Free Training Bras

Since there is often a question of whether it's a garment a girl needs or not, many parents are interested in finding free training bras so that they can at least save some money as their daughters approach adolescence. As with many issues surrounding adolescence, it's complicated.

The classic hand-me-down is a great way to get a free training bra.

Girls used to wear camisoles, undershirts or all-in-one pieces as underwear until they were developed enough to require their first bras. In the 1950s, when exaggerated curves and padded bras became the rage, girls in early adolescence became more concerned about copying their older sisters and the lingerie industry saw a chance to make some money. Thus the concept of training bras was introduced.

The idea was that a girl who was just beginning to develop still required support and it would help her develop more healthfully if she wore this garment, rather than just an undershirt. Exactly how true that was then or is now is a matter constantly debated, but with more and more tweens eager to grow up quickly demanding them, training bras are something parents feel trapped into buying.

Training bras might not be expensive, but as they are a negligible need anyway, it is no wonder parents are eager to look for cheaper options. The best way to get free training bras is the classic, old-fashioned hand-me-down. Girls may rail against this, but a training bra does not require fitting so there is no need for an individual trip to the lingerie store. Instead, organize clothing trades through community groups. Besides family and neighborhood circles, you can use houses of worship, Girl Scout groups, dance schools and any number of organizations where there are a group of girls in the same general age range.

Everyone will be in a different stage of development and so ready to discard clothes at various moments. Where a girl does not have an older sister or cousin from whom to inherit a garment, this is the next best way to go. In fact, it might almost be preferred. Traditionally, a younger sister often felt neglected because the elder girl got all the new things while she had to wear castoffs. When everyone is participating in a clothing exchange, however, and the free training bra is coming from an unknown source, it's much more palatable. As children become more eco-conscious, this is a good way to encourage that sensibility as a check against consumerism.

This is not about used clothing in a questionable thrift shop; it's about clothing recycling. It's good for the environment and everyone's wallet. If the girls are still unsure, build in a reward system as well –- because so much money was saved on clothes, everyone can now afford a trip to the bowling alley or something similar.

If you're looking for free training bras but are unable to organize community trades, there are some other things you can try. You can post specific requests for free items on Craig's List, or, even better, your local Freecycle. This is an online giveaway site where anything and everything can be found a new home. The whole point is keeping items out of landfills. If your daughter has a particular need –- if she is plus size, for example -- this can be a good source for posting a request for a training bra someone has outgrown. Be sure and offer the training bra on the site again when your daughter has outgrown it.

If you sew or have been interested in learning, making a training bra for your daughter can be a good first project. In fact, this can be a good opportunity for you and your daughter to both start sewing together if you have the time. It's a useful skill and can make everyone's life far less expensive, as well as encouraging creativity and a unique clothing sense. Although the materials will still have a cost, it's a much cheaper option than buying a new training bra.

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