9 year old wants to shave her legs

[Anonymous]

I got my 9 year old the American Girl body book for girls her age since she has been very curious about puberty and bodies lately. She’s been engrossed in the book and has become fixated on the section about shaving. She’s keeps asking to shave her legs. I feel like she’s too young. I was thinking this was more like a middle school thing. I asked her if other girls are starting to shave and she said no. I will say she does have naturally more noticeable body hair than average which is genetic. Would you let your daughter start shaving at 9?

[Anonymous]

If it was noticeable and it bothered her, yes.

[Anonymous]

Go for it. Once she nicks herself, she might pause for a bit.

[Anonymous]

Yes I would.

[Anonymous]

I think that’s too young.

[Anonymous]

Sure if it bothers her, have at it. Especially if she is more noticeably hairy and it makes her self-conscious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that’s too young.

So what? Let her shave her legs at 9 and she becomes a sl*t? What is the rationale here? Concern she cuts herself, ok, but that is every kid when they start, myself included at 13 (which my parent still said was too young so I asked my dr about it in front of my mom which helped me get permission).

[Anonymous]

I’d wait. Unless it was something she was being teased about. If she wants to just because the book made her interested, no.

[Anonymous]

One of my daughters waited till 6th grade, and her 4th grade sister decided to try it too. (They were 12 and 10). I would say by 6th grade most of my daughter’s friends were already shaving- but she does swim and dance.

My 10 year old tried it once or twice and then promptly decided it wasn’t worth it. She has now started to do it again regularly in 7th grade. When she tried it at 10, she had a handful of friends who had also tried it.

I don’t see any reason not to allow them to try it. It’s kind of a pain in the butt, and I think most kids will find it annoying, and not worth it. So much of puberty is scary and out of their control- but this is very much their own choice. We talked about how they don’t have to shave anything, but that some people decide to and it’s up to them to decide how they feel most comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it was noticeable and it bothered her, yes.

This.

[Anonymous]

For us it was always linked to underarm hair. You could shave your legs once you needed to shave in general (underarm hair).

[Anonymous]

I started at 10. It was early, but other girls were shaving and tanning and I was getting teased so my mom let me. I’m fair Caucasian with very dark hair and seem hairier then average even my siblings teased me.
My daughter is in 4th grade and none of her peers are shaving yet, but she is hairy like me but not as dark so she may ask soon. I’d prefer it happen later but I know what I went through so I’ll talk about it with her to decide.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s fine - I would get her an electric razor so she is less likely to cut herself. I think when we make too big of a deal of these things, they become a really big deal. I think saying no without a good reason might also deter her from being open with you in the future.

It’s very possible she’ll shave a couple times and lose interest, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that’s too young.

So what? Let her shave her legs at 9 and she becomes a sl*t? What is the rationale here? Concern she cuts herself, ok, but that is every kid when they start, myself included at 13 (which my parent still said was too young so I asked my dr about it in front of my mom which helped me get permission).

A 9 year old is going to be much more careless with a razor than a 13 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that’s too young.

So what? Let her shave her legs at 9 and she becomes a sl*t? What is the rationale here? Concern she cuts herself, ok, but that is every kid when they start, myself included at 13 (which my parent still said was too young so I asked my dr about it in front of my mom which helped me get permission).

A 9 year old is going to be much more careless with a razor than a 13 year old.

This is 2026. There are a billion cheap electric options that won't cut a kid.