Finding a First Bra

Buying a first bra is a big thing. Your child is hitting their next stage in life and they’re growing in ways that might be confusing to them. Some children are pleased about this (I remember being overjoyed about the possibility of needing a bra, as I was finally on my way to being a grown up), whereas others might not be, and that’s okay. 

Whilst the main thing you can do as a parent is to be there and support your child emotionally, you also need to help them feel comfortable in their body, which brings us to buying a first bra. 

When Should I Buy My Daughter Her First Bra?

Most children get their first bra at around 11 years old, but this isn’t to say that they can’t get a bra at a younger age. If your child is starting to develop breasts (which usually happens between the ages of 8-14), that’s your sign to get thinking about their first bra. 

Their friends might be wearing bras, they might be growing and feeling uncomfortable, or they might just be developing an interest in what’s about to happen to their body. Either way, this is a milestone that should be celebrated and surrounded with positivity, so we want to make the experience as enjoyable and as judgement-free as possible.

How to Measure For First Bra

Whilst you might want to take your child to get professionally fitted, this can feel like an uncomfortable, embarrassing and intrusive experience for most. (It wasn’t until my twenties that I actually felt comfortable enough to go and get my boobs measured by a stranger, so I can’t imagine telling 11-year-old me that she would have to go through that.)

Luckily, you don’t have to get a ‘professional’ fitting to find the right bra size, and this isn’t any different for a first bra. I will now refer back to my guides (which I have mentioned countless times throughout all of my blogs because they were made to be used and I won’t stop until everyone is wearing the perfect bra), and show you exactly how to measure for a first bra at home. 

Start with How to Measure Your Bra Size. The process is the exact same for measuring for a first bra, only that it’s the first time doing it! All it takes is a couple of easy measurements, and your child can do this wearing a tight fitting top or even on their own if they’re a bit more concerned about privacy. Don’t be offended if your child does want to do this on their own - this is their journey and it’s a personal one.

How Should a First Bra Fit?

Once you’ve got these measurements, you can work out the size and then head to How Should a Bra Fit. Knowing how the bra should fit is really important in confirming that you’ve got the right first bra size, and you might even learn a thing or two yourself!

If your child is wearing a bra that’s slightly too big or small, it’s realistically not going to affect their breast growth. However, it is going to mean that they spend the course of the day feeling uncomfortable, and we can all relate to the pain of that. So, when you’ve picked out a first bra (I’d recommend buying a few different ones to try), you can compare how they’re fitting against the steps on the guide. 

Comfortable First Bra

The next step is actually buying the first bra itself. At this age, comfort is probably the main priority, unless your child’s breasts are at a size that requires more support. If this is the case, you can follow my guide on Types of Bras, which will take you through what’s going to be the most beneficial for your child at this stage.

If comfort is the biggest concern with a first bra, let me give you some recommendations as to what type of bra you should go for. 

• Anything with the word ‘comfort’ in. Sloggi’s WOW Comfort Padded Bra (£32) is suitable for all shapes and sizes, with light padding to help any potential tenderness. It’s lightweight, flexible and super soft, making it the perfect first bra.

• Soft cups. If something is a soft cup, it means that it’s wireless. You don’t have to be a bra expert to know that if a bra has underwire, it’s not going to be as comfortable as something that is non wired. Naturana’s Lace Padded Soft Cup Bra (£22.95) is a good one to try for a first bra. With light padding, no wires and stretch lace, it’s flexible, comfortable and supportive.

• Crop Tops/Bralettes. Fantasie’s Smoothease Non Wired Bralette (£39) is my go-to for this. Another wireless bra, this is made with moulded soft cups, soft centre bonding and removable padding, making it great for providing all-day comfort and complete support.

• Something with light padding or moulding. Whilst these features also go hand-in-hand with more supportive bras (the scary ones with wires), they also come with the softer comfort bras that we’re looking for. Light padding or moulding is going to add comfort and shape, making them good features to look out for. 

Finding a First Bra

And that’s everything you need to know to get the right first bra for your child…

However, I know that this is a pretty daunting experience for most, and it might be uncomfortable for both of you. If you’ve got any other questions (or if you think that your child would benefit from talking to a 25-year-old bra fanatic), you can message us, call us (ask for Alicia, Employee of the Year), or choose your preferred method of contact here. At BraForMe, we’re here to help and we want our customers to wear bras that make them feel comfortable and supported, no matter their age.

Good luck!

Psst. Did you know? We ship internationally! No matter where you are, we can provide you with your dream bra. Check out our shipping policy for everything you need to know about timings, prices and returns.

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