Should Young Girls Wear Bikinis

How Do You Feel About Bikinis on Tots?

July 22, 2008

Growing up, my sister and I wore matching swimsuits. She donned the bikini style while I wore the one piece. Innocent with her chubby legs and a single curl on the back of her head, I never thought twice about putting my daughter in a two–piece. Other moms feel it sexualizes lil ladies at too young an age.

What's your take on the bikini?
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63 Comments

3 years 24 weeks

If your happy with paedo's looking at your childs midrift it's your decision I guess. I personally think we should protect out children by covering them up and teaching them (even at that young age) about self respect and self image. I think parents who 'flaunt' their babies and little girls in bikinis are teaching them that 'showing skin' is perfectly acceptible! It's not. Alot of 12 year old girls are getting the wrong message and think that their bodies are there to be seen and objectified all because they weren't given the right direction. This is how we get raped tweens and pregnant teens. And another thing. Would you put your little girl in a bra and undies and let her walk the shopping mall? No? Why not? It's no different to a bikini in a public pool or beach.. And paedophiles would more likely be found there than in your supermarket. Cos they know where they'll find the half naked babies. I have a lttle 3 year old girl myself and I have her in a TANKINI.. It's a pair of swimmer bottoms and a 'swimmer singlet' Still easy when she was Toilet training and still covers as much as a 1 peice. Swimming in public we also put her in board shorts. The only skin she shows is her legs and her arms, She's still comfortable to swim, and I'm comfortable to let her. This day and age, It's a huge concern. But don't get me wrong. Mmy decision isn't just based on that.. I think they look sill anyway. IMP If you've got nothin to fill em then dont wear them :P

3 years 47 weeks

Personally, I feel young girls should be dressing like young boys at the beach. Why do we have our daughters in such small underwear in a public place? And when they are wet, their whole bottoms and privates are clearly visible in detail. Let's just say there actually was a pedophile looking at your little girl...do you really want him seeing her doing cartwheels in her wet bikini on the beach? She is so innocent, (and we want her to be) that she doesn't realize things like when to close her legs, or if somebody is looking at her she won't have an instictive feeling to notice that someone is,and protect her self. We want our children to be completely free at beaches. Let them dance sing play and be kids. So we have to be their protectors. Putting them in bikinis or even normal 1 piece swimsuits is ridiculous. Nothing hides the contours of their genital areas when that swimsuit is wet. Believe me, go and test it yourself. But if our daughters were in boy's swimsuits, its not like they would have any less fun at the beach. We wouldn't either. As for tops, they could even go topless, because we all know they don't have boobs yet, and the pedophile is not going to be looking at those girls' chests, he/she will be looking down below. I agree with all you moms that said, if somebody is sexualizing our daughters, then that person is just sick. Its true he/she is very sick. But that doesn't mean he/she is not there at the beach or at the park. We can sit here and talk about how horrible that person is, or we can accept that there are those monsters in society. Another point I have to make, if you keep your baby girl in modest clothes from the beginning, (not nun-like, just more modest than not), then by the time she is that beautiful 18 year old, you'll see she is naturally, instinctively, more modest than her friends. And she will be the one the boys in her college or work will want to marry, not just sleep with.

4 years 4 weeks

I'm okay with toddlers wearing bikinis as long as they fit, they cover up enough, and they're tankinis. The real problem is that there are disgusting people out there that turn normal items into a stupid, gross problem.

daisymay81 4 years 42 weeks

I love bikinis on babies and tots but after that I really don't like it. I'm 26 and have a cousin that is 10 and I have a hard time seeing her in a bikini. We are the only two girls in the family so we have a certain bond that makes me want to protect her. I just think that she is too young.

rcph 4 years 43 weeks

Here in France, lots of toddlers go naked at the beach. We put our 2-yr old in a bikini bottom (enough sand gets in tender places as it is...) but I find bikini TOPS on a toddler to be sexualizing them! I don't really understand it myself, but I guess that covering up a toddler's nipples seems to be saying there is something sexual about them.

seishi5 4 years 43 weeks

Where was the naked option? lol

MaggieLei 4 years 43 weeks

Honestly, on toddlers you might as well just let them run around in the bottoms. Most bikinis on children end up everywhere but where they are supposed to be. As for the triangles and strings, they tend to look ridiculous on anyone who doesn't have a chest (myself included). The whole point is sexuality. I tend to prefer tankinis or tank style two pieces for kids.

jessyz 4 years 43 weeks

So cute, I love those tiny bikinis, I was just telling my sister that I want to get one for my 5 month old and she gave me this lecture about the Sun and UV protection and told me to get a rash guard.

HipMom 4 years 43 weeks

I prefer one-piece for toddlers, but I'm ok with tank tops or halterkinis for older girls.

twinkles524 4 years 43 weeks

Babies look so adorable in bikinis!!! I don't really see anything wrong w/ them at that age.

Mishell 4 years 43 weeks

That picture is adorable. If someone finds something sexy about it the problem is with them, not the bathing suit.

MamaG 4 years 43 weeks

I have a daughter and I will put her in a bikini every summer until she tells me to do otherwise. My reason for doing so is this: My parents put me in a one piece my whole childhood. As I came into puberty and adulthood, I assumed I "couldn't" wear a bikini because I wasn't "thin enough" or worhty of wearing one. At 17 I was 5'3" and 115 lbs. That is not fat!!! Yet, I swear my body complex came from the fact that while others were donning bikinis, I was put in a one piece. As an adult, I realize this sounds really stupid. But you know how it is, you look back and can remember those subtle cues you read from others that caused you to make decisions about yourself. Anyway, at the age of 23 (at 109 lbs) I finally put a bikini on for the first time at a beach and kept myself covered the whole day. Now, as a 31 year old mother (NO LONGER 109 or 115 lbs, sigh...) I proudly sport my own "kini" (triangle-style, thank you very much) and will encourage my daughter to do the same. It's a fashion. Just like those stupid big stupid sunglasses are. As long as it's within reason, I will support my daughter in any trends that make her feel bautiful and proud of her body...WITHIN REASON! :-)

phatE 4 years 43 weeks

Just wanted to add that I am referring to triangle tops, or string bikinis.. NOT tankinis.

phatE 4 years 43 weeks

While I don't prefer it, I don't really have an issue with little little ones wearing one. (I am talking 1 and under) after that, I don't agree.. I noticed a 2 year old wearing one the other day, and it looked weird. She was playing with 2 other little boys, and it just really bothered me.. She looked way too mature for her age.

javsmav 4 years 43 weeks

I just think it's weird, not cute. It's like putting a bra on a baby. I understand a two-piece suit for convenience issues, but a baby in a bikini is just odd.

crn78 4 years 43 weeks

I voted other. I think it depends on the suit. I'm pretty liberal in many of my views but I also don't believe in pushing girls to grow up too fast. I have a 6 year old and don't let her watch High School Musical lol. She hasn't ever asked and I probably would let her but I have problems with such young girls obsessing about it even if they don't get some of the 'older' topics. They will younger than you like if they keep watching. Anyway, on the bathing suits, I don't agree with the triangle ones or the string bikinis. What's the point for young girls? But a sensible bikini is fine and I think rather cute ;)

a nonny mouse 4 years 43 weeks

Thanks kiki -- you're a champ! Those links were very helpful. :) Regarding meandtheo's comment: I also do not have any problems with baby girls taking a dip shirtless. It doesn't bother me in the least. I have an strong internal response to what seems inappropriate for school aged girls, according to my own sensibilities. If I had a daughter, I would not be comfortable exposing her in a bikini at age nine, eleven, or the like. It's all a bit too revealing for a developing young woman's body (but that is just my opinion, for my own family).

POPSUGAR Moms 4 years 43 weeks

I don't think a bikini is any different than another kind of swimsuit. And, I wish I wore one more when I was lil as they are NOT flattering on me now!

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

It does really bother me that the only reason the story gives for not using a bikini is sexualizing, rather than understanding that some people simply don't like bikinis.

meandtheo 4 years 43 weeks

wow I am so shocked to read that there is an issue with this. After I voted I expected to see the results heavy in the all for bikinis spot...but once again, I am out of touch with my fellow countryman. I suppose I am an "elitist SF liberal" (and proud of it!). I lived in Europe for years and spent many a day on the beach with the girls of all ages in just there bottoms. My daughter is only 9 months but this is how she goes to the pool and beach now too. I think it is adorable, not to mention much easier to deal with. My husband put the bikini top on her and it just ended up around her neck because we had to hold her the whole time.

Greggie 4 years 43 weeks

Potty training/swim diaper changing is why I prefer a tankini to a one-piece. I just don't like the actual two pieces where the top doesn't meet the bottom.

Brendelwoman 4 years 43 weeks

For the wee little ones it makes it easier to change a diaper or when they are potty training. I look for tops that provide fuller coverage on top, more like a tankini. I don't think there's any reason to get so vicious, Evalicious.

kmckay 4 years 43 weeks

i like the 2 pieces that have the t-shirt type style- keeps more sun off their little soft skin! i remember as kid having to struggle with a wet, sand covered, one-piece when trying to pee- and then that icky feeling you have when you pull it back on? ugh

kikidawn 4 years 43 weeks

a nonny mouse, i tried to post some links that show the difference between a triangle top and one that isn't... but it flagged me. So hopefully it will show up soon and you can see :)

kikidawn 4 years 43 weeks

a nonny mouse, this is a triangle top: http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/application/prodDisplay/?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=9B-226283&page=1&cgname=OSSWMMIXSBS&rfnbr=4009 this is an example of one that isn't: http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/application/prodDisplay/?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=9B-221072&page=%202&cgname=OSSWMBIKZZZ&rfnbr=1232 A bandeau top isn't the only type of top that isn't a triangle top, it is just a good comparison. :)

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63 Comments

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