Too soon to shave legs?

[Anonymous]

My 12-year old daughter keeps insisting on shaving her legs and I strongly feel she’s too young. Although she started shaving her armpits earlier this year (she had a good reason too); I just don’t know if shaving her legs now is too young for her. The reason why I think it’s too soon for that is because just about every week she wants to do something new, wear makeup, etc., thus, pushing her limits with me. She’s not allowed to wear makeup, but on special occasions she can wear lip gloss. Am I overreacting with this new shaving of her legs request?

Am I not ready for her to grow up, of course not!!! So I know it has to do with my inner self accepting that she’s becoming a teenager, but at the same time I feel that this new generation is doing everything much earlier that we did back in the day.

Please no judgement here and looking for some honest feedback and opinions.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not too soon. Many girls are shaving their legs at around this age. Please show her how to do it safely (or risk her doing it on her own and cutting up her legs in the process).

[Anonymous]

I have an 11 year old (almost 12) and she had to start shaving her underarms. I put the razor and shaving cream in her shower. Next thing I know she started shaving her legs without discussing it with me. I had told her I didn’t think she needed to earlier but she went ahead and did it. I let it go. It’s her body.

[Anonymous]

Honestly? I think you're wrong, given that she wants to especially. If she didn't I'd say you were fine to let her wait if that's what you both wanted.

I encouraged my oldest daughter the summer before 6th grade based on what I was seeing at the pool and she went with it.

Just recently discovered my current 5th grader has been borrowing her sister's razor and shaving as well. I'm going to roll with it, get her her own razor, and let her, and she's young-for-grade.

[Anonymous]

This isn't something I'm going to fight on at all, personally. It's just hair, it grows back, and there are almost no adverse side effects. If my daughter wants to shave it all off at 9 and/or have full body hair at 13, it's fine with me. Barring concerns about significant mental health issues, like if removing hair were a compulsion.

[Anonymous]

When they start wanting to shave, it's time.

[Anonymous]

12 is junior high and not too young.

[Anonymous]

I'd show her how to do it safely. Tell her she doesn't need to do it. And then leave it up to her.

I'd also consider allowing some makeup. Just a little. Letting her play around and experiment with makeup will make it less "taboo" and something reserved for "older girls". A little eyeshadow and colored lip glass is not a big deal.

I think at age 12 forbidding things like this just makes your kid get sneaky and she'll start lying to you.

I'll also ask if you let her decide about her own hair cuts. If no, I'd start letting her control how she wears her hair.

[Anonymous]

I started shaving in 6th grade. Why is that too young?

[Anonymous]

If she is asking, you should say yes. This isn’t the same as makeup. Kids can be mean and there is probably a reason for asking. I know many kids don’t care these days but that isn’t your daughter. Stop trying to micromanage this. This is not about you, it’s about her. You want her to grow up as a confident person. Again, not saying all kids need to do this, but it sounds like the case for yours. Please gain some maturity about how you’re thinking about this.

Anyway, it probably doesn’t matter if you say no. She will use her dad’s razor or sneak and get one from somewhere else. And then she’s lost your trust for something that didn’t make sense as a rule in the first place.

[Anonymous]

I started shaving my legs when I was in 6th grade, most of my friends did too. My 6th grader doesn't have hair on her legs yet but if she did, I'd let her shave if she wanted to.

[Anonymous]

I started shaving at ten. Let her decide whether to employ easy and cheap solutions to body hair removal.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for the quick responses! A lot of very good points so I truly appreciate it! When she gets home from school today I will tell her it’s a yes and will show her how to safely do it. Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you everyone for the quick responses! A lot of very good points so I truly appreciate it! When she gets home from school today I will tell her it’s a yes and will show her how to safely do it. Thanks again!

Good. And don’t make her fight for everything she wants. She will just start lying to you all.the.time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 12-year old daughter keeps insisting on shaving her legs and I strongly feel she’s too young. Although she started shaving her armpits earlier this year (she had a good reason too); I just don’t know if shaving her legs now is too young for her. The reason why I think it’s too soon for that is because just about every week she wants to do something new, wear makeup, etc., thus, pushing her limits with me. She’s not allowed to wear makeup, but on special occasions she can wear lip gloss. Am I overreacting with this new shaving of her legs request?

Am I not ready for her to grow up, of course not!!! So I know it has to do with my inner self accepting that she’s becoming a teenager, but at the same time I feel that this new generation is doing everything much earlier that we did back in the day.

Please no judgement here and looking for some honest feedback and opinions.

I asked my mom to shave when I was 12 back in the early 90's. My mom wouldn't let me "because my hair would grow back thicker and faster." I then asked my pediatrician directly in front of my mom who dispelled the old wives' tale. I was allowed to shave after that (she said to the knee only, but I ignored her - please don't do this, it looks so weird!).

All the other girls were already shaving at that point and I was getting made fun of for hairy legs.