To think kids shouldn't wear bikinis?

[cinnamonswirl99]

I'm just browsing the kids swimwear range on the John Lewis app, and keep coming across bikinis for little girls.
I don't know, am I weird for thinking this isn't right.
If I had a daughter, I wouldn't want her to wear something like that at such a young age.

I sort of get the point that there could be an implication that little girls nipples should be hidden but honestly i think most little girls who want a bikini simply want to be like mummy/big sister/fun auntie sarah etc.

A lot of little children prefer clear gender signals over ambiguity, especially at the age where there start to be rules - at school girls go in the girls loo & boys in the boys. In my experience quite a lot of girls at 6/7 like things like bikinis because they recognise it as a gender marker, and they are quite happy being girls/girly and recognised as such. I think its healthier for girls as they head towards puberty to view an adult woman's body as positive/a desirable thing to become, than to feel unconfident or disgusted by the notion they will grow breasts/hips.

I tend to do a quick posting history on people who start a thread and never come back to it. It makes me question their intentions.
This poster has quite a few.
Just be wary what you're posting.

Why? Are you sexually attracted to little girls??

It's not a one or the other situation though, is it?

Plus, there's bikinis and then there's bikinis . Some are literally a grown up model (which often gets advertised as sexy) in a very small size or weird ones with cutoffs and all kinds of straps and things, designed to emphasise certain characteristics of a grown woman's body, which is fair enough, but completely pointless, cumbersome and just wrong on a small child's body.

If I wss going abroad, I'd let my 5 year old wear a bikini - crop top style (with plenty of sunscreen). Easier to get on and off for toileting, and I don't sexualise children

@Whatabouthow

Because little girls don't have boobs to hold the top in place. They come up and move around and aren't very comfortable. It is a piece of clothing designed for an adult body that does not fit a prepubescent one.
Huh?
These don't come up and move around? You don't need boobs to hold these in place

Hard agree. High risk of sunburn if at the beach unless you use literally the whole bottle of sun cream. I'd also be paranoid about creeps staring at her a busy day at the beach you have thousands of unknown people there.

I hated bikinis as a kid myself

Those pics aren't bikinis though, they are two piece swim suits with vest style cropped tops

Because those aren't bikinis..? They are crop top two piece costumes.

Tankinis are good, all in one swimsuits aren't for everyone. I'm tall and they were so uncomfortable for me as a child.

I don't think skimpy bikinis are child appr, but neither are leggins really and so many kids wear those too

Mine does. Easier for the toilet. I wear them too for the same reason, plus if I put a skirt /sarong on I’ll switch wet bottoms for pants. I don’t want an itchy fanjo.

My daughter wears a bikini because it's easier for the toilet.

@chargeitup these start at 12 months old! They don't even cover a nappy ffs.

Also not great re sun protection.

I think a two-piece is fine and practical. High-leg bottoms with tiny triangle halter tops, not so much.

The term "Bikini" was coined after the atoll where they tested atomic bombs, as in "bombshell" will "blow you away" so no, not appropriate for small children.

I don't have a problem with it, but a decision for each parent.

Leggings aren’t appropriate for children? What?!

I think they are too clingy if not worn with dress, skirt etc. They look so exposed.

My daughter preferred bikinis when she was little, or tankinis. Her bikinis were much bigger than the ones my mum put me in during the 70s! Daughter’s a teenager now and she absolutely refuses to entertain the idea of a bikini!

I think they are too clingy if not worn with dress, skirt etc. They look so exposed.

Possibly, to each their own. The main difference though, is that leggings are comfortable and practical(especially for little ones) whereas bikinis aren't. There's nothing a bikini does that a two piece doesn't also do (ease for toilet) while also offering extra sun protection.

What an incredibly bizarre attitude. There is nothing sexual about a child’s body that needs covering up with loose clothing. It’s just a body.

I feel sorry for children who are being raised in homes where wearing practical, comfortable clothing is unacceptable because it displays their child like form.

"Why" well, a line has to be drawn somewhere doesn't it. Even if it's difficult to explain why, it's something we know instinctively, like it's just not appropriate in our cultural context. Can you articulate why little boys, or indeed girls shouldn't be encouraged to wear a mankini or a thong by their carers? It's difficult to come up with a satisfying reason that doesn't just come down to a matter of taste and decency.

Bikinis aren't as practical or comfortable as a swimming costume.

They shouldn't be wearing them. One, all kids should be wearing suits that protect from the sun. And also, why are we sexualising kids. Y putting them in adult styled clothes, this goes with shorts too. Girls shorts are always so much shorter than boys. So I buy from the boys section. Young girls don't need crop tops either.

I don't want my daughter wearing one. Both girl and boy are covered for sun protection and I'd like it keep it that way till early least 8 or 9. The kids don't see it as sexual (and I hope most adults wouldn't either) but there is this hyper-exposure of and hyper-focus on women's bodies that extends to girls.

For me it looks silly for little girls with flat chest and pot bellies to wear bikinis which are clearly not designed for their body types. The cropped sort of tankjni 2-pieces look quite cute on them though.