Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you let your 4 year old wear a bare midriff top to nursery?

172 replies

Miya24 · 31/05/2023 23:08

Received a top and short set from a bag of hand me down clothes. It's aged 3-4. My daughter loves it, it's waterproof material so it's great for water play in the garden. Nursery is having a water play day tomorrow and my daughter is desperate to wear it. It sits right above the belly button and has cold shoulders as well.
Would you send your daughter to nursery in it or would it raise a few eyebrows? I'm thinking it may be more beach wear but I have no idea. I may be overthinking but I'd love some more opinions.

Would you let your 4 year old wear a bare midriff top to nursery?
OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 01/06/2023 00:34

assuming its warm enough and shes got sun cream on, yes, why not?

Jas5mum · 01/06/2023 00:47

No.
But I don't even like my 15yo wearing "half tops" I don't really like belly buttons tbh

Whataretalkingabout · 01/06/2023 00:55

Good grief! Let the poor girl wear it if she wants to, where exactly is the problem?

SirenSays · 01/06/2023 01:06

No but only because having worked in nursery's I know the pain of trying to put suncream on a million little children, so I'd try to make their job as easy as possible.

Axahooxa · 01/06/2023 01:06

Yes.
my first 2 kids- no.
Ive changed my mind with the younger 2 and let them wear what they want. Same with my teenagers now too.

coxesorangepippin · 01/06/2023 01:13

What about spaghetti straps?? Big no no too??

caringcarer · 01/06/2023 01:15

No, not even at home.

Bubblesoffun · 01/06/2023 05:07

Would not be ok here simply as it goes against our sun safety policy. But we are in Oz.

MrsMikeDrop · 01/06/2023 05:08

Whataretalkingabout · 01/06/2023 00:55

Good grief! Let the poor girl wear it if she wants to, where exactly is the problem?

This is what I was wondering too. What's the issue?

Whatthediddlyfeck · 01/06/2023 05:50

Forgetmenott · 31/05/2023 23:11

I wouldn’t let my 4yo wear a bare midriff top at all.

This

MiddleParking · 01/06/2023 05:57

I wouldn’t have bought it but if it came in a bag or stuff and my daughter was keen to wear it I don’t think I’d stop her. Certainly not on account of what the nursery staff would think anyway, ours don’t exactly seem to prioritise feminist messaging. My daughter comes out with her hair styled and ten million sparkly clips in it every day!

MRex · 01/06/2023 06:00

A proper swim top with long sleeves has high sun protection, which would be much better.

I also think that style is ugly and inappropriate on little girls. She's only a kid for a little while, there's really no need for sexualised clothing and it's unclear to me why you would want it for your child.

MrsMikeDrop · 01/06/2023 06:04

I understand if she was older, say 12ish but surely a 4 year old isn't being sexualised in any way??! I would think it was cute, not sexy at all

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 01/06/2023 06:13

I'd only say no because of the risk of sunburn - the top itself doesn't bother me.

Sissynova · 01/06/2023 06:22

JeandeServiette · 31/05/2023 23:18

It's a swimming costume. So no.

I agree, why else would a two piece like this be ‘water proof’, it’s obviously swimwear.

IAmTheWalrus85 · 01/06/2023 06:26

If it’s part of a ‘water proof’ two piece, I really really think it’s a swimming costume.

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/06/2023 06:31

I would always cover your dd’s shoulders for nursery. I would tell your dd it’s a special top and you don’t want her to break it at nursery or similar then promise her she can wear it on Saturday so 2 sleeps.

Sugarfree23 · 01/06/2023 06:31

I missed the bit about it being a waterproof two piece. It's probably ideal for a water day at nursery.

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 01/06/2023 06:36

Forgetmenott · 31/05/2023 23:11

I wouldn’t let my 4yo wear a bare midriff top at all.

This. I don't know why anyone does.

drpet49 · 01/06/2023 06:38

Forgetmenott · 31/05/2023 23:11

I wouldn’t let my 4yo wear a bare midriff top at all.

This

NellyTimes · 01/06/2023 06:39

Would those who wouldn't ever let their 4 year old girls show their midriff (faint) also not let their 4 year old boys just wear trunks at the beach? Or is it just the girls you feel should cover up?

chortler · 01/06/2023 06:50

What exactly are people worried is going to happen if she wears it? 🤔

Hairbrushhandle · 01/06/2023 06:53

No definitely not because thats just asking for sun burn. My two were sent in in full SPF wear for wet play and I still won't let my dd(8) have bare shoulders in hot weather. We are pale and we burn easily!

IAmTheWalrus85 · 01/06/2023 06:55

NellyTimes · 01/06/2023 06:39

Would those who wouldn't ever let their 4 year old girls show their midriff (faint) also not let their 4 year old boys just wear trunks at the beach? Or is it just the girls you feel should cover up?

I’m not one of those people because I’ve got sons but my boys (pre school age) always wear long-sleeve, long-leg UV suits at the beach/pool, so no I don’t just feel girls should cover up.

When shopping for swimsuits for one of my friend’s girls last week (she’d said she liked my sons’ suits) I was really shocked at how difficult it was to find something with equivalent coverage for a girl. I found some in the end but almost everything in the shops for girls was so much skimpier, even for 4 year olds. Even though girls also presumably also need to protect their skin from the sun?!

Sissynova · 01/06/2023 06:55

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 01/06/2023 06:36

This. I don't know why anyone does.

Why not though? Why do you think no one should do this?
I don’t see what the issue is at all?
I don’t view it as anything sexualised at all.

I don’t have a 4 year old but close, but she wears short rompers or short dresses. I don’t see what the problem with those are or what the leap to a short top is.