Ah my girls (6 and 8) have been wearing bikinis since forever.
I am European and DH is South American. I wonder what other people think about us when we go to public pools in DC with the girls in (tiny) bikinis and son in speedo 😊.

We buy swimsuit in Europe or Brazil because we hate the big swimsuits sold in the US.

Here are the types of two pieces my girls wear:

https://www.primary.com/products/the-swim-botttom-in-dot?ref=plp_pdp_g2_8&variant=39877037064251&color=peacock-ivory-dot&size=10

https://www.primary.com/products/the-swim-top-in-dot?ref=plp_pdp_g3_2&variant=39877052563515&color=peacock-ivory-dot&size=10
https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/us/kids/p/asymmetrical-one-shoulder-two-piece-swimsuit-47007319?categoryId=6316560&seq=04&faceout=prod1

https://www.jcrew.com/p/girls/categories/clothing/swim-and-rash-guards/two-pieces/girls-printed-two-piece-with-upf-50/BH113?display=standard&fit=Classic&color_name=windward-blue-white&colorProductCode=BH113

Anonymous wrote:Any age is ok for a bikini! We personally don't wear them because I don't feel like dealing with the sunscreen / sunburn issues. More coverage = less sun exposure.

Exactly. The only reason to put an 8 year old in a bikini is because you think it looks "cute" and "grown up" which is gross. Kids need to be covered up in the summer as much as possible for protection from the sun.

My 13yo got her first two-piece this summer. Her 10yo sister wanted one too so I let her get a tankini. The only reason we waited till 13 was sun protection.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's fine OP. Don't listen to the weirdos who think an 8yo is sexualized if her bathing suit shows her stomach

No, what's weird is 8 year olds in bikinis. THAT'S what's weird.

Stop staring at little girls.

Oh please.

The mother wants to put the girl in a bikini at 8. It's gross. I highly doubt the girl came up with it on her own.

I want my daughter wearing a rashguard because she is a redhead with fair skin (is that redundant?). However, I told her that, in general, the rule is just that she wear something on bottom. This was after she asked why girls have to wear a top and boys don't and I didn't have a good answer.

I prefer two pieces with a rash guard because it's so much easier for kids (and me). Easier for the bathroom, more comfortable than wearing a rash guard over a one piece, but more versatile than the rash guard suits because sometimes we don't need the sun coverage and it's nice to have a regular suit. I see nothing wrong with two pieces on girls -- boys wear shorts with nothing else all the time, what on earth would the issue be?

My kids have pretty much always worn age appropriate two pieces or “bikinis” after preschool. If you think a child’s belly button is sexy you should be in jail. Not my problem you’re a pervert.

Any age is ok for a bikini! We personally don't wear them because I don't feel like dealing with the sunscreen / sunburn issues. More coverage = less sun exposure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's fine OP. Don't listen to the weirdos who think an 8yo is sexualized if her bathing suit shows her stomach

No, what's weird is 8 year olds in bikinis. THAT'S what's weird.

Stop staring at little girls.

Anonymous wrote:it's fine OP. Don't listen to the weirdos who think an 8yo is sexualized if her bathing suit shows her stomach

No, what's weird is 8 year olds in bikinis. THAT'S what's weird.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a lot easier for peeing to have a two piece. But I would never do a bikini top. A tankini or rashguard is cute.

The bikini tops for kids aren't like triangle tops or whatever. They look like sports bras or crop tops usually

An 8 year old shouldn't be wearing a sports bra or a crop top.

The long sleeves rash guard with a bottom make sun protection so much easier without making bathroom trips hard. Pulling up a wet one piece genuinely sucks.

Anonymous wrote:It's a lot easier for peeing to have a two piece. But I would never do a bikini top. A tankini or rashguard is cute.

The bikini tops for kids aren't like triangle tops or whatever. They look like sports bras or crop tops usually

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Summer is upon us, what is your opinion of a 2 piece for a girl in 3rd grade?

basically, when does the switch happen where it is ok?

I think it’s always ok if you are asking from a modesty point of view. I would not want that much skin exposed on my hypothetical pale daughter (hypothetical because I am the parent of pale boys) until they were showing me they could manage sunblock on other parts.