What Is the Best Way to Remove My 7 Year Olds Arm Pit Hair?

If it's bothering her (and only if it's bothering HER, not if it's bothering other people's delicate sensibilities) teach her how to shave.

I can't imagine not helping her shave it off. You can do it at the sink and not when she's showering.

Underarm hair also holds a lot of odor and can make people smell bad, if they don't wash regularly and use deodorant, so this isn't something I'd expect a child this age to be aware of and be responsible for.

Safety razors are not great so I'd not let her use one for herself. I might consider an electric razor that she can zip along and be done at any time.

I would get an electric razor. They don't cut you and are easy to use, no chemicals. Have you taken your daughter to her pediatrician and discussed her going through puberty early? I suggest you talk to her doctor without her in the room.

If it really bothers HER that much I would let her shave, but only if it truly bothers her and not you or her friends. I would, rather than encouraging her to shave at such a young age, let her know that even many grown women don't shave and that body hair is normal and there is no reason to be embarrassed or to shave unless it is truly something she wants to do for herself.

I agree with you about not waxing - pain, possibility of rash in an area that is continually moist, and the sheer mechanics of getting in there. Using a depilatory on her young skin, as you say, has some concerns, but again, there are the mechanics of getting the cream in there and having her breathe it while she stands around for 5 minutes with her arms up in the air (I find the odor annoying).

I can't see a 7.5 year old using a regular razor. I agree that an electric razor should be easy for her to manage after one or two sessions with you doing it. Maybe the hair won't regrow that quickly and maybe she won't need to do it very often.

If she has this many hormones going on at 7, I do think you should discuss using deodorant and start regular discussions about other aspects of maturing into puberty. Leg hair will be next, followed by pubic hair, and I wonder if she's likely to be one of those girls who gets her period very young. She needs to be prepared in a positive and healthy way.

Our bodies are our bodies, and I would downplay her thoughts about what is "noticeable" in the sense of being unappealing. Make sure she's not developing an unhealthy body image, wanting to change everything about herself. If the hair is annoying from a sensory perspective, that's one thing, but if she's finding every change to be something "ugly" then you need to nip that in the bud.

i appreciate that you are doing this because she doesn't like the hair.
i dunno. 7 is SO young to start shaving and depilating and waxing.
i would lean heavily in the direction of de-yucking the entire thing and encouraging her to have a healthy body image of her very young body exactly the way it is. it's a pity we 'evolved' westerners have demonized women's armpit hair, but there it is, and i don't suppose it's going away.
but surely she can put off being yucked out by it just yet, at least until she begins menarche.
i guess if it's something that must be addressed, i'd go with a safety razor, and help her with it until she's comfortable with it. once a week is probably enough.
a little cheap hair conditioner is all the 'shaving cream' she'd need.
khairete
S.

The Clio Palm Perfect - an electric razor you can get it at Walmart. It's $8. My daughter is 10 and I don't want her using a razor for what little bit there is. So she uses that. I showed her on my hand how it wouldn't hurt. Then I did it for her the first time. I keep it in my drawer so she asks to use it and does it on her own. I keep it in my bathroom to avoid her shaving every hair off of her body - haha!!

I appreciate your SWH, that you have identified with her doctor that your daughter is going through precocious puberty (PP). However, I would suggest you ask for a referral to an endocrinologist for a consult & possible treatment.

One of the concerns regarding PP is that once puberty has finished, so does growth. When a child begins puberty early, they tend to end it early, stunting overall growth. This is the reason many healthcare professionals recommend treatment to stop (arrest) PP. Depending on the cause, there are different ways to diagnose, & treat.

It's worth revisiting - I'm not saying your doctor is wrong, but based on your few sentences, I think it's worth discussing more in depth, & talking to a specialist to be fully informed on the situation, & the options, both now & going forward. There may also be some things (such as dietary choices) that she should either engage in or avoid based on the condition.

Regarding the hair - there are many options, from shaving, to waxing, plucking & depilatory products (hair removal like Nair). There are pros & cons for all of them - I would first talk to your daughter about her feelings currently, & how comfortable she is with starting a process that requires upkeep. The more painful options tend to have longer results (waxing), and some may not be an option if she has sensitive skin (depilatories). My personal thought would be to start with shaving, using a safety razor & proper technique, & see how that goes. You can assist her with that - after her showers, have her hold her arm up & apply shaving cream, while you guide the razor - once or twice a week.

Best of luck! T. :)

What's wrong with shaving?

I remember using an electric razor . That would be less harsh or scary then using an actual razor.. especially for someone so young. I didn't start shaving til I was around 12 or 13.. I can't remember.. sorry that she has to deal with early onset so young..

A safety razor is fine.
If she's got hair, then it's time for deodorant too.

I'm not sure if this would be appropriate for a 7.5 year old, but just to throw it out there, how about plucking? After a few times, it won't even hurt. This is what I do.

Electric razors, or battery-powered travel razors, are very safe and easy to use (of course you should supervise her or do it for her, but still, it will be easy). I think some of those are even marketed as something like a "my first razor".

Regular razors seem way too risky for a young child (risk of getting cut), and waxing and nair seem like a bad idea for young skin.

C.,

Welcome to mamapedia!

Oh heck no!! there is no way I would start shaving a 7 year old. NO.

Cut back on her processed food intake - that will help some.

Talk to her pediatrician as well. WITHOUT HER in the room - you do NOT need to make her self conscious of it. that would be rude.

Good luck!

My daughter was an early hair blooming, body odor girl too. I shaved her arm pits. I didn't want to use chemicals at such a young age so shaving works for us. She now shaves herself plus her legs. I talked to my daughter's doc about shaving and she said it was fine. She would rather she shave than to use Nair.

From reading your what happened your daughter seems to be following the same course my daughter is on. She started getting breast at 8. It was like they popped out all of sudden. She is the tallest girl in her class and is starting to get a few pimples. She turned 10 in November and had a small period in September. She hasn't had another one and I hope she won't for a while.

I got my daughter a book from American Girl called the Care and Keeping of you. It explains the changes girls will experience and how to take care of your body. They have a section on shaving. I think it is informative and worth getting. Good luck!!

My friend used nair on her 9 year old's legs, no problem. So you could always do a test spot first just to make sure there is no reaction. It probably comes in a gentle or 'sensitive' formula.

Personally, I'd be inclined to use a razor and just be careful.

What about an electric razor? Yes, they don't take off hair as cleanly as a regular razor, but they are also safer. And your daughter can learn to use it herself and so have some control over her own grooming--she can decide for herself when she wants to shave her armpits and have some privacy doing it if that is what she would prefer.

I agree with an electric razor There will be less chance of razor burn and irritation. It won't be as smooth a shave as a razor blade, but it will at least make the hair less noticeable.