Encouraging training/sports bras

[dglvrk2]

DD2 is ten. She, doesn't need a bra yet, but I'm anticipating her needing a training/sports bra in the next few months.

There is nothing girly about DD2 and the idea of wearing a bra seems appalling to her. A couple of her friends already wear sports bras, so I think she knows she will, eventually, too.

DD1 wanted to wear bras from the time she thought she could and was consistently wearing them by DD2's age. Hence, encouraging a daughter to wear a bra is uncharted territory for me.

Any words of advice? Especially from moms of very non-girly girls?

[mommyatty]

DD is very ungirly. DD even wears a sports bra to sleep because the thought of nipples showing anywhere is appalling to her. So it may be less of a fight than you think as she matures/grows. Because nothing is more girly than boobs. I’d just get her as comfy, plain bras as you can. We get Hanes Everyday comfort ones from Target in the kids underwear section and she loves them. They briefly quit carrying them, and DD was heartbroken. So glad they brought them back! Then to figure out what to do when she outgrows them.

To start, I took her shopping and bought a few different styles for her to try. Then we settled on a “type” she liked (just enough of a pad to cover said nipples but not enough to “look like boobs” as she put it), not tight like a sports-sporty bra. Her bras look a lot like the True and Co bras. Then I happened to grab a pack of the Hanes from Target and she loved those.

[CrazyLucky]

DD is eleven and is just starting to grow boobs. She is also not girly and has no interest in bras. I don't really see the point of training bras if she's against it, so I'm not planning to encourage or force it. I'm hoping once it gets to the point that she needs an actual bra, she'll be more open to it. She does play sports and I have to think it'll be more comfortable for her to have one.

[twinmomma]

For us it was all about finding the right style that each of the girls would put up with. Lots of trial and error until we settled on the ones that they like. DD1 likes a little bit of padding that's built in, but just enough to cover nipples like mommyatty said, but not really padded. DD2 refuses any and all padding of any kind and goes with just a thin fabric. It was definitely a battle a bit to get them in the habit of it, but I think the fact that all their friends wear them and are more developed than my girls has helped push the agenda a little.

We've had good luck at Kohl's for options. They have some really comfy teen options that are a little nicer than the Target cotton ones we had initially.

[waverly]

Sports bras mostly for DD. Honestly I didn't really push wearing it. I just bought them and put them in a drawer and didn't really say anything. DD isn't developed enough that it was an issue, and I feel like early bra usage is kind of a double standard with boys. Like they don't even have boobs yet; so why is it an issue? So I just let it be, and it worked out for us. But if she were more developed that might be a different conversation.

[mae0111]

DD1 was thrilled to wear bras. She likes something with a little padding, so I was able to find her some lined bras at TJ Maxx that she loves.

DD2 is almost 11 and is starting to need bras. She has a lot of sensory stuff, so it's been a real challenge to find the right ones. No thin straps, nothing too tight, must be super soft. She will only wear Under Armour tech shirts - that kind of silky, wicking material. NO COTTON. It's so hard to find just the right ones, and she's very against wearing a bra. She always wore sports bras to school when they were wearing their polo uniform shirts because the school logo embroidery irritated her. But now that she's just wearing athletic attire every day, it's been hard to get her to wear them.

She will wear one to soccer and basketball because I think she's getting uncomfortable with the bouncing. I'm hoping we get there with every day wearing...

[mommyatty]

waverly- I didn’t push it with DD either. She actually asked. I think someone at school said something to her about needing one, so she suddenly decided it was imperative that she have one right away.

mae0111- try the Hanes ones. They feel like tech fabric. Super soft, with wide straps, and they pull over your head. Also tagless if tags are a sensory issue.

[k3am]

I wouldn't bother trying to encourage it. I'd buy a couple of styles for her to have on hand and let her decide if/when to wear them. If she needs/wants a bra, she'll wear it. In the unlikely "if not" scenario, who cares? My guess is that she'll want to wear one once she starts dressing out for middle school PE, whether or not she needs it at that point.

[sdlaura]

My DD insists on wearing a sports bra all the time, even though she probably only needs one for sports. Like she even insisted under a dress for our family photos despite the straps showing.

Could you just buy her some very basic/comfortable ones and see if she'll wear them? DD wears these very basic ones from Target.

www.target.com/p/girls-solid-2pk-sports-bra-cat-jack-blue/-/A-84306153?preselect=83945124#lnk=sametab

[dglvrk2]

Feb 12, 2024 12:32:15 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

My DD insists on wearing a sports bra all the time, even though she probably only needs one for sports. Like she even insisted under a dress for our family photos despite the straps showing.

Could you just buy her some very basic/comfortable ones and see if she'll wear them? DD wears these very basic ones from Target.

www.target.com/p/girls-solid-2pk-sports-bra-cat-jack-blue/-/A-84306153?preselect=83945124#lnk=sametab

DD1 is twelve. She and her two besties wear sports bras 24/7. They too don't care if a strap is showing. Gonna put my old lady had on and say in my day (being a tween in the late 80's/early 90's) I wouldn't wear a shirt that would possibly reveal a bra strap. Kids these days!!!

[dglvrk2]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

Turns out, I totally overthought all of this... This evening I mentioned to DD2 that a few of her friends wear sports bras for comfort and modesty. I asked her if she would wear one if I bought one for her. Immediately, she said yes, as long as she could pick it/them out. We ordered some Hanes sports bras and a few generic ones on Amazon tonight. She even said she thinks she's starting to develop.
Well....so much for one difficult conversation!