What is this about crop-top underwear for young girls?

[Clary]

One of DD?s pals (she?s 7) was round and when they stripped off to dress up (IYSWIM) I found that a crop top ? like a soft bra really ? was part of her attire.

A mum of another pal reveals to me a few days later that a friend of her DD wears something similar, according to pal?s DD it?s ?to keep her boobies in, mummy?

My DD wears a vest in the winter, yes, but atm she?s dressed in, errm, a pair of knickers and a school summer dress. What?s going on that children of 7 (seven) feel they need or even want to wear a crop top under their dress? What?s it for?

I see from the M&S school uniform catalogue I was browsing t?other day that they do one and sizes start at age 6. Now I?m really depressed.

Yes, like mini cut off vests. My dd has been wearing them since about the age of 7. You have to have the right under garments when getting changed for PE or swimming.

Glad DD hasn't started this yet. She's 8 and has yet to mention anything about wanting one. I do have a drawer full of vests for her for winter, and I suspect I'm going to have to pass on all the ones that aren't strappy ones. She never wears them anyway, even when it is cold.

But why Fimbo?

I have no problem with any kind of vest when it?s for keeping warm - but what?s this crop top for on a 7yo?

Have I got a very underdeveloped yr 2 girl??? (She is a skinny stick).

Or is it that the other girls laugh at them if they have nothing on their top half when they change?

The latter Clary, well at my dd's school anyway. My dd is a skinny stick too. My dd's bf is on the plump side and gets slagged off for that in the changing rooms.

It's a minefield.

My dd has cropped tops from M & S which just look like a short version of a vest (not the style where it is made to look lie a bra)

MMm a lot of the new M & S ones leave a lot to be desired. My dd has some which are kind of a version of this but don't have the "v" neckline they just go straight across the top like a vest.

they love it - sort of play bras.

sweet really