Period Explanation

Why not tell her the truth? It's so nice that you are open with her physically. That way she won't be ashamed of her body later. My dad was reading short stories about girls who got their periods when I was still really little - just in case, so I would never feel bad about it. And I didn't.
P.S.: The nest sounds awesome too and is very close to the truth!

I've explained to all my kids that moms bleed once a month. This blood is used for growing a baby, but if there is no baby it comes out. I stress to them that it does not hurt me at all. Seems to suffice..,no more questions ;)

I do the same as Stephanie. Just be matter a fact. Say the blood is used to make a baby but when you don't have a baby the blood has to come out. It doesn't hurt and it is normal. I think they need to know it is normal and they won't fuss or ask about it anymore.

My mom used tampons which kind of seemed pretty creapy to me as a little girl. However, she explained that when you grow up, women bleed and it doesn't hurt like bleeding from a scraped up knee or elbow or anything. It's not the same as an "owie" or anything to be afraid of.

I had a hysterectomy when my son was a year old so he learned about periods and mini-pads from having a sister 10 years older. We just kind of explained it as a natural course of events. Mommy didn't have periods because I didn't have any of my "reproductive" parts anymore. My daughter grew up knowing I was in the hospital all the time due to reproductive issues so she knew about uteruses, fallopian tubes, ovaries and endometriosis.

I think if you just explain things, as age appropriately as possible, kids are fine with it. You never need to give too much adult information, especially to a 3 year old. Your little one just needs to know you're not sick, it doesn't hurt, and it's a natural thing that happens to women's bodies.

Just my opinion.

I just kept it simple and told my 3 yr old that it's called a period and it's something that girls get when they're older. She also knows her 12 yr old sister started getting them and that's the age it starts. I've also explained that the pad is kind of like a diaper and helps to avoid having a mess.

That seems to have satisfied her questions about it and whenever she does come in the bathroom with me and sees blood she'll say 'oh your having your period'. If we're in a public stall I'll tell her to keep it down and explain that some things we don't talk loudly about in public.

I don't know how to answer this because I haven't had this problem. I use a Diva Cup, and since you can leave it in for like 10 hours (except for super heavy flow days, you have to empty it out more often then), my son never knows I'm on my period and he goes to the bathroom with my whenever we are out. I try to tell everyone about it, it is so much cleaner than pads and tampons, and you can mostly forget that you are on your period, and your kids don't have to see it. Just a thought for you and other moms that would rather not deal with their period and pads all of the time. It makes life so much easier, is cheaper (pads are expensive!), and environmentally friendly.

I agree with Stephanie H. I've always been honest with my girls and they know that one day they will have to deal with the same thing. I always answered questions as honestly as possible without giving too much information.

I like the idea of the womb as a nest. Kids 'get' nests.

"Do you see birds in their nests? Before they lay their eggs, many birds build a new nest or add twigs, so the nest is nice and fresh for their eggs. Inside my body is a nest called a womb. It's where babies grow. Nests for birds have twigs and grasses for the chicks; my womb has blood in it, so it's a good and warm place for the baby to start to grow. Every so often, the blood comes out and fresh blood goes in. So, it's a little bit of blood. It doesn't hurt, (not a time to discuss cramps) and I'm not sick, I'm fine."

Don't give any more information than what she asks for, and she'll likely be fine. If you are calm about it and open, it sends a message that it's all fine and good and just how things are supposed to be.

It might've been Stephanie who responded to a similar question a few months back and that's the route I've tried to take with DD - simple, succinct. She's asking because it's something in her world, like that you have brown hair or you're wearing a bandaid today, etc. In public bathrooms, I've taught DD to use a quiet voice (at one time she loved the echo....).

I also explained it similar to Stephanie. Mommy's have blood in their tummy to cushion a baby and if we don't have a baby in our tummy, once a month our body bleeds it out to prepare for a fresh blood cushion. It doesn't hurt and it is natural.

I've had women wait for me outside the stall to tell me that they liked my answer!!

I told her nothing. Told my son nothing either. A three year old simply does not have the cognitive skills to comprehend what a period is, and they're going to blurt it out to others. It's your choice to allow your child in the bathroom with you, but I never did that. We had closed doors during bathroom time in our house, and people were not welcome to intrude - yes, you can train kids not to do this :) If they were too young to be left out wandering the house for those couple of minutes, they were playpenned or gated into a safe area. I don't remember much public bathroom time, I guess if I was out someplace on weekends, my husband was usually with us, we were doing family things, and if I was doing errands, the kids would be home with husband so maybe I just don't have a good comprehension of being in that situation. It may be time to start explaining PRIVACY to your child, and that you don't ask questions about things you see people do in the bathroom because it is rude. It's never too early for manners :)

Red = Blood
Tampons = Bandaids for the inside
Pads = Bandaids for your outside
Hurts = As much as your nose dripping (as in it doesn't hurt, but sometimes you feel icky when your nose is dripping, and sometimes you don't)
Period = Body shedding the uterus lining
Who = Grownup and teen women/girls / you don't have to worry about it

REMEMBER: You never have to answer right then. Telling a child that you'll tell them later (that day, tomorrow, after you think, etc.) is ALWAYS acceptable! Just because they ask doesn't mean that you have to be Jill On The Spot :) That was a revelation to me (Oh! I can think for a bit before I respond, I'm the grownup not the kid in this equation! -not sarcastic... My mind took Parent+Kid=Instant Response... like it was my mum asking me a question as a kid myself) Awesome! Personally, I DO always always always answer. Just not always right then.

When my son was little he was always in the bathroom with me too. I explained to him that babies come from eggs and all mommies have eggs and each month the egg gets ready in case you want to have a baby and if you don't want to have a baby the egg comes out as blood. He knows it is called a period. He's 10 now and still doesn't know exactly how babies are actually made but they are going to discuss this in school in the spring so I'm dreading that conversation. Hope this helps you explain to your daughter.

Honestly, it never came up - ever. They were just never in the bathroom with me at that time.
And, like Alysson, I use a Diva Cup. And, I agree. It's easier, cheaper, enviromentally... AND safer!

I told them something along the lines that grown up ladies bodies make extra blood in case they have a baby growing inside of them. If they don't have a baby growing the extra blood comes out so the lady's body can make more again in case a baby starts growing.
I made it very clear that it did not hurt and that it was extra blood that I did not need so it was not going to hurt me.
Unfortunately I suffer from severe migraines in conjunction with my periods and can have other physical issues that can make me a little sick. I have also had to send a child to the other bathroom for tampons on occasion. I can't really hide it.
It's just treated as one more natural thing that happens and don't make a big deal of it and move on.
I've given up on any degree of privacy. Between the cats that would destroy the carpet trying to scratch at it to open the door if it's closed and 3 kids there just isn't any anymore.