you, but here is a list of items to consider.
You need a little bag. This may seem like a very inconsequential purchase, but let me tell you…it’s extremely important! There are so many things you’ll want to consider when choosing a bag.
I got this bag because I happened to buy a bra at Victoria’s Secret and they had a freebie promotion going where you got this bag and a pair of hideous one size fits all underwear with any purchase. So that’s where this bag came from. The other kit I made is in a little mini toiletry bag. I swear I have at least 20 little random bags and I don’t even know where they all came from. Anyway, don’t think too hard on the bag. If you don’t have one, just go to Target. Heck, a pencil pouch would work great! I’m just sayin’…
If she hasn’t started her period yet, don’t put tampons in there! You’ll want to broach the tampon topic at home. Stick to pads for beginners…
If you’re look for something more sustainable or reusable, be sure to check out all the options included in this post on sustainable period care.
If she wasn’t expecting a period, things could be a little messy. These FLUSHABLE wipes can be lifesavers. Each box comes with 20 individually packaged wipes, meaning there are 2 boxes of 20 wipes each. There is an option for different amounts of boxes, and you save a little money the more you buy. Just to give you an idea, one box of 20 was $5.99 at Walgreens, so this price on Amazon is definitely fair. If you wanted to just put a few of your own from home in a little Ziploc bag, that works too!
**UPDATE! I just read that these Always wipes are NOT flushable??!! That’s kind of crazy to me. I have flushed them before…but just thought I’d put out that disclaimer. The ones I put in the Ziploc bag are Cottonelle and they are most definitely flushable.**
There is a good chance she’ll need to change her underwear, so be sure to include a fresh pair of underwear in the kit. I love the idea of these, that prevent leaks. I have researched several different brands and types, and I like these for the amount of coverage they offer. All of these leak-proof types of underwear are pretty pricey, but they vary greatly in the amount of coverage they provide. Just keep that in mind when you’re looking at different brands/cuts of underwear.
I say bagS because she may need a couple…if her underwear is salvageable, she’ll want a Ziploc bag to pack them home in. If they are beyond repair, I say just give her the green light to chuck them. Something about packing around bloody underwear just seems demoralizing for a young girl, but maybe that’s just me.
If for some unknown reason the bathroom doesn’t have a place for sanitary napkin disposal, she can stick her trash in a Ziploc bag and drop it in the trash can on her way out. Or if that is too humiliating, a Ziploc bag for trash would give her the option to tuck it away in her backpack to dispose of it at home. There are lots of different scenarios here, but with most of them, a Ziploc bag or two would be crucial.
Because…gross. If she already has some hand sanitizer easy accessible in her backpack and/or purse, you may not need to take up space in her period kit with this. But if she doesn’t always have one in her backpack/purse, I’d stick one in this bag. Because again…you just never know. What if the bathroom soap dispensers are out of soap?!? Ew.
While not as necessary as the other items, having a couple of these or these in there makes me feel better. I just hate the thought of my girl dealing with this in a school bathroom alone. If she’s cramping, I’d like to offer some sort of relief for her until she gets home. These are super easy to use and super small. They are activated by air, so all she has to do is open it and stick it on her abdomen or back, or wherever she is cramping.
**Price note on the Thermacare ones: this link takes you to the normal-priced one. Click on the link to see what they are so you are sure to get the correct kind, but if you get it through Amazon Prime Pantry, they are way cheaper. Of course prices can change, but to give you an idea, today this 3-pack is $11.89 on Amazon. Through Amazon Prime Pantry, that same 3-pack is $5.94. Walgreens is in the middle at $7.79. We use a reusable heating pad for home, but these can be lifesavers for school and other places away from home.**
Because if she has opened this bag, she has now entered the realm of chocolate on a whole new level and it just wouldn’t be right to not immediately induct her into the club.
Do your tween a favor and make these ASAP! You never know when they might need this!!! And just like with any other emergency, you don’t want to wait until it’s too late!
And while you’re at it, you might want to make a few for her 72-hour kit! For a comprehensive list of other items to include in your kids emergency kits, check out this blog post.
If you want self-sufficient kids, there are so many important life skills they need to know. Keeping track of important information is part of launching your teen into adulthood.
There will always be things we don’t think about before we encounter an emergency. But, I’m here to help you think about some of the non-food storage items you might want to keep on hand for the next rainy day.
Why you should schedule an emergency preparedness weekend every 6 months, and what you should be doing, reviewing, rotating, and maintaining. Free printable checklist!
