Although we've all been there, done that with the steps towards womanhood, knowing when to buy your daughter a bra or talk to her about her first period can be stressful and complex. In fact, it's hard to always know when your daughter should even start wearing a bra to begin with.
When To Introduce A Training Bra
As the name suggests, training bras are more preparatory braziers for girls who are just starting to show signs of breast development. This usually happens around age 10, but can occur as early as 8 years of age or as late as the early teens, according to Today's Parent.
Typically, your daughter may benefit from a training bra if she has sensitive breast buds or pronounced nipples as she starts developing breasts, if she participates in certain physical activities like dance or sports, or if she develops after her peers and wants to fit in.
However, training bras are only truly appropriate for girls who are just starting to develop or girls with very small breasts, as they do not provide as much support as soft cup or underwire bras.
How To Know It's Time For A Real Bra
Since breast development starts at different ages for each girl, there's no set age that you should buy your daughter a bra. However, intimate apparel company Knix suggests that mothers start buying bras for their daughters when breasts are noticeably developed or when the chest area starts to feel uncomfortable during certain types of movement.
When your daughter starts measuring at least at an A cup, then it's time to pick up a soft cup bra or similar. Most experts suggest holding off on underwire bras until girls start to appear more fully developed, usually after they experience their first period.
How To Approach Bra Shopping With Your Daughter
Even the most mature, excited young girls find bra shopping with their mom to be an embarrassing event. However, the experts at A Better Fit say that you can help smooth things over by following a few ground rules.
For starters, approach the topic delicately at a time when it's just the two of you. Make sure to not use humor or other tactics to bring it up, as those can sometimes land the wrong way.
Also, don't force things on your daughter, especially if she's just starting to develop. She won't end up with saggy breasts or other issues if she doesn't start wearing a bra right away, so give her the time and space to process this major life transition.
Finally, try to work bra shopping into another outing so that it's not the sole focus of your time together. You can make a whole "girls' day" out of it, or just add it to your back to school shopping list if it makes sense. This tactic will help your daughter focus on other things both before and after, which can be a welcome distraction if she's having strong feelings about this step.
Although you may not feel certain about the timing, you'll know when your daughter needs a bra. So just trust your intuition and prepare yourself for some interesting conversations, because your little girl will be all grown up before you know it!
Sources: Today's Parent, Knix, A Better Fit