What Should You Put in a Period Kit for School?

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Be prepared for Aunt Flo with a simple DIY period kit

Co-authored by Carrie Noriega, MD and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: May 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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Having your period at school can be stressful, especially if you’re unprepared! But if you plan ahead, you can help ensure that you feel relaxed and ready next time you get a visit from your “special friend.” Make a period kit to have with you at school, and you’ll be prepared to deal with your period (when it comes) with as little fuss as possible.

Making Your Own Emergency Period Kit

Choose a container for your period supplies—like a makeup bag or pencil pouch.
Fill your container with menstrual supplies like pads, tampons, or a reusable cup.
Add unscented baby wipes and hand sanitizer for clean-up.
Include an extra pair of underwear and bottoms.
Add a plastic bag to store any soiled clothes or other items.
Pack soothing snacks and painkillers, if your school allows those items.
Keep your DIY period kit in your locker, binder, or desk.

1

Pick a container to keep your supplies in.

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Your period kit could be a pencil pouch, makeup bag, or small box. Use whatever you want—or make three different period kits so you’ve always got one on hand.
- A small pencil bag with grommets will be discreet enough to help you hide that you’re on your period and also latch into your binder. You can find a pencil bag at most office supply or big box stores.
- If you don't want anyone to know what's inside, opt for something opaque.
- Consider keeping a zippered bag full of period supplies in your backpack, desk, or locker at all times. A binder period kit is convenient, but you’ll be able to pack more supplies in a bigger bag.
- If you’re really embarrassed, you could put your kit into a box advertising something else—granola bars, cereal—and keep it in your locker so that people think you’re just keeping a snack on hand.

2

Choose your chosen menstrual supplies.

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You might prefer using pads, tampons, or something else. Whatever menstrual implement you choose, consider how many you’ll need throughout the day and figure out how many will fit without bulging. You want enough to get you through a whole school day. You can always restock when you're getting low!
- If you choose a reusable menstrual cup, you will only need one, as it can get emptied and washed throughout the day.^{[1]
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- If you use tampons, reusable pads, or period underwear, you may need about two or three.
- Exactly how many supplies you'll go through in a day will depend on your body as well as what day of your cycle it is. Many people's periods are heavier in the first few days and peter out.^{[2]
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- If you don’t want to take your entire period kit to the bathroom but still want to be discreet, stash a pad or tampon in a tissue container in your kit. Wrap a tissue around the pad or tampon and take it with you from class to the bathroom.

EXPERT TIP

Alicia Oglesby

Professional School Counselor

Alicia Oglesby is an Academic Counseling Expert based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and working as a Graduate Research Assistant. She was previously employed as the Associate Director of College Counseling at the Winchester Thurston School. Prior to that, she worked as a Director of School and College Counseling at 4 other secondary schools. With over twelve years of experience in academic counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College.

Alicia Oglesby
Professional School Counselor

Be prepared for your period. Assemble a discreet “period bag” to keep in your locker with pads, tampons, fresh underwear, and any other supplies you may need. This way, you'll be prepared when the time comes to deal with it.

3

Add body wipes to clean yourself up.

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Having wipes on hand is great for freshening up as needed. Look for individual wipe packets or baby wipes. You may also want to include a body mist or a spray fragrance of some type if you are worried about smells.
- Keep in mind that scented wipes can irritate your vagina–opt for unscented wipes if possible.^{[3]
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4

Include spare underwear and pants.

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You may never need extra clothes—but it’s good to have them, just in case! Put an extra pair of undies and pants in your period kit. If you’ve had an accident, you’ll be able to change and get comfortable quickly.^{[4]
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- Even if you're using another product, like a pad or menstrual cup, keeping an extra pair of period underwear at school can give you extra peace of mind.
- Black leggings are a good choice for spare pants since they roll up small and can be stored easily.

5

Add a plastic bag or wet bag.

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If you need to change, you’ll need a place to put your used clothes. Using a watertight bag can keep any soiled underwear or pants separate from the rest of the contents of your kit and backpack.
- If you use any used reusable period products, such as a menstrual cup, and you remove it at school, you can add this to the bag, too.
- Consider adding some small plastic baggies to your kit as well. Sometimes you have to throw away your disposable products outside of the stall, and it can be messy.

6

Pack hand wipes or hand sanitizer.

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Sometimes, you’ll be in a place where it’s difficult to clean up (such as a field trip to a park), and having a way to sanitize your hands is essential. If you have to change your underwear or pants, it can be really useful to have them in the stall with you. Use travel size packs that fit easily into your kit.

7

Add soothing snacks, if you want.

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Chocolate, bananas, and tea can all help ease period symptoms. Consider adding your favorite dark chocolate to your period kit; not only can it lift your spirits if you're feeling discouraged or frustrated, but the magnesium in chocolate has been shown to alleviate cramps.^{[5]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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- Be sure to go for a low-sugar dark chocolate, as sugar can actually make period cramps worse.^{[6]
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- Herbal tea, especially thyme or chamomile, may help you calm down and can ease period pain.
- Certain fruits, like bananas or berries, can help reduce period cramps, too.

8

Include painkillers if you’re allowed.

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If you get cramps on your period, pain relievers can help. Over-the-counter painkillers, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), can help ease the pain of cramps.^{[7]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Make sure that you’re allowed to have pain relievers at your school and that your bottle won’t be confiscated.
- You could also keep some tampons in a pill bottle (like Aspirin). It’ll hide your tampons, and you’ll have painkillers on hand when you need them. You can easily take it with you to the bathroom.
- If you’re not allowed to bring your own pain medicine to school, you may be able to ask for some from the school nurse if you need it.

9

Keep menstrual products hidden on your person.

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If you know “that time” is coming, prepare yourself ahead of time. If you know you’re on your period (or suspect you will be soon), place a pad or tampon in your pocket before your school day starts. This way, if you ever go to the bathroom without your kit and discover you’ve gotten your period, you’ll be prepared. Plus, no one will get suspicious or ask about you bringing a pencil pouch into the bathroom with you.
- Consider keeping the tampon, pad, or other menstrual tool in a zippered pocket to make sure that it doesn’t fall out.

Join the Discussion...

How to make a period kit?!?

WikiLorisSlinger100

I really don't know what to do honestly I mean, I do have one but it's bulky and not discreet. I have the basics but I just feel I'm missing stuff. Thank you, Skylin.

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Question

Is it normal for an 11 year old girl to get her period?

Carrie Noriega, MD
Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist
Dr. Noriega is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and medical writer in Colorado. She specializes in women’s health, rheumatology, pulmonology, infectious disease, and gastroenterology. She received her MD from the Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and completed her residency at the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2005.

Carrie Noriega, MD

Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist

Expert Answer

Yes it is normal to be having your period at 11 years old. Most girls start their period by age 12 but some girls can start as early as 9. All of these ages are considered normal for starting your period.

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Question

I'm scared to ask my teacher to go to the bathroom with supplies! She can be kinda strict and everyone in class stares when some one gets up! What do I do?

Carrie Noriega, MD
Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist
Dr. Noriega is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and medical writer in Colorado. She specializes in women’s health, rheumatology, pulmonology, infectious disease, and gastroenterology. She received her MD from the Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and completed her residency at the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2005.

Carrie Noriega, MD

Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist

Expert Answer

It may help to talk with your teacher before class to let her know why you may need to leave. It may not seem like she will understand but this is a natural process that she goes through too. It may also help to try to find a way that you can hide your supplies before you stand up to go to the bathroom. If you have a pocket that would be the easiest place to hide your supplies. If you use tampons, you can hide one in the sleeve of a long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt. For both tampons or pads you can always hide it in a sock if you are wearing pants to cover it. Just get creative about ways to hide your products to decrease your embarrassment.

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Tips

If you have your first period at school, don't fret; if you have a kit, use it and tell someone when you get home. If you don't have a kit, roll up some paper towels, wrap them in toilet paper four or five times, and stick the paper wad in the bottom of your panties. Then, wrap toilet paper around your underwear to secure it in place.

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If you find yourself without menstrual products when your period comes, go to the nurse, as they always have pads and tampons. One of your friends, classmates, or teachers probably has supplies, too, if you feel comfortable asking them.

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A lot of people are private about their period and like to keep period supplies hidden. But remember, periods are natural and nothing to be ashamed of.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Always have a few more products than you need. For example, if you typically use three tampons a day, pack five. This way, if you have a friend who isn’t prepared, you can lend her some products, and you'll be covered if your flow is heavier than normal or something happens to one of your products.
If you wear a bra, you can also stash pads or small tampons in the cup if you're in a pinch.

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Warnings

In some schools, you can get suspended for having medicine in your possession, so find out your school's policy before packing painkillers in your period kit.

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