How to Make a First Period Survival Kit She’ll Actually Love
**Originally published in July 2017, this post was last updated on July 26, 2025
Puberty is weird — no way around it. But it doesn’t have to be a confusing disaster. A little preparation can go a long way in helping your tween feel confident, capable, and cared for. A simple kit can ease the awkwardness and open the door to more supportive conversations. Here’s everything you need to build a first-period survival kit she’ll actually love.
✅ Quick Win: Help Her Track What’s Going On
Stop guessing what’s behind the mood swings — help her figure it out instead.
Grab the free printable Teen Vibe Bundle that includes a period tracker and build better self-awareness from day one.
📝 7 bullet-journal-style pages
💧 Sleep, food, water & mood logs
📥 Delivered instantly to your inbox
What’s the Point of a First Period Kit?
A first period can feel weird, confusing, and a little scary — for her and for you. That’s why having a kit ready before it starts can make such a huge difference.
It shows her:
💬 "You’ve got this... and I’ve got your back."
It also gives you a natural way to start conversations — not as a one-time "talk," but little bits here and there. That’s a lot less awkward for both of you.
Plus, she’ll actually be prepared — no panicked texts from school, no stuffing toilet paper in her underwear until she can get home.
If you’re nervous about saying the wrong thing, lean into humor. This one-liner works every time:
“Sorry, it doesn’t really get better… but it still beats being a man.”
No lies detected.
📦 Want to skip the shopping list?
There are plenty of cute beginner period kits already made with all the basics.
👉 Check out this ready-to-go option.
First Period Kit Essentials Checklist
Here’s everything to include in a kit that’s helpful, not overwhelming. No fluff — just what she’ll actually use and appreciate.
1. Pads, Liners, or Other Products
Even if she’s not ready for tampons or cups, it’s smart to let her know what all the options are.
Give her a few types and brands to try — because what’s comfy for one girl might not be for another.
- Regular and overnight pads
- Pantiliners for light days or backup
- Organic/fragrance-free options
- Tampons or menstrual cups (only if she’s ready — no pressure)
🩸 Most girls start with pads, but some may want to learn about other options. You know your daughter best. Some families stick to the basics at first and circle back to other products later — totally okay.
👉 Let her explore and decide what she likes best.
2. Leakproof Period Underwear
These are total game-changers — especially for sleep, school, or sports.
Black pairs are practical, but they also come in cute colors and styles.
📌 Tip: Add an extra pair to her emergency school kit.
🩲Guide to Period Underwear for Teens
3. Cramp + Comfort Care
When you feel crummy, comfort matters. Help her build a cozy little stash for those first few tough days.
Ideas to include:
- A microwavable heating pad or rice sock
- Fuzzy socks or a soft throw
- Her favorite hoodie or sweatshirt
- Pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Cramp patches or portable heating devices
🧵Learn to make a heat pack, which can also go in the freezer here.
4. A Journal + Fun Pens
Puberty brings allll the feelings. A journal is a great outlet — even if she only uses it once in a while.
- Blank or prompted journals
- Cute pens or markers
- Add in a few quote stickers or affirmations if she’s into that
📝 Bonus idea: Write notes back and forth for “non-awkward” convos.
Writing back and forth with each other offers an opportunity to reflect back on the "conversations", give time for thoughtful answers, and provide a way for otherwise awkward conversations to turn into meaningful connections without embarrassment. For both of you 🙂
It's a great way to answer questions like:
- What happens when you're on your period?
- What's the best thing to use for my first period?
- Warning signs your period is coming.
Embarrassment can lead to asking questions from their friends or the internet...and that's okay, but bridging that gap is a wonderful experience that can last a lifetime.
Meeting them at their comfort level and enhancing that will be important when your teenage daughter has questions later on about harder subjects.
💌3 Easy Ways to Connect with Your Tween
5. Snacks, Treats & Cravings Helpers
Comfort snacks are part of the package. Toss in a small stash of her faves.
Ideas:
- Dark chocolate, M&M’s, fruit gummies
- Pringles or salty crackers
- Reusable pouch or zip bag to tuck into her backpack
🍫 Totally okay to keep a secret snack stash for yourself, too.
6. Reusable Water Bottle
Hydration matters. Cramps, fatigue, and mood swings all get worse if she’s dehydrated.
A cute water bottle she likes makes a difference. Bonus if it has those little “drink more water” time stamps.
7. Period Tracker (Free Printable!)
She might not want to use a phone app — and that’s totally fine.
A paper tracker helps her feel in control without putting her info online. Ours includes:
- Cycle and period start tracker
- Sleep, water, mood, and food logs
- Space to reflect on how she’s feeling — no pressure
📥 Included in the Teen Vibe Tracker Bundle — download it free right here.
👜 Period Kit Extras She’ll Appreciate
These are the thoughtful little additions that show her you get it. They're not essential, but they can make her feel supported and seen in a whole new way.
A reader says...
💌 Add an encouraging note..."Stay calm. Congrats! I can't wait to talk when you get home. Here's some tips ... Love you! You're beautiful."
Place one in the at-home kit and the on-the-go bag.
Emergency Kit for School (or Sports or Dad’s House)
Even with the best prep, surprises happen. A small, portable kit she can tuck into her bag is a game-changer. Besides the very first time, it might not be at home.
Here’s what to include:
- Spare pair of undies
- Pantiliner or pad
- Pain reliever (if you’re comfortable with that)
- Wet wipes or tissue
- A small trash bag or zip-top for used items
- Hand sanitizer
🩷 Reader hack we love: Use a pencil pouch that snaps into a binder. It’s discreet, secure, and always with her during the school day.
👝Put together your own on-the-go kit here.
Something to Read or Watch Together
Sometimes it’s easier to talk after you both read the same book or watch the same video.
Here are some ideas to get the convo going:
- 📖 Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret – timeless classic, read my book review here
- ThePeriodBlog.com — answers real questions and tips from real girls
- Girlology.com — science-backed advice for moms and daughters
- HelloFlo.com — fun, honest info
- 📺 Madge the Vag on YouTube and TikTok – short, funny, helpful ⚠️(preview first!)
- FirstPeriod.org — how periods are viewed differently around the world
🎤 You don’t need to have all the answers — just a willingness to talk.
✅ Want to Make This Easier on Both of You?
There’s no one right way to build a first period kit — and if DIY isn’t your thing, or you just want a quick solution that still feels special, you’ve got options.
🎁 Try a Pre-Made Period Gift Box
These are curated just for tweens and teens, often with cute packaging and extras like stickers, affirmation cards, or surprise treats. Some are one-time boxes, and others work as monthly subscriptions.
If you’re short on time (or just not into shopping for this stuff), these can be a sweet and thoughtful shortcut. She still gets everything she needs — and you still get the credit for being the mom who totally had her back.
📥 Don’t Forget the Free Period Tracker Printable
While you’re building the kit, add a little something that helps her track how she feels. This bullet journal-style tracker is designed just for tweens and teens — no apps, no data, just real insight.
It’s part of the Teen Vibe Tracker Bundle, which also includes:
- Sleep log
- Water intake tracker
- Mood + food reflection pages
- Daily check-in chart
- Quick visual guides she can actually use
One reader said:
“I started using the trackers and my mom really likes knowing what mood I'm in… she understands me so much more now that she knows how I'm feeling.”
Small tool, big shift.
💬 Talking About Periods Doesn’t Have to Be Weird
You don’t need a script. Just starting the conversation — even if it’s a little awkward — tells her she can come to you when things get confusing or uncomfortable. And putting together a kit together? That opens the door without it feeling like a health class lecture.
It’s not just a box of supplies. It’s a quiet reminder that she’s not alone in figuring this out — and that she has someone in her corner.
Whether you DIY a kit or grab a pre-made one, what matters most is the care behind it. You’re helping her feel confident, informed, and supported from the very beginning.
🌍 Around the world — and even here in the U.S. — women and girls are often made to feel uncomfortable about something that’s completely natural and out of their control.
Starting the conversation and offering support early can shift that.
👉 Curious about how this ties into human rights? Look into the #endperiodpoverty movement.
If you’re looking for something uplifting to include in her kit or share together, here’s a little inspiration boost:
👑 108 Best Powerful Confidence Quotes by Remarkable Women
📚 More Tween & Teen Posts You’ll Like
- Defusing Teen Attitudes: The Ultimate Guide
- Period Underwear for Teens: Everything You Need to Know Now
- 5 Shockingly Simple Ways to Improve Tween Attitude
- 3 Fantastic Puberty Books for Girls She’ll Love
- When Should Girls Start Shaving? The Fuzzy Truth
📦 Want to Help Her Feel More in Control?
Grab the free Teen Vibe Tracker Bundle to go along with her new period kit — perfect for building awareness around mood swings, energy levels, and what’s really affecting her day.
No spam, no pressure — just tools she can actually use.
📥 Send Me the Free Tracker Bundle
Help her feel confident and cared for with a first period kit you build together. It’s more than just supplies — it’s the start of showing her how to care for herself.
🗨️Some of the greatest additions to this list have come from readers like you. What would you add to this list? Comment below.
I plan to add a fun trip for a pedi and some mom/daughter bonding time over some ice cream. I opted to keep the bird and the bees talk until after she started so that may be the topic of conversation during this time as well.
Hi guys!
My granddaughter doesn't want to talk about it with her mom so I guess that leaves it up to me. I started at 9 so I want them to be ready at that age which she is now.
I'm going to get her supplies ready along with her kit and have the talk when I present it to her.
Pray she doesn't get it before then.
Hi MsV, Your granddaughter is lucky to have you in her life. How wonderful that she has someone who not only realizes she doesn't want to talk to her mom but is willing to step in. As long as she has someone who she can confide in she'll do great. Thanks for commenting.
I have made my daughter a period kit months ago. I included wipes, pads, underwear, and a bag to put soiled underwear in just in case.
Hi Casey, Great ideas! It's important to be prepared especially when periods can be so unpredictable. Thanks for commenting.
Hi, my two preteens just started theirs 6m apart, the oldest is 12 1/2, the younger will be 11 in a month. One thing we added to this list is a cool new water bottle. My kids all already have one for their bedside, but a special new one just because it’s their first time is a special reminder that hydration really helps against cramping and exhaustion. I also save a small budget aside for that time so that I can remember to buy some sort of special chocolate or other snack to help against the cramping
Hey Lyle, What a fabulous idea. In Quick Tips for Tween Attitude I included hydration as one of the key habits to teach them, but I love that you've incorporated it with their new period routine to reinforce that taking care of themselves is so important. I'm going to include your idea here too! And yes, chocolate is a must. Thanks for commenting.
An idea that my friend came up with—a zippered pouch with 3 rings that fits into a binder (the kind of pouch used for pencils). Not transparent. Keep extra pads for emergencies. Students always have their binders.
Hi Gail...I love that idea! Often classes and lockers are not close to each other and it won't be lost or forgotten. Thanks for commenting 🙂
This post is great! I added fresh undies into my daughter’s pack and a little ziplock to put soiled undies in 🙂
Hey Kiely, Thanks! Great addition to the to-go pack! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Include a note for your daughter to read when it happens. If she's away from home she'll appreciate a note saying, "Stay calm. Congrats! I can't wait to talk when you get home. Here's some tips ... , Love you! You're beautiful."
Hi Wendy, I love that idea! You're right you never know. Thanks for commenting.
Nice, I really wouldn't have thought to do something like this but I most definitely will be on it now. My daughter is in the 3rd grade but there's no time like the present to start somewhere. She is in between her dads house and mines so I will buy her a kit for over there too but I really do hope she's with me when it happens. I remember getting my period at school and felt so alone until my mother got home in the evening to see how I was doing.
Hi Aarti, Having one in each place is a great idea. I agree with wanting to be there when it happens. Since you can't be sure of that, talking about it ahead of time will go a long way just in case. The post 3 Fun Puberty Books for Girls has some good books I recommend. Thanks for commenting.
Love the post. My daughter is going into the 5th grade next week and I already made her a pack. I forgot to include something for pain. I also included a feminine wipe...you know to freshen up from possible accidents. Thanks for all the tips and extras I hadn’t thought of.
Hi Tiffany, Happy to hear you liked the post. The feminine wipes are a great addition. I'll have to add those into the post. I should do another post for an on-the-go kit. Thanks so much for commenting 🙂
Oh wow...thanks Shelley. Glad to know you liked it. My daughter, 11 helped me put together the post. She loves seeing how popular it is. We are planning a series of posts surrounding that age group. I popped back to your blog again to see your roundups....I love your format for sharing other blogs in each of the P.R.I.M.E. categories.
I love this idea! As a teen I remembered it being hard going through all of this and when the school gave us little kits it made me feel special.
Aww thanks. Wow your comment takes me back...I forgot about the Jr. High Gym class kits. Since my mom avoided the subject I appreciated that too.
This is so great. "Better than being a man" made me snort. And so it begins. Cheers.
Hey Gretchen, I aim to please. Makes us laugh too.
ALL great ideas!! Wish I had known about this when my daughter and granddaughters reached this important event in their lives. Great job mom!! Can you tell me what exactly goes in the heat/cold packs? I would love to make some as gifts! Glad to see the new post.
Hi Karen, I know right. How did mom's get by without Pinterest, it's an epic mom (and grandmom) resource, lol. The ones I have now are filled with rice. It wasn't my favorite filler since when heated you can smell it, not bad, just could be better. I have yet to add essential oils, though they would work well. I also made a few with flax seed, it's pricier than a jumbo pack of rice if you are making gifts, but sooo much nicer. I am actually going to be adding a tutorial post for the packs. I hardly know how to sew, but still super easy, quick and inexpensive. Only about $1 per pack. I need to make more. We are constantly using them for aches or just to be cozy during the winter. 5 people and 2 packs is not working 🙂 Happy to hear from you again.