Girls & Crop Tops: When, how and how?

There are a few key factors that combine to create the ultimate tween and teen sports bra. I don't know how your first bra buying expedition went but, like many 'firsts', it's often remembered as being awkward and uncomfortable - both the experience AND the bra you got as a result.

Considering buying a crop top for a pre-teen girl or wondering how to navigate her transition into wearing a bra? Read on!

WHAT MAKES A CROP TOP RIGHT FOR PRE-TEEN AND TEEN GIRLS?

Firstly, you’re looking for a design with straps and a band that stays in place, as well as stretchy yet supportive fabric. When all of these elements are ticked off, you’ve got a crop top that will offer her a ‘barely there’ feel. It's important to find a crop top that's designed and shaped specifically for the comfort of young girls as their measurements differ from women - avoid purchasing a small size in older styles. You'll likely find there is too much fabric in the front and the band is too firm.

Also look for double layered fabric to create a smooth silhouette (it's a nipple thing, more on that is the next paragraph) and a fabric composition that makes the crop stretchy and soft while also reducing bounce and staying firmly in place.

IS IT BENEFICIAL FOR GIRLS TO WEAR CROP TOPS OR SPORTS BRAS?

Sports bras are not only a great way to keep girls cool and free-moving during practice, training and competition, they’re also an effective way to mitigate a key factor in girls dropping out of sport – and that is breast development. Early breast development can be sensitive, even before you factor in the bounce that can accompany the later tween and early teen years. In a 2016 Journal of Adolescent Health survey of more than 2,000 British girls aged 11 to 18, nearly three-quarters said their breasts got in the way of enjoying sports because of associated discomfort or bounciness. Girls can also be sensitive about the changing shape of their nipples and can become embarrassed when they show through their tops.

CAN GIRLS WEAR CROP TOPS INSTEAD OF TRAINING BRAS?

Absolutely! The crop top or sports bra has become a terrific replacement for the transition-style ‘starter’ or ‘training’ bra of the past. Often girls resist these as they feel embarrassed. Her first crop top celebrates her sporty style, rather than her first training bra which can feel to her like reaching what can often be an uncomfortable milestone. Crops tops and sports bras are also helpful for girls who go from school to training. They can wear their crop under their uniform and easily change when they arrive to their after-school activities.

AT WHAT AGE ARE CROP TOPS APPROPRIATE FOR KIDS?

While a younger girl might not need the support of a sports bra yet, it’s worth introducing them early before she gets embarrassed about it. With activewear becoming more frequently worn and girls beginning to focus more on what their body can do rather than how it looks, it’s becoming more common for girls to wear crop tops early in an effort to stay cool during training and sporting activity. Paired with shorts or leggings, they're a functional and comfortable sportswear essential.

On the lookout for a sports bra for your girl? Check ours out!