Care Packages for Period Care

The best time for a little love and care is when it’s that time of the month, and the perfect way to show a little or a lot of love is a care package!

Aunt Flo coming to call, shark week, the crimson tide, code red, bloody mary, moon time, on the rag, the list goes on and on. There are plenty of euphemisms for the dreaded period and the PMS that come with it, yet sometimes it feels as though there are no solutions.

Though the names we use for periods are very light-hearted and comedic, the actual process in no picnic whatsoever. 

Bleeding, bloating, cramps, fatigue, seemingly endless cravings, and just a general desire to curl up in a ball for 2-7 seven days every month can put a damper on even the best of moods, if the PMS weren’t accomplishing that already.

But even if dealing with PMS and periods can be awful, there are lots of things that can make even the most horrendous of cramps or moods just that much more bearable. Whether you’re looking to practice some self-care or you’re shopping for someone else in your life, these ideas are bound to help you out.

Hygiene Products

The first idea is perhaps the most obvious— as well as the most important! Menstrual hygiene products are an absolute essential, as periods have a terrible habit of showing up at the worst possible times. I first got mine at a cousin’s wedding. In a word, yikes.

You may want to check in with whoever you intend to give the package to about what they use, as these products come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. The most common are tampons and pads, but new methods of dealing with periods are being created every day, and everyone has different preferences.

Menstrual cups, period underwear, menstrual discs, and washable pads are all solutions to periods that have been released more recently, and they’re all good ideas for a PMS care package.

These preferences can depend on many factors, such as their sustainability, the time they are able to be used, and the level of physical activity they expect to be doing.

If one doesn’t prefer reusable products, running out can be an absolute nightmare, and even if the person who will be receiving the care package is fully stocked, having too many pads or tampons as opposed to too few is never a bad thing.

Periods can turn out to be a real nuisance and a mess, especially if you’re unprepared for their arrival. Including menstrual products in your care package will help ensure that an accident like this never has to happen!

Including these products in your care package ensures that they will be fully prepared to deal with their period, and if they don’t use all of the products then they can always save them for next month!

Speaking of thinking ahead to the next month, periods are unfortunately repeat offenders, appearing every month like clockwork, though menstrual cycles vary from person to person.

Another good item to include in your care package may be something to track your period. There are calendars and journals made for doing exactly that, and including one in your care package could be a big help!

Pain Relief

Bleeding is hardly the only problem periods bring with them. A lot of women and people who were assigned female at birth suffer from awful cramps that can begin before or during the actual period itself.

Heating pads and hot water bottles are fantastic ideas, and placing either on your abdomen can lessen cramps a great deal. Including one in your care package would be very thoughtful.

Cramps when you’re on or expecting your period can make doing anything besides lying on the couch seem impossible. Ways to relieve that pain would be a great addition to any care package.

A lot of people use painkillers or vitamins to help them get through pain, too, but this would be another case where it’s important to ask about any preferences or allergies the receiver of the care package may have.

Standard painkillers made for anti-inflammatory pain, such as ibuprofen, can work wonders. There are also several brands of painkillers that are made specifically to get rid of period cramps, so looking into those could be a good idea.

Some people take painkillers every time they get their period, some never want or have to, so it definitely depends on the person. If all else fails, supplements and vitamins might help, too. They certainly can’t hurt.

However, any attempt to relieve pain will be greatly appreciated, so it’s something important to consider when assembling a care package.

Treats

There’s nothing that’ll make you feel better when on your period than something sweet!

When it comes to care package ideas, you can NEVER go wrong with chocolate. It’s easily the most common candy to buy someone, and while other candies like gummy can’t hurt— gummy bears are another favorite —chocolate is the standard for a reason.

Any kind of dessert is a good idea, in fact— particularly cookies or ice cream —but chocolate in a care package takes the cake, pun intended. There’s nothing like a literal box of chocolates to make someone feel appreciated.

Drinks are good, too, particularly warm ones. Tea and hot chocolate are the best choices for someone dealing with cramps, and if you know someone with an affinity for either, including one or both would surely warm their heart as well as their hands.

There’s nothing quite like holding a warm mug to start your day off right. And as periods last for several days, having a large supply of whatever drink your loved one prefers is a thoughtful idea.

Though sweet-tooth satisfying treats are the classic for period care, any favorite foods will do. In fact, a little personalization with what the receiver of the gift package really likes would be a brilliant idea.

Think of foods that are easy to just grab and go! Easy to make meals like canned soup, oatmeal, or instant ramen could be a big help. 

So could some of your loved one’s favorite snacks! Granola bars, chips, dried fruit, nuts— all good snacking ideas. A jar of peanut butter or nutella would certainly be welcome, too. Sometimes you want sweet, and sometimes you want savory, particularly when period cravings are upon you. Sometimes you want both, so maybe just throw in a little bit of everything!

There really aren’t many food options that would be unwelcome in a PMS care package, so just use your best judgement on what the person likes to eat or drink and include that. 

The more the better in terms of snacks, though you may want to look for foods that don’t expire quickly if you plan to go overboard. That’s also just a good idea for care packages in general, as the food does have to last its journey through the mail.

Comfort

Not all ‘treats’ expire, though. Think all things warm and soft— robes, fuzzy socks, sweaters, slippers, all of it. Bundling up when cramping up or bleeding a lot can be a real comfort, so having cozy clothes to wear while dealing with period pain helps a lot.

When curling up on the couch seems like the only available choice, you can’t go wrong if the person receiving your care package feels as though they’re surrounded by pillows all day long. Staying cozy prior to or on your period is a must, and there are plenty of affordable clothing items to ensure that. 

While you’re at it, dark underwear that won’t stain easily if a mishap were to occur is also a safe bet.

But apart from the comfort that clothes can provide, there are many other ways to ensure a week full of comfort. Blankets and towels may seem like an obvious choice, but just because a choice seems obvious doesn’t mean it’s a bad one. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

In fact, one of the most popular care package items are bath soaps, salts, and bombs. Bubble baths, too, are a great idea. 

Self-care and hygiene are incredibly important when dealing with the dreaded period, and so anything to help promote that would be a fantastic addition to your care package!

A warm bath, a soft robe, and some delicious food— all wonderful ways to help drive away the stress of PMS or the pain of periods, though typically not all at once.

Who doesn’t love a spa day? In addition to actual bath products, scented candles and face masks are a wonderful and yet simple way to pamper in the face of PMS, and they can turn any bathroom into a perfect getaway or distraction.

And, of course, be sure that you include a note to go along with your care package so that the receiver knows who it’s from.

And that’s the whole idea of care packages, isn’t it? You might not be able to eliminate the negative impact the week of PMS-ing and period pain has on your loved one, but you can lessen it a little bit with items like this. 

Make an uncomfy and often painful time of the month as pleasant as it can be.

Above all, it’s important to make sure that the person receiving your care package feels loved and special. With these ideas, that’s sure to be the case.