A Bra for My 9 Year Old...

I buy my daughter the sports bras type. They are called crop top bras but the front looks like sports bra. Thats the easiest way to explain it. You can find them in packs at reasonable prices in places like Ross or TJmaxx. She doesnt need support just coverage. She may not be thrilled at the idea but it really does look better through her shirts.

FYI....When I bought her first pack I was shocked that they actually have padded bras for these little girls.Now I just bypass them and get what I need.

I think the purpose of these bras isn't for "training" but for coverage.
Presuming the little lumps are visible through her blouses,
the bra provides a level of modesty, protection.
Since she's a tomboy, you might want to look
at the sports bras rather than the lingerie types.

About early puberty . . . .
each generation (in the last century or so)
reaches puberty a little earlier than the previous.

Also there has been some research that our children
are reaching puberty even earlier than they might naturally
because of hormones in our food.

"Puberty, usually occurring during adolescence, is when kids develop physically and emotionally into young men and women. Usually, this starts to happen no earlier than about 7 to 8 years of age for girls and 9 years of age for boys (the average age is about 10 for girls and 12 for boys)."
-From kidshealth.org on precocious puberty

So 9 is totally normal. And I agree with the other ladies, go with a sports bra. Or a tank top with a "built-in" bra.

Girls are starting puberty earlier each generation. There is no proof that this is from "hormones in our food". It alos is suspected that this could be because our kids are all healthier, sick less often, and that they eat more (also why so many are overweight). More girls are starting periods at 9 than ever. But, breast development timing does not necessarily indicate start of period timing.

I don't really think a bra is going to support anything, which is it's job, but it will help them from poking through lighter material tops, such as white T-shirts.

In addition to the sports bras, Nike also make a good Dri-fit tanktop sports bra. Though I wear it to run in the warmer months(I'd feel way too naked running and bearing my midriff), it does offer alot of support, and would look like a regular sleevless tee under clothes, especially if she's feeling self concious. They sell them at all the sporting goods stores

I am going to add... please look at her nipples to ensure she doesn't need a little padding. Cold nipples can be embarrassing for a little girl when she doesn't understand why she is suddenly getting attention she did not get before. I had huge nipples and did not think it different from my peers until an older boy pointed it out. To say the least, my mother wasn't into dealing with me growing up and wasn't very good with informing me about changes. Do whatever you can to help her through this new stage in her life so that it is as seamless as possible! :)

I developed my boobies pretty early. I started at 9, and they were C's by the time I was 12. Start with sports bras, especially if she is a tomboy, because it gives her the right coverage and that sporty look, which I'm sure she'll prefer.

Hai, If her breasts have started to develop, she will need a bra. and for teens i think its more appropriate if they wear training bra instead padded wire, push up etc. sadly some companies sell not appropriate tween age bra. thats why my friend ended up making them herself as she coudln't get any nice ones. you can check her site out or look up http://ZinkyZoo.com and sorry for the link, but I thoguht it was ok for the subject. I Hope this helps.

Mary D,R

Healther To Go Braless All The Time
Up To Her If Whats To wear A Bra or not

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Monday, May 19, 2008

Special Report: Banish the Bra?

Posted: 05/19/08

21Share

No longer just hidden under shirts, Victoria's Secret brought the bra out into the open, making it a real fashion statement.
But could a woman's bra actually be dangerous to her health?

"Our research has shown that the bras issue, we believe is the leading cause of breast cancer", said Sydney Ross Singer, who wrote a book about what he believes is a link between breast cancer and bras.

"In fact to look at breast disease and ignore bras is like looking at foot disease and ignoring tight shoes," said Singer.

Singer's center conducted a study involving five thousand American women, half had breast cancer.

They looked at past behavior, including how tight the bras were and how long the women wore them. Here's what they found:

Women who wore a bra for 24 hours a day, had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer.

If a bra is worn 12 hours a day, there was a 1 in 7 risk.

And women who didn't wear a bra had about the same rate of developing breast cancer as a man.

"So what's happening with the bra is that women are preventing the proper flushing of fluid and toxins out of their breasts," said Singer.

Singer claims a bra is too constricting, interfering with the body's lymphatic system.

This causes toxins to build up, eventually causing cancer.

"If you get rid of the bra, your breasts will finally be able to flush out the fluid," said Singer.

But mainstream medical doctors dismiss the study.

"There's no evidence in any of the world research data that I'm aware of that supports the fact that breast cancer risk is increased by wearing a bra or a bra that's too tight," said Dr. Ermilo Barrera of the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Barrera says women should get mammograms to reduce risk factors and not worry about their bras.

"Watch their weight, exercise, drink only in moderation and don't smoke," said Doctor Hussein.

Doctor Atif Hussein, Medical Director at the Memorial Cancer Institute calls the bra study interesting, but said, "it really is hard to tell you wearing the bra in itself was the contributing factor."

He says it's not the bra, but the risk factors of the women who wear them that is the deciding factor.

"Women who may be overweight tend to wear bras, therefore I would say the factors that contributed to those women wearing the bra contributed to their high risk rather than the bra itself," said Doctor Hussein. He said the issue should be studied more.

But despite criticism from the medical community, Singer is sticking to his mission saying, "there's absolutely nothing good about bras, it's completely a fashion accessory."

He is encouraging women to banish their bras for better health, saying, "We live in a culture where women feel insecure with a natural bust line, but if the price of fashion is disease, then you have to decide whether you want to participate in that or not."

Singer is now studying women who go bra-free to find out if they have lower rates of breast cancer.

Sorboni Banerjee, 7News.

(Copyright 2008 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Hi Bethany, I bought my girl her first bras around 9 too, not really for support, more for modesty.

We liked the Champion sports bras at target, also camis with a built in shelf bra.

She's nearly 14 now and needs a 'real' bra. We're having a hell of a time finding the right ones. She likes a plain underwire with no padding, and in her size 30A, they're all padded and fancy, sigh.

Finally found them at Maidenforms website, 30A underwires, no padding, no fluff, they are currently out of stock, sigh again.

Meanwhile the champion target workout bras have served us very well.

Good Luck!

(about the puberty thing, my daughter started showing buds about 9, but only just got a period at 13 1/2, and the buds were just that for nearly 4 years before they got some substance befind them, she is very thin, so those little buds were pretty noticeable)

Also a month or so ago I took her to Victoria Secret to be measured properly but we didn't buy much since all they carry in such a tiny size is padded pushups, yuck, even in the 'Pink' line made expressly for tweens and young teens.