Hi everyone, my younger daughter is nine years old and she is already growing underarm hair. I need to approach her about this before school starts in two days, but I am not sure what to do yet. Of course I don't want her to be embarassed by the hair, but I don't want her to cut herself all up trying to get rid of it! Do you think Nair would be ok for her age?

    

I remember when I was a young girl, I wanted my mom to show me how to shave but was too embarrassed to bring up the issue myself. I think, as a parent, you should approach her gently and say you bought her some nice razors and yummy smelling shaving gel. Demonstrate how to use it. I personally don't like Nair, so I won't comment on that. Plus, you don't want your daughter smelling like that.

I agree with esper that Nair might not be the right thing. The underarms are very sensitive and Nair could cause a rash, which may be worse than the hair.
I would just sit her down and mention to her that you know at her age her body changes, and that young girls start getting hair under there arms. I would show her how you shave your arms, and let her go pick out her razors and shaving cream if it doesn’t embarrass her. She might be more apt to use it if she picks it out. I think you will be good if you just approach it gentle, and tell her you remember when you were younger and topics like that were embarrassing and that you want to make her comfortable.

Oh my! A topic that my husband and I are dealing with now! My 9 year old daughter is getting hair... and B.O.! We have not said anything about the hair under her arms yet but we had to do something about the body odor. She now wears deodorant, but a very gentle one (since she is so young). If yours hasn't gotten B.O. yet-it may be coming shortly. Hers did right after the hair came.(sorry)

My daughter has not mentioned the hair but does not have much yet. She also does not like to wear sleeveless shirts anyway so we are OK for now. However, the minute it bothers her, we will remove it. No Nair though, I can't even use that stuff anymore.

Maybe if not shaving-trim it with the little electric trimmers they have out now. I use those and they cut close enough and would be safe for a little one.

Thanks everyone, those are good suggestions. I think you are right about the Nair. We did decide to go with an electric razor for now... I kept having flashbacks about the gash I put on my knee when I started shaving, and still have the scar to prove it

Awww I just lost my post!

My mom didn't teach me how to shave. She didn't even tell me about my period. I found out about the shaving through my friends. They invited me to their home and pulled out the razor and told me what to do. My self confidence shot up a million percent that day!
You need to talk to you daughter about shaving. Sooner rather than later. Kids are mean and you don't want your daughter being bullied because of hair.
There's no need to be embarrassed. Make this a mom and daughter day out. Take her shopping and let her choose her razors (pink is my fav), shaving cream, and lotion. You can even buy her a cute little bag for her shaving supplies.
Show her how to shave. Have fun and shave with her. Show her how to lather her skin with the shaving cream, how to hold the razor, and how to properly shave. Have fun with it and use the time to get to know your daughter.
Also, make sure to tell her that she needs to replace the razor once it gets dull. Make sure she understands that she doesn't have to put a lot of pressure on her the razor. And make sure the room is warm! Goose bumps and shaving is a bad mixture.

Don't get me wrong, my daughters and I each had a girls day out on their eighth birthday to talk about their bodies and how to care for them. I did it so young because of how quickly girls are maturing anymore. I just needed some opinions about how to get rid of the hair on a young body.