9yo dd wants to shave her legs!

[4greatboys]

Im glad you decided to let her take care of the problem. Though I will admit I have no idea what age has to do with it. Some people are hairier than other and at an earlier age. I never undstood why some people have a magical age in mind that girls should shave at instead of looking at it on a case by case basis. If the poor things have hairy legs and need to shave or remove the hair by all means let them. No need for them to go around embarassed and be made fun of.

 

[DopeyRN]

Personally, I think growing up brings enough trauma. If she is hairy and it is bothering her, absolutely I would let her shave. My mom fought me (I was a VERY early bloomer)...finally one day I just shaved. Funny, then she didn't fight me any longer. I would buy her an electric one and let her keep her self esteem.

EDIT: OK, I see you decided to let her shave...I am always a day late LOl. Age is not the issue. Enjoy your bonding time with her!

 

[LScot]

No reason to respond now except to say that I think it is great that you are open to suggestions about it. DD (10) statrted shaving this summer. I wasn't "pro-shaving" but it bothered her (& she has blonde, fine hair) so it was kinda like "whay make a big deal out of it?" She bought the venus razor (with her own money) and has been very responsible about it. I know your DD is gonna love you a tiny bit more for letting her shave.

 

[PooohBear]

Wow how weird that I was just having the same dilemma with my 10 year old daughter !!! so I have to chime in and say Thanks for the good advice !!!

 

[dg39]

My dd10 has been haunting me for some time now to shave her legs. Last week I used Nair on her. It worked out great. Alittle messy, but she was sitisfied. Now with school opening tomorrow and with her wearing a little skirt, it was time to do it again. This time I used VEET. As the other poster had mentioned I also think its GREAT. It lets the kids know how much pressure they should use before they start using a razor. In all honesty I think its better than a razor, they can't get cut with it. I'm going to use it myself.

 

[mum4jenn]

OK folks...let me ask you this....my daughter is 7 years old as of TODAY and she has been asking to shave here legs for over a year now. She has hairy legs and has been teased by the boys even last year in Kindergarten. I say she is too young but she has cried over the teasing. Why would kindergarten boys be so mean???

 

[talicskai]

I know what you mean ~ my DD5 is in Senior Kindergarten starting tomorrow and her legs are very hairy. I am going to wait until she brings it up but I will take her shopping and let her pick out the stuff. It will be a great mom/daughter moment. I am hoping I can hold her off until 9 or 10 but looking at her legs in the pool today, I doubt it. The poor thing has my genes. I will always hold a bit of guilt about it. Oh well at least it can be take care of. My own mother made me wait til grade nine! Uggh. I can guarantee we won't be telling Grandma about this ~ she would never understand.........Here's to being women~

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by mum4jenn
OK folks...let me ask you this....my daughter is 7 years old as of TODAY and she has been asking to shave here legs for over a year now. She has hairy legs and has been teased by the boys even last year in Kindergarten. I say she is too young but she has cried over the teasing. Why would kindergarten boys be so mean???

If the kid is crying over getting teased then perhaps you can do it since she is so young. School is hard enough than to have to worry about hair.

 

[mom2alix]

I would say with the younger girls, the regular razor might be too much, but if they're being teased and are bothered by it, I would definitely go for the Veet or Nair thing or even an electric razor.

Count me in as another one who's mother had one of those arbitrary (seventh grade) deadlines. I was so embarassed I got a razor and tried by myself and took the skin off my shin. I STILL have the scar! I also had a 9 p.m. curfew until I left for college. I don't recommend that - it breeds rebellion!

Much better to work with your DD on this. She'll remember that she has a mom who is sympathetic to her feelings and who works with her. Hopefully the wonderful way you're handling this will set you up well for the more challenging issues you're sure to face as she gets older!

 

[deirdrefitch]

Go for the electric razor. I was around the same age when I asked my mom if I could shave my legs, and the answer was, "NO!" Well being industrious, and wanting to fit in with the other girls that were allowed to shave, I used my dad's razor.
I'm talking no soap, no shaving cream, just water. I ended up with small cuts up and down my legs, and my dad's face was worse. If she feels self conscious about it, this is one of those times you can help her out. There will be many times in the future that you will wish to help with her problems, and not be able to. Take advantage of a mother/daughter moment.

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by Jenn Lynn
If a girl can menstruate she can shave her legs. JMHO.

This was suppose to be my guide. But my oldest took it upon herself to shave when she was in 4th grade. Of course once you start it is hard to go back. Now my youngest just shaved for the first time a couple weeks ago (age 11, 6th grade). She honestly could have started shaving at 9, she had fairly dark and "hairy" legs.

I have found that while parenting everything I thought I would do ended up changing.

 

[phillybeth]

I HAD to start shaving when I was 9, as I had had a broken leg and when the cast was removed all the hair on that leg was dark and long- it looked like my knee had a goatee!
Well you can't just shave one leg, so I had to do both. I remember getting a few cuts near my ankles and knees, but it was worth it, I was the envy of my friends.

 

[Kendra17]

In ADDITION to shaving, there is also a moisturizing cream (I think by AVEENO, but I'm not sure now, and it's upstairs) that inhibits hair growth. My 12 year old shaves, and both of us use this cream that has really worked. . .I have to shave less, and she barely shaves at all now.

 

[mum4jenn]

I think I will wait to see how this year goes in 1st grade. So far no one has teased her this year (a month into school) so maybe she is with a better buch of kids!!

I would never make her wait until middle school like happened with me. I asked and was told no so I finally just did it on my own. Have lots of scars to remind me. The silly thing was the way I did it. I took the razor blade out of my moms razor and just shaved with the blade thinking it would be a secret that way!!! I really cut myself pretty bad in some places!!! DUMB!!!

 

[BethanyF]

I was so embarassed I got a razor and tried by myself and took the skin off my shin. I STILL have the scar!

Same thing happened here. The only reason my mother knew I was shaving is when I came out of the shower with a 4 inch gash on my ankle.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I think a child should be allowed to shave their legs if they're old enough to be embarrassed. That's JMO. My mother didn't want me shaving my legs until I was 13. At age 9, I looked like an apewoman (I'm Italian, which explains it, lol), so I took the razor to myself. I was lucky and didn't get any scars. But my mother noticed and let me continue shaving. It's sad how cruel some kids can be. I used to get picked on a lot for my hairy arms that I even contemplated shaving them at one point.

 

[Trish Bessette]

My daughter just started. She is 10 years old and I had her use NAIR. I love it! No razors and it is only on for 4 minutes then you wipe off. Leaves legs really soft. Once you start shaving with a razor then you get those nasty razor stubbs. Nair doesn't do that.

She also got her period this summer 10 seems way too young.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I was 10 when I started using hair-removing products. (NAIR) I felt embarrased by the amount of hair on my legs and asked if I could do it. My parents said no, but my grandparents were the ones to say, go ahead, let her do it. I was so relieved.

I will have no hesitation to allow DD, who is now 6 to do so at the age of 9 or 10, if need be.

I dont need to tell any of you how fast little girls are growing up these days, why make it harder for them IMHO!

Wishing everyone a "magical" day!!

 

[robinb]

I think it's disgusting that our American warped sense of beauty has 9 year olds shaving their legs. FWIW, once the little girl's legs are shaved the teasers will just move onto something else. They always do.

 

[QueenTrident]

I'm talking no soap, no shaving cream, just water. I ended up with small cuts up and down my legs, and my dad's face was worse.

You must be me! I did the same thing in fourth grade. My Mom just about killed me. And poor Dad didn't know what do do.

Nair never worked for me, but I used an electric razor for awhile. FWIW, I think it's great that you and your daughter have such an open relationship. I always tried to hide things like that from my Mom because I was too embarrassed. I had my period three times before she found out about it.