Advice on whether binders are safe

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi, my dear best friend is in a bit of spin as her daughter (13) is saying she wants to be a boy, and she wants a binder.

I didn't even know for sure what a binder was, and looking on line with her, I'm still confused! Some look like T-shirts, some like sports bras and some look like something else!

My friend is not a mumsnetter but she knows I am always on it and she asked if I could find out a bit about binders. Are they safe, for age 13? Do sports bras work as well. Or should she just say no?

Her dd has never been a typically 'girlie girl' but she never expected this and I must say I am quite surprised too.

She gave me permission to ask about this and I'd really like some practical suggestions for her, please. She's a single parent so making decisions pretty much alone. She's really quite blindsided by this and not sure whether to just say no or completely give in!

I am advocating a kind of middle path, but I am not sure what that is. I've read a bit about the subject and also had mental health issues with my own dd so used to walking on egg shells!

Please don't think I want to interfere! It is all my friend can talk about at the moment!

We have gender fluid people in my wider circle of family and friends but no talk of binders so please help, and be kind!

Hello @Italiangreyhound,

Although many people believe that binding your chest while 10-15 is harmful to your body, it can be very safe if done correctly. Advise your friend to get her transgender son a professional binder from gc2b. Gc2b is one of the best binder companies around. I am seeing some messages in this thread saying that the "Trans Trend" is awful, and although for some people being transgendered is a phase, usually it is not. Even if it is a phase, we all need phases to grow. Technically, life itself is a phase! Make sure your friend doesn't let her transgender son bind for more than 5-8 hours a day, bind at night, bind in the shower, bind while exercising, use a binder that is too small or too tight, or use ace bandages, saran wrap, duct tape, or other items like that. A safe binder would feel somewhat tight, but would not compress the ribs. It can alleviate gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, depression, and anxiety! Letting a transgendered child bind is a great pick-me-up for their mental health, be they Female-to-Male or some gender variant.

I hope this message will help you and your friend understand more! if you have any questions about the transgender community or binding, don't hesitate to ask me.

Hope this helped, Tristan (FtMTransKid)

@FtMTransKid thank you for your message. Hope all is well with you.

@Taylor890 I was not sure whether to reply or not but here goes.

There is quite a lot of, what I hope is, useful information in this thread. It has not come from me (like you I came here looking for advice) but has come from other people who have chosen to come on and give their (hopefully) informed opinions.

A number of posters on this thread have identified themselves as trans.

You said you came on here to find advice and I hope you will find whatever advice and support you need.

You have certainly not hurt my feelings.

Good luck.

Hi my SON is transgender as well he started wearing binders at 13 but to be safe wear them for only 8 hours a day not at night though but please call HIM a HE hope this helps

Binding caused my friend‘s DD to have massive health issues.
Wouldn’t wish that on anyone’s child.

Hi,I have a friend who’s son is transgender, and have done a fair bit of research on binder safety/precautions 😅.Binders,when used correctly and in the correct size are perfectly safe.as long as the wearer doesn’t exercise in it or wear it for over 8 hours everything should be fine. Transgender teens often struggle with body disphoryia,making it very stressful for them to go outside,or even look in the mirror without feeling horrible! Using binders can help with this a lot so I would recommend trying them out,alternatively you could use trans tape or compression bras instead. Hope this helped :)

How is your DD doing now, italiangreyhound?

People with autism and or sensory issues may feel better with weighted blankets, certain types of clothes that fit snugly. Which is why binders might feel like an alleviating measure. Please look at the reasons behind wanting to bind first and think about other ways to promote "feeling comfortable"...gender neutral clothes, soft materials, loose clothes, stretchy clothes. Feeling uncomfortable and all over the place is common in puberty in both girls and boys.