Opinions please...do bikinis look inappropriate?

[pocketmonster]

Hi everyone

I have two DD's 3 and 4 and 2 DSD 12 and 19. I had a very strict upbringing and so find that I have to really consider my real feelings about things rather than just knee jerking back to how I was brought up.

So...12 year old DSD (I know not technically a teen, but issues seem to be teen ones) wants a bikini for our summer holidays. She is fairly well developed - small but with a fairly curvy figure.

I initially thought it was ok,so ordered her a couple from Next to try on. When she 'modelled' them, DH questioned if it was right at her age.

Now I'm not sure - will she look tarty in a bikini? Should she wear a costume?

Am I over thinking??

Opinions welcome!

Thanks for reading and hope this isn't too trivial!

I wondered about this when we went to Greece last year but in the end I bought my dds, aged 13 and 11 at the time, one bikini each - they were sort of shorts and crop tops, rather than bra-shaped and they were fine - not at all inappropriate or 'sexy' looking and much cooler-feeling for them than the one-pieces we also took. However they were both v skinny with no real curves at all.

At her age I would just have worn the bottoms (still do TBH) but, no, I don't think it is inappropriate for a 12 year old to wear a bikini. If you want it to look less "adult" you could maybe get a sort of sporty-looking one.

hmmm not sure. i don't have daughters myself.
i think it would depend on the style though, something that's skimpy and designed to look "sexy" i think I would have a problem with.

would have less of a problem with something that had more of a shorts style bottom and vesty top iyswim?

Thanks all for replying - perhaps I will look for a tankini rather than a bikini.

MrsHappy - me too! flat as a board until about 15!!

I tihnk it depends on the style of bikini tbh.

DD is 11 and all her friends wear bikinis/tankins - except one whose Dad won't allow it. I think it is unfair on the child to be singled out in this way.
You are over thinking this, I fear.

Speedo do some ones which are quite covered and a 12 year old might think they are nice too.

Think my dd was 12 or 13 when she first wore a bikini on a family holiday. All the shops and magazines are full of them so I think it's what teens expect. You could maybe try buying her a trendier swimming costume, not thoe ones with cut out bits as I think they're even more attention grabbing. Something like this maybe?
www.newlook.co.uk/1647222/164722248/ProductDetails.aspx

Might be good to have a swimming costume to take too as I remember that dd was still into jumping about, diving in etc and the first time she jumped in the pool a bikini the was a bit of a slippage occurance that we do have on video. Must bring that one out for her 21st!

I struggled with this one too. Strangely I felt that the triangle ones look inappropriate on little girls because they're almost trying to sexualise (does that word exist?) them. Felt happier once there was something there. Till then they wore the tankini or crop top style ones. Now that they're 13 and 15 and gorgeous, I just won't wear mine anywhere near them - the contrast is just too much

tankini or short type bottoms and bikini top i would think

As long as she's not bursting out of it and it's not a thong...no harm me thinks...

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply to me, you've been really helpful.

We have now ordered a tankini from Next, with ordinary bottoms but a longer top bit - and we are all happy with it