Is 8yrs old too soon to let my daughter start shaving her legs?!

Kristi - posted on 04/22/2011

My daughter is especially hairy and even had a unibrow. Her older sister helped her pluck it and she now uses one of those electric trimmers to keep it trimmed. I also bought her an electric razor for her legs. It scares me to let someone that young use a blade in the shower. I remember those painful and bloody cuts I had occassionally. They make real good electric razors now that get really close to the skin so you cannot even feel the stubble.

Crystal - posted on 02/18/2011

My daughter had this problem and in no way was I handing her a raiser. So I went and got some Veet the kind that just washes off. I tried it on myself first to make sure it wont hurt her and found that if you have a scratch it burns. But other then that it works great.



So I learned that some of her friends and cousin her age where having the some problem. I talked to there moms and we made a party of it.



We had girls sitting side by side in shorts and tank tops on the edge of my tub getting their legs done. We then did nails and hair and had a blast doing it. We even had the girls over who where making fun of the others just so everyone would see that they are all the same.



In the end the girls became the best of friends and the boys could no longer say anything. No shaving, no worries

Lisa - posted on 01/20/2011

My daughter was almost 9 (Easter 2010 - her borthday is May) and I let her. Her poor legs are soooo hairy and she wanted to wear her new dress. I let heruse an electric shaver - no nicks, no cuts. Works perfect. she only does it for special occassions or when she is going to be around a lot of kids and she has shorts or a skirt on. No harm done.

Natasha - posted on 01/12/2011

Wow! I am amazed at the age all these women started shaving their legs at! I was atleast 16 before I shaved mine!! Even then I wasnt supposed too!
My daughter (like me) is quite hairy. It is fine and blond but theres lots of it. She has not yet asked to shave her legs, but has asked when girls usually start doing it?
I dont think I want to get into this until she is 12 or so. I agree that it is total peer pressure to grow up way to fast. If one mother caves then does it mean that the rest of us follow?? Nope. My answer will be,"thats nice that XXX can shave her legs but shes not my daughter" (and I WILL hide my razor from her :)
- curious with the hair removal cream, is that safe to use on kids? it gives me a horrible rash so I avoid it!

Amy - posted on 12/29/2010

I don't think it is too young..why??? because she is embarrassed.It is something that upsets her.This is so minor that it is not worth arguing over..If this is what will make her feel better thn I would let her....M niece has very harry dark arms and legs and she started shaving at just over 7...it was very upsetting to her and a stress that was unneeded.

SARAH - posted on 10/27/2010

Coming from a family with hormone inbalances I've always had extra hair & knew my girl would have to deal with major issues like I did! She was born with a lil bit of the uni-brow that she has been teased about & now her leg hair is getting thinker & darker (she's 9). I have been doing preventitive work with talking to her about it & how it's a natural part of life she can't help! I grew up so embarassed of my body/extra hair & don't want her to have those issues! Luckily she has not had an issed with the leg hair yet but I don't think I would let her shave quit this young! It's part of life & there will be so many thngs kids will tease her about, I don't want her to start giving in to all the "perfect look" stereo-types!
Truth is: you have to do whats best in your situation. Do you think she is mature enough to handle it? Are you ready to deal with it? Is she doing it to make her feel better about herself or to make other people like her more?
Do what you gotta do! I would suggest like some of the others (if you decide to let her) that you get her either an electric razor or I used the type with guards & that helps minimize the cuts! What ever you decide to use make sure to help her/watch her for at least the 1st few months just so you know she is doing ok with it!!!

Philippa - posted on 10/06/2010

I personally think this is too young an age to start shaving her legs. There is another option though. You can buy a kind of pad that you rub over your legs (like a very, very, very fine sandpaper) that removes hairs. This could work but I don't know is this works without shaving your legs first. Perhaps, if things are that bad for her at school, you could let her shave her legs just once and then just keep using the pads instead of actually shaving. Hope this helps.

Erica - posted on 08/26/2010

Negotiate, its important for her to know that you understand her concerns. Have a serious discussion with your daughter about social and peer pressure and your core values. Then take her to the store and buy a hair minimizing lotion that will make the hair a little thinner, jergens makes one and good luck!

Kerri - posted on 08/25/2010

I finally let my daughter shave when she was in the 5th grade. Her leg hair was not very dark so it wasn't a huge issue. I personally dont think its a big deal to let her. She is your kid & as long as your ready to help her with it weekly then go for it! Dont let a dumb thing like leg hair be the reason for low self esteem! Good luck!

Tanya - posted on 07/27/2010

why don't you try allowing her to wear trousers like she requested until she feels she is confortable to try shaving her legs or until you have your head around the idea a little better. If she starts too soon in later life she will need to be shaving every dy to maintain this
Tanya

Amanda - posted on 07/27/2010

I too was 11 or 12 when I was taught how to shave my legs. Kids can be cruel, I too like the suggestion on the hair removal cream.

Kori - posted on 07/22/2010

I think I started shaving my legs at 12 which I think is a good age. My mom gave me some razor called a Flicker or something that is not supposed to cut you. 8 is probably too young but it's really up to what makes you feel comfortable. I highly doubt other 8 year old girls at her school are shaving. I wonder if it's the older girls at school that are making comments..... kids are so cruel these days. I don't remember it being like this when I was 8!

Amy - posted on 06/09/2010

Ok After I read some of the inputs on this I must say these days in schools the problem is you have too many kids from too many diffrent backgrounds and it's hard to say ''Oh don't listen to them and I think this comes from the lack of parenting today that yes when we were younger we were told by our mothers not to make fun of people now it's totally diffrent I have witnessed kids getting made fun of due to disablities and seeing their parents right there laughing pointing with them ''why do I know because the child was my handicapped neice '' and I actually went to the parent and made my point but to sit here and say No you need to teach her to not pay attention is rather hard when you have even adults making comments with the kid its sad to see how parents act not to mention some of these kids now .

Amy - posted on 06/09/2010

I am right there with you my daughter just turned 9 Saturday and she too came home from school and said kids were picking on her so after alot of thought about it I put some hair removel creme on her legs and to be honest I don't have to do it alot probly once a month But I only did from her knees down and she never had a problem again .

Angie - posted on 05/25/2010

OMG no......... too many kids out there nowadays at such a young age worrying about their looks, how fat they are etc. It's horrible. I started shaving my legs at 12 (ONLY BECAUSE OF PEER PRESSURE BY THE OTHER GIRLS IN Phys, Ed) and that was totally wrong for other children to be controlling like that. I feel a lot of girls this age should still be playing dolly's and mummy's or playing football outside with their friends and not giving a toss about their looks. Yeah take pride in appearance but don't go to extremes. Having said this though I notice a lot more girls maturing and I suppose if her hair is really thick and dark using a hair removal cream instead of razors.

Tanya - posted on 04/27/2010

Well said JuLeah, it is the teasing not the hair. Little girls are being pressured to grow up so quickly. It is very sad.

JuLeah - posted on 04/24/2010

I say 'let them be little'
The teasing is the problem. Your child's reaction to the teasing.
The hair on her legs is not the problem.
If not the hair on her legs, then they will tease for ... height, weight, bust size ..... the teasing needs to be addressed, not the hair.

Tanya - posted on 04/23/2010

Personally, I think that you are setting up a bad precident. You are essentially saying that it is ok to give in to teasing, it is ok to go along with what everyone else is doing when you are being made fun of. If it was my daughter, I would stick to my guns. 8 years old is ridiculously young to be shaving. What's next? Pushup bras, makeup, dyeing her hair? Thank God I am homeschooling next year. I don't need to go through all that with my girls.

Rebecca - posted on 04/22/2010

I have used the Nair hair removal on my daughter she hated wearing shorts because she was teased alot and i told her the only way she could remove the hair is if we use nair and she isnt allowed to shave it has been working out great she isnt teased anymore and come to find out she isnt the only one in h er grade that gets there legs and underarms done too!!!

Tanya - posted on 03/29/2010

I think 8 is too young. I personally wouldn't allow my daughter too. Honestly, I would try to talk to your daughter about how to deal with others making fun of her. Kids are always going to find a reason to pick on others, and instead of changing yourself, I feel its more benefitial to learn how to deal with it. After all, what if your daughter came home and said that everyone is making fun of her nose, or her hair. She needs to learn that she doesn't need to change herself for others to like her. If these kids are making fun of her for hairy legs, shaving them isn't going to make these kids any different towards her. Plus, think critically. Consider what she is saying. More than likely it is just a few kids. I doubt that everyone in her grade is laughing at her legs. Good luck

Ellen - posted on 03/06/2010

my daughter is also 8 and soooo very hairy. ( and she knows it lol) but it wasnt always funny she would come home from school crying saying the kids were really mean to her and were making fun of her. well it got soo bad that she stopped wearing all her favorite skirts and dresses and even shorts all she wanted to wear were her pants to cover up her legs even in the summer she put pants over her swim suits. but i told her she was too young to shave. instead we use VEET cream hair removal and she only has to use it like once a month and now she has gone back to wearing all of her favorite skirts

Laura - posted on 02/02/2010

I recently had a friend of mine ask for the same advice. I totally think you should allow her to shave. Just explain to her that once you start shaving it is something that has to be kept up with. As far as safety goes, maybe you could do it for her at first and show her how. Then from there when she gets the hang of it just watch her while she shaves. She should not have to go through the torment of getting made fun of. It sucks that some kids are such (fill in the blank)! I personally think it's not that big of a deal.

Christi - posted on 01/21/2010

The one thing you haven't addressed is how are the kids making fun of her. That could be helpful. I know that I started shaving in the 7th grade because I had friends make fun of me. I don't have the usual blonde hair I have coarse dark hair which really stood out. I did going crying to my mother about the other girls got to why can't I. She understood and gave me my first razor and told me how to do that. I suggest that you find out what the problem is and help her to address that and let her know she is not alone as there is always someone else out there with the same problem. I also have a 9 yr old (Jan. too) and I would not let her shave at this point that to me something that a girl does when she is older.

Christie - posted on 01/21/2010

My daughter is the same age and her leg hair being dark was really bothering her. She wasn't having issues in school yet but for whatever reason it made her feel bad. I told her I would shave it for her and explain how dangerous razors/shaving could be not to try it on her own..It took forever!! It's been almost a month and it's just barely growing back. I could probably wait another 3 or 4 weeks before doing it again:) What it came down to for me is who really cares..leg hair...no leg hair..it's not birth control:) Another thing in the back of my mind was myself as a child who was told no you can't shave. So I then turned around locked the bathroom door and proceeded to cut the crap out of my leg trying to do it myself.

Megan - posted on 01/14/2010

I would say that she is way too young i think i started shaving my legs around 11 or 12 maybe. You have to remember shes 8 and there have to be other girls in her class that don't get to shave their legs. I think its to much responsibility for an 8 yr old. My daughter and i have agreed the when she is 10 if i see her responsible enough to keep up with it then she will.

Melinda - posted on 01/14/2010

Oh my kids grow up way too fast now! I was 12 when I started shaving maybe 13. I don't think they have the control or the patience at 8 years to shave but I guess every child is different. If it were me I wouldn't chance it she could really hurt herself. I think the suggestions on here are great, you could shave for her with an electric razor or get her some hair removal cream. No one wants their baby to be made fun of but I would err on the side of caution. Good luck!

Linda - posted on 01/04/2010

I was made fun of because I had very hairy legs, but my mom wouldnt let me shave until I was 13.
I vowed to never put my girls through that.
I have told my husband that when my daughter comes home complaining about being made fun of, out comes the razor!
She is 8 right now and hasnt said anything but I am sure it wont be much longer.
I personally would let her shave and only because kids are so cruel these days and it will end up hurting her self esteem.

Kerry - posted on 01/02/2010

how about the razor with the built on soap to help or as stated before the hair removal cream is good.
and mention to the school about the bulling and reasure your daughter that others are not nice and you love here no matter what.

Amanda - posted on 12/30/2009

i have that same question because i noticed my daughters hair on her legs is darker then what i remember mine being. she has not asked yet but i am wanting to be prepared for when she does. i actually was thinking of getting her an electric one so she wont cut herself with a regular razor.

Tara - posted on 12/03/2009

I also was between 6th & 7th grade. It was right around then when I got boobs & started my period! It was horrid lol. . . I think 8 is too young too. . . to shave alone. But like everyone else here, I also know how AWFUL children can be to each other!! That is a SAD thing that want to pick at each other for things like that!! But, maybe you and your daughter can try things like mentioned, the hair removal cream, or if you have to shave her legs for her. I would also try to emphasize to her that there are some VERY mean people in the world & there always will be. Its hard to deal with the bullies of the world. remind her she can always come to you. . its really a good way to begin the open relationship with her that could be a strong basis in the future.

Kim - posted on 12/03/2009

It was the summer between 6th and 7th grades that I remember getting teased about hairy legs and bugging my mom to begin shaving. She said no but that did not deter me finding relief form the teasing. I took her razor when she wasn't home in an attempt to shave my legs on my own and shaved off a fair amount of skin in my inexperience. Yes, my mom was upset but she also reaslised how serious I was and for my summer birthday she got me an electric shaver.
I really like the suggestion of hair removal cream. I might try this for my girl because we both have noticed the longer and darker hair on her legs this winter.
happy holidaze

Dede - posted on 11/17/2009

My daughter is 10 and she'll be 11 in January. I just started allowing her to shave her arm pits. However, if your daughter is already showing that much hair on her legs and it is causing her to be picked at, then I would say that maybe you; not her should shave her legs. Our children are maturing so much quicker these days. You should also explain to her that you are not doing shaving her to make her feel "grown up", but because you don't want her being picked on.

Diana - posted on 11/15/2009

That is a very tough question! I started when I was in 6th grade. Kids can be cruel though. Get her some hair removel cream. That should save you letting her have a razor. Hopefully that helps you.

Paula - posted on 11/13/2009

I personally think it's too young for her to start...but then again kids are growing up sooner now. I don't remember when I starting shaving but my mom gave me an electric razor to use...then if I had to shave with a real razor for a while, she did it for me. Eventually I started to just shave normal with out her but for a while I was scared of getting hurt because my mom always emphasized that the razors are dangerous and that they can cut you...hope that helped!