At 8 my mom forced me to wear only 1piece so I would cover up. I remember wedgies, the suite being too big, too small and never just right. We only wear 2 pieces (my 8 yr old and me). She's got high expectations about clothes and their performance. She's wise enough to know about coverage, how she plays, ect. She has one regular bikini bottom because shorts wore out and we were on vaca. She uses those as a last resort. Her shortest top is very floury...so covers shape and is really cute. She also likes the "swim shirts" that come with a suite b/c it's a good "look". I'm so not into fashion. Not sure where this one's fashion sense came from. |
So it’s ok for boys to not wear a shirt and show their chest but not for girls to show their stomach? A bikini or tankini on a girl is not sexual unless you make it that way - and going to the bathroom in a wet one- piece is a nightmare to pull back on. |
Would you let your 8 yr old wear one of these? https://www.nordstrom.com/s/hobie-kids-sandollar-two-piece-swimsuit-big-girl/6795206?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FKids%2FGirls%27%20Clothing%2FSwimsuits%20%26%20Cover-ups&color=402 https://www.nordstrom.com/s/hobie-kids-peace-two-piece-swimsuit-big-girl/6828001?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FKids%2FGirls%27%20Clothing%2FSwimsuits%20%26%20Cover-ups&color=440 While they don't look "sexy" on young girls, the style is clearly trying to be a copy of an adult woman's bikini that IS meant to be sexy. |
That’s crazy. Yes, I would be ok with both as long as they are not padded to give the illusion of breasts (couldn’t tell about the first). The idea that bikinis are meant to be sexy is crazy. How is a bikini sexier tha a one piece? Because the belly is such a sexy part of the body? Again, I am not American, but I really don’t get it. I understand thongs and push up/padded bras, but normal bikinis like the ones you linked? Totally fine for me or my daughters. Are Norwegians and German families who go to the beach fully naked (adults and kids) sexualizing everyone? All European/south American moms sexualizing their daughters when they put them in bikinis? This is insane |
Nope. That would be for you. |
How do you presume to speak for the experience the PP may have had? |
At around 8-9, mine had a cropped tankini top and board shorts. It’s showed less skin than the average one piece and was easier to go to the bathroom. She liked the pockets in the shorts. She transitioned to a sports bra type top and full coverage brief bottoms around 6th grade. There was a wide range of bikinis by then but I don’t remember seeing any that were inappropriate. |
I’m the PP who referred to as being sexualized here. The bikinis I had to wear were way skimpier than the young girls bikinis from Nordstrom’s people were sharing links to. They were string bikinis. My mom didn’t want me wearing them for comfort. She wanted me to wear them to “look cool,” even though I was much more comfortable in one pieces. I’m not scarred but I was very uncomfortable wearing it. The only point I was trying to make was that a 3rd grader probably has a good idea of what swimsuits they want to wear to feel both fashionable and comfortable enough to splash around with friends. Would you as an adult want someone to make you wear a bikini in a public setting when you’d feel most comfortable in a one-piece? |
The point is that pre pubescent girls shouldn’t have to wear a top that approximates one that an adult woman would wear and frankly she should be able to wear no top at all. Covering her nipples just because she is a girl before she has breasts is saying that there is something inherently sexual in them because they are on a girl. |
| some of you are nuts. I consider myself a pretty conservative person and i have zero problem with two piece suits. My girls have been wearing them since they've been about 8. Not triangle tops but those aren't even found in most stores (old navy, gap, etc all make young-looking two pieces). |
I'm not sure what the point of your posts are - no one here is saying they are forcing their child to wear bikinis. In fact, most posters are saying they want their kids to be comfortable and wear what they want to wear and what makes them happy. |
Different cultures have different mores. Are Indians “insane” because they expect less skin to be showing than Americans (belly aside)? Personally, I — an American — think it looks weird when I see kids in skimpy bathing suits. Like why would an 8 year-old wear a bikini rather than a tankini? I just don’t see any reason for that. |
I have no issue with bigger bikinis (or whatever American parents feel comfortable with), but I have issues with people telling me I am sexualizing my daughter because her bikini is smaller than the average American girl. Since you mention it, how would you feel if an Indian or Muslim mom tells you you are sexualizing your daughter when she wears a skirt or a one piece swimsuit at the beach showing arms and legs? |
What I mean is that you may not like it for your girls, but don’t talk about my intent when I/my daughter choose a smaller bikini than yours (I.e. don’t tell me I am sexualizing my daughter). |
I wouldn’t let my 9 year old wear them. |