Girls Training Bras
From LoveToKnow Lingerie
Shopping for and buying girls' training bras is a rite of passage for many young women. It can make a girl feel like she's growing up and becoming more mature. Having the right information for mother (or other close female relative or guardian) and child can make the experience of shopping for a training bra memorable and fun.
About Training Bras
What exactly is a training bra? Basically, it's a bra made for preteen and teen girls who are developing breasts. It doesn't actually "train" anything, but helps a girl become comfortable with this piece of lingerie which she'll probably wear nearly every day as she becomes an adult. Training bras typically come in smaller cup sizes and in basic styles and colors, although some of the designs made for teens are available in a wide variety of patterns and colors.
Training, or starter, bras don't need the same type of support as bras made for women with average size breasts, so there's no need for underwire or thick straps. Instead, look for comfortable materials such as cotton and adjustable straps.
Getting the Right Size
Girls' training bras usually begin at a band size of about 28 and a cup size of AAA. They also come in small, medium and large sizes. If a girl hasn't really begun to develop, a general size between small and large is fine, but once her breasts begin to grow, she'll need to shop for bras based on band size and cup size.
Because so many adult women don't wear the correct size bra, it's no wonder a young girl can be confused as well. If you don't feel confident in your abilities to determine the right bra size for your daughter, enlist the aid of a sales associate in the lingerie department. To get a rough idea at home before shopping, you can use a bra size calculator to give you a general range of what your daughter needs, which can help you avoid common bra sizing mistakes.
When to Begin Shopping
Because girls develop at different rates, there's no one set age to begin wearing training bras. Depending on how your daughter's body is developing, she may want a bra more because all of her friends are wearing them. It can be awkward being the only girl in class who doesn't "need" a bra because she's a late bloomer.
Shopping for a girl's first bra is important once you notice she's developing breasts. This will probably be an event she remembers for the rest of her life, so it helps to make it as enjoyable as possible. Preteens and teens are often ambivalent about their body's changes and aren't as confident, so lots of reassurance from a trusted adult can go a long way toward making her feel good about herself and this brand new experience.
Buying Girls' Training Bras
Once you know it's time to shop for a training bra, where do you look? There's always the tried and trusted department stores such as Sears, JCPenney or Macy's. You can also shop online at informational sites such as My First Bra. Shopping in person allows your daughter to try the bra on, which is very important. Bra sizes differ from manufacturer to manufacturer; most adult women know how hard it is to find the perfect size bra. When choosing which bra to buy, make sure that it:
- Stays in place: A girl should raise her arms straight into the air while trying on the bra. The band should stay securely in place in the middle of her back and not rise.
- Isn't too tight: The band, straps and cups shouldn’t cut into the body or fit tightly at all.
- Is comfortable: If anything on the bra digs or scratches, put it back. It's extremely uncomfortable to wear an item next to your skin that irritates you.
Growing Up
A girl's first bra is such a big deal that mothers will no doubt remember their own first bra shopping experience. It can help mom and daughter bond and create a memory that a young girl will remember the rest of her life.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 7,301 times. This page was last modified 17:54, 9 November 2008.
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