About belly tops for 7 year old?

[Florencenotflo]

Dd is 7 and a few times while we've been shopping asked for the short t-shirts/jumpers that sit above the belly button. I don't like them and have said until dd is older that I don't want her wearing them. Dd is fine with that and hasn't pushed any further.

Dd was out with MIL on Saturday and she bought her one (not realising it wasn't just a normal t-shirt) she is happy to return it and swap it for something else. But AIBU. I couldn't say exactly why I don't like them, but they look to old on little girls.

Can she wear a normal length vest top underneath?

I don’t like them either tbh. Neither do the dc as tummies get cold. We do have a couple as came as clothing bundles or gifts. Just layer it up over a vest.

They look a bit sexualised and tacky. I'd return it.

I'm early 20s and for a while there seemed to be nothing in the shops but cropped tops. I bought a few and they are the most uncomfortable tops ever, it's impossible (for me anyway) to get anything done, they ride up and twist around even when just walking with a jacket on! I tried to demote them to PJ tops but that was even more uncomfortable and I'd wake up with a boob out every morning.

For practicality reasons alone I would return the top.

I feel the same and not entirely sure why. My DD has a couple which came as hand me downs and she occasionally wears them round the house. She is obviously uncomfortable in them as is constantly pulling them down or trying to cover the exposed bit with her arm. I encourage her to change if we are going out the house just by mentioning that it looks
uncomfortable.

I love a good cropped jumper/cardigan with a regular top underneath, especially with high waisted jeans, they avoid some of the annoying bulkiness of regular knits/layers without sacrifcing warmth. I don't think cropped styles are inherently inappropriate and if young boys can run around shirtless when it's hot but girls can't even show an inch of stomach without it being called too mature an inappropriate then that's telling of attitudes to young girls and their bodies. Talk about the practicality of such clothes with DD, at this part of the year it's still too cold for crop tops that aren't layered in most parts, and in the end it's your choice if you buy them for her, but if you're completely forbidding them I think you would both benefit from you taking a long think about why that is, as you say yourself that you don't know, and what you want to teach her about her body and her choices around it as she grows older and what the messages you're sending now might contribute.

Absolutely not! My 8yr old is not wearing anything like that until she's an adult!

I’m also not keen on them on children. If Dd would be willing to wear it over a vest top is that an option? I don’t think yabu!

I've had to return hoodies for 6yr old DD back to Next and M&S recently that upon arrival turned out to be cropped. What 6 yr old wants a cropped hoodie ffs? They were described as such and the pictures didn't make it obvious.

Stupid trend.

*weren't described

I got one accidentally and don't like it at all. It shrunk in wash and got even more cropped.
Could you return and exchange for a few sizes bigger? This was a compromise I made with my dd on the next purchase. She is a bit older though.

Yes they're dreadful.

Would you allow her to wear a bikini or insist on a one piece?

i don’t have a problem with them. Mine wore them quite a lot and looked fine.

My dd loves them and has a few, her dance teacher wears them and there's a bit of idol worshiping going on.

I don't see how a 7 year old could look vaguely sexualised, she's 7, straight up and down, very obviously a young innocent girl.

I decided it wasn't an argument worth having, if it's what she wants to wear and gives her a little self confidence kick then why not. It's no different to wearing a 2 piece bathing costume surely.

Your daughter your choice, but it's just a bit of fun.

I couldn't say exactly why I don't like them, but they look to old on little girls.

I think you probably think they sexualize little girls but have trouble saying it?

Otherwise what do you mean by 'too old'?

@Florencenotflo I don't like them either - they're cold and impractical, and set a precedent that is hard to get away from as the child gets older. I'd ask MIL to change it for something else.

I'd never buy one (have an 8yo DD and thankfully she doesn't like them much) but we have a few that have been handed down. We keep them for the beach / splash park etc.

DD does have a few "sports bras" she wears under tops for her gymnastics but she'd not wear them on their own. And she'd not be allowed to if she wanted to.

I don't like them either OP, nor bikinis on small children

What do you mean by set a precedent?

If she gets to keep this one, then it will set a precedent for having them as she grows older. Which OP doesn't want - at least not until her DD is quite a bit older.

OP has a chance to do something about it, and MIL has offered to do so, so I would take it up. OP is NBU

I think they look nice layered
Like a cropped hoodie over a normal length vest, that could be a compromise?

In case you were literally asking what to "set a precedent" means, it is "To do something that establishes a standard, pattern, or policy that will be used in the future"

If the PP was literally asking what it means, they would've asked what it means.

But as you can see, they asked the OP what they meant by it.