Age you'd allow a bikini?

[elianaandphinn]

DD is 11 and desperately wants one. I just know her younger sister (7) will want to 'match'. Thanks.

I’m another one who doesn’t see the problem with sturdy bikinis for little girls. I think they get more problematic, not less, as girls get older, but even then, if they’re attracting inappropriate attention from men, that’s a problem with men, not a problem with bikinis.

Children’s bikinis are not “designed to support breasts”.

I find it weird that some people have a problem with little girls in a bikini - they’re not intrinsically sexual ( like a basque and stockings). My DD wanted one when she was 5 so I got her one. It happened to be a crop top sort but I don’t object to the triangle ones. I did try to get her to just wear the bottoms on holiday which seemed more comfortable but she insisted on wearing the top. In the European resort we were in about 50% of girls wore frilly triangle bikinis and the rest a mixture of bottoms only and swimsuits. Only saw 3 kids in rash vests and they were Brits.

I hate triangle bikinis on kids! Crop top ones are fine, but i think swimsuits are just much easier, then they don't have to worry about it riding up or anything

It's not the bikinis per se ,but more the style of them. DD has always been in a 2 piece as it's so much easier to go to the toilet. From rash vest and shorts,to tankinis to bikini (crop top).
Some styles do look like a shrunk down version of the adult section,including one pieces(for example the ones with the cuts on the side).

And why in God's name anyone thinks a baby needs a triangle bikini top is beyond me.

Oh god. My daughter had older brothers and refused to wear anything other than trunks for about 8 years. Just trunks, no top. What's wrong with a bikini ?I find it odd that anyone would even think it was wrong for a small child!

Covering up the top half doesn’t matter with little children, though, does it? Girl or boy, top halves are the same so why worry?

I don’t actually think that a child’s bikini supports breasts, of course, I just find the whole faux astonished ‘eh?’ that you so often get on MN rather tiresome.

Can’t get worked up about it. I bought pretty crop top ones from about 4. Was looking at some old pics of her in them last week and they were very cute and not at all inappropriate

I got my DD a little triangle bikini this year age 7. I wanted just to get bottoms to go with a rash vest but the shop only had complete bikinis, and not the sturdy type (I'm in continental Europe!!). I wouldn't have chosen it but it actually looked really pretty and I suppose made her feel more grown up.

I was on holiday in France this summer - you could spot the little British kids fully covered in legionnaire style hats/sunglasses and wet suits at the pool, vs the french ones wearing pants and a sun tan. I know there is a happy medium but it did make me smile a bit.

DD has always worn board shorts and a rash vest but started wearing a sporty bikini crop top under her rash vest when she needed the support so at 10-11.

I wouldnt have an age limit. It really isn't any different to a swimsuit IMHO.

Pyramids well, given that France comes in at number 7 for highest incidence of skin cancer in the world (versus number 13 for the UK) I’d be smiling at the Brits rather than the French kids ‘wearing’ a sun tan.

don’t actually think that a child’s bikini supports breasts, of course, I just find the whole faux astonished ‘eh?’ that you so often get on MN rather tiresome.

What a ridiculous response. You specifically asked if I would be happy with my 7 year old wearing something designed to support breasts. Now suddenly you don't think that?

I have no idea what reason you would have for asking such a question, then backtracking on it. You either don't think that at all, so why ask, or you think it, so explain what you mean. Ah, I see you cant explain because it isn't true.

And you wonder why people say 'eh?'

I think a 2 piece swimming suit is fine from any age, I just make sure the style is not sexualised. If you're at the beach or pool all day it's so much easier to go to the loo in a 2 piece! We live in a high uv area so dc usually wear rashie tops with swimmer bottoms

I was wearing one at 5yo (1972) so don't see the problem.

Im pretty sure that a bikini will not make a child look sexual or will in anyway increase or hasten its sexualisation. What exactly is the fear with them. Most kids bikinis are so obviously childish designs