M and S, John Lewis and H and M all selling bras for children

[jessirobin]

I have just come back from a shopping trip to Brent Cross where I was appalled to see bra tops for 8 year olds in John Lewis and H and M, and for 9-11 year olds in marks and spencer. I complained to the departmental manager in h&m and John Lewis, citing the mn campaign. At John Lewis, the manager said they sold them as "crop tops". I said I didn't care what they said on the label; if anyone looks at them they will see bras for children. She had the grace not to argue with me and did say she would pass my concerns on to the buyers, and she made a note of my complaint (maybe especially because I told her I had walked out of H&M without buying anything for exactly that reason).

I didn't say anything in M&S, because maybe there are 11 year olds who need bras, but perhaps I should have; 9 year olds certainly don't. (I wish I had said something, now, because, thinking about it, there was nothing supportive or necessary in the scraps of fabric they were selling....)

How can such stalwarts of the high street be selling this stuff? And, can everyone go into their local John Lewis and complain, please? I really like John Lewis normally and this really tainted my day.

[nymphadora]

My 10 year old wears a crop top as she is developing ( Im planning on taking her for a bra in the school hols) and it covers her without being too hot (like vest). Many of her friends do the same as a few are getting first bras.

So it depends on what style you have seen to whether I would complain. I object to padded ones & moulded ones. I have also seen some v strappy ones which I felt were wrong. But if they were like a vest with the bottom off I think you are worrying unneccessarily

[GypsyMoth]

yes,9 year olds DO need bra's!

some do,they are developing earlier and earlier,my friends dd,she is almost 10 and needs one

what is the problem with this?

[foxinsocks]

Do you know every 9 year old?

Dd's friend has needed a bra since she was 8. She is now 10 and has to wear proper women's sized bras! She's about 5'7''!

Dd could almost have done with one when she was 9. But there were definitely 3 or 4 girls in her class who needed one at that age.

[santadefiesgravity]

My 9 year old wears crop tops under dance costumes sometimes as they can go seethrough under stage lights or are too strappy to wear a vest.

I see no difference in them wearing them aqs wearing a vest.

[SlightlyTubbyHali]

I had a bra at 10.
I would imagine that these days (earlier puberty etc) there are 8 or 9 year olds who are starting to develop and while we can all debate whether someone who is virtually flat chested really needs a bra, I am sure that there are 8 or 9 year old girls out there who are at least as developed as I was when my mum bought me my first bra.

I've seen these JL ones and I don't think they are inappropriate. I suppose it might be better if they had a lingerie department that stocked this stuff instead of having it in the racks of clothes that go from, what, 3-16? Always struck me as a bit funny that they expect teenagers to shop in the baby department anyway...

[GypsyMoth]

this boycotting shops for selling stuff like this has gone waaaay too far imo!!

[SantasNutellaFairy]

Jessi- you are speaking to one who certainly could have done with a bra or something of that ilk when 8 years old. I began developing a chest at 8 and although only grew slowly, could have doen with something throught those first years at secondary.

I wish there had been something around back then on the high street that was affordable.

Puberty is getting earlier and earlier- it is now getting quite common to hear of 10 year olds beginning to menstruate. It was almost unheard of when I did. Just 20 years ago.

[MissAnneElk]

DD2 wore cropped tops at age 9. She had her first period aged 9. She didn't start to wear bras until she was 12.
I am completely against sexualising young girls but many 9 year olds are developed enough for cropped tops and in some cases bras.

[RoseMortmain]

I assume you are talking about these and these.

I don't think they are inappropriate for 8 year olds, they aren't lacy or padded or revealing, they are just what girls who are beginning to develop need.

How do you know that there is not a single 8 year old in the UK who doesn't need a beginners bra? Girls are starting puberty earlier and earlier - there are studies proving this.

I think you are over-reacting massively here.

[jessirobin]

OK, OK, I hear you all. I take back my horror, and will sit quietly in the corner now...

[sophis]

i've actually changed my mind on the whole bra thing. i think there is a difference between moulded and padded, and as long as the parent and child are buying them responsibily eg not buying them for them too young then it could actually help the childs self esteem, which deff isnt a bad thing.

and rosemortamain is right, as long as they are not sexualised like lacey or adult styled, eg red satin or something, then it is more appropriate with little cartoons on or colourful fun themed.

i also have yet to see knickers that are very inappropriate, eg a thong or something, all i have seen so far is boxer styled, not even french knickers or anything, and they cover more than a standard knicker- the boxer ones. i think they should be careful what labels they post across the bottom tho, eg babe not really acceptable, angel is a bit better. they just all need to be thought about and regulated carefully and not let anything dodgey cross the mark.

[sophis]

are these moulded bras even underwired? i don't think they are. which again is acceptable.