Daughter with Sensitivity Issues and Wearing a Bra

The only thing I can suggest is that you get her a bigger sports bra. They are the loosest fitting ones that I'm aware of. Unless you just want to start her out in a cami for a while. Is it the seam issue for her or just the tightness in the way the bras fit her?

The Gap has a bra that I love, it's very comfortable. Maybe this would work?

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=35469&vid=1&...

Maybe you've tried this, but how about having her wear a tank top with a shelf bra in it under her shirt as a start? Also, there are MANY kinds of sports bras... they make some that look like a tank on top, and is basically just that, a tank/shelf bra, just without the bottom half. It would give her a little coverage, perhaps without feeling so tight or constricting.

Best wishes to you... hope you find something that works.

How about taking her to Target and letting her pick one or two out? I think it is great they you are trying to be pro active about getting her comfortable with one before school starts again. Make it fun if you can so that your daughter might be more open to the idea of looking. Good Luck

My daughter is 12 1/2 and has been wearing the tank top with built-in bra for awhile. With summer coming I thought that may be a little warm, so we purchased bras at target for her. They are not the regular bra, but more like what is under the tank top with built-in bra. They still have a adjustable thin strap. My daughter really likes them.

We have the same issues. One thing that worked for us was a regular padded a cup bra that we ordered from just my size, on line. Have her look at all the bras that you can get in an a cup, and start trying them. They have spots bras too. It may take a few trys, but once she feels secure and comfortable you can stock up. lt surprised me that regular bras were more comfortable for her than sports, but l think it was the secure fit that was not tight.

M.

This may seem odd, but have you considered one of the night time nursing bras? They sell them at motherhood, and they are very soft. Since she is just starting to wear a bra, she won't need much support so it may work. I know it seems very odd, but they may be more comfortable than a sports bra.

My daughter goes and tries them on and can feel and see how it fits. One thing is to keep in might at 10-12 everyone gets big so they can grow tall. It is a really ockward stage and can make or break a mom and daughter relationship for the teen years. They need alot of love and guidance but still need to be thought about life.

i started wearing a bra when i was 10 also and it was wierd for me too at that age. i got boobs before any of my friends. i also have a niece who is going through the same thing as your daughter and is close to her age...what our family is doing (and what my mom did for me) was give lots of positive feedback with any fashion decisions she makes. slowly introduce her to differnt types of clothing that will flatter her figure. there are lots of plus-size models she could find as role models and many different places with cute clothes for all different shapes. i started out by wearing a sports bra and gradually moved onto a "real" bra within a few months. give her both and see which is better for her. it's akward and wierd but every woman does it (or should do it!) good luck

I hate bras and luckily am fairly small breasted so go without often. Here's a bra that I would recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/B-Smooth-seamless-matte-label-White...

I have one and will buy more. Soft, no wires, fits well.

My daughter is also 10 years old and has Sensory Processing Disorder, with clothes being a factor. She is big boned, a bit overweight, wears mostly women's clothing sizes, only wears pull-on elastic-waist pants, etc. She is 5 feet tall, weighs 125 pounds, wears a woman's M top and about size 6 pants, as well as a size 8.5 shoe. It is projected that she will be 5'8" to over 6' tall when she's done growing.

Our latest hurdle was finding her new swimsuits for this summer. Found a sale on Arizona Girls Plus Size at JCPenny. We bought the largest size they carried--size 16 or 18, I can't remember now.

JCPenny is also where we found her some starter bras--34A. I took her with me, and we tried on various different ones. The only issue she has with them is that the elastic hem on the bottom under the boobs tends to leave her with a slight rash if she sweats or gets too hot. As nicely as I could, I just said that until she gets a bigger cup, there wasn't a whole lot more I could do for her. Sports bras don't work because of how constricted/hard they are to put on.

She's really started to develop this summer. She initally bought her bras because she was running in Girls On The Run and didn't like her boobs flopping up and down. With it being warm/hot over the summer, she hasn't worn her bras much. But I expect that to change and for her to begin wearing the bras daily once school starts in the fall.

I understand how frustrating this is. Take your daughter along with you shopping. Make it a girl day, plan for an entire day, and visit all the stores. Even if you have to buy one bra in three or four different stores, you'll have found (hopefully) bras that she will wear. Good luck!

I think the sports bra is a good idea (perhaps not spandex but instead a soft cotton?) and I also LOVE the idea of trying a maternity bra. You could also try a chemise with a built-in bra. Those tend not to be very supportive or clingy but would help your daughter get used to the sensation of having something around her chest and also make her chest a bit more socially acceptable. Good luck.

Maybe try a stretch cami w/ no seams. It will give some support and is more like a tank top. It may get her used to the feeling of another article under her clothes. May also become easier in the winter.... then after she is used to that, you can move on. Good luck

I have all those issues when my diet isn't good. If I stick to what's along the outside aisles of the grocery store those things don't bother me so much. The biggest kicker is artificial colors, processed sugar, and artificial flavors. A good sports bra is about the most comfortable.

I recommend going to Penney's and having her fitted by a bra fitter. There are so many different styles it is almost impossible to recommend one. Warners and Barely There have several styles that have to molded cup and really soft sides. I perfer the molded cup because the nipples don't show through. I also like the Bali 'Lace Desire' bra. If you find a bra with a wire but she finds the wire uncomfortable you can slip the wire out by cutting the casing inside the bra and slipping out the wire.
I don't recommend Victoria Secret for the fitting. I was a fitter for Penney's for 3.5 yrs and had many women come to Penney's for help because they could not find a bra that fit them. The fitters at Victoria Secret had not fitted them properly and they had been buying the wrong size for years.

Look for "Crop bras". They are like a mix between training bras and sports bras. I think JC Penney and Kohls both have them

My reply is somewhat different than the others. I don't know if there is medication or therapy for sensory issues (probably) but I would try that. At least seek counseling so that your daughter feels better about her weight, self esteem, issues of being different than others, etc. I would try Weight Watchers. I believe they have a program for young people or teens. They have very sensible, healthy eating of regular foods. She is not too young to learn to eat sensibly & healthily. If all else fails I'd try hypnosis to see if this won't help "de-sensitize" your daughter. All of the comments on various types of bra's are great but you have a much bigger, serious issue to deal with and it won't get any better until you find help.

I am 46, and STILL on a quest for the perfect bra for myself. I have Adult Sensory Integration, and I CAN NOT find a bra that will fit me comfortably, so I feel your pain and your daughter's pain. I also had to have open heart surgery, and now have permanent nerve damage which makes it even harder to find a bra that doesn't hurt me. I just checked the website: www.herroom.com Hopefully I have found some bras that might work for me. Maybe you could try that website and order some with her, and she can try them on in the comfort of her own home, and w/out all the distractions and pressure of being in a store. This is what I have to do even when I buy clothes. I chose some "cami bras" in a bigger band size (meaning the band that goes around your ribs, not cup size), that are made of soft fabric. Anything itchy will drive me insane! I also am going to try the "stick on" cups for my "C" cup breasts because they don't have an underwire (hate the feeling of that!), and it doesn't have a strap that will pull on my nerve damage around my left side rib cage. Don't know if I can handle the sticky feeling, but we'll see. As an adult with SID, it has been nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find a bra that I am comfortable in. I can only find SID "stores" for children. Anyway, try Her Room bras. They have a HUGE variety of bras and all kinds of sizes, fabrics, etc. to choose from. Good luck to you and your daughter. Poor thing. My heart goes out to her. Wearing a bra when you have SID is HORRIBLE! Honestly, order some bras online, and let her try them in her own space so she can think. It has really helped me. :)

We started out with a softer type bra and are now moving up to a training bra. Maybe if she has a hand in picking one out she will feel more comfortable. My daughter whom just turned 11 doesn't like any of the clothes I pick out lol! So for the next school year I am taking her shopping within reason and letting her pick out her own stuff.

I have 2 of these bras - they are new, are sold at WalMart, for only $10 a piece, no seams, soft fabric, easy sizing, no tags, http://www.hanes.com/Hanes/Categories/Women-Hanes/Women_S...

Also, for a more expensive, but also more durable, and wider strap option, try the original Spanx Brallelueijah: http://www.spanx.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2990082&... No tags, only two seams, no clasps or adjusters.

I have issues with clothing as well just major sensitivities. My favorite bra of all time (which after wearing it so much I need to go and get a new one) is the racerback style that Victoria's Secret sell, the ones I get clasp in the front. Otherwise my other favorite thing also from vickies is their supported camisoles I could wear those things all day long, super comfy.

go to a running store.. they have great clothing with not alot of seems.. like tank tops. and bras of every size :) Really cool styles too. Some socks I really like are under aromer brand socks or any running socks b/c they don't have the seems.. the dri fit shirts and tanks that are tagless are great too. my favorite store is also online roadrunner.com I like this store b/c they have a great store brand of clothes too.. especially tanks and bras.. pretty colors too.
Lenc

I love the barely there bras without underwires. I'm guessing she will want one without a catch of any sort, since that may bother her. If she will go you could try either getting her fitted somewhere or just trying on several to see what feels good. I shop the clearance rack a lot, sometimes they are dirt cheap there. If she doesn't want to go, maybe you can pick out 3-5 and let her try them on at home and return the ones that don't work. I think hanes and jockey also make several that don't have catches. I wore some of the jockey ones when I first wore a bra and they were comfy. Are the sports bras she have tried ones like champion? I know they have a thick band, which she may not like, but some of the other brands with less support will have a small band. Some also look more like a regular bra, just no catch.

Hi A.,

I agree about the soft cami with the built in bra. My girls wore those a while before they started wearing a bra. Have you thought about changing your laundry detergent. My mother always thought she had clothing sensitivites and all she had was sensitivities to the chlorines and phosphates in the wash.

I do nutritional counseling and I think a good absorbable multivitamin will probably help her with her weight. Most children that have weight issues at her age are because of the additives in foods now and an extra dose of nutrition will sometimes simply rid the extra weight. Nutrition, whether shes not getting it or it's simply not absorbing, will balance her body so it won't hold onto the weight. I know that will help her with her comfort in her clothes as well.

If you want to talk, please get back to me. I'm available.

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

For her age I suggest going to the Jr dept and looking for a tank top with a built in bra. It is just a second layer and it will probably be enough for summer by itself or it can be worn under shirts and they are much more comfortable. Some are pretty thick too. My daughter prefers this to wearing bras. Good luck!

I have sensory issues (adhd... I can feel EVERYTHING touching my body at all times).

You may be surprised... I can't stand most sports bras... because a) it makes the girls touch b) it does uniboob c) the constrict breathing.

For MYSELF:

- The bras have to be demis or balconies (full coverage bras make me nauseaous, for no good reason)

- HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO be underwire. Otherwise they aren't separated "right", the band has to be tighter, and my breasts "touch" my stomach. Eeeeeeeew. Gross. Can't stand that feeling either. Properly fitting underwires, however, feel *almost* invisable.

- Straps have to be "thin" and NOT stretchy. Thick ones annoy me no end (again, for no good reason... I also don't like thick strap tank tops), and stretchy ones "bounce". Which is just annoying. I want the girls to be next to immobile. Bouncing and jiggling about in a stretchy strap makes me want to go braless, and I actually hate braless even more than most things (God, I'm really beginning to sound like a freak, here. I don't think I've ever written out all of my lingerie requirements).

- The material has to be "feel good". Usually this means expensive lingerie. Oddly, lace is fine, because they line the lace with super thin silky stuff AND lace doesn't stretch very much (see above for the jiggling comment).

- The lingerie HAS to be either pretty or sporty. Frumpy, utilitarian, fill in a whole host of words that don't mean "pretty" and they are OUT. I'm a tomboy. But I reeeeeeally like sexy lingerie. Love, even. Always has. It just makes me feel *special*. Not sexy, just *special*. Even though I'm the only one who sees it.

Does your DD have all of these issues? Probably not. These are mine. She might share some, but I figured as another sensory-person I would share my "list" and reasonings behind them to give you an idea of what's up. It took me several years of looking at the patterns of bras I'd buy to really know what to walk in and ask for... and I STILL try on at LEAST 30 bras every single time I go shopping... and I'm aiming for purchasing TWO.

Fortunately the Nordstroms gals ROCK. :) :) :) And it's a fun experience, instead of just a sweaty one.

Mmmmm.... speaking of Nordies. I wouldn't rec shopping expensive when you're just going to be having to upgrade and upgrade as her size changes BUT when sensory schtuff is at play... you might want to. Just find ONE at least, that she loves (and isn't just tolerable) to get her used to them, and to get an idea of her own "list of requirements" (which she can't even know yet). The other bene of an expensive bra is this: They last forever. So you can buy one, and wash it every other day, and expect it to last 2 years. Which I know, because I lived off of student loans, ramen, & $100 bras for 5 years. Seriously, I have a lingerie-lust like most women love chocolate... but only had 2 bras in my drawer. One one day, the other the next. For five years. I bought a grand total of 4 bras. TMI, I know. But they DO take being washed and worn that often.

i also have sensitive enough skin that i have to be careful what bras to wear too. its kinda disappointing because i want to wear pretty bras, but they are so itchy!!
but im not wearing my socks inside out or anything, so i guess im not that touchy at least not on my feet! LOL.

anyway, i found a really comfortable sports bra at walmart. i dont know what brand it was, but it has NO seams, NO tags, it does have some kind of "puckered" material but i think its just so it allows stretching. i have found them VERY comfortable!!

also, i ordered a bra from bravissimo (a british company) and it is super soft and comfortable for an underwire. however, its usually for larger sizes. the point is that there are bras out there that are more comfortable. sports bras dont do anything for "figure" and shes still so young yet. there should be some training bras that are more like tanks; or even tanks that have "bra" type things in them?

the other thing i can think of is making her a bra. if you are creative i guess otherwise find someone who might be willing to make them for her? that way you could choose really soft material.

anyway, good luck. im sure there are other parents out there who have kids like yours, so you probably have someone who already posted who has better info than me.

I have two boys who have gone through occupational therapy for sensory issues. If your daughter has not already been evaluated and treated by an OT, I would suggest that. Sensory issues can appear in a variety of ways, not just clothing. It might also affect her diet. My younger son's eating habits have been significantly affected by his sensory issues. Good luck with the bra issue--sounds like you've gotten a lot of good ideas.

Have you had her tested for Sensory issues? There is therapy available to help her with this! In the meantime, do a search for Sensory Integration Products as there a quite a few companies who sell products made especially for people with sensory problems, including seamless socks that stay up (unlike socks for diabetics which have to elastic at the top to hold them in place). Here is a link to a well known company in the sensory integration world for products: http://www.sensorycomfort.com/ Perhaps they will have something to help her or can stear you towards another company that sells bras. Good luck to ya hun, as a person with sensory problems myself and two kids who also have sensory issues, I know how difficult it is to shop for clothes!

I see it was mentioned once...but my thoughts, as far as least "feeling" bra, esp for a small chested girl, and an inexpensive option, would be a night time nursing bra. My son has some sensory issues, thought at the moment they're pretty mild, and we found, for him, that we could sloooowwwwllly work him out of some of those issues. Perhaps she is uncomfortable with MANY aspects of wearing a bra, and once she has worn one for a while, it will be less difficult for her? Anyway, the nighttime nursing bra I wore was super easy to wear, cotton, and soft, with no underwire. Another option perhaps would be to get her to articulate what she DOESN'T like: I personally HATE the feel of the heavy elastic band under my breasts if I don't wear underwire, but I'm a DD. She probably has her own bugaboos, perhaps quite a few of them, and perhaps if you went to a big specialty store with lots of bras, and planned to spend quality time with a bra fitter, you could find a style she can deal with, after eliminating as many of her concerns as possible. I have no doubt it will be frustrating, but the reward for both her and you could even be empowering for her.