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Original poster

Bikinis for 5 year olds?

127 replies

AnotherAnnoyingMother · 16/10/2017 09:40

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?

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ArcheryAnnie · 18/10/2017 11:23

Cos I'm quite capable of not walking round all the time as some kind of permanently aroused freak thinking every inch of exposed flesh is designed to make me want to do things...

You know what, Gileswithachainsaw? Me too. But I still don't want to see small children put in bra tops (or indeed fishnets). And if you truly think that mermaid-themed tankinis are what we are talking about, then you live a very sheltered life.

(I googled baby bikinis with the intent of adding a picture so you would know what i am talking about, but when i saw what was on offer - a lot - I really didn't feel comfortable copying those pictures.)

ArcheryAnnie · 18/10/2017 11:25

NotTheDuchess I'm not talking about tankinis or two-piece swimsuits. I'm talking about bikinis, with little bra tops, designed and sold for small children. There is no difference between those and teeny tiny fishnets.

And if that makes me a "pearl clutcher"? So be it.

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/10/2017 11:30

Look As I said. Many things may be stupid pointless uncomfortable and impractical. I personally think most mainstream themed swimsuits of all varieties are poor quality poor fit and as a result are all probably a bit restrictive in one way or another. My kids do swim lessons so have got proper sports costumes.

None of the ones linked and certainly none of what I've come across in a high street shop or supermarket have been offensive in any way. The op has given no indication she's talking about some obscure design from some weird website it's reasonable to assume we are talking regukar bikinis from regular stores.

I wouldn't actually know of any other kind given I've never seen anyone actually in one nor searched for one.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 18/10/2017 11:34

And certainly anything requiring tying up and small children is IMO dangerous. Tripping til and strangulation risk and getting caught and pullednto right trapping them under water risk.

So anything like that would be a no from me anyway.

And babies and toddlers should really be covered up in the sun

ArcheryAnnie · 18/10/2017 12:01

some obscure design from some weird website

if you really think these are the only purveyors of baby bikinis, you live a very sheltered life.

BlueButTrue · 18/10/2017 18:52

Thing is this - Everyone who’s not okay with bikinis for children seem to be absolutely fine with a one piece for children.

If we’re going by the theory that bikinis are inaaprioate because they suggest there was something to cover up in the first place, wouldn’t a one piece be inappropriate to? After all, what’s there to cover up on an undeveloped girl? Why not just put them in bottoms and leave out covering the top at all, unless you’re in the sun too much and wish to cover the child like you would a boy child for sun protection?

BlueButTrue · 18/10/2017 18:53

*too

ArcheryAnnie · 18/10/2017 20:05

It's back to the fishnets analogy, BlueBut - I have no problem with little girls wearing tights or trousers or whatever (or nothing), but fishnets are there specifically as a sexualised item of adult clothing, and I would not want to see small children wearing them.

So - it's not that a one-piece is or isn't covering up a child's non-existent breasts, but that a skimpy bra-top is a specifically sexualised, adult item.

BlueButTrue · 18/10/2017 20:55

Archery Is it really? I don’t have any ‘sexualised’ bikini tops at all

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 19/10/2017 07:32

What an odd world some people live in Confused

marble11 · 19/10/2017 07:37

My daughter 6 wore a bikini on holiday this year much like the Nemo one posted above.

All the Spanish girls were just wearing the bottoms only. I didn't think they were 'sexualised' they are little kids.

Girls don't need to cover their nipples. It's ridiculous.

Jasminedes · 19/10/2017 07:56

Its a nice feeling running around in your bra and pants. As long as its something comfy. But that's irreleavant, you don't like it, so speak up.

ArcheryAnnie · 19/10/2017 08:52

I agree, Marble - I think just wearing the pants is fine!

Blackcatonthesofa · 19/10/2017 09:14

I have given a small child a bikini. It was a disney one and her parents have a private swimming pool in the back garden.

EvilDoctorBallerinaVampireDuck · 19/10/2017 10:24

I think the ones like a band across the chest area are fine, it's the ones with 2 triangles that I don't like. I had to buy one for DD when she was 8, so she could go to a swimming pool party.

EvilDoctorBallerinaVampireDuck · 19/10/2017 10:27

marble from the age of 8, DD certainly wanted to cover her nipples. Her choice.

SoupDragon · 19/10/2017 10:37

Whereas a swimming costume has a practical function as doesn't come off if you are swimming or jumping etc (unlike plain bottoms).

If a swimming costume is oh so practical and nothing to do with covering the chest, why don't boys wear them? 🤔

LadyWire · 19/10/2017 10:44

There is nothing sexualised about a bikini! Comparing one to fishnet stockings is a ridiculous strawman argument. I wear fishnets to be sexy, I cannot think of any other reason to wear them. I wear a bikini to sunbathe and swim.

And I also agree that if a bikini is wrong because it covers up non-existent boobs then a swimming costume is exactly the same.

famousfour · 20/10/2017 07:40

soup

Ha - very good point. I don't know why it didn't occur to me. I've obviously internalised it all Grin

I guess a child bikini is like any other item (including a swimming costume). Whilst some may look a bit adult (and I personally don't like that) they are not inherently so. As many have pointed out on this thread.

ArcheryAnnie · 20/10/2017 14:21

If a swimming costume is oh so practical and nothing to do with covering the chest, why don't boys wear them? 🤔

Well, Soupdragon, I did put my DS into an all-in-one when he was very small, because I didn't want him sunburned.

But I agree, the disparity between all males (boys and adult men) and females (older girls and adult women) being allowed to be in public with their tops off really annoys me. Since for the present women and older girls can't take their tops off without censure, I always ask men to put their tops back on, as it annoys me, and I've taught my DS as he's got older that him being topless in a public situation where a woman wouldn't be able to be topless is unfair (as it flaunts his privilege, not because being topless is inherently wrong).

SoupDragon · 20/10/2017 15:57

Yes, mine wore "surf suits" for sun protection when they were little but there isn't a male equivalent of a swimming costume (outside of competitive swimming).

I don't have a problem with bikinis for children. I did have trouble this year as DD likes a bikini but she is 11, the height of an average adult woman and developing. Finding one that fitted and wasn't "sexy" and way too grown up was tricky. I think this inbetween age is far more problematic than a bikini on a little girl because they look almost grown up. A little girl doesn't (but a padded top would be wrong as it is mimicking breasts)

elektrawoman · 20/10/2017 18:31

^18/10/2017 11:12 5rivers7hills

Please enlighten me as to what this says about a child

The say to me about the parent "I'm a bit dim and believe that it is more important for my baby girl to look preeeeety than to be able to enjoy herself swimming or playing"^

My DD has this Ariel tankini. It says that she loves mermaids and watching The Little Mermaid and that it's practical. She seemed to swim in it just fine. Please enlighten me exactly how this tankini stops her swimming and playing? Because I am too dim to understand, obviously.

elektrawoman · 20/10/2017 18:33

Hmm not sure why my italics didn't work on the message above ....

elektrawoman · 20/10/2017 18:37

It's all those Sports Direct Ariel tankinis damaging my brain cells. Maybe if I start shopping in Mini Boden that would make me more intelligent?

Garlicansapphire · 20/10/2017 21:46

Most little girls bikinis actually have a top like the Sports direct Ariel one - which isn't two little triangles like an adults and some big pants bottoms. I'm cool with that in a beach/pool setting.

But I'm not keen on little girls with pierced ears, heels and make up, or bare mid riffs or fishnets!

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