What to put in a first period kit
Period starter pack checklist for parents
Quick summary
- A first period kit helps your daughter feel prepared and confident, especially in the early years when her cycle is irregular and unexpected starts are common
- A first period kit for home can include pads, liners, wipes, spare underwear in a small pouch, while a school kit should stay small and discreet with just the essentials she needs for the day
- Pairing a period kit with the luna app helps teens track their cycle, understand what's normal, and feel more in control each month
What is a period kit for girls?
A period kit for girls is a small set of essentials that helps your daughter feel prepared, calm and confident before and during her period.
It’s especially useful in the early years of menstruation, when cycles are irregular and unexpected starts are common.
A period kit can be kept at home, in a school bag, in a locker, or packed for holidays and sleepovers.
Why create a first period kit?
Creating a period kit for girls is one of the simplest ways to help your daughter feel prepared, calm and confident as she approaches her first period.
We know this because thousands of teens have asked us in the luna app how to build one, or how to ask a parent for one.
Whether you’re putting together a first period kit to keep at home, or a smaller period kit for school that she can carry in her bag every day, having the right essentials ready removes a huge amount of worry.
Many younger teens are anxious about what will happen if their period starts unexpectedly, whether they’ll be able to change a pad in time, or what to do if they leak when they’re not at home.
A well-thought-out kit takes away so much of that uncertainty and gives them a sense of control.
What does a first period kit look like?
A first period kit is usually a slightly bigger, more complete set of items your daughter can explore at home before her period starts.
What to put in a first period kit
Parents often ask what to put in a first period kit, especially when their daughter hasn’t started yet but is showing early puberty signs.
A first period kit for home can be slightly larger and more complete.
First period kit checklist
Here’s what to include in a first period kit:
- A mix of pads (daytime and nighttime absorbencies)
- Panty liners for spotting or discharge
- Period underwear (optional, but great for heavier days or overnight)
- Unscented wipes (baby wipes are totally fine!)
- Tissues
- A small washable pouch or wet bag to keep everything in
- A mini hot water bottle or stick-on heat patches
These items give your daughter familiarity and choice before her period begins, reducing anxiety when it arrives.
What to put in a period kit for school
A period kit for school should be small, discreet and easy to keep in her bag every day.
This kit is about reassurance: knowing she has what she needs if her period starts unexpectedly or if she thinks she is about to leak.
Period kit for school checklist
What to include in a school period kit:
- 2-3 pads in different absorbencies (they'll need to be changed every 4-6 hours)
- 1-2 panty liners
- A spare pair of underwear
- Baby wipes (travel size)
- A small zip-lock bag which can be handy for stained underwear or in desperate measures used period products
- Hand sanitiser
- Hand cream
- Pain killers (only if allowed and if she knows how to use them)
- A small pouch to keep everything together
This helps her manage leaks, unexpected starts, and long school days confidently.
Should teens keep extra clothing in their period kit?
Extra clothing isn’t essential for school, but can be helpful at home.
For school, spare underwear is usually enough at school.
For home kits, leggings or joggers can be included but are optional.
If your daughter is into swimming, or needs to do it for school, but isn't feeling ready for tampons (which is very common), you may also want to get her period swimwear.
How a period kit helps your daughter feel more prepared
Many teens feel stressed about not knowing when their period will arrive, especially in the first two years when cycles are unpredictable.
A period kit gives them:
- A sense of control
- Fewer worries about leaks
- Confidence in new environments (school, clubs, trips)
- Privacy and independence
Add the luna app to help her track and understand her cycle
The luna app complements any period kit and is often one of the most helpful “add-ons” parents include.
luna helps your daughter to:
- Track when her period starts and ends
- Predict upcoming periods
- Log symptoms like cramps, mood changes or cravings so she knows what to expect each month and can prepare for it (she'll get personalised insights into her cycle)
- Learn what’s normal for her body
- Ask anonymous questions, answered safely and medically reviewed
Together, the period kit + luna helps teens (and their parents) feel calmer, more confident, and far less caught off guard.
A first period kit is about reassurance
You don't have to go overboard at all, particularly if you aren't sure what products she'll like to use long term, but giving her options is always a good idea so she can explore these comfortably.
The early years of menstruation are unpredictable, and teens often tell us that the fear of being “caught out” is worse than the period itself.
Being prepared helps them feel more in control of their day, even when their cycle isn’t regular yet.
And when your daughter pairs her period kit with the luna app, she has both practical tools and reliable knowledge: she knows what she’s carrying, what’s normal for her body, and when her next period is likely to begin.
That combination – preparedness plus understanding – is what builds confidence.
A good period kit doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. It just needs to be supportive, practical and tailored to what your daughter prefers.
With the right essentials in her bag and the right information at her fingertips, she can get on with school, hobbies, and daily life without worrying about her period catching her off guard.
How we created this article:
luna's team of experts comprises GPs, Dermatologists, Safeguarding Leads and Junior Doctors as well as Medical Students with specialised interests in paediatric care, mental health and gynaecology. All articles are created by experts, and reviewed by a member of luna's senior review team.
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