The First Bra Guide: How and When to Buy Your Daughter a Bra

Buying a girl’s first bra isn’t always smooth sailing. While some teens and tweens are over the moon to be hit by womanhood and start wearing bras, others may not be so keen. As puberty hits, so do a plethora of insecurities. To help you be a supportive parent during this milestone in your daughter’s life, here’s when you should get your daughter her first bra and how to choose one.

When should you get your first bra?

The average first bra age is 11 years old. However, girls start wearing their first bra as young as eight. Regardless of age, there are several obvious signs your daughter may want her first bra:

• If your daughter asks about bra shopping
• If her friends have started wearing bras
• If she’s showing discomfort with her chest 

How do I know when my daughter needs a bra?

If your daughter isn’t as forthcoming to openly ask about bra shopping, you may need to broach the topic yourself. She’s most likely ready to go shopping if she’s started developing breast buds, this is essentially the first signs of breast tissue under the nipples.

Girls develop at any age from 8-14, so there is no specific time you should buy a first bra, just when she is physically and emotionally ready.

If in doubt, it’s best to simply ask your daughter if she’s ready for one and respect her wishes either way. Huffington Post advises that you ensure you show sensitivity to her needs and help her be as confident as possible – it’s a big milestone in her life! 

What is the purpose of a training bra?

If your daughter would like her first bra, a training bra is a good place to start. A training bra is bra designed for teens and tweens who may not fit in standard adult bras yet. These are lightweight starter bras and help provide a bit of coverage for breast buds, nipples and growing breasts. Training bras are a good stepping stone into wearing adult bras. 

How to choose a first bra

Going around the shops looking for a training bra might be a bit overwhelming for your daughter. If this is the case, it might be a good idea buying the first bra at home. She can measure herself at home with a tape measure and look for bras online to avoid a shop bra fitting.

As a first bra, it’s best to go for substance over style. You’ll want something comfortable that your daughter can wear throughout the day, but also while doing sports. Lacy or push up bras are probably unnecessary for a few years. The best first bras are:

• Crop tops – This is best as a starter bra and should be worn as soon as the nipples start to protrude.
• Soft cup bras – Once the breast tissue has developed a bit further (usually a few months after wearing the crop top), your daughter is probably ready for soft cupped bras, these work well as both tween and teen bras.
• Padded bras – These will add comfort if the nipples are tender during this time.
• Comfort bras – These bras avoid underwiring, which is helpful during puberty as there will be nothing digging into the rib cage.

How to ensure your daughter’s bra fits

Most importantly, you need to ensure the bra fits comfortably. According to Kids Health, if the size is a little too small or big, it won’t affect the growth of the breast tissue, however, it will lead to discomfort throughout the day. To ensure your daughter’s bra fits properly, do the following:

• Check the band remains level around her front and back, any arching implies she’s wearing the wrong size.
• Ensure the straps are comfortable and not digging in or falling down the shoulders.
• There should be no puckering or over spilling of the cups.

Read our fitting room guide to know what to look out for when choosing a bra size.

Happy first bra shopping! Browse our range of bras to find the perfect one for your daughter.