What age for a kids bikini

[Dingdong99]

My daughter is 8 and would love a bikini. She only has swimsuits

I don't really care if she wears a bikini or a swimsuit, but my husband isn't keen on the idea of a bikini

She's 8 years old. I can't really work out if he's being silly or not!

Do you have any strong feelings either way?

He's being silly.

There is no "age"

Bikinis/two pieces are way more practical for toddlers (loo requirements), but there's no partic advantage either way when a bit older

Did you post this yesterday? There's an almost identical thread to this already. If you search you will see it and see all the opinions there.

It depends on the type of bikini, some of them are fuller coverage and clearly look like it’s for a child, I’d consider that more of a tankini and I think that’s fine. But there are some bikinis I see that I don’t think are appropriate, I understand your husbands concern.

I agree with DH I personally would not put an 8 year old in a bikini x

I'd buy a tankini. Primark have some in at the moment.

I can never understand people’s unease around bikinis. People are quite happy to cover up a girl’s chest with a swimming costume but not a bikini. The top on both serves the same function - no-one objects to girls wearing a one-piece so why the difference?

Crop top style is fine for that age

I would be more uneasy with why my husband had an issue with a perfectly normal swimming outfit such as a bikini. Seems like he sexualised it

I do rash shirts and bottoms. All the benefit of a bikini, plus sun protection.

I get really twitchy about bikinis on young girls.

But why? Genuine question (I’m not being goady).

That’s not fair to say. It’s a reasonable concern from a dad about his young daughter. He’s not the one looking at her but he’s probably worried that if she’s wearing it in a public setting that other weirdos could look at her and he doesn’t want some strange person leering at his baby girl.

My dd wears long sleeved rash vests or tankini/ bikini top and pants. Much easier for the loo!!!! Only wears a cossie for swimming lessons

I have let DD wear crop top style and tankinis since 2/3 years old (usually with a rash vest on top for UV protection). 2 pieces are much easier for using the toilet. Many don't even put a top on their children at this age, just the bottoms

DD (9) has worn bikinis like this for years!

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/high-neck-bikini-lupin-and-peach-paisley/sty-g4127-prp

I am (mostly) French - there, small girls run around in just bikini bottoms until they're about 8. Because what is there to cover? Would a male child have to wear a t-shirt, therefore?

Yeah, my dd has been wearing them for a while. Sports/crop top style top and brief bottoms - can't see any reason why not

I think it’s more the coverage. Putting sunscreen on a child is a faff, I like the two pieces (with full arms as shoulders are the first to burn), easier for the loo as well.

My youngest will be wearing one this year at age 3. We had a long sleeved uv top and bottoms bikini set last year as she was toilet trained. This year I'll let her pick a couple for our holidays. I don't see the big deal. It's so much easier for the toilet!

Next usually have some lovely ones.

If you're happy with a boy just wearing trunks/ shorts, I don't see why a girl can't wear a bikini.

My 3 yo son wears a bikini as it’s just more practical. I put him in this one - https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/watermelon-bikini-jam/sty-g4094-red?cat=C1_S13_G17

That’s cute! But not sure I could be bothered to keep up with all the sunscreen around the middle and shoulders!

@WheresTheForum

But why? Genuine question (I’m not being goady).

What I look for in kids' clothes is practicality and good sense. Rash top and bottom, or short, cover from the sun, protect when we're wild swimming and allow free movement.

What is the purpose of a bikini top? In women it's to cover a secondary sexual characteristic while being alluring. Unless someone has a different reason... neither of which I think girls should have a bar of. I remember them coming off doing the kind of crazy things children should in the pool. And boys trying to get them off.

I want girls to see sports as active and fun. So practical clothes are best.

A good age is whenever your DD asks for one.

I am not a fan of bikinis, for either children or adults. Personally, I find them faffy and generally unattractive so it never occurred to me to buy one for DD - until she asked (aged 13).

Dd is 7 and wears a 2 piece on holiday and has done for years. They’re always crop top style though so not a proper grown up bikini - that would be weird. A 2 piece is so much easier to go to the toilet in than a full costume.