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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

195 replies

GoodAfternoonSeattle · 09/06/2018 23:15

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?

OP posts:
ScreamingValenta · 10/06/2018 00:23

The advantage of a bikini, whatever your age, is that you can put it on under clothes and easily go to the loo.

BakedBeans47 · 10/06/2018 00:30

I am in my 40s and wore bikinis when I was a little girl. Lots of girls did. They weren’t skimpy/sexualised but were still 2 pieces. And my parents were pretty strict.

ScreamingValenta · 10/06/2018 00:33

Same here, @BakedBeans47 - my parents would have been the last people to let me wear something 'sexy' as a child. I was never allowed a 'Frankie Says Relax' t-shirt Sad.

ilovegin112 · 10/06/2018 00:37

I presume that most little girls are in bikinis or swimsuits is because their parents (usually mum) think they look cute, to be fair I’ve seen a lot just running around with just bottoms on

Fruitcorner123 · 10/06/2018 00:40

i wonder if maybe it's just that they want to wear what their mum wears. I dont really see the harm in it (as long as the top isn't those little triangles) its just clothes.

Palegreenstars · 10/06/2018 00:48

Because it was the only one in Sainsos with Moana on

Butterflykissess · 10/06/2018 00:53

this is one of those things that i cant understand why people care about it. literally who cares.

Notso · 10/06/2018 00:59

I don't like the look of bikini's on little ones but in terms of being something to cover the chest they are no different to the bog standard one pieces little girls wear and if anything more practical for weeing.

SleepingStandingUp · 10/06/2018 01:01

I do think the little triangle ones look like they're trying to make them look like they have breasts which is just weird

minniemummy0 · 10/06/2018 06:41

I was born early 80s and had bikinis from a very young age. I remember a green one I loved. Once I hit puberty I grew massive breasts and got curvy and later fat, and never felt comfortable enough to wear a bikini. So I’m glad I wore them as a child and have that memory of feeling cool in the sun, carefree.... and definitely NOT sexual. I just think in no way were they seen as a sexual thing when little girls wore them, and not are they now.

GrannyGrissle · 10/06/2018 06:42

You'd be lucky to get my DD to keep half a bikini on. She prefers naked (she is 4).

Pluckedpencil · 10/06/2018 06:51

I don't get those all in sun suits that only the English wear. Seriously just put on sun cream like everyone else and stay out of the sun between 12 and 4. It's nuts!

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 10/06/2018 06:54

I genuinely can’t bring myself to care about this. I don’t get why a rash vest and bottoms is ok but wearing both bits of a bikini is suddenly wrong. It reads very much like bandwagon jumping that we are supposed to hate bikinis on little girls because we are trying to sexualise them.
None of my dc have like running about naked and even the two boys have disliked being topless on the beach and have worn a top of some sort. Ds1 even wears a rash vest tongo to the swimming pool. I couldn’t actually remember if dd has had a bikini but she did she still has a teddy wearing it now meh she liked it who cares?

GreenMeerkat · 10/06/2018 06:57

I prefer my kids in the all in one sunsuits that cover them a lot more as it's better protection but other than that I can't really see the issue.

GetInMyNelly · 10/06/2018 06:58

If a parent put their BOY in a bikini, people would kick off.

Personally bikinis are unnecessary full stop, they've been sexualised by celebrities.

GreenMeerkat · 10/06/2018 06:59

@Pluckedpencil because you have to keep reapplying sun cream and there is greater risk of missing patches so it's more reassuring. Plus trying to keep two small children out of the sun for four hours when you're on holiday with a kids pool etc is no easy task. If you can manage that, all power to you!

BeautyBox · 10/06/2018 06:59

I would usually agree with you (my son is always in a UV rash vest, hat etc.) BUT then I met my niece who, at 3, is adamant that she wants to wear a bikini and will not wear cover ups. So she's slathered in sun cream, will wear a hat fortunately and just has to be yanked into the shade regularly.

echt · 10/06/2018 07:04

I genuinely can’t bring myself to care about this

So why are you posting?

It reads very much like bandwagon jumping that we are supposed to hate bikinis on little girls because we are trying to sexualise them

Not trying to sexualise them, but it does, because it draws attention to what they don't have - breasts. The real question is why would a parent want their very young girl aping the appearance of an adolescent in the most obvious way, i.e. breasts?

MrsBertBibby · 10/06/2018 07:07

I had a bikini when I was about 5. It was blue and white gingham check. I loved it beyond anything.

dangermouseisace · 10/06/2018 07:12

I had a bikini in 1979 age 2- there is a pic of me in the paddling pool in it. It was in no way an adult style though- top was basically frilly smocked elastic.

At least I had something on- at that age my little sister would remove everything and run round naked.

I can see it could be inappropriate if it looked like a grown up bikini.

summerinrome · 10/06/2018 07:15

Damp or wet swimsuits are uncomfortable, and make a child feel even hotter on holiday.

I always put my little ones in just bottoms and a sun hat. If they are dry then a tshirt to cover their shoulders.

Pants are easier to take off and change and good for toileting.

I dress my children for comfort as probably most people do.

I think you sound a little judgemental. It is a free world op.

TheOnlyAletheia · 10/06/2018 07:19

Yes, I agree - the top half of a bikini on a child is redundant

Mummyoflittledragon · 10/06/2018 07:21

I bought my dd a bikini when she was 5 for holiday. This was our first real sun holiday. They’re far easier than swimsuits. I also bought her a rash vest but she refused to wear it. She doesn’t burn easily so no issues there. Until then it was often naked in the garden or swimsuit in the local swimming pool.

Bibesia · 10/06/2018 07:24

Trying to make it easier for her to have a pee rather than pullin a swimsuit up/down? Yes.

Why do you need the top half of a bikini for this?

Buggeredpelvicfloor2013 · 10/06/2018 07:26

The little tankini style bikinis are great but I genuinely don't agree with the tiny versions of adult bikinis... The ones with a tiny little bottom and the top is just two triangles with string. The ones that an adult woman would wear in order to look sexy so why would you want your kid to wear one?