# God Bless merchandising! - Cute menstrual pads for 8-12 year old girls. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 16, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589 "2011-04-16T05:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/1 "2011-04-16T05:53:07Z")
We might be losing our manufacturing ass to the Chinese, but by God we can still find a product niche where none existed before. God Bless America! [Maxipads Get Cute And Sparkly For Young Menstruaters](http://jezebel.com/#!5792366/maxipads-get-cute-and-sparkly-for-increasingly-young-menstruaters) > [@](#): > > Margaret Hartmann — In response to research that suggests more girls are hitting puberty as young as seven or eight, Kotex has created a new line called U by Kotex Tween that’s aimed at 8 to 12-year-olds. > The pads are 18% shorter and narrower than regular Kotex pads, come in glittery boxes, and feature star and heart designs (just like your period itself!). As the New York Times notes, “the products would look at home on the set of Hannah Montana.” ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/2 "2011-04-16T05:58:59Z")
And what’s the problem with that? A lot of young girls are embarrassed by their menarche, and it can result in situations where fear of humiliation due to having to use huge mattress-like maxipads and so on from their mum’s stash can lead to unsanitary solutions like stuffing TP down their panties, or using pads or tampons for long after their maximum absorbency is reached. If small, cute and sparkly packaging is helping girls come to terms with something they have to live with for the next 30-40 years, I say good on them for looking into the market and making a niche. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/3 "2011-04-16T06:04:02Z")
menarche - Band name! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/4 "2011-04-16T06:13:48Z")
> [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > menarche - Band name! Actually, it sounds like the chief monster in a game or book. Archdemon…Archmage…Menarche. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/5 "2011-04-16T06:39:11Z")
Hell, I got MY period when I was 10. It was quite a shock, I had a vague idea that I’d get it…but I sure didn’t expect it that early. My mother hadn’t expected it that early, either, and I got a very quick lesson in Feminine Hygiene 101. That was 44 years ago. And I got a hysterectomy about 10 years ago. Let me tell you, of the two, I’m happier about the hysterectomy. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/6 "2011-04-16T06:58:19Z")
As a father I’m glad that my girl had her Mother and Nanny to talk to. I only took over when she brought home her first boyfriend and I had a talk with him. Thought I’d share this with you ladies… Off on a little tangent but still comedy gold… [Julia Sweeny’s talk with her 8 year old daughter about sex.](http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=58540) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/7 "2011-04-16T07:38:05Z")
> [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > As a father I’m glad that my girl had her Mother and Nanny to talk to. I only took over when she brought home her first boyfriend and I had a talk with him. > > Thought I’d share this with you ladies… > > Off on a little tangent but still comedy gold… > > [Julia Sweeny’s talk with her 8 year old daughter about sex.](http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=58540) That was comedy PLATINUM!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/8 "2011-04-16T08:04:47Z")
I just bought some colorfully packaged ones from Target. Kotex has its marketing down. There’s just something happy about [aqua blue wrapping paper](http://blogs.glam.com/glamblush/files/2010/05/u-by-kotex.jpg)! While searching for a pic, I came across a [very bad Halloween costume](http://www.jasonrivera.com/images/articles/20101028_2_824/2cervupgb5.jpg). I waaarrned you. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/9 "2011-04-16T08:15:58Z")
“menarche said knock you out!” ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/10 "2011-04-16T10:19:53Z")
I have no issue with making the packaging appealing to kids who are faced with a situation which really has little to recommend it otherwise. I do have an issue with [feminine hygiene companies that think their packaging and features are the second coming](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rOzHkTENsk). ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/11 "2011-04-16T10:30:02Z")
I don’t see where this is any different from making diapers that look like jeans or underwear covered with superheroes. And thinking back to the massive pads my mom gave me - in the olden days before they were adhesive and you needed to use a belt - these would have made the whole evolution a bit less awkward. Well, maybe not, but still… And I agree with Lynn - it’s over 20 years since my factory was bulldozed :eek: and I remember that event much more fondly than my first period. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/12 "2011-04-16T10:41:40Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > I have no issue with making the packaging appealing to kids who are faced with a situation which really has little to recommend it otherwise. > > I do have an issue with [feminine hygiene companies that think their packaging and features are the second coming](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rOzHkTENsk). Fuck that ad pisses me off, Girl From Mars. Tampons have come with twist-off wrappers, tapered tips, knotted strings and “e-z glide” covers for fucking years. It’s not a revelation. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/13 "2011-04-16T11:07:17Z")
I am apparently an 8-12 year old girl, because I would totally use them if they were grown-up size. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/14 "2011-04-16T12:30:52Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I am apparently an 8-12 year old girl, because I would totally use them if they were grown-up size. You’re in luck. From the article. > [@](#): > > Kotex is also rolling out a “limited-edition designer series,” of printed pads for adult women. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/15 "2011-04-16T12:39:11Z")
> [@astro](#): > > We might be losing our manufacturing ass to the Chinese, but by God we can still find a product niche where none existed before. God Bless America! > > [Maxipads Get Cute And Sparkly For Young Menstruaters](http://jezebel.com/#!5792366/maxipads-get-cute-and-sparkly-for-increasingly-young-menstruaters) I would have been thrilled with this product as a kid. It would have made the whole transition just a little bit more fun. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/16 "2011-04-16T12:42:53Z")
If I’d seen these when I first went menstrual pad shopping with my daughter I’d have totally bought them. Then again, I’m a dude so I have no idea what makes a good pad or not. Yes her mother was available, she didn’t want to take her to the store. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/17 "2011-04-16T13:06:07Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > If I’d seen these when I first went menstrual pad shopping with my daughter I’d have totally bought them. Then again, I’m a dude so I have no idea what makes a good pad or not. Yes her mother was available, she didn’t want to take her to the store. Actually I think it’s great that you took her. Having one’s dad treat it like just another bit of shopping is a hell of a lot better than having this thing that’s happening to your body be something that makes you disgusting to your father and has therefore to be hidden from him as it was back when I started. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/18 "2011-04-16T13:25:20Z")
Hell, I’m over 45 and I’m still thrilled when a guy treats it as being routine as buying toilet paper or dish soap. Dads who are cool with this are totally rockin’ ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/19 "2011-04-16T19:14:12Z")
[Vinnie’s Tampon Cases](http://www.tamponcase.com/) Know your Flow! ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589/20 "2011-04-16T19:20:13Z")
double post. nothing to see here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-bless-merchandising-cute-menstrual-pads-for-8-12-year-old-girls/578589.md?page=2)