OT: What age to start shaving legs?

[LSUmom4kids]

I have 4 kids; only 1 daughter. She's almost 9 and has dark hair on her legs. Her arm hair is lighter; she tans easy and the arm hair is not really noticeable. She doesn't have any underarm hair yet.

Her leg hair is darker than all of her brothers and she wants to shave her legs! No, none of her friends shave yet. She is a little "drama queen" and wants to do everything I do, including coloring & highlighting her hair! (No, that's not going to happen!) Every now and then she'll bring up the subject and I'll tell her she's not old enough yet. She accepts my answer and doesn't push the issue.

She doesn't need to wear a "training bra" yet and is still shorter than most girls her age. She wears a 7-8 in clothes & a size 3 shoe.

I bought the American Girl book last year but haven't given it to her yet. I'm guessing I should start seeing some signs that she is "maturing" before her period starts, but I don't know when is a good age to let her start shaving her legs. My husband thinks that if she is asking, maybe she is self-conscious and we should let her. She is mature in some ways and still a child in other ways.

What's the "average age" for girls today to start shaving their legs? Is there any good "rule of thumb" to follow?

I'm looking for moms to tell me at what age their daughters started:

1. shaving their legs; 2. wearing a bra; and 3. their periods???

Thanks!

 

[sk!mom]

I agree with your DH. My DD started shaving her legs at 10 since that's when she became self conscious about her "hairy legs" (to quote her- they looked fine to me). I bought her an electric razor so that I didn't have to worry about cuts.

 

[klineyqueen]

My DD is only 18 months...so this isn't from a mother's perspective...since I am not there...YET. Although, I am an elementary school teacher...and believe me...you hear things!!!

Shaving - most girls where I teach are starting by 4th grade...almost all by 6th. If they don't they are teased...especially by the boys. I am not saying it is right or nice...it just happens.

Bra's - don't know...I don't hear any discussion about that.

Period - not discussed...but...we have had girls as young as 4th grade get it and it makes a mess all over their chair...causing horrible embarrassment. I know of this happening more in 6th grade. But unfortunatly it is kind of a regular occurance. They just don't know thier bodies yet and before they know it they have a mess. Girls need to be talked to about this by about 4th grade. Some people may not agree...but I know what I see at school.

Take it for what it's worth

 

[tmarquez]

My DD is only 4...but she already asks when she can shave like mommy. I would say since your DD seems to be self-concious about to let her do it.

My mom never talked to me about anything like shaving. I was also a major tomboy so I didn't really care. Until when I was 13 I was sitting on the bumper of our car talking to my boyfriend and he said "wow...your legs are hairier than mine". I went directly to my mom's bathroom...stole a ravor and have been shaving ever since that day. I was horrified...to say the least!

 

[meandtheguys2]

I can't think of any reason not to allow a young lady to shave her legs. I, too, would go with an electric razor.

 

[Alesia]

I agree with your husband. When I was in school most girl (myself included) started shaving their legs when they were in 4th grade.

She will need a training bra when her breasts start to develop. The age can vary significantly. I think I started wearing one in 6th grade. by that time, there were some girls who were really developed, but most of us had mosquito bites, at best

I think most girls start their periods sometime in the 6th to 8th grade range.

 

[misshilda1]

My DD just turned 11 and she has started shaving she started to delop and start wearing bra's in 2nd grade. I was unaware this had become a problem until I bought her summer clothes and my usually carefree tank top wearing daughter was wearing on t-shirts and long capri's or pants. When I inquired as to why she was not wearing the clothes she had picked out and seemed so excited to wear I soon found out it was from the embarassment of underarm and leg hair. I felt if it was causing her to be embarassed then that was my sign to let her start. She uses the shick intution. I have taught her how to properly use this and it keeps her from cuts and knick and it is more convient and leaves her legs smooth and not irritated....Good luck.

 

[allyphoe]

1. shaving their legs; 2. wearing a bra; and 3. their periods???

I have my fingers crossed that my DD4 will have inherited from the "almost no body hair" side, rather than my "has visible stubble within hours of shaving" side. She definitely got the "tans dark with the slightest sun exposure" as opposed to the "fishbelly white" gene, thank goodness - nothing worse than dark stubble on white legs for being noticeable.

The Museum of Menstruation says: "In 1860 the average menarche happened at 16.6 years, in 1920 at 14.6, in 1950 at 13.1 and 1980, 12.5 years." And "The mean age at onset of breast development is 8.87 years for African-American girls and 10.51 years for white girls. The mean age at onset of axillary (armpit) hair growth is 10.8 for A.A. girls and 11.8 for white girls."

She uses the shick intution.

Best razor ever!

 

[SnowWhite12]

Things certainly happen earlier now than when I grew. Most girls in the elementary schools I work with start shaving legs by the 5th grade. I cover 5 different elementary schools, and girls definitely start their periods earlier. Many in the 5th grade, some as early as 4th. I don't see girls wearing bras when they should be. There are many 5th graders that obviously need them, and not wear them. It is sooo bad that I even suggested to one principal that the guidance counselor should arrange a parent meeting. Poor girl, everyone makes fun and gawks at her.

 

[bluejaygirl]

I'd let her shave if she is self concious about it.

My DD started shaving between 5th and 6th grade with an electric shaver ( now she usually uses Nair) . She needed a bra around the same time and started mentruating at age 10. I guess it was all at about the same time!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

For shaving legs...when they ask and are old enough to do the job without major bloodshed

For a bra...when you notice the need or by the time they must "dress out" for gym class, which ever comes first.

Periods do seem to be starting earlier(DD had just turned 11) and it can be very scary and embarassing for unprepared girls. Girls should have the info about their bodies by the time they reach 4th grade(even if it makes mom uncofortable)so that if it happens at school they will not be totally freaked out. In talking to other parents(Girl Scouts) most girls started about the same time they hit the 100lb mark.

 

[powellrj]

my DD is 11 and started shaving her legs in the 4th grade when she was 9. She has an electric razor so its pretty painless. She started wearing a sports bra last year in the 5th grade. Not because she needed one, but because all of her friends were wearing them and the boys were noticing the girls that didn't and teased them.

Many of her friends started their periods in the 4th grade and a couple as early as the 3rd, but I am assuming they were the older girls in the class.

My rule of thumb as been if it bothers them enough to ask, I need to decide if its time.

My DD also wants to color her hair and put highlights in, but its almost white blond, so highlights and hair color aren't going to happen!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

My DD started shaving her legs around 12. She has light hair, but on her legs it was coming in darker and I think the straw that broke the camels back (and got me to concede to letting her shave) was her brother calling her gorilla legs. Brothers are so nice, aren't they? I figured if her own brother is teasing her it was only a matter of time before other kids did. I showed her proper technique and warned of never shaving a dry leg in haste (ouch!).

 

[jenrein]

My daughter was 9- she had the long dark hair like you are talking about and she hated it. I taught her and she has been doing it since. She is 11 now- thankfully no period yet but there are a lot of signs that we are about to cross that road. Training bras- she started at about 10. When it was noticeable under a thin shirt that she was growing. She felt more comfortable that way. I also let her get some highlights done this past year- I grew up changing my hair month to month and its all still there so I didnt think it was too horrible to let her do.

 

[Bama mom to 3]

My dd is going into 4th grade and will be 10 in September. She has asked to shave her legs. I know a couple of her friends already shave the lower half of their legs. I really don't want to think of my dd being old enough to shave...its so sad to me.

 

[dyna]

My DD started wearing sports bras as training bras in 1st grade 7 at the time.

She started her periods at 9 shaving legs at like 11 with an electric razor. Of course it wasn't long till she found the real razors.

She had the American Girl Book by the time she was 7 she was reading well enough that she could pretty much read it herself. Got to say we got our moneys worth out of that book too as she read it an read it at least parts of it over an over.

1 of my DD's was about 17 when she dropped a razor in tub full of water got tired of looking for it so she sat down in tub..... GUESS WHAT SHE SAT ON.... Yep the razor but her cheek good too.

 

[Drivercan]

Mu daughter is 11 but hair on her legs is not an issue yet. No hair anywhere else yet either. No period yet - hoping she takes after my SIL and my mom - they were 16!

I would suggest taking your daughter for a leg waxing. The hair grows back much more slowly and you don't get the stuble, it seems to grow back more softly. According to some people waxing leaves some spots where the hair does not grow back as fully as it did before. I waxed for many years and really have some "bald" spots on my legs.

 

[PaulaSue]

I'm looking for moms to tell me at what age their daughters started:

1. shaving their legs; 2. wearing a bra; and 3. their periods???

~~~~

1. Haven't offically started that yet. My Middle DD6 is very hairy like her Daddy so we have done her mole a few times.

2. My oldest started to develope around 7 1/2 and at 8 I took her out of her car seat and bought her training bras.

3. Nothing yet but at her 8 yr appt the doctor said to expect it 2 1/2 yearas after starting to develope. I am so not ready for that at 10 ish. But then I freaked when I found out one of my aunts started at 8.
TG, I was much later.

P.S. We love the American Girl book. It is nice and helps get me over the bumps I am not good at explaining.

 

[dementia412]

About a week ago I looked down at my DD7's legs and said "OMG, you have hairy legs!" I can't believe I said that... she then bugged me all day about shaving. I told her that only if you look close can you see the darker hair... it'll be awhile yet. She is very pale though, so who knows how long I have. She turns 8 in just 10 days. Not showing on top, but wow does the girl have hips and a tushie .. buying her a swimming suit that fits properly is a pain.
If I remember correctly I got hair at 10 (late 4th grade), breasts at 11 (early 6th grade), and my period at 12 (summer vacation). I didn't shave untill I was 12 and had to go to gym.

 

[adoptionmomma4]

My daughter will be 10 in September. She just started asking to shave her legs. I told her she had to be 12 (since this is when I started), but she shaved them behind my back I was a little upset with her and even told her she was grounded. I later found out the girls on her cheer team were making comments about her legs. She is on a team with older girls and she is a flyer.... so 3-4 bigger girls are always lifting her and were telling her it was time to start shaving. She didn’t say they were being mean, but I figured it was just a matter of time. I now allow her to shave, but got her the nair kit and it seems to work well so far.

As far as periods go, I hope it is a long time before she starts that. I am not sure when her birth mom did, but she had a baby at 16, so I know it was before 15.

Cute story: We had the mini talk about periods in Florida. She saw some "products" and wanted to know what they were, so I told her about periods. Later that night we were at target and she saw thong underwear and asked what kind of panties are these, so I said "they are called thongs" and my DD puts her hand on her head and says "first we have periods and now we have to wear those... what are they trying to do to me " She was horrified.