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?

DN has some nice tankinis that look like one pieces, no gaps, but have the advantage when going to the loo. On our last holiday I saw a toddler wearing a version of a triangle string bikini which did look wrong.

My DDs chose their own swimwear every year. Sometimes one piece, sometimes bikinis. It never crossed my mind that their was anything sexual about the bikinis. In fact as we usually holidayed in Ireland they were as likely to be wearing a coat and hat on the beach as any swinwear.

It's nothing new - I coveted a bikini to wear at the paddling pool when I was a little girl in the sixties. My thrifty mum made me and DSs bikinis out of a brightly coloured towel she bought in the market. I remember how pretty they were ....l also remember how they got so heavy when wet they would sag down like full nappies! But we didn't care, we thought we were the bees knees.

A no touch area? Im intrigued how they do that eithout making the girls think its wrong to touch their own breasts or allow a partner too when older

Are you shitting me? I cannot quite believe you just posted that!

How do you think we teach kids about other no touch areas? Like the genitals? Or should we just not bother.

Jesus fucking christ

This thread is batshit. Mine all wore triangle bikinis, oh and they also had pierced ears heels and toy make up kits! They also had trains, dinosaurs and played in the mud. Somehow they managed to grow up into well rounded adults who know about their rights! they also drank fruit shoots with their happy meals

I feel sad that there are people about judging toddlers on their appearance. The only time I’ve ever been judgy about toddlers on beaches is when I’ve seen them with severe sunburn and out in the sun again.

And whoever can’t work out how to teach kids about their bodies being theirs and people not touching them without permission might want to check out the NSPCC PANTS campaign.

"Batshit" is putting a bikini top on a 3 year old

"Batshit" is putting a bikini top on a 3 year old hmm

Why?

Because they have no boobs!!!!!

So?

Honestly why are you so invested in what other people’s kids are wearing? It’s bloody weird

Lots of little kids like to dress like thier grown ups. There’s nothing new or troubling about that. Are there seriously people who’d say no if their little girl expressed a preference for a bikini?! Surely saying no and then explaining why is more sexualising.

Sadly Hermagsjesty I think the ‘woke’ brigade would say no and explain ‘why’

Sameterf . Yup!

Hardly invested. Tediously printing documents and dipping around on mumsnet. Thats my view in passing. I am not a member of a "brigade" as far as I am aware anyway. Do what you like but I reserve the right to my opinion!

Babies in bikinis is a bit tacky/chavy along with earnings and heels.

Tankini fine, sporty style bikini OK, but proper bra-let style top or string - blurgh.

Girls will want to dress like mum but it needs to be appropriate. They don't actually need to cover their top or bottom really.

All clothes should be a beige government issue one piece swimsuit, jumpsuit or snowsuit depending on the weather. No child should be seen in cute or expressive clothing of any kind whatsoever.

Fattymcfaterson no i actually want to know. I was never taught about a no touch area, my best friend was. Whether her mum did it wrong i dont know but she has major issues with sex and masturbation and thinks its dirty to touch there.

I would like to know how its done without causing those issues since ive seen it do the very opposite.

SameTerfDifferentUserName thank you for the link. I'll share it with my friend too since we were talking about the no touch areas and she doesnt want to teach like her mum.

I don't see the problem? it's just a different style of swimsuit surely? We wore them as kids, or mostly just the bottoms.

swimsuits that cover your chest keep you a bit warmer.They act as bit like a wetsuit trapping a layer of water.Bare skin has a constant flow of water passing over it, cooling it down.So for a toddler girl in a pool I would definitely cover chest and for a boy i' would look for a one piece uv suit type thing.

And yes, in Italy and France you see girls up to age 10 or 11 in just pants!
Really, I've never see girls with developing breast buds having them on show

I am with @hermajesty on this.

Mum and daughter shopping for swimwear, Mums just bought a bikini. They go to kids swimwear.

Little girl : Mummy can I have that bikini?
Mum : No, you havent got breasts.

Imagine how that little girl might feel. What she might think. 'I cant have a pretty bikini until I grow breasts.'

The girl just wanted to feel pretty and learn, by copying Mum. But Mum says No. Little girl gets teased at beach next time she goes by the mean girls with bikinis on.

Alternative situation

Little girl : Mum can I have that bikini?
Mum : Lets choose a swimsuit too and try both on?
Little girl : Ok
Mum : Bikini tops can be really annoying when you want to run and play on the beach. You dont have to wear the top. Having breasts can be really annoying!

At the beach, the little girl has her bikini on. Makes friends. Says 'This top is uncomfy.' Throws it off, her friends copy, and they run off into the sun laughing with no sense of 'lacking' or yearning that they can only have a pretty thing when they have grown breasts.

Be careful how you communicate with your daughters about your fears of sexualising them 'netters!

I'm from Switzerland (but with an Italian mother).

These swimsuits/ wetsuits / swim shirts are quite uncommon here. And mostly seen on truly little children.

We just wore trunks / bottoms. And had to stay out of the sun during noon.

Most German and Dutch tourists I encounter in Italy don't seem to do that... It seems to me like tanning (which my Italian family didn't really do...) may be more of an issue than wetsuits vs trunks?

As for bikinis or swimming suits on little girls... It's a bit strange imo. I don't see the point of covering their chest/stomach etc. But some girls may want to wear one. And not allowing them to do that would be weird as well.

I used to wear swim shorts until about 7 btw.

username the PANTS campaign/swimming costume rule is just early teaching about consent and that your body belongs to you along with giving kids the anatomically correct language and confidence to tell somebody if anything’s happened to them. Your mates Mum def did it wrong and sounds like she has issues, very sad for both of them.

I have got photos of me wearing a bikini, aged 3 in 1984. I don’t think it’s exaclty new.

SameTerfDifferentUserName its really sad. My friend doesnt talk about it, she and her mum aren't close at all.