AIBU to let my 2 year old wear a bikini?

[Bluebirds1987]

DH and I are staying in a holiday park and today we took DDs (2yr old and 8 month old) swimming in the pool. It was full of parents with children.

DH said just now that while we were there, he overheard some women looking at me and DD1, discussing that the bikini she was wearing "sexualised" her.

Its a Little Mermaid bikini with frilly detail and sparkly bits. DD1 Picked it out herself and she absolutely loves it. DH took great joy in chipping in that it's only sexualising her if you look at it that way, before telling them that's his daughter.

I honestly never even thought about it that way, to me she's just a little 2 year old girl in a Disney outfit and if I'd heard them I'd have been fuming! I have never come across anything like this before and it's the first time she's worn it, I'd like to think I can dress her in whatever she likes and feels confident in and that it's their problem they don't think it's appropriate, not mine.

But, I'm open for debate.

Were they out of order, or should I not let my 2 year old show her bare tummy in a public place?
Photo showing the bikini in question!

Aww it’s cute. I bet she looked lovely in it.
what ridiculous comments from those women.

See I wouldn’t have commented but I do find bikinis on toddlers weird. Wouldn’t find kids running around in knickers/pants/trunks odd. I think it’s because a bikini top on a toddler is unnecessary - covering nothing because there’s nothing to cover, and is unnecessarily adult looking.

my dd lived in bikini bottoms or sun shorts and a rash vest at that age. And if it was an impromptu swim, just knickers.

fundamentally it’s personal taste really.

My pre schooler DDs love wearing bikinis. Nothing sexual about them.

They were SO rude.

But I wouldn’t put a young child in a bikini.

It's much more practical to have a two piece. I can't work out whether you were inside or outside though. I don't think it's very responsible to have girls or boys outside without a bit more covering in hot weather though, but perhaps your kids aren't a pain about sunscreen. If you're indoors though, no problem.

A bra top on a toddler is a bit odd tbh.

Doesn’t a swimsuit cover the chest area like a bikini top?
so a swimsuit makes you feel weird too?

let’s be honest it’s middle class snobbery/ too glam, too in your face. To say it’s fine for kids to run near naked at beach but a tank top is wrong makes no sense. Perhaps if it was Boden in a sludge brown colour no one would bat an eye.

Why does she need to be ‘more covered than just bottoms’? The only reason is that you’re anticipating the fact that she’ll have breasts in the future.

I agree with you that a one-piece is the same principle though. And I would never have said anything in earshot of the parent.

what’s inappropriate about a bra?

They don't have tits?

People are idiots. Nothing sexual about that bikini whatsoever.
Agree with your husband’s comments.

I'm not a fan. I'd rather a proper covered UV suit or if I didn't have that is just keep my daughter in just the bottoms. It's the 'bra' like element that mimics the adult style that I don't like

Are you offended if flat chested women choose to wear a bra?

girls wear swimsuits way before their chests develop.

Just to add, we're in the UK and it was in an indoor pool so no suncream issue. It was actually only intended for the warm indoor pool she has swimming lessons in, she does have a long sleeved protective suit for outside / sunshine.

I'm interested to know why some just aren't keen on it, do you feel it's inappropriate in some way or is it just a matter of general preference? I honestly think it looks super cute on 😅

Because bikini tops and bras are designed to cover breasts and small children don’t have them, it’s inferring that a baby girl needs to cover her non existent breasts.

I don’t like little girls wearing bikinis & always refuse my 5 year old (never tell her why just say I don’t like the pattern or it’s too expensive so as to not draw attention to me not wanting it!

however, never ever would I comment on another child wearing one, that’s rude!

I personally find it a bit strange to put a young child in a bikini but would never say anything, each to their own after all.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers boden are a bit more ditsy twee than sludge brown tbh.

So does a swimsuit- otherwise why don’t all kids under puberty age just wear trunks?

Telling women & girls what they can & can’t wear starts YOUNG. 🙄
Doesn’t look like a ‘bra’, it looks like a cropped vest.

It’s fine, OP. Obviously.

@Bluebirds1987 I don't think it's inappropriate, I just don't think it's cute. There's other stuff I don't find cute so my little girl doesn't wear and no judgement attached to any of them. Just...not how I dress her.

It’s fine. More like a 2 piece tankini really, and doesn’t have adult bikini vibes at all with the little mermaid theme. I always found two piece suits easier for loo breaks (my DD would find the most inopportune time to need no.2).

I bet it makes your little girl happy; so please enjoy your swim time with her and ignore the comments. I like the sound of your DH too btw, speaking up about this. The other parents were rude.

Not wearing a top at all isn’t sexualised though, whereas I can see how little girls wearing a bikini top could be considered sexualised. That said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this bikini, it’s just a Little Mermaid one

That looks absolutely fine and age appropriate for a two year old. It just looks like a two piece version of a normal swimsuit. I don't like young children in the string/triangle style bikinis but that's just my personal choice, there's nothing remotely sexual about a toddler wearing a bikini.

Bikinis on young children look incredibly tacky