8 1/2 yr old daughter?

Question

Ok my daughter is almost 9 and she has alot of dark leg hair and is now getting underarm hair. My husband and I were talking about her shaving, but , I am really not sure on what to let her do. She is very self conscious about the hair. What would you do.

Answer 1

I really think I would let her. Teach her how to be safe and all that, but the whole point of shaving is to get rid of the hair, it's not just something you do for the heck of it when you turn 12 or 13. So if she has hair earlier, then she should start shaving earlier.

The thing was that my parents didn't let me shave 'till I was 12 and I had very hairy legs at your daughters age. I GOT MADE FUN OF ALL THE TIME. Especially when I joined a cheer leading team (the short skirt) it was very embarrassing.

Save your daughter the embarrassment - let her shave!!

Answer 2

If she is self conscious about it, then don't ignore it. It will feel to her like no one is listening to her problem. I can remember what it was like being that age, and boys are brutal. They will find anything that might be considered a flaw, and pick away at it.
I don't think it's right for girls to be so worried about meeting an image....magazines, and tv these days have made it hard for any young girl to feel beautiful just as she is. If you decide to let her remove the hair, please be sure to talk with her about how crazy our society has been getting about looks. Pull out a magazine with her, and be honest about what's going on. Let her know that photos are airbrushed for example, or that models and actresses spend most of their time and money on products and services to look a certain way.....what a miserable life!!!
If she is going to be going through puberty early, then she will most likely face some of those awful, "am I normal?" feelings before her friends. She has to feel like you are being honest, open and understanding, because you will be the one to walk her through it.
I think some of the suggestions about using an electric razor, or using other hair removal products is good advice, (rather than a razor) but check with her doctor before using ANY topical product!!! Nair and Veet are very harsh, no matter how cute and easy they make it look!! (ever smelled that stuff?) Her little skin is sensitive, so get the Dr. OK.
Good for you for being open to your daughter's problem. Many parents would look the other way and simply argue "you're too young!" without discussion, or want to keep their growing girl a baby. Other parents might just blindly let them shave and do whatever else, and end up reinforcing the idea that women need to go to great lengths to be acceptable. You are doing the best thing by finding out as much as possible, and in the end, you and your husband, and daughter will find the way that's right for you!! Good luck!!

Answer 3

I'm going to be very opinionated here. Your daughter is too young to start shaving! If she's anything like my 9 year old and her friends she still plays with toys and is still just a kid. Don't try to have her grow up too soon, she's probably not even responsible enough to handle shaving on her own and that's not something you're going to want to do for her very long. My daughter has dark hair on her legs also, but she has never commented on it so I'm not going to call attention to it. Good luck either way, but remember that once she starts shaving she's stuck with it - and all the other things will just come faster (make-up, cell phones, coloring her hair, driving, drinking, smoking, etc...) Let her be a kid as long as possible!

Answer 4

As the mother of a ten year old..soon to be eleven and an eight year old..soon to be nine..I would think you would want to keep your little girl..a little girl as long as possible. At the age she is now, none of her classmates are looking at her legs. My daughter is blonde, and she has very hairy legs. It doesn't seem to bother her though. I've asked her if it does, she laughs at me and tells me no ones looking at her legs..lol...Not to mention that shaving makes the hair longer and thicker, so if YOU don't have time to shave her legs, then more harm is being done then good. I mean I as an adult sometimes while raising two children can't find the time to shave my own legs. So I would think long and hard about your decision to start shaving her legs. Remember until shes old enough to use the razor by herself, YOU will have to supervise. Not to mention when she decides to do it on her own. I told my mom I wouldnt..lol...but did it anyway..had cuts all over my legs.

Answer 5

My daughter had the same problem. I helped her shave. I remember what it was like having dark hair on my legs at a young age. It's embarrasing and tormenting and if it bothers her you should let her shave. But you should help until she can handle a razor by herself. Also brace yourself because she may be starting puberty early. My daughter started just after she turned ten. Help your daughter feel confident about herself by teaching her how to maintain her body. Good Luck! Isn't parenting fun?

Answer 6

I would let her shave her legs. My daughter was around the same age and started shaving. She doesn't have to shave that often. I was also around the same age when I shaved.
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Answer 7

ok i was the same way but i was at 7 what i would do is have her wait until she is at least 10 to start shaving but you should assure her that it is fine and nobody will really care about it much and it is just hair but you can do whatever you want to

Answer 8

Don't sweat the small stuff! First, make sure SHE wants to shave...
If so, do it together...A real girly thing that can
be fun for both of you. Memories are made of this !

PS: A small battery-operated shaver would be perfect

Answer 9

i do not have any kids myself but i have help in the raising of several of my neices, if you want to allow her to start shaving i think its ok, but if you shave with her i think she might be more comfortable. Good luck

Answer 10

Shaving. Nobody sees it and she won't have to feel self-conscious about it anymore. Nobody'll know either.