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!

Despite all the arguments put forward by many PP I still find it inappropriate to put a toddler in a bikini. Don’t toddlers just wonder about in swim nappy and arm bands? I always vote for practicality over fashion for children.

I can only speak from own experience. I didn’t wear such gendered clothes but wore the same swimwear as my male cousins at two because it was practical and nobody told my mother to cover me up. Well, perhaps nobody could tell I was a female (didn’t have long lush hair as a toddler) but isn’t that the beauty of it? Why do female toddlers have to participate in stereotypical gender specific clothing at such a young age? (That’s a bit of a leap from your original post, do excuse me.)

Now I think of it, being a toddler was perhaps the only time in my life that I could swim bare chested without being inappropriate. Such freedom 😂

At the end of the day, if she is aware of fashion to the point she has insisted on wearing the bikini then let her. As a bystander, if I were REALLY BORED, I would perhaps wonder how could a toddler already know about bikini and probably assume the parent deliberately put that on her but I wouldn’t announce my opinion and force you to listen.

Your parenting style, your call. It is hardly surprising you met other parents who disagree with your approach both in real life and on this forum.

Nothing wrong with that bikini, it’s their problem and I’m glad your DH said something to them

But maybe shes not that aware of gender at all.

My dds wardrobe you will find find all sorts. A top with a flower on it and umpteen Minecraft tshirts

Girls are allowed to like the little mermaid. It's the rest of you have decided it's a gateway to bleached blond hair and fishnet tights.

You are just as much of a problem as everything else witg that attitude.

Maybe she has a wardrobe full of khaki knee length shorts and dinosaur t shirts. Let's not write her off just yet ffs

Meh doesn't seem overly practical really, but don't see the harm.

I think what's most sad is that we are even having to have this discussion. Makes me tearful to think an innocent 2 year old can be subject to talk of sexualisation

BTW OP, I think the Little Mermaid bikini is beautiful x

It's entirely practical because as many posters have said, it would make nappy changes and toilet trips easier.

At two, mine were still running round the beach naked.
It's a lovely bikini, unlike some people's minds.
Let your daughter enjoy wearing it and being the child that she is.

RIDICULOUS! It is not a bikini, it's a little top and bottoms. The child probably saw it and loved it, she would have no concept of a bikini at that age, she would have seen The Little Mermaid and that's all PLUS it comes in 2 pieces rather than a whole swimsuit which she would have loved aswell.

I despair for those of you trying to make it into something it is not.

Easier than a one piece yes, but not better/comfier than a vest and shorts or just a nappy/pants. Surely the top doesn't protect much against the sun nor does it seem overly comfortable. It's purpose it evidently to cover up the chest which at that age will be the same as boys in appearance, so there's no real purpose or practicality benefit is there?

So " treat them like boys" by making them run around with no top on which is fine if that's what they want to do no one cares if toddlers wear top or not.

But we can't " treat them like boys " in giving them the freedom to pick what they want to wear without signing themselves up for everything bad that happens to little girls at the hands of men and boys.

If a boy can pick whatever he wants to wear then perhaps give the same courtesy to this little girl. They look the same at 2 after all

Who just liked the little mermaid. The horror

As per PPs, so much easier to get her to the toilet in time in a two piece!

Easier than a one piece yes, but not better/comfier than a vest and shorts or just a nappy/pants. Surely the top doesn't protect much against the sun nor does it seem overly comfortable. It's purpose it evidently to cover up the chest which at that age will be the same as boys in appearance, so there's no real purpose or practicality benefit is there?

But we are talking about swim wear not clothes? Kids don't go swimming in a vest and shorts.

A wet tight costume is a pain in the arse for taking a swim nappy off or going to the toilet with a young child.

I'm not bothered if a girl wears crop top and bottoms swim wear, just the bottoms, or a one piece, the issue for me is that kids so young are already being dictated to about what they should wear.

There is absolutely nothing inappropriate or offensive about a crop top and bottoms for swim wear.

Well no I didn't say that at all! And yes of course if a boy wanted to wear it who cares- it would still be unpractical.

And no I didn't say its inappropriate, did I?

I don't like bikinis on young girls, I don't like those short shorts or crop tops either, I'm aware that it's about the person looking at them but it just feels like they are being made to look like mini adults. However this is a toddler, I think that's different, that's very cute and I'm sure she looked lovely in it.

It's people, not clothes, who sexualise other people.

Y is a 2 piece impractical?

I bought dd a rash vest once thing was a bloody pain to get over the head.

In 2/3 years time that toddler will be in school where the next 11 years of her life she will be subjected to policing of skirt lengths or told to wear shorts under her skirt/dress. Told off for showing her pants etc

And now at 2 she's gotta be policed as well. Why?

Cos adults cant get their heads out the gutter.

This whole topic made me feel sick that someone could ‘sexualise’ a toddler for a choice of clothing, but it actually displays a bigger problem that women ARE judged by their clothing still in this day and age. Not ok!

I wouldn't put a young child in a bikini. The issue is not that they are showing their tummy (just the bottoms would be fine) but it's the covering of their chest as if they have breasts that is (in my opinion) a little weird and makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.

There is nothing sexualised or adult about that bikini. And of course she has to wear the top - that’s where Ariel is!

Rubbish that is not sexualised at all , people are so over sensitive now .Back in the 70's I had a lovely polka dot bikini that I wore on the beach , mind so did all the other tiddlers (4 or5) . I was also photographed prancing naked in neighbours paddling pool .😎

i think it’s very strange and concerning for a person to find disney clothing sexual

I don't like toddlers in bikinis. It's not sexualising them, but I do think it's naff. I'd never comment on that choice from someone else.