Gymnastics - leotard advice

[EdithWeston]

DD does a recreational gymnastics class and I am thinking of getting her a leotard for her birthday. She can wear any style/colour, and likes the look of long sleeves.

Can any experienced parents of gymnasts be kind and help - specifically what makes are good, and which have a cut most likely to fit a skinny 8yr old?

Do any shops keep them in stock (midlands, but visit London quite often) - I prefer to try things on if possibe, having dicovered that way all John Lewis ones are far too wide) If online is only realistic option, are there any particularly good sites or ones to avoid?

Many thanks for any help.

[SilverCharm]

we get them from our local leisure centre shop...where they are cheap! But you might like to look in Gamba in London...they'r'e very good. Otherwise look on Ebay as there are loads of good leotard sellers.

[uggmum]

I buy from 2 different on-line companies. Both are good quality brands. Good return policies too.

www.the-zone.co.uk
www.milano-pro-sport.com. (more expensive, but sells well second hand on eBay)

[dlady]

My (skinny) dd has an Anniel make one, bought from ebay for half the price of our dance shop. Most dance shops sell gym leotards.

[EdithWeston]

Thank you - I'm enjoying browsing, but gosh aren't they expensive! Still, it's birthday treat so gulp and go for it, I suppose.

[out2lunch]

yep expensive but dd will love you for it

milano or the zone are the best imo - what the pros wear

[LadyLetch]

There are lots of cheaper ones you can buy from dance websites, and they are imho just as good. My DD does 14 hours a week, and she doesn't own a single Milano or Zone leotard. She has had all her leotards for about a year, and they all wash up fine... (I throw mine in the washing machine too, shock horror!)

The places I buy mine from are:

www.wholesaledance.co.uk/ (Click on the link for Gymnastics leotards). My DD has a couple of the £12 ones and they wash up fine.

www.totaldance.co.uk/shop/index.php?cPath=68_227&osCsid=ece2a9fe47cb763d6536d19910c95cd8

www.dancewearworlddirect.co.uk/childrens-dancewear/gymnastics-leotards.html. I've got a couple of the Tappers and Pointers ones. They do use different sizing though.

If your DD has a penchant for the foil ones (and most little girls do), then Ebay does a good range, but the foil ones tend to be more expensive. My daughter has one 'Elite' brand foil leotard that I bought off ebay brand new for £15. You do have to keep checking to get a bargain though.

The only thing I would say is that your DD might find the long sleeved ones a bit too warm. My DD (also 8) does 3.5 hour training sessions, and her gym is cold in winter. Whenever she starts off in a long sleeved, she always has to change into a sleeveless one after an hour or so. But this will depend on how warm your gym is, and how much work they are made to do. There is a shop that manufactures and sells leotards at my daughter's gym (and I sometimes buy leotards there too, they are really well made but not on the internet unfortunately) and they really discourage parents from buying long sleeves. They always say that if the child needs long sleeves, they're not working hard enough!

HTh

[Melmamma]

I was told that there is a difference between dance leotards and gymnastics leotards and that "proper" gym leotards are tighter around the leg and not as high cut as dance leotards and therefore more comfortable for tumbles etc. Not sure if that's correct or just the gym trying to persuade me to fork out for one of the club leotards.

[LadyLetch]

The ones I linked to below are gymnastics leotards - they are in a separate section on the dance websites. I don't buy dance leotards for my daughter, although she owns some for dance.... But my DDs gym club are happy enough with the ones I have bought below, and as I said she's a squad girl (so rules are stricter for them). However, my DD does wear gym shorts with her leotards most of the time.

[socharlotte]

TOP TIP-Get one with black or navy blue sleeves.They will make her lines look much better if they do any displays or inhouse competitions.

[EdithWeston]

My thanks to everyone here.

We got one in London yesterday (spending in the high £20s when I'd hoped to stay in the low £20s). But it is lovely, red velvet body and shiny sleeves; and DD is very very happy.

[StarsGhostTail]

Zone ones here too, expensive, but very good. No lost sparkles in 2-3 years use.

Finally two small and a request in for a new one for christmas