Bikinis for 5 year olds?

[AnotherAnnoyingMother]

What to do. We stayed with my 5 year old daughter's godparents this weekend and went swimming. Their 6 year old wore a bikini and in my absence her godmother 'promised' her a bikini as a Christmas or a birthday present. I am afraid I am in the 'not putting young girls in bikinis' camp and feel unhappy about this. I intimated this albeit gently in her presence but now think she may give her one. If I take it away or don't allow it to be worn I feel like I will be punishing her and be put in a difficult position. I still won't let her wear it but would any of you even consider giving a bikini to another persons young daughter?

I wouldn’t buy a bikini for mine or anyone else’s children and especially not so young.

I’m afraid if we were given a bikini as a present I would thank the gifter and let the gift never be seen again.

My DD got given one by a friend, I said nothing she wore it jumped in the pool, it rode up, she said it was annoying and got back into her speedo, I sent it to the charity shop. End of story.

I've gotten a couple. I like them, you can swap out the top for a long sleeved swim shirt, or just let her run around top less. Makes bathroom trips far easier as well. On the whole bikini's are so much more practical.

A tankini as a compromise?

I wouldn't buy one for someone else's daughter, but then again pressumably your daughter asked or showed interest rather than her just randomly gifting her it

I used to be very much in the no bikini camp and my 4yo wears a one piece BUT now I think that unless it's one of those skimpy string ones which are uncomfortable and not practical I don't actually see the problem.

No! Thats a very odd present imho.

My dd1 and I have been arguing about bikinis since she was six - Im going to let her have one when she's 8. Thats younger than I had originally imagined to be honest.

I do remember having a bikini at about 5 though and adoring it.

If its a non skimpy more crop top type one you might find you are not so bothered by it?

www.tesco.com/direct/ff-striped-frill-bikini-set/653-5771.prd dd would have worn something like this at that age

I don't see what's wrong with a bikini except that it might be impractical for an active child.

Uh, no. I would never put a bikini on my daughter. If she wants to wear one, she can buy one herself when she's old enough to have her own money and make her own decisions about clothes. I would never buy one for someone else's child. I think I would just hope that they forget about it by Christmas time (likely they will). If they don't, I would just have it go missing by the time summer roles around again.

There's different degrees of bikini so i wouldn't rule all of them out. Little triangle one - no. Crop top style - yes

Dd was desperate for a biki-ninini (as she called it) at that age. I let her have one as we were on holiday at the beach and she was wearing a long sleeved swim top anyway so it made more sense for her to just have bottoms on. She realised pretty quickly that bikinis aren't really that comfortable and hasn't worn it since.

Can you contact the godparents and say "thanks for the swimwear idea, DD has seen a really nice (1-piece) costume she'd like, and here's a link?"

Glad to hear I am not isolated in being unhappy with bikinis. If other parents choose them that's their choice (and I realise many are happy to) but I consider them to be one of the many ways of sexualising young girls

Depends on the bikini. Teeny triangle ones no.

Crop tops/vests fine.

What I don't understand is that swimsuits cover swimsuits cover the chest and people are ok with that that from day 1.

People are also ok with young children just running around in bottoms.

So if covering chests is ok

And leaving entire stomach and chest uncovered is ok

Why is a small portion if the tummy being exposed and chest covered not ok.

Makes no sense.

Two pieces are actually alot easier for going to toilet

Ugh no. I bought DD one the year before last, when she was 8, but that was because it was all I could find in her size.

Crop top bikinis are fine - not really any different to a one piece and much more practical. Couldn't you find one like that you like?

Just politely tell your friend not to buy it.

My friend tried to buy my DS a toy gun, I was very polite but also very clear that he wouldn’t be allowed to play with one.

It would honestly never have occurred to me that anyone would have an issue with a bikini for a young child. I don't see them as a remotely sexual item of clothing. So yes, if I was with a young child who was admiring my daughter's bikini I might well have offered to buy one for her as a present. If I knew ahead of time that you didn't want her wearing one I'd absolutely respect that but it would have needed spelling out to me because it seems entirely innocent to me.

I make all our kids wear rash tops when in the sun. If worst comes to the worst, how about you let your dd wear the bikini but under the rash top.

Aren't people overreacting a bit? Whatever they wear, it's fine among family. It become a problem when you post their picture on FB whatever.
If the parents are conscious about it, it is no problem imo.
If she is in public view, let her wear something different.

Just make it clear that you won't let your DD wear it. Bikinis are just hideous. I'm just glad that I have sons and will never have to deal with all the trashy clothing that most teenage girls wear.

Completely agree with Giles' post.

Before I had DD I thought they were inappropriate but now I see them as practical. String tie, tiny nipple covering triangles wouldn't be practical but sensible crop or tankini styles are fine. There's nothing sexual about a midriff after all and it's easier for quick toilet trips etc.

I wouldn't have put my dd in a bikini but reading pp comments about practically for going to the loo I think I would now, but not one of those triangle ones.

Trashy?

A child in a bikini is a child in a bikini the only thing trashy is the person mind

Yes...my daughters nemo bikini is soooooo trashy.