Child Swimsuits...

I'm with you. My 9 yr old daughter doesn't wear bikinis. I love letting her wear tankini style suits, though... so it is easier when she needs to come in the house to use the bathroom, and also generally to get out of when she is done in the pool. But to me, a genuine bikini is too risque for young girls. Until they have boobs, they have nothing to keep them from riding up and flashing people either! I remember wearing a (very modest) bikini as a child at a swimming lesson, and diving in to swim the length of the pool, and having the bottoms almost come off b/c they caught water when I dived in. !! I don't want that happening with my daughter. The same thing can happen with the tops when you jump in feet first!

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To ME, it is strange that adult female breasts are sexualized and stigmatized to such a degree. I understand that, in this culture, I am in the minority and that is fine. I don't run around topless. However, to ME, it is actually *really* dysfunctional when prepubescent girl's breast are sexualized. And I don't feel fine about it.

Let me explain. We cover parts of our body that are are seen as sacred, taboo, private or gross. Often, they are covered because they are sexual (what is sexual is very culturally contextual) and thus, are not to be seen. These parts are different than the rest of the body. What we cover differs on where we live and when we lived. In some areas, it may be unacceptable for a woman to show her shoulders (Thailand), ankles (Victorian America) or thighs (most countries). Here, it is unacceptable for a woman to bare her nipples, as our nipples are seen as being sexual (notice that it is perfectly acceptable to be otherwise uncovered so long as the nipple, specifically, is covered).

When we cover our prepubescent girl's breasts, sexuality is implied. They are not sexual yet. They are not developed yet. Hormones are fairly neutral at that point. What is there TO cover? To me, something is off when it's okay for little boys run around in trunks, while our girl children "need" to be covered. They're bodies are not developed. They are not much different from their boy counterparts at three, four or five.

Allowing them to be naked, with exception of a bikini top, puts emphasis on their breasts. It sexualized a child before that child is sexual. By hiding something that isn't there, we make it there. It's as though we are pretending a girl child is developed enough that they need to be covered. Honestly, though I put my girl children in them so that we conform with social norms, I think even one piece swimsuits sexualize a girl child's breasts by *suggestion* and implication.

I know I am the odd one out here, but "needing" to cover girl babies/toddler's chests weirds me out.

To each their own. I certainly don't think less of people who disagree with me, nor with what *they* choose to put *their* child in.

We do a one piece at the pool, naked at home/in the yard and suit, topless or naked at the beach (depending on the social climate.)

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I find bikinis to be way more practical for my girls, and since I also grew up in California, I spent all summer every summer running around in a bikini. It's a way of life here, and not a big deal at all. Anyone who has ever had to wrestle a small child out of a wet swimsuit so they can use the bathroom knows that a bikini is WAY easier, and even toddlers can pull down their own bikini bottoms - not so with a 1-piece! Also, when they get out of the pool to eat lunch or take a popsicle break, they don't have so much wet bathing suit on their skin (we have sensitive skin in this family, prone to the good ol' chlorine rash...).

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I will never buy a bikini for my daughter. I've never even worn one.

That being said, I do like tankinis for her because she's newly potty-trained and can remove the needed clothing a lot better when wearing one. It's either a tankini or a one-piece for her until she's old enough to buy her own clothes, and even then, I'm hoping that she won't go the bikini route and will want to stay modest.

Besides the modesty issue, it's a sun safety issue. I would rather she be covered up a little more and reduce the risk of sunburn. Even with sunblock, if she's inherited my fair skin, she's better off just being covered up more.

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I don't like bikinis for young girls. My MIL got one for my 4yo and I didn't like the idea. Everyone thought I was being stuffy, so I let her wear it. Turns out she didn't want her tummy showing and stuck with the one peice. Yeah for me.

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I would prefer to do one pieces for my 7 yo daughter, but she's long waisted and they always end up as thongs - so we can't do them. We do tankinis, and this year I'm letting her have a 2 piece/bikini style. Our rule is no triangle tops and no tube style tops - basically anything that is made to outline the breast area. I've told her when she has something to put in them we'll talk about those styles, until then they are inappropriate.

I think they are cute; but we go to public pools and I don't want some sicko getting his jollies looking at my kid, so we'll be sticking with the more modest two pieces for that reason.

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I just wanted to point out that while I think true "bikinis" (triangle top, and string bottoms) is definitely too sexual for little girls, "padding" is sometimes needed for an 8 or 9 year old. Many girls are beginning to grow breasts at that age. (I did) I remember needing to start buying "junior" suits at that age because my nipples would show, embarrassing!! But, my mom made sure it was a tankini or at least come down closer to my belly button. I always had a big butt too, so I never wore string side bottoms. I also agree that 2 pieces can be easier to take on/off, but they can be modest as well. : )

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I think it feels strange, because it's natural for a baby to be naked. It's not natural for a baby to wear a bikini. (in my opinion)
We have a boy, so it's not that hard. He's 22 months and wears swim trunks and a rash guard shirt. I will have him wear that as long as possible, and he will wear trunks in the future.

For myself, I was not allowed to wear two pieces until high school. Even then, I wore tankinis. My suit now is are swimsuit shorts and a tankini. I got it from Lime Ricki and I love it! They are a bit expensive, but well made. http://www.limericki.com/WOMEN

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We buy "sun shirts" aka rash guards for the tops and skirts for the bottoms. I've sold it to my kids by telling them it's mostly for sun protection - which is true.

We also buy 1 piece swimsuits and sometimes a tankini w/bikini bottoms (mostly because we were having issues with a good fit on the 1 pieces until I found the Lands End slims).

My kids LOVE their sun shirts and wear them a lot. They don't have to keep getting covered in sunscreen and keep them warmer on the cool days. So no worries here!

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I could wear two pieces that covered (tankini and bottom with a skirt or shorts) since elementary school just because it's so much easier to use the bathroom. In high-school I could wear bikini bottoms as long as they where cut modestly but still wore tankini tops alot. I was about 17 when I first started wearing bikini tops.

I hate seeing little girls dressed like grown women, or even worse just plain skanky. If they're wearing that at 6, what will they be wearing at 12 or 16???
The boundaries are just going lower and lower, and it's sad.

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Okay, I can see where I would need a padded bikini, being as flat-chested as I am (just kidding, though, because I refuse to wear a bikini; I'm too afraid of losing the top)....but for an 8-year-old? A little disturbing. My daughter is 8, and there's no way I'd let her wear something like that. For my daughter, I've always had her wear one-pieces, but I think I'd consider a two-piece if it was a tank-top style. But probably not a binkini...since I don't feel comfortable in a bikini, I don't see myself buying my daughter one.

These are the moments when I wish time would slow down so I don't have to think of my adorable little girl growing up too fast and becoming a teenager!

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I COMPLETELY agree with you that some kids clothes are intentionally sexy. I was mortified when my 4yo neice had on a top that had gathering under the breasts to make it appear there were some there! The Abercrombie bathing suit would certainly be on my NO list!!!

With that said, I love little kids in bikinis! I grew upin a pretty strict Christian household, but beach attire was beach attire. One of my favorite pictures of me and my dad is of me in a strawberry/denim bikini. I bought my 1yr old a bikini and she is so cute in it!!!! I think a little one (3 and under) is adorable in bottoms with no tops, although with skin cancer risks, this is not my preference (more for a photo op!)

My kids are still too little to do this, but I know in my house as a kid, as we got a little older, suits had to fit the body. I was allowed to wear a "two piece", but I don't know that I would call it a bikini (no strings or thongs).

Anyway, just one mom's humble opinion!!!

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I don't think an 8 yr old child is sexual in any way. They have gorgeous little bodies, the 'sexual' angle is in the eye of the beholder.

That said, I found two piece suits much easier for my little girl to handle the potty issue. And now she's 14, she NEEDS padding (not push up) because the thing will not stay in place on her boney little body otherwise.

The is NOTHING sexual about either one.

I really don't see how any exposed or dressed up infantile body can be perceived as sexual exploitation.

Except by those with extreme sexual hang ups anyway!

:)

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My 7 y/o loves 2 pieces swimsuits, but for my baby or toddler I prefer one piece because the diaper is in better place for more time.....I think is about the way we see things for grown ups is "sexual" for kids is just cuter or more girly my DD loves the bikinis with tank tops and the bottoms like tutus or layers.....in her eyes she's getting cute for herself only us as grown ups will see these sexual things not them.....in the other side , yes I hate those bikini padded tops I think is wrong on those sizes....but if parents don't buy these things there is no problem right?

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No two pieces for my kids. whole peice, tall, strapped in the back. I am picky on this one. Won't have that ! We have enough of this sold on commercials and stores so will not encourage it.

I notice too that the bras for training our little teens are just crazy colors and crazy styles. Will only do creme or white....they have their whole lives after 18 to make those choices... I will not do it for them.

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I never liked bikinis. I think I only wore one in my early 20's when I was grown up, moved away from home for a short time while my figure was at it's peak. But it was for sunning, not for swimming. I've always liked one piece suits because you could just have more fun swimming, diving, body surfing, jumping waves, turning somersaults in the water without coming out naked when you were finished.
When you wear a one piece, you have so much less sun screen to put on (over and over since it washes off) and you have much less risk of painful sunburns and skin peeling and all that sun over exposure builds up a melanoma risk for later in life.
My son wore a zip up the front one piece suit which covered him from elbows to his knees until he was too big to wear that style. Now he wears trunks and a sun top. He's never had a sunburn.
I agree with one piece suits for everyone of all ages.

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i dont let my 5 year old wear a bikini, though i did when she was an infant, maybe till she was 2, it was just so cute! but then i stopped and switched to just one pieces. not only a one piece, but i prefer ones with a skirt or shorts. even a swim shirt if we are gonna be in the sun all day, though thats more for sun protection than modesty. lands end has some really adorable ones this season.

I would love to put a 1 piece on my 8 year old daughter, but since she has such a long torse, we end up with bathing suits that ride up her but and front, causeing the atomic wedgie with both butt cheeks hanging out most of the day. LOL! So, to solve the issue, we go with 2 piece suits almost all of the time, and I prefer the type with the boy shorts, that also come with regular bikini bottoms (which she wears as well), and a top that is more along the lines of a sport bra style, not a string bikini top. She is wayyy too young for that. (she would hate it anyway) We have had the tankinis, and those were ok, but really we like the sports tops, and also the tops that are like a T shirt for sunscreen mostly. She wears them as well and loves the way they look. Then she is actually in shorts and a sports bra looking top, or she will wear the Tshirt style top and the bikini style bottoms. She likes to be able to mix and match them. Unfortunatly, we have only once in all 8 years found a 1 piece suit that was long enough for her body without causing the "ride up" problem.

One pieces as infants, toddlers, children, teens and adults.

I think bikinis are ok as long as they don't look slutty. Like the teeny tiny triangle top bikinis... Um, no. Or the super skimpy little bottoms no. My daughter is 8 so luckily she doesn't pick those types of swimsuits. Also she is on the bigger side (56 in tall and almost 100lbs!) so we normally get her swimsuits from the junior section.....she gets tankinis. The top we just got did come with the pads but they are removable so I took them out, plus she giggled when she tried on the top w/the pads (LOL) so she totally is not ready for that anyway.

i like the tankis for my girls because it covers them more from the sun. however they could care less about that! my girls ages 7 and 4 pick their own i dont have an issue with what they pick really. they dont have anthing to show lol. my oldest is so skinny that we often buy 3 or 4 t 2 pc bc the one pc are either swimming on her or too short. now my youngest is a normal size so she just get what shes likes which to this point has been one pc

I just think a bikini would be really impractical for a BABY or toddler. When I was growing up in the 70s I remember wearing a bikini as a little girl and never thinking anything about it. I've seen several cute, appropriate looking two and one piece suits for girls in catalogs like Lands End. I don't think the issue is so much is the suit a one or two piece- how is it cut and is it age-appropriate and comfortable for swimming and playing in would be the issue for me.

I SAW that and i was disgusted. I have an 8 year old and couldnt even fathom allowing that! She watched it with me and said "but im too young to have boobs"

she said it all right there.

I will put them in bikinis though, that is until they get boobs, then im all about the modest 1 piece.

Well, we just went swimsuit shopping yesterday! My girls have always worn tankinis or one piece suits. This year, however, I reluctantly allowed them to get a bikini from Justice. It's a more sporty style, definitely more coverage than little triangles and strings, and had just a very small bra pad for coverage, not a big push up bra or anything like that. I actually like that a small pad allows for modesty for girls who are beginning to develop. I've always liked Lands End suits, but it's not easy to find a good suit for a 11-12 year old. They are either little girly, or teen/adult like. We live at the pool in the summer, so along with the bikini, I will buy them a one piece and a tankini too. Knowing how impractical bikinis are for actual swim and play, after the bikini novelty wears off, I know they will both start wearing the one piece and tankinis more for everyday. One thing I am firm on though, is swimsuits are only worn at the pool. It drives me crazy to see kids riding bikes to the playground and playing in the neighborhood in little bikini tops.

My main gripe about bikini's is sizing.
I hate to see young girls accidently exposing themselves or constantly having to readjust their bikini's (mostly the tops) because it doesn't properly fit.
I understand that bathing suits will shift, but I am mostly talking about just plain old too small or too big for it to stay (for the most part) covered.
My own kid had a one piece last year and a one piece this year. Last years was because I liked the pattern and this years she got as a bday gift.
I agree with tat2edmomma about padding. Same thing I went through as a kid. Not just with swimsuits either, my mom made sure the bras had a thickness or a slight padding to them too.