Transgender Teen Survival Guide

Asked by Anonymous

Lee says:

Can I bind while doing x?

Yes

• On a plane
• At school
• Doing normal routine stuff that won’t raise your heart rate
• While smoking or vaping
• While taking a walk or light bike ride

No

• While playing an instrument that requires breath
• While singing (singing in the car is okay, choral singing or any singing where you need good breath control is not)
• While exercising
• While moshing/screaming/dancing at a concert
• While sleeping
• While swimming (unless you have a specific swimming binder)
• On roller coasters/thrill rides
• While getting a first tattoo
• When you’re sick (if you’re coughing or having a hard time breathing)
• During marching band
• During gym class
• When you’re visiting somewhere that is much hotter than temperatures that you are used to (vacations)
• When you have a chest/torso injury, are recovering from improper binding, etc.

What are the general safety rules of binding?

• Don’t sleeping with your binder on at night
• Don’t do any vigorous exercising in a binder- no things that get your heartrate up and make you breathe heavily and sweat
• Don’t bind for more than 12 hours maximum, 8 hours to be safer
• Take breaks if possible
• Break in a binder - don’t go straight to 8 hours of use
• Never bind too small, use the right size (if between sizes, go up)
• Never use ACE bandages or tape
• Take it off if you’re experiencing pain
• Don’t bind when you’re sick with a cough
• Do not double bind! Don’t wear a binder and another binder on top, or a binder and a compression sports bra. Two sports bras are okay though.
• Binding with two sports bras is still binding, and the same rules about wearing a binder apply to sports bra binding!