Almost 9 and wants a bra

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

My almost 9 y/o asked me yesterday if we could get her a bra. She doesnt even have a bump in that area yet. When i was 14 i got my first bra. I was so embarrsed to ask my mom. I've alwys been very insecure asking my mom for anything. Well DD came right out and asked for one. We were at marshalls and they happened to have one on clearance for $1 ...just her size...what ever that may be. It's spandex..alsmot like a sports bra. So i got it for her and she's been wearing it ever since. She even said she slept with it on. I'm excited that she feels comfortable talking to me about it and showing it to me. I'm just not ready for her to grow up like this. Is it to early for her to wear a bra? I'm afraid that she will grow up to soon and jump into the grown up world to fast. Are there any other mama's going through this...and how are you handling it?

[kate3]

Too cute. My 9 yo just told me she wants a bra when she's 10 whether she needs it or not. Not sure why 10 became the magic age but whatever makes her happy........

[thatblondegirl]

thats awesome, and i'm very proud of you for having gotten her the bra. i wanted one at her age, and i didn't even need one until i was...like, 18! lol but i was too embarrassed to ask so i just cut the top of a slip off and used that. i wanted it because i saw all the attention that the girls who wore them got, and i wanted that. misguided, yes, but i still wanted it! lol

i don't think you have to worry about her growing up too fast from it tho.

[GooeyRN]

It is great she wasn't embarrassed to ask you and that you did not tell her she did not need one!!!!! That could have embarrassed her. I started wearing one at 9. I had tiny little buds then and was so excited to be growing up. I felt so special!!! I am really glad that she came to you!!!

[GooeyRN]

I wanted to add... She is going to grow up if you are ready or not, it is great you are letting her mature as she is ready.

[CarrieMF]

My oldest will be 10 in November. She first wanted a bra when she was 5 or 6 so I got her one. She wore it a bit, but since it really was too big for her she didn't wear it that often.

About 6 months ago she wanted some. Half of the girls in her Grade 4 class were wearing sports bras even thought maybe 1/8 of them needed them.lol She has 4 or 5 of them. She wore them alot when she first got them, not so much lately.

She did start growing pubic hair last October or so & in the last month or so she's been getting breast buds.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

I wanted to add... She is going to grow up if you are ready or not, it is great you are letting her mature as she is ready.

Don't I know that. My dd is nine and has been wearing bra for about six months now. It was hard because I am so not ready for her to grow up yet. But she is. We were lucky too, in that she wasn't the least bit embarrassed that she was starting to grow in that way. Just announced it at the table one day.

[lifeguard]

I started wearing one at nine but not happily. I literally sprouted overnight - no training bra for these girls!

[ma_vie_en_rose]

DSD started wearing one this past year at 9yo, but she was developing breast buds. She is just wearing little bralettes right now. I think she would have asked for one even if she didn't need it, though. Most of the girls her age are starting to wear them. She would have wanted to feel included in that.

Good for you for telling her yes. Whether she is physically ready for it, she is obviously mentally. She will feel more confident that you are concerned about her needs and hopefully come to you again in the furture with confidence you will hear her.

[mar123]

My 10 year old also got a bra at nine, and she also needed it. We started out with the sports bra type, but this summer had to move to the real bras. Her uniform shirt is white and practically paper thin. She is almost 5'0 tall (my height), wears an 8.5 ladies shoe (I wear a 5.5) and is quickly growing out of her size A bra. She began wearing deoderant at 7 (and NEEDED it). She starting developing breast tissue at the age of 8 and her doc said we had about 2 years until she started her period. She is thin for her age, so I was really perplexed why she is starting all of this so early. She is excited about all of the changes. We went to a "Becoming a woman" class with a friend of hers and her mom. The class was wonderful! The leader gave all sorts of tips I would have never thought of, like what to do if you start your period at school, etc. She is not scared of the changes and so much better prepared than I was. Plus she now understand when I tell her I am crabby and need some space, LOL.

[karne]

My dd also asked for a bra at around that age. She picked out a few that she liked, and the novelty of it was very sweet. She doesn't seem to feel self conscious or embarrased, so I like that. When she feels like it she'll put one on-sort of dress up, but that's about it. I have told her it's her decision to have a bra, and whether or when she would want to wear one. It's her body.

[alima]

My sister is 7 years older than me, so I just started wearing her hand me downs at 6 or so. I'm the youngest, so nothing I did raised many eyebrows around the house. I guess my mom figured if it made me happy, who cares? Surprising, looking back on some of the things my parents didn't bother about, since they were very strict Catholic Irish immigrants. I figure if my mom who went to confession 3 times a week didn't mind, it can't be all that bad

[eclipse]

I was about that age when I got my first one. I think I was a B cup already, though.

[zech13_9_goforgold]

I was forced to wear a bra at 10 because I was developing, but I didn't know of any girls in my class who had to then. It made me feel so awful and even more self concious than I already was feeling. Yuck. I still don't like bras (13 years later). If your little girl want to wear a bra, let her and be glad that you don't have to fight the battles my mom did.

[Arduinna]

It's entirely possible she will abandon it before she even gets breasts. That's what happened here. Of course my mom took her shopping and she came home with a bunch of matching "bra" and panties sets that were just like little crop tops. She wore them for a short time and then never wore them again.

She got some real bras in her teens but she quit wearing them too

Sometimes it's not really about growing up but just about experimenting. Or in my case it was probably my moms prompting her :

[harrietsmama]

My dd wears a stretchy bra occasionally and she is 8.5. She has 'nipple buds' but they don't stick out, otoh she gets pain from them and we put little cabbage leaf circles in them to reduce the pain.

[Labbemama]

I think it's better to start a bit too early while they have expressed a desire to wear one than to wait too long til they need it and don't want to and you have to say sorry sweetie you NEED it.

I got a few for my 10 y/o but she lost interest in wearing them real fast.

[Arduinna]

I never insisted my dd wear a bra. Her body, her decision.

[littlest birds]

I think it is fine--whatever feels good to her.

Those little undershirt-style bras are popular and often come in those cuet little sets, so it's pretty likely that some of her friends have them if only for appearances and perhaps are beginning to develop as well. It might be mostly fashion, and nothing wrong with that.

But also, she's testing the waters and it sounds like you gave her a relaxed response that respected her comfort about her own body and appearance. That is exactly the right precedent to set. Soon enough she'll need one, she'll be learning to manage her period, she'll want to shave... Good to enter into that feeling like your mom is someone who you can talk to and will accept your changes. So maybe it's good practice.

[ecstaticmama24]

My 6 year old wants a bra!! And she's been asking me for a year now! Her little cousin has a bra (it's really more like a short cami really) and now she won't stop about it. I almost caved and bought her one, but I don't think I'm ready for it. That said, now she'll wear her bathing suit top under her clothes, it's kinda funny.

Why do they want to grow up so fast?!