To wonder why you would put your toddler in a bikini?

[GoodAfternoonSeattle]

Urgh I keep seeing these in the shops and I don’t get it.

Personally I prefer my own daughter (who is three) to be covered on the beach so that she doesn’t burn. I’d probably put her in one of those swimsuits that’s like shorts and tshirt. I’d put her in a swimming costume at an indoor pool. I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at a preschool aged child running around naked or in pants.

But I don’t understand the bikini trend for toddlers - Why does a 3 year old need something to cover their chest on the beach or at the pool??

Urgh. Why are we trying to turn our children into mini adults at every turn?

[FraxinusExcelsior]

There's pictures of me at 3 yo wearing a bikini - in 1965.
I look ACE.
Hardly a new trend.

[Fruitcorner123]

YABU and judgy. In Europe most children just wear the bottom half. Is that worse or better? Of course we should cover up thdir skin in the sun but what about at the swimming pool. A bikini is less revealing than just the bottoms that we dress our boys in. Should girls feel ashamed of their chest?

It's only sexualised if you see it that way otherwise it's just an item of clothing.

[Puffycat]

Totally agree!
Me & DH used to be mistaken for being Italian on hols (we looked quite stylish n cool 😎) until we had dd1.
We would pitch up at the pool with dd wearing a wetsuit, waterwings, hat with flap on the back, sunglasses and neoprene pool shoes.
All the Italian kids were wearing pants.
No need foe a bikini at 3!

[GoodAfternoonSeattle]

What? Read properly.

[Notcontent]

I agree with you op. I think ideally children should wear sun protection swimwear but if they are not being covered up then little girls should wear just pants like boys.

[Notcontent]

And yes, in Italy and France you see girls up to age 10 or 11 in just pants!

[Ohyesiam]

I bought my 3 year old a bikini because she asked for one.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My DD wore a bikini (more tankini style) and high factor sun protection.

Trying to turn my DD into a mini adult? No.
Trying to make it easier for her to have a pee rather than pullin a swimsuit up/down? Yes.

[Macarena1990]

Personally I don't like to see kids covered head to toe at the slightest hint of UV rays.. my girls have always worn bikinis, little swimsuits or bikini bottoms. Totally agree with you fruit corner!

[halcyondays]

I certainly couldn't have worn just pants at 10 or 11! Nothing wrong with swimwear that covers the chest. If you go back far enough didn't men and boys used to wear swimwear that covered the chest?

[maras2]

fruitcorner What are you on about?

[GoodAfternoonSeattle]

Why does a three year old girl need to cover her chest?

Three year old boys don’t need to cover their chests.

[KnightsOfCydonia]

I always put a Lycra swim t shirt on DS on holidays so my boy did have his chest covered as well.
but both my kids are pale and ginger and burn instantly

[LexieLulu]

I don't dress DD in bikinis so this isn't my opinion but...

I can understand why some parents of babies may put their DD in one. Changing a nappy when baby is wearing a wet cozzie can be hard.

My DD is ginger so she's in a wet suit just to ensure less chances of burning on holiday.

[TheOriginalEmu]

because getting a swim suit off when you have a toddler with the bladder the size of a pea is a faff.
my youngest one would just strip herself naked anyway. its like she couldn't fathom the idea of water with clothing on lol.

[MrsCD67]

Yanbu OP

[NorksAkimbo72]

When my DD was 2, she tried on a bikini that she loved, and gazed at herself in the mirror, grinning like a fool and rubbing her adorable baby belly. I didn't even hesitate to buy it! She rarely ever wore the top, though...just raced around in the bottoms like her big brother. It's a swimming costume...I can't get too wound up about things like that.

[KERALA1]

Yanbu. Weird

[polkadotdelight]

I bought DS an all in one uv/Sun suit thing for swimming. The first time we used it he quickly needed a pee and it was an arse ache. It got replaced by a shorts and rash vest set. I can see why a parent wouldn't want to put a swimsuit on a little girl for that reason. Whether they choose to use a bikini top or not is their own decision.

[hopelessandhopeful]

It's not for me, but I don't see why bikinis are sexual. Are only sexy busty women allowed to wear them or something?

[Fluffychickenmonkey]

Bikinis are such a weird thing to dress a young child in, bottoms only.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

As a chunky 5yo, in 1976, I remember trying a bikini on in Mothercare. I looked down at myself and started wailing as my tummy was so podgy I couldn't see the bottom half so thought I had no pants on.

Once my mum pointed me towards the mirror I realised that I actually loved it and wore it pretty much solidly through the heatwave that year. I loved it because it felt so lovely and cool and no-one batted an eyelash.

[Fluffyears]

My first swimsuit was a tiny bikini as a little kid I still remember it was orange and brown.

[MismatchedPJs]

Because when you buy a 2 piece for toiletting reasons, it's easier to put the whole thing on her than explain why they should only use half of it. Let them wear the top half if they want to, who cares?

It's just a bit random to say full top and shorts = fine, no top = fine, smaller top = ergh no that's horrendous! Or to say it's fine to wear both halves of a rash suit, or PJs, but a 2 piece swimsuit, no they must only wear half or they'll be Different From Boys!

TBF I chose tankinis for DD at that age, probably for similar reasons to you OP. But with hindsight, meh. Save the judginess for more important stuff, I say.

[Fruitcorner123]

GoodAfternoonSeattle sorry you're right i didnt read it properly