One of the hardest parts of raising girls is trying to find clothes that are appropriate for them to wear. Although little boys can wear baggy shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers pretty much until adulthood, the girls' section of most clothing stories is stuffed with low-rise skinny jeans, too-short shorts, and glittery or frilly tops and dresses that don't look at all comfortable for playground wear. As if the booty shorts weren't hard enough to work with, there's apparently a new horror in the little girls' section. An Illinois mom just called out Nordstrom and Calvin Klein for selling padded bras for little girls.
Angela Fellars was shopping at Nordstrom when she came across a section of padded undergarments that went as small as a size 6X.
"These are padded bras for SIX YEAR OLDS — WTAF, Nordstrom & Calvin Klein?" the Rockford, Illinois, mom wrote on her Facebook page.
As most parents know, a size 6X is the size kids wear when they've just barely made it out of the toddler section.
According to a Calvin Klein sizing guide, a 6X is intended for kids who are 47 inches tall and between 50 and 53 pounds. As Fellars points out in her post, most kids that size are still small enough to ride in a convertible car seat. It's pretty unlikely that many of them need a padded bra.
Fellars' post voiced the frustration many parents are feeling as they try to find back-to-school clothes for their daughters.
If your child happens to be tall for her age, the offerings in the clothing section usually look more appropriate for teenagers than awkward elementary schoolers who just happen to have long legs.
Others said their kids have grandparents who gift them with padded bras and underwire.
I'm 31 years old and I barely want to wear a padded bra with underwire. Let the kids enjoy these magic years when they don't have to worry about that stuff!
Of course, some pointed out that the padding could have a practical purpose.
Namely, hiding nipples so kids don't feel embarrassed. There's definitely an argument to be made for a slightly thicker style of training bra that helps kids avoid this discomfort. My 6-year-old wears little sports bras for the same reason.
That said, the padding on these bras looks a little more substantial than just "nipple covering."
Every kid develops at a different rate, and we never want to shame a girl for the type of bra she wears or for how her breasts look. But we should also be weary of sending young girls the message that they need to worry about the size and shape of their breasts before they're even out of a car seat with a five-point harness.
Padding exists as an added layer of protection, sure. But it also exists to give boobs a distinct shape. And maybe, just maybe, a kid who's still rocking a size 6X has better things she should be worrying about.
A Calvin Klein rep did not immediately respond to CafeMom's request for comment.
