Photo by happymom_0307
Not those innocent little sports bras that are basically strips of fabric across the chest, mind you, but padded cups with under wire support!
The question that occurred to me, as I read the discussion on padded bras for preschoolers in the CafeMom Newcomer's Club, was, Do they even make them for 4 year olds? Yes, they do, and here's a picture of a padded toddler bra, courtesy of one of our moms.
My daughter just turned 4, so this is a new one on me. Her only undergarment issue right now is that she refuses to wear any undies that don't have Dora or princesses on them.
The bra question came up when pinkshotgungal revealed that a relative was buying a bra as a Christmas present for her cousin's 4 year old, who'd been asking for the garment for some time. pinkshotgungal's own daughter is just a week old (congrats, BTW!) so this was new territory for her, too. "I understand she might want to feel like a big girl," pinkshotgungal says, "but I think that's just too much. Please tell me I'm not the only one thinking this!"
Most moms in a poll agreed, but about 15% felt there was nothing wrong with a toddler wearing a bra, leaving comments like:
- She may just want to be like Mommy and wear something over her chest.
- If it's like the undershirt type ones, whatever. But if it's a bra bra, I would not let her out of the house with it. I probably would buy my daughter a dress-up bra if she asked.
- I do not see anything wrong with it. Little girls like to play dress-up and/or be like Mommy. It is not going to hurt them, and gives them a sense of growing up.
I'm going to reserve judgement until I actually cross this bridge -- which hopefully won't be for a long time! But what about you, Toddler Moms of girly-girls? Should toddlers wear padded bras -- or even 5 or 6 year olds, for that matter?
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Comments 82
My daughter has had to wear a bra since she was 6 or 7. She doesn't like having to wear one but oh well. I had to search high and low for one that wasn't a grown up looking one. Whatever happened to training bras? She is 11 now and wears a 34 b. But I'm still not buying the padded push up kind. She is still my baby girl and I don't want her grown up yet. Oh and sports bras didn't work. I think 4 is a little young for a padded bra.
A padded bra for a preschooler is absolutely insane. My DD never had such a thing. She's wearing bras now at 10, and I still won't get her a padded bra. She doesn't need to emphasize her breasts at this age.
They're little for only so long. Why are we (in general) making them grow up faster than is necessary?
at 4 years old little girls should not worry about their chest looking larger or for that matter raising the puppy,s are not needed for they dont have anything to support at that age , i have 2 girls one is 7 and the other is 10 both of my girls were sports bras only no wire no padding . As parents we need to monitor what out little girls are wearing even as young as 4 they could fall prey to some of these sick men out in this world today so hold tight to you little angels and enjoy them while they are young. There is plenty time in high school were you can go shopping for the padded bras and frilly undies later not at 4.
Over my dead body, and even then I am SURE I would find a way to stop it. Those things are being produced by pedophiles. That is SICK!
Girls grow up too fast as it is. There is no way my 4 year old will ever wear a padded bra. That's just beyond ridiculous. My 8 year old wears the undershirt type of bra at home, but that's it. No padded bras, ever.
My DD is almost 9 and I went through this this summer. I needed to buy DD a starter bra cause she is needing something. All I found was padded bras!!! What the hell. Do we not need to teach our daughters better. What is that telling a little girl that even though you are supposed to have small boobies they are not good enough!!! Isnt the programming that we do to our daughters bad enough that we have to now start at 4!!!!!!!!!
What in the world does a 4 year old need to wear a bra for, and a padded one at that? A peice of advice, don't make your small ones grow up to fast. Let her play lady with mama's bra and high heals. Now thats fun.
I would NEVER allow my daughter to wear a padded bra! In response to the parents who said their daughters 'HAD' to wear one, who is the parent and who is the child? I feel that in the society we have now, where little girls are taught from an early age that sex is equated to beauty with Barbie dolls to emmulate, why encourage this? Maybe I am just too old fashioned, but with four girls I would have to hastily decline this so called 'fashion statement!' YUCK! My husband and I refuse to wear Abercrombie and Fitch brand clothing anymore due to the fact that they once designed little girl and tween underwear with the phrase 'Eye Candy' embossed on the crotch area. WTH is America coming to? In my opinion, the media and toy corporations try to control our views on the raising of our children, TOO LIBERAL for my taste and I am quite proud to offer my rebuttal!
I agree with ladywhynott. What the heck happened to parents saying "No"?!?!
When I was little, I wore pretty undershirts...much like our "spaghetti strapped" tank tops, but they gave me an extra layer and CLEARLY looked like and undergarment. If I am blessed with a little girl, that's what she'll wear until she physically requires otherwise.