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?

Because some people like them. People are allowed to have different tastes regarding clothing. I don’t know why that confuses you.

It confuses me because I don't particularly want my four year old to look sexy.

Kids bikinis are cute. Grown up styles on tiny kids (thong bikinis, tiny triangles) not convinced. There are so many cute styles out there that skimpy, risqué adult style bikinis aren't particularly necessary. That's why it confuses me.

A 4 year old in a bikini will not look sexy.

The bikini was invented by a man, for women, so it seems pretty logical that its existence is almost entirely for the pleasure of men. Why would you want your (young) daughter to wear an item of clothing that is intended for adult titillation? If you're not worried about sunburn, allow your daughter to run around in bottoms only. Far less creepy.

I think bikinis on toddlers are ghastly! Bikini tops are for concealing/supporting boobs. Let toddlers wear something comfortable and free, they have plenty of time to wear bikinis when they hit puberty.
Mine wears a rash vest and shorts, or just shorts in an indoor pool.

So why put them in a small version of a sexy grown up bikini? Why not buy a bikini designed for kids with bloody peppa pig or my little pony on it?!

It's a very British thing to do.

I agree that a full swimsuit or just bottoms or bottoms and a rash vest.
Bikini tops do look "common" on toddlers in my opinion, but I'm a bit of a snob about children's clothes.

Ours just wears the bottoms.

Because when we go to Spain we adopt the Spanish attitude to the sun and lifestyle. Go down for a couple hours to beach. Return back for lunch and siesta when sun is at its hottest, then return back when burning heat is gone. Suncream applied. Vitamin D is important. I’ve never put mine in the sunsuits etc.

We often see British families leaving the beach just as Spanish families are coming out.

A bikini is just a swimsuit cut in half nothing more. If you sexualise it then you have the issue

I think bikinis look awful on children and haven't ever got them for mine. When my eldest wanted a 2 piece I went for bikini bottoms and rash vest.

I agree with all those who think it looks awful! I may have a bit of inner snob...

If they want to wear them, be like mum etc, why not. I think it looks weird because i have never seen one that sits right, since kids dont have breasts ive seen them ride up and twist especially when playing and in the sea. Seems pretty redundant to me.

My dn wore one and it looked odd and kept riding, in the end she pulled it off. One of the relatives was scandalized that she wore no top but that was her issue and would have been the same with any top.

A bikini is just a swimsuit cut in half nothing more. If you sexualise it then you have the issue

I have never seen a toddler in a triangle bikini, only cropped top ones. They are of course not sexualised. I was at a park in the sun yesterday and there were young girls wearing cropped tops to keep cool, it's no different.

ThatsWotSheSaid - this is not appropriate for a 4 year old. Incidentally, this comes in age 2-6.

A 3 year old doesn't need to cover her chest but what's the harm with a cute, trendy little outfit?!?

I personally wouldn't find it cute and trendy (and don't dress my child to be "trendy" I guess) But naff and inappropriate really.

However I wouldn't say anything in real life! I dont dress my child to be trendy though, a rash vest to cover up in the sun , a pretty one if smallest likes the print but practical really.

No one ever said to a boy they must have a weird bit of material across non existent breasts that doesn't sit right just to be trendy!

I'm v aware others think differently to me though!! And happy for them to do so. Just answering with my thought process!

I don’t think it’s inappropriate. Why is it more inappropriate than any other swimming top for a girl?
Some people will think it’s cute, some people will think it’s tacky.

So why are you posting?

Sorry didn’t realise you wanted an echo chamber and lots of parrots agreeing with you.

Agree with the person saying it’s their inner snob because that’s what it is.

I’m ok with that. If it makes me a snob then so be it. It looks awful and it’s unnecessary.

Whilst I can understand the argument that it’s easier to take them to the toilet I still do nt see why covering their chest is necessary at that age.

I agree. Covered up with UV swimwear is ideal, failing that just bottoms are better than bikinis.

On holiday recently I was appalled at how many British children there were with serious sunburn. I really thought people knew better.

Life would be so much simpler if people considered that other people do whatever they do for Reasons.

And that the Reasons are nobody else's bloody business. Even if they're really shit Reasons. In the beholder's opinion.

Life would be so much simpler if people considered that other people do whatever they do for Reasons. And that the Reasons are nobody else's bloody business. Even if they're really shit Reasons. In the beholder's opinion

This what AIBU is for, to discuss the reasons.

The arguments the top half of the bikini would also apply to swimsuits, which again little girls have worn since time immemorial.

I agree that sexualised v skimpy bikinis are not right but ones that are like crop top and pants are fine IMO. Just because there’s no need to cover a child’s breasts doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with wearing clothing that does.

My toddler nephew had a bikini on a few weeks sgo. My neighbour had a pool out for her toddler and asked if my DN would like to play. I had no swimwear for my nephew so she lent me a pair of bikini bottoms for him to splash around in.

Her DD wasn't wearing the top either both kids had tee shirts on. I have loads of pictures from childhood holidays wearing bikinis with my sisters. Sometimes just the bottoms. It doesn't look weird at all. We were small children!

I was a child in the sixties and most little girls wore bikinis then. It was the norm. Both my daughters wore bikinis too or sometimes full swimsuits. They also wore school dresses without the need for shorts underneath them, changed for PE in mixed classes and didn't wear "bra" type told under their school polo shirts until they needed them. The world has gone mad!

I holidayed in Spain and up until I grew breasts I wore pants only - everyone did! I can also remember riding my bike to my friends house and I was just wearing shorts. So I was probably 9? 🤷🏼‍♀️ I mean the past is a different place - they did things differently there.