A119 How To Raise A Daughter: Guide For Dads

## A Guide To Talking Puberty & Periods

Let’s be honest: talking about puberty and periods with your daughter is something that most dads prefer to leave to their partner or another signiﬁcant female in the family.

But by showing her that you’re comfortable talking about periods – and being there for her when she needs you – you can help boost her conﬁdence.

### Here are some tips on talking puberty and periods – and general advice on how to raise a daughter for dads.

Read the full article below

4 Keep it casual

## What does your first period look like?

Getting your first period is full of excitement and anticipation.

But what does your first period look like? It’s a question on a lot of girls’ minds.

Most girls get their period somewhere between the ages of 10 and 13. Don’t worry if you get yours earlier or later than your friends. Everyone is on their own schedule, and there’s no “good” or “bad” age to get your period. But when it does come, it’s pretty exciting!

You go to the loo – and TA-DA!! There it is. Period blood. But it may not be that straightforward.

[Your first period](/en-gb/period-hub/first-period-and-puberty/what-is-a-period/ "Your first period") (and the next few after that) may just look like brown spotting in your knickers. It’s not the red blood you may have been expecting. So what actually DOES your first period look like?


A017 - What Does Your First Period Look Like?

Read the full article below 

My Period category icon

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Your period will last between 3 to 7 days. Once your menstrual cycle is more predictable, your period will come regularly, about every 28 days. You may want to mark down on a [calendar](/en-gb/period-tracker/ "Calendar") when you get your first period.

This way, you’ll have some idea when your next one will come. Your period will likely be [irregular](/en-gb/period-hub/first-period-and-puberty/home-remedies-for-irregular-periods-in-teenagers/ "Irregular") at first. It’s totally natural. It can take a while for your body to settle into a regular cycle.

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Every woman at some point in her life experiences crampy menstrual pains. And how to get reduce period pain and cramps? You can start with warm compresses!

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How to get reduce period pain and cramps

- Up to Zero Feel Zero Leaks
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Always Infinity FlexProtect Night Extra (Size 4) sanitary pads

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Discovering a little blood on your knickers before your period is due can be confusing. But breathe deep. It’s usually no big deal. Click to learn more!

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Can PMS cause fatigue? If you're feeling tired before your period, click here to learn what you can do about this!

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Find helpful resources about periods categorised into subtopics. Get informed with expert insights, navigate your period journey with confidence.

First Period & Puberty

Period Hub: Explore Period Articles by Category | Always UK

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Calculate your menstrual cycle

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In order to calculate your menstrual cycle, you’ll need to learn how to track your [cycle](/en-gb/period-tracker/ "Cycle"). Don’t worry. It’s pretty simple. All you need to do is mark down when your period started on a calendar for a few months in order to figure out how to count your period cycle days and to calculate the average length of your menstrual cycle.


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When you’re pregnant, every little change in your body takes on greater significance, and you can read each of them as a sign of what is happening with your baby. That is great, as long as you don’t over-interpret, or assume everything is an indication that things are going wrong! The same thing applies to your discharge.

A127 - Vaginal discharge during pregnancy: What's normal?

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy: What's normal?

FPGA - Download PDF- Not sure where to start?

Not sure where to start?

How To Raise A Daughter: Guide For Dads

When you get your first period be sure to [tell your mum](/en-gb/period-hub/first-period-and-puberty/how-to-explain-periods-and-puberty-to-your-daughter/ "Tell your mum") or a trusted adult. (No one will know you have your period unless you tell them!). It can be good to tell them, so they can help support you and provide you with what you need (period products, tips…).
<br/><br/>
Next, you’ll want to put on a [sanitary towel](/en-gb/feminine-products/sanitary-towels/ "Sanitary towel") in order to absorb period blood and protect your knickers and clothing from it.

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Period Hub - Back to Period Hub page

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Bleeding between periods

You need to ensure that your daughter has the facts before she enters puberty, so start discussing puberty and periods from the ages of 7 or 8. If she’s already started showing the ﬁrst signs of puberty, it’s deﬁnitely time to talk.

Start conversations early

Menstrual Cycle

A010-T02-How to count the days in your menstrual cycle 

How to count the days in your menstrual cycle 

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Confidence

With Always Infinity FlexProtect Night Extra (Size 4) period pads with wings, you may even forget you are wearing a pad so you can enjoy a good-night sleep.

Always Infinity FlexProtect Night Extra (Size 4) period pads with wings

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Period Tracker

Track your period

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A119 - T07- 'Period-proof' the bathroom!

'Period-proof' the bathroom!

Don’t let the ﬁrst time you discuss anything personal be when she [starts her period](/en-gb/period-hub/symptoms-explained/why-are-you-tired-before-period/ "Starts her period"). A top tip on how to raise a daughter for dads is to ask questions – and listen!

Just as you’d want to know what’s going on at school, ask her about her feelings. Fathers raising daughters will ﬁnd that this makes those period conversations much easier when the time comes.

A119 - T01  - SUB01 - Open up an emotional dialogue

Dr Tariq Miskry

Period Hub - PH01 - First Period and Puberty -  Our most read Articles

Our most read Articles

1 Open up an emotional dialogue

Having ‘the talk’ as a one-off can overwhelm her with information, so address the subject in easy stages to help build your daughter’s knowledge.

Look for natural moments to talk – say, when watching an advert or ﬁlm or buying period products.Fathers raising daughters often ﬁnd this kind of conversation uncomfortable, so try discussing periods where there’s less need for eye contact, such as in the car.

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Now, figuring out when your next period will come is easy as pie. Starting on the first day of your last period, just count out the average number of days between your periods (aka your average cycle length that you calculated) and that gives you the projected start date of your next period.

Voila! Now you know how to calculate your [cycle](/en-gb/period-tracker/ "Cycle"). Calculating your period isn’t an exact science but knowing how to calculate your menstrual cycle will give you a good approximation of when your period will come. 

Your period may not come regularly. In fact, when you first start menstruating, it’s totally normal for your period to be irregular. It may take up to a year or two for your body to get into a regular pattern so keep on tracking. 

Did all this make you a little cross-eyed? Don’t worry. You can use the [period calendar](/en-gb/period-tracker/) on this website. Knowing how to calculate your menstrual cycle is a big help for being prepared and confident around your period.

How to know when your next period is due

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A017 - T01 - What will my first period look like

What will my first period look like

Always_EN_UK/Articles/Doctors-images/David-Nunns.jpg

Dr David Nunns

Article reviewed by

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Would you like to know what exactly a yeast infection is, and how to recognise it by your discharge? We’re here to give you the details.

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Download our [Always Changing & Growing Up Parents Guide](https://assets.ctfassets.net/aqfuj2z95p5p/VWZJ50kBbeSYgPwE4aIQ2/240a57b6a5a363dc4573e88b64abdd69/Always_Parents_Booklet.pdf "Always Changing & Growing Up Parents Guide") for more information.

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Gynaecologist

always_en_uk-articles-a070-first-period-stories-first-period-stories-jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A052-What-is-a-Period/What-is-a-Period.jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A123-6-Tips-on-How-To-Raise-a-Confident-Daughter/00-How-To-Raise-A-Confident-Daughter.jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A036-How-to-Dispose-Sanitary-Pads/00-How_to-dispose-sanitary-pads.jpg

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Your-Guide-to-Breast-Development 

Parents looking for tips?

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A119-How-To-Raise-A-Daughter/02-Do-your-homework.jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A119-How-To-Raise-A-Daughter/00-How-To-Raise-a-Daughter-For-Dads.jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A119-How-To-Raise-A-Daughter/03-Start-conversations-early.jpg

always_en_uk-articles-a062-how-to-feel-better-during-your-period-how-to-feel-better-during-your-period-jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A119-How-To-Raise-A-Daughter/05-Dont-give-her-the-brush-off.jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A045-7-Reasons-for-a-Late-Period/Head_7_Reasons-for-a-late-period.jpg

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A010-How-to-Calculate-Your-Menstrual-Cycle/Head_how-to-calculate-your-menstrual-cycle.jpg.jpg

Materials for Teachers

Always UK-kids

01-Home remedies for irregular periods in teenagers

01-Emotional changes during puberty

Dr. Tariq Miskry image

always_en_uk-articles-a017-what-does-your-first-period-look-like-00-what-does-your-first-period-look-like-jpg

A117 Explain periods to daughter

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A119-How-To-Raise-A-Daughter/07-Period-proof-the-bathroom.jpg

Dont-Panic-About-Puberty

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A007-When-Is-My-Next-Period-Due/00-When-is-my-next-period-due.jpg

About Periods And Puberty

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A068-You-May-Be-Wearing-the-Wrong-Size-Sanitary-Pad/00-You-May-Be-Wearing-the-Wrong-Size-Sanitary-Pad.jpg

First period symptoms

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A119-How-To-Raise-A-Daughter/Statistic.png

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A060-What-are-Periods-Called-in-Other-Countries/What-are-Periods-Called-in-Other-Countries.jpg 

Always_EN_UK/Article-categories-icons/My-period.png

Signs of Puberty in Girls?

Always_EN_UK/Articles/A119-How-To-Raise-A-Daughter/01-Open-up-an-emotional-dialogue.jpg

How To Raise A Daughter: Guide For Dads

A Guide To Talking Puberty & Periods

Here are some tips on talking puberty and periods – and general advice on how to raise a daughter for dads.

01 Open up an emotional dialogue

02 Do your homework

03 Start conversations early

04 Keep it casual

05 Don't give her the brush-off

06 Mark the 'big moment' in a small way

07 'Period-proof' the bathroom!