Getting 13 Year Old to Wear a Bra!

Updated on April 25, 2012
S.L. asks from Pueblo, CO
9 answers

A dear friend of mine is having trouble getting her 13 year old to wear a bra. The daughter is quite stubborn, and still embarrassed of anything 'girly' (she refuses to walk through the bra section of a store). My friend is stumped, since she has another daughter, who is 16, who didn't have any issues with bras. The 13 year old is athletic, wears alot of althletic clothes, but won't even wear a sports bra. My friend asked me if I had any ideas and I told her I would ask you ladies. Any ideas?

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Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

First off, does the 13 year old NEED to wear a bra? If she hasn't started to develop at all, I probably wouldn't bother.

If, however, she needs it, here's what I would do. I would have my daughter look at herself in the mirror. Point out that you can see her nipples, and does she really want to show off THAT much of herself?

My dd refuses to wear a bra bra (and she needs one). However, she is perfectly happy to wear a cami tank with a built in shelf bra. Those layering tanks are really in style, and if she gets one with a shelf bra, it gives a young girl the coverage and support she needs.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Denver on

To Wendy: Yes a 13 year old NEEDS a bra. My 11 year old needs one. Some just develop faster.

My daughter likes the sports-bra type. She didn't like to wear hers at first either, but I let her know it was necessary and part of growing up, and she eventually came around.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.P.

answers from Orlando on

i can't believe what i'm reading is actually from a mother. a bra is an unessential item that women are told they "need". whether or not your daughter wants to wear a bra is her own life decision. i'm not even going to get into the fact that bras are one of the primary causes for neck, back, and shoulder pain and have been linked to constriction of the lymph vessels and breast cancer.

i can't believe you would force your daughter into doing something she's not comfortable with simply because YOU choose to comply to society's disgusting standards of a beautiful woman. what a great role model you are.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.P.

answers from Provo on

My daughter was the same way. Nothing feminine!! I thought I would go crazy. I just happened to find little sports bras that don't really look like bras and clip in the front. They have no lace and are very plain. Shirts with built in bras are an excellent idea also.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Springfield on

M. An Lawer I Go Braless All Time Beuse Health To Go Eith A Bra all time ok to go braless Up To gril She Whats To Wear A Bras Or Not Mother

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Monday, May 19, 2008

Special Report: Banish the Bra?

Posted: 05/19/08

27Share

No longer just hidden under shirts, Victoria's Secret brought the bra out into the open, making it a real fashion statement.
But could a woman's bra actually be dangerous to her health?

"Our research has shown that the bras issue, we believe is the leading cause of breast cancer", said Sydney Ross Singer, who wrote a book about what he believes is a link between breast cancer and bras.

"In fact to look at breast disease and ignore bras is like looking at foot disease and ignoring tight shoes," said Singer.

Singer's center conducted a study involving five thousand American women, half had breast cancer.

They looked at past behavior, including how tight the bras were and how long the women wore them. Here's what they found:

Women who wore a bra for 24 hours a day, had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer.

If a bra is worn 12 hours a day, there was a 1 in 7 risk.

And women who didn't wear a bra had about the same rate of developing breast cancer as a man.

"So what's happening with the bra is that women are preventing the proper flushing of fluid and toxins out of their breasts," said Singer.

Singer claims a bra is too constricting, interfering with the body's lymphatic system.

This causes toxins to build up, eventually causing cancer.

"If you get rid of the bra, your breasts will finally be able to flush out the fluid," said Singer.

But mainstream medical doctors dismiss the study.

"There's no evidence in any of the world research data that I'm aware of that supports the fact that breast cancer risk is increased by wearing a bra or a bra that's too tight," said Dr. Ermilo Barrera of the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Barrera says women should get mammograms to reduce risk factors and not worry about their bras.

"Watch their weight, exercise, drink only in moderation and don't smoke," said Doctor Hussein.

Doctor Atif Hussein, Medical Director at the Memorial Cancer Institute calls the bra study interesting, but said, "it really is hard to tell you wearing the bra in itself was the contributing factor."

He says it's not the bra, but the risk factors of the women who wear them that is the deciding factor.

"Women who may be overweight tend to wear bras, therefore I would say the factors that contributed to those women wearing the bra contributed to their high risk rather than the bra itself," said Doctor Hussein. He said the issue should be studied more.

But despite criticism from the medical community, Singer is sticking to his mission saying, "there's absolutely nothing good about bras, it's completely a fashion accessory."

He is encouraging women to banish their bras for better health, saying, "We live in a culture where women feel insecure with a natural bust line, but if the price of fashion is disease, then you have to decide whether you want to participate in that or not."

Singer is now studying women who go bra-free to find out if they have lower rates of breast cancer.

Sorboni Banerjee, 7News.

(Copyright 2008 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.K.

answers from Boston on

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 28 May 2011 02:19:42 -0700

Special Report

Email this article to a friend Watch the video

Banish the Bra?

No longer just hidden under shirts, Victoria's Secret brought the bra out into the open, making it a real fashion statement.

But could a woman's bra actually be dangerous to her health?

"Our research has shown that the bras issue, we believe is the leading cause of breast cancer", said Sydney Ross Singer, who wrote a book about what he believes is a link between breast cancer and bras.Ther Know Laws Say Women Wear A Bra They Can Go Bralesss All The Time Women White To,.:?

"In fact to look at breast disease and ignore bras is like looking at foot disease and ignoring tight shoes," said Singer.

Singer's center conducted a study involving five thousand American bank in the 1960 American cancer smoking did course cancer. in they say seaming about bra wear at same time 1960 of the hipper monuments that way the hipper women when braless ,.? at that time four all women. bra give you haertacate backbone cancer. healther to go braless all the time,.they found out.

They looked at past behavior, including how tight the bras were and how long the women wore them. Here's what they found:

Women who wore a bra for 24 hours a day, had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer.

If a bra is worn 12 hours a day, there was a 1 in 7 risk.

And women who didn't wear a bra had about the same rate of developing breast cancer as a man.

"So what's happening with the bra is that women are preventing the proper flushing of fluid and toxins out of their breasts," said Singer.

Singer claims a bra is too constricting, interfering with the body's lymphatic system.

This causes toxins to build up, eventually causing cancer.

"If you get rid of the bra, your breasts will finally be able to flush out the fluid," said Singer.

But mainstream medical doctors dismiss the study.

"There's no evidence in any of the world research data that I'm aware of that supports the fact that breast cancer risk is increased by wearing a bra or a bra that's too tight," said Dr. Ermilo Barrera of the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Barrera says women should get mammograms to reduce risk factors and not worry about their bras.

"Watch their weight, exercise, drink only in moderation and don't smoke," said Doctor Hussein.

Doctor Atif Hussein, Medical Director at the Memorial Cancer Institute calls the bra study interesting, but said, "it really is hard to tell you wearing the bra in itself was the contributing factor."

He says it's not the bra, but the risk factors of the women who wear them that is the deciding factor.

"Women who may be overweight tend to wear bras, therefore I would say the factors that contributed to those women wearing the bra contributed to their high risk rather than the bra itself," said Doctor Hussein. He said the issue should be studied more.

But despite criticism from the medical community, Singer is sticking to his mission saying, "there's absolutely nothing good about bras, it's completely a fashion accessory."

He is encouraging women to banish their bras for better health, saying, "We live in a culture where women feel insecure with a natural bust line, but if the price of fashion is disease, then you have to decide whether you want to participate in that or not."

Singer is now studying women who go bra-free to find out if they have lower rates of breast cancer.

Sorboni Banerjee, 7News.

(Copyright 2008 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

issue is all women should go braless all the time.

New England News Special Report Email this article to a friend Watch the video

Banish the Bra?
No longer just hidden under shirts, Victoria's Secret brought the bra out into the open, making it a real fashion statement.
But could a woman's bra actually be dangerous to her health?
"Our research has shown that the bras issue, we believe is the leading cause of breast cancer", said Sydney Ross Singer, who wrote a book about what he believes is a link between breast cancer and bras.
"In fact to look at breast disease and ignore bras is like looking at foot disease and ignoring tight shoes," said Singer.
Singer's center conducted a study involving five thousand American women, half had breast cancer.
They looked at past behavior, including how tight the bras were and how long the women wore them. Here's what they found:
Women who wore a bra for 24 hours a day, had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer.
If a bra is worn 12 hours a day, there was a 1 in 7 risk.
And women who didn't wear a bra had about the same rate of developing breast cancer as a man.
"So what's happening with the bra is that women are preventing the proper flushing of fluid and toxins out of their breasts," said Singer.
Singer claims a bra is too constricting, interfering with the body's lymphatic system.
This causes toxins to build up, eventually causing cancer.
"If you get rid of the bra, your breasts will finally be able to flush out the fluid," said Singer.
But mainstream medical doctors dismiss the study.
"There's no evidence in any of the world research data that I'm aware of that supports the fact that breast cancer risk is increased by wearing a bra or a bra that's too tight," said Dr. Ermilo Barrera of the American Cancer Society.
Dr. Barrera says women should get mammograms to reduce risk factors and not worry about their bras.
"Watch their weight, exercise, drink only in moderation and don't smoke," said Doctor Hussein.
Doctor Atif Hussein, Medical Director at the Memorial Cancer Institute calls the bra study interesting, but said, "it really is hard to tell you wearing the bra in itself was the contributing factor."
He says it's not the bra, but the risk factors of the women who wear them that is the deciding factor.
"Women who may be overweight tend to wear bras, therefore I would say the factors that contributed to those women wearing the bra contributed to their high risk rather than the bra itself," said Doctor Hussein. He said the issue should be studied more.
But despite criticism from the medical community, Singer is sticking to his mission saying, "there's absolutely nothing good about bras, it's completely a fashion accessory."
He is encouraging women to banish their bras for better health, saying, "We live in a culture where women feel insecure with a natural bust line, but if the price of fashion is disease, then you have to decide whether you want to participate in that or not."
Singer is now studying women who go bra-free to find out if they have lower rates of breast cancer.
Sorboni Banerjee, 7News.
(Copyright 2008 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

New England News
?2011 Sunbeam Television Corp.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.S.

answers from Denver on

A 13 yo is still a child and may be having a very hard time accepting the changes in her body. And frankly as long as she's not a DD, it probably not all that noticeable that she has no bra. I'm guessing she's wearing baggier clothes or sweaters to hide her chest...why fight her?

Eventually she'll come around to the fact that she needs a bra. Her peers, boyfriend or the 'mean girls' will eventually get through to her and she'll realize mom was right. Until then though, she's just fine to be who she is. I personally don't like bras a bit and will shed them at the first chance I get. Still. They are uncomfortable and confining (even no underwire, sports and other 'comfy bras'). She won't go all the way through life letting them hang out, trust me.

And as for support, its a myth. Its having babies that causes the droop, not the lack of a bra...just don't tell her that :-) GL!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Denver on

This is tough. camis with built in shelf bras really only work if there's not much to hold up - mostly they just cover nipples. One way to work on this - have the girl stand in front of a mirror naked or just in a cami and jump up and down - watch them wiggle! that is upsetting enough to most girls to get them to understand that they need some support and some coverup because other kids and boys are watching them wiggle as they walk or play in gym.

Choose bras without underwires - cotton only. be sure they are the right size so they don't chafe or constrict. Try different styles - front clip, racing back, etc - to see what's comfortable. wish your friend good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Denver on

does she have an aunt or good family friend that can take her to get fitted for a bra? buy her lunch, make it a special occassion, rather than just a tortured afternoon out with mom?

I just ask this because I have a twin sister who had to start wearing a bra in 5th grade, she was 10.. for whatever reason I soooo did not need one until I was 12 or 13.... and by then I would have rather gouged my own eyes out than go with my mom.... so my step-mother took me (she was younger, cooler (I guess) and less intimidating to me). I feel sorry for my mom (in hind-sight) but she was probably just happy that I started wearing a bra.

IMHO, better to have a friend take her before she is teased at school for not wearing one...

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