At the swimming pool today...

[duvet]

the lifeguard came over to me to have a quiet word about my dd2 (3) who was only wearing swimming bottoms, and that it was okay at that age but I might want to consider a full swimming costume next time.

At the beggining of the summer I was struggling to insist on dd2 wearing the bottoms at the local outdoor paddling pool, as she hated wearing them when wet now she's got over that but still doesnt want to wear the top and I didnt see that I should have to battle over that. She has a full swimming costume but prefers just the bottom, naked being her preferred but as I cannot allow that even at the paddling pool in this day and age, surely just the bottoms is a fair compromise at 3!

What a sad world we live in.

[kittywise]

God, yes how sad

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

It is sad, will be facing this next week, DD finds just wearing bottoms easier when she wants to wee.

[Northernlurker]

What difference does a few centimetres more costume make? Yes that is very sad!

[pofacedandproud]

Horrid.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I think bottoms on their own are better than a bikini.

Take no notice.

[littleducks]

is that really that bad?
you said he had a quiet word and 'suggested' isnt that quite tactful?

you dont have to abide by his suggestion do you?

[IdrisTheDragon]

DD decided at the end of swimming to take her swimming costume off as it was "too wet". Felt glad I had our towels by the side of the pool as I could have imagined I would also have had someone having a quiet word with me.

Why should small girls wear anything on their top? DD was asking me and I was finding it quite hard to answer.

[clu]

Have a quiet word back with the lifeguard informing them that she is only a toddler.

[madwomanintheattic]

we introduce the idea of cultures and say 'in our culture it is traditional to wear a swimsuit that covers your (boobies/ whatever)in public if you are a girl or a lady.'

we also explain that traditions and cultures often don't seem to make much sense, but that it is polite to abide by them because some people may get upset if you don't.

if it something like wearing a top to the pool, we quite often laugh and say 'that doesn't make sense' lol, but we do it anyway. it's about respect for other people's morals, however barking they are.

let them run naked at home, but abide by society's conventions in public. nothing wrong with discussing it, but pointless creating angst.

[madwomanintheattic]

oh, and in our house, this convo is largely followed up by victorian anecdotes about men wearing bathing suits even bigger than ladies ones now, and how long do you think it will be before you have to swim naked, like in the spas in hungary (that mummy went to) blah blah.

[duvet]

Yeah I wasnt offended by him saying anything or annoyed really, a little self concious initially but then I pulled myself together.

FabBakerGirlIsBack yeah bikinis can be more suggestive - suggestive of something that isnt actually there sometimes ! i'd rather swimming cosi.

IdrisTheDragon yep been there...!

[Gemzooks]

I find this totally ridiculous. After all, presumably if she hadn't had a girl's hairstyle he wouldn't have known which gender she was...