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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bikinis on Toddlers...

220 replies

NiceCupOfTeaAndAPartyRing · 30/05/2014 14:54

AIBU to feel quite uncomfortable when I see young girls (5 and under) wearing bikinis? I'm not sure if I'm being a prude or not, just seems there seems to be more and more of them. I in no way am saying ridiculous things like they're a 'target' for creepy advances, and of course there are often girls completley starkers on the beach etc, but that's not sexualised, just totally natural.
Somehow I just find it odd that you would want your kid in anything sexualised at that age - But perhaps bikinis aren't seen as sexualising anymore??
I even saw a Virgin Holidays ad with one on. I really don't know! AIBU or do others feel a bit awkward about this too??

OP posts:
FriedaMensch · 30/05/2014 15:50

I hate bikinis on little girls.

DD knows I won't let her have one until she is at secondary school. I'm perfectly happy for her to have a tankini though. If we are at the beach or outdoor pool, my dc wear UV tops and bikini bottoms/shorts anyway.

I would rather a toddler had just the bottoms, and in fact you do see that a lot where I come from - even sometimes older (although obviously pre-pubescent) girls - I'd say maybe aged up to 8 or 9.

MistressDeeCee · 30/05/2014 15:50

I think alongside same lines as MrsTerry, I just feel its odd to cover what they dont have yet..

I mean, you wouldnt put a bra on a toddler. I only ever put my DDs in all in one costumes when they were young, its so easy to find pretty costumes for girls. My reasoning was, Im not into children not wearing adult-ish clothing. They're children not mini-adults/girls not women, and childrens' style clothing is fine for them. Each to their own..but thats how I felt regarding appropriateness

MistressDeeCee · 30/05/2014 15:51

sorry, a random "not" crept in there...meant to say

"Im not into children wearing adult-ish clothing"

Vintagejazz · 30/05/2014 15:57

If a child is still in nappies then surely all they need is the bottom part of the bikini. Why do they need a bra type top as well? I can see the OP's point.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2014 15:59

They're children not mini-adults/girls not women, and childrens' style clothing is fine for them. However, I think we are probably miserable, old sticks in the mud.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 30/05/2014 16:09

I don't think there's anything wrong. DD is 3 and she had a phase where she refused anything more than her happy nappy. That means she goes topless.

She's now potty trained but she'll not put her one piece back on after the loo because she complained it hurts. I know what she meant because putting on a wet swim suit is really no fun.

A bikini or only the bikini bottom is the only choice for me then. Stop looking at little girls with adult perceptions. She's quite happy to run around the house totally naked too.

BlameItOnTheMoonlight · 30/05/2014 16:10

I agree.
Normal two piece good, creepy triangle things weird.

We are a rashie and shorts family all round. Bikini line laziness for me

ikeaismylocal · 30/05/2014 16:10

The don't make me feel uncomfortable but I wouldn't choose to put my child in one. If I was at the beach the child would be naked and if I was at a pool they'd have a swim nappy on, I don't see why you need to cover the nappy. I don't see the point in any swimming costume that covers the non existent breasts of pre-pubescent girls ( apart from sun protective clothing)

HavannaSlife · 30/05/2014 16:10

I don't have girls but if I did I wouldn't buy one. Agree I'm also not keen on children wearing adult style clothing. Also most of the ones I've seen don't protect from the sun enough for me, I prefer something that covers the shoulders.

RiverTam · 30/05/2014 16:11

^

yep, that's me.

I can't bear seeing small children looking oh-so-coordinated, like mini adults off to work - they're 3/4/5 - they can be as crazy as they like! Bring on the bonkers ensembles that a toddler would choose (or DH on a good day)! Who cares if the colours all clash and a billion patterns are being worn at once.

Sorry, just had some chocolate and my 6th cup of tea today.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 30/05/2014 16:11

She also likes dressing like mummy. So I'm not going to stop her wearing a bikini when I will wear one myself.

RiverTam · 30/05/2014 16:11

oh, that was to MrsTPs comment about stick-in-the-muds.

cantbelievethisishppening · 30/05/2014 16:12

they are so wrong on so many level YANBU op i prefer a swimsuit or a UV suit any day sloppy parenting putting your DD in a freaking BIKINI. also don't get why the single mums with neck and tramp stamps feel the need to wear 3 bits of string when taking their children to the leisure centre its a swimming pool not tenerife ffs

Just.wow Hmm you sound lovely

OwlCapone · 30/05/2014 16:13

I think alongside same lines as MrsTerry, I just feel its odd to cover what they dont have yet..

I only ever put my DDs in all in one costumes when they were young

An all in one costume that's designed to cover what they don't yet have...?

OneLittleToddleTerror · 30/05/2014 16:14

And I agree with saucyjack earlier post that it looks far dodgier on older girls. (Think 13 year olds and dirty old man). I think fat little babies and toddlers just look like fat little babies in them, nothing sexual at all.

HavannaSlife · 30/05/2014 16:19

My son's wear all in ones or two pieces, I doubt they are to cover up what they don't have yet.

bbcessex · 30/05/2014 16:20

I also don't like bikinis on children, but mainly depending on the style.

I don't the 'triangle' and tiny briefs on any young girls, I think it looks odd.

I do like the tankini type, or the vest with ruffles type.

HavannaSlife · 30/05/2014 16:23

I think it's because lots of the ones I've seen have weirdy plunging necklines, what's that about?

MistressDeeCee · 30/05/2014 16:23

climbs out of the mud oh thats alright thenGrin

Nope, Owl - pretty girly swimming costumes. Not mini-adult bikinis.

Thurlow · 30/05/2014 16:25

MILFree...? Blimey.

I'm erring towards YANBU, OP - though for the ones with little triangle bikini tops rather than just two pieces. Nothing wrong with a toddler girl in just trunks, they have nothing to cover up. Tankinis and the like sound eminently practical for a potty training toddler stores that tip for later this year. Personally I prefer the boardsuits even over a swimsuit, but that's only because my DD always seemed to be cold in just a swimsuit, and I think boardsuits are cute.

Triangle style bikinis to me are more adult style clothing and I'm also not personally a fan of young kids in clothes that really echo adult fashions.

slithytove · 30/05/2014 16:25

Can the married mums without tramp stamps wear string bikinis to the leisure centre?

TheWholeOfTheSpoon · 30/05/2014 16:28

My dd has a whole host of bikinis, tankinis and those tankini tops that look like bikinis from the back. You know what? She looks awesome in all of them! She looks like exactly what she is, a young girl swimming or playing.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 30/05/2014 16:33

Just swim bottoms seems to me more appropriate than adding a bikini top. The small covering suggests the nipple area should be covered. Lord knows why, as nipples on a five year old girl are pretty much identical to that of a five year old boy.

A full swim top is practical for both sexes for uv coverage.

Nocomet · 30/05/2014 16:33

They don't need tops, but most little girls older than 3 or 4 will probably want a top.

Nothing sexual, they want to look like girls and for them that's looking like Mummy and the vast majority of the other females on the beach.

MN may wish to create a weird genderless creature called toddler/small child, but your daughter does not.

I had short hair as a small girl (as did most of us in the 1970's), I didn't much like dresses, but I got seriously fed up of being called a boy!

OneLittleToddleTerror · 30/05/2014 16:39

slightytove I missed that one. I wear a bikini sometimes because I just hate one piece. I'm 39, have a PhD and am working full time in a professional job. But maybe I do have a tramp stamp on that I'm not aware of Hmm