I was developmentally delayed as a child, but developed very well over the years. I guess I never really thought much about my daughter growing breasts. Even seeing almost all of my husband's fifth grade girls in bras, I never thought about my 4th grader developing!
So, when does a girl really need to get her first bra? My oldest doesn't seem like she is in that much of a hurry for her first training bra, so admittedly, I am trying to delay that day.
Some girls can't wait for them to come and yet, other girls dread them as much as eating a big plate of Brussels sprouts. But, most girls have mixed feelings and are not quite certain why they have them and what to do about them.
Breasts can start growing as early as age 8 or as late as 13. Some girls grow slowly and others quickly. Some girls may feel like their breasts will never start growing, but it's just that girls start developing at different ages and different rates.
Breast development happens in stages. The first stage is "breast budding." A breast bud is like a small raised bump behind the nipple. After breast budding happens, the nipple and the areola get bigger and darker. Then the area around the nipple and areola starts to grow into a breast.
As breasts keep growing, they may be pointy for a while before becoming rounder and fuller. For some girls, one breast might be a little bigger than the other. A girl's breasts may continue to grow during the teen years and even into her early twenties.
When you notice that your daughter's chest no longer looks like a little boy's chest; it's time to buy her a bra. She may not need to wear it under sweatshirts, but thinner blouses, or blouses that are more form-fitting may need something more than a camisole. For modesty's sake, some would say to buy her a bra. But, when there is just a small breast bud there generally is not much need for the support of a bra. In fact some girls find that when they first start developing, the breasts are a little tender and sensitive, and the pressure of a bra on top of that can be uncomfortable.
By the time that a girl has grown to an A cup size, they typically want to wear a bra at least part of the time. They protect breast tissue and keep the breasts supported. But, like anything new, wearing a bra can be tough to adjust to. They can be difficult to fasten and adjust. They can gap, ride up, or dig in.
Wearing the right size bra can decrease the number of problems a girl will have with her bra. For instance, a bra that's the right size won't pinch, gap, or slide around.
There are two parts to a bra's size: the chest size and the cups size. It's important to get both the chest and cup sizes right to ensure a proper fit. It's wise for a girl to get measured so she knows her correct bra size. The women who work in the bra departments of stores can help a girl with this measurement. A girl also can do it at home if she has her mom or a friend help her. If you are a girl, here are instructions for how to do it:
* Run a tape measure just under your breasts, all the way around your back and rib cage.
* Make a note of your measurement and add 5 inches. That's your chest size.
* To measure cup size, take the tape measure around your body across the fullest part of your breasts.
* Write down this number and subtract your chest measurement from it. The difference between the numbers is a way of figuring out your cup size. If the difference between the two numbers is less than 1 inch, your cup size is AA. If it's 1 inch, your cup size is A; 2 inches, you're a B; 3 inches you're a C, and so on. For instance, if your cup measurement was 33 and your chest measurement was 32, that's a 1-inch difference. Your bra size is 32A.
* If your chest measurement comes out as an odd number (such as 31 inches or 33 inches), it's usually a good rule to round up to the next number. Most bras have a few sets of adjustable hooks and eyes, so you can adjust the tightness.
These days, many girls' first bra is a sports bra. Because they're flatter in the cup area, sports bras also make really good first bras for many girls. Not all sports bras are alike, so a girl should try on a few to figure out which ones she prefers.
In addition to sports bras, there are a lot of other types of bras. The most natural-looking bra is a soft-cup bra and doesn't do much to change the shape of a girl's breasts. Soft-cup bras come in different fabrics and thicknesses and some may have underwires. Underwire is a U-shaped wire inside the fabric that goes under the breasts to help support them. If a girl's breasts are C cup or larger, an underwire bra is a good choice.
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