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babies and toddlers in bikinis?
  • Charlotte_SometimesCharlotte_Sometimes
    Posts: 1,756Member
    Oh and the Coppertone ad with the "Don't Be a Paleface" slogan is OLD old old. 
    "But a lesson must be lived
    In order to be learned"

    Ani DiFranco, Manhole
  • irishlassirishlass
    Posts: 6,726Member
    Tupid phone!

    I would let my son run about naked/ in a pair of speedos in the back garden, but at the public pool I have him in surf shorts. At the beach in tenerife, there were other kids naked, so I let him go in his speedos, with a very thin vest to protect from the sun. At the beach here I would cover him up more because i don't trust the areas surrounding the beaches here.
    All about context!
    "Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss
  • shadylaneshadylane
    Posts: 3,037Member
    i just don't see how the eye is drawn to the private areas of a toddler wearing a two piece versus a one piece, the only difference is their bellies are showing. on a teenage girl, she has breasts so yes a bikini would emphasize that. but a toddler? if ur eye is drawn to her nonexistant breasts there is something wrong with u.
    ~slim shady~
  • unforgivenunforgiven
    Posts: 12,699Confessional Manager
    Unfortunately, there is something wrong with a lot of people in the world @shadylane. 

    I feel more comfortable having my daughter in a one piece vs. a two piece. 

    confessional-manager

    "What looks like torture is a time to rejoice
    What sounds like thunder is a comforting voice
    When what is beautiful looks broken and crushed
    And I say I don't know you
    But you say it's finished"
  • shadylaneshadylane
    Posts: 3,037Member
    once she's about 9 or 10 i won't but 2?!
    ~slim shady~
  • SammieSammie
    Posts: 7,276Administrator, Moderator
    I understand what you're saying @shadylane. I get that there ARE creeps in this world and lots of them, but a creeper is a creeper. There really isn't anything showing on a young child other than their Buddha belly. A pervert/phedophile will be eyeing all of the children or teens not just the toddlers who have some belly showing. Personally, that argument makes no sense to me. Teenage girls in barely there string bikinis? Yes, I can see that being sexual as well. I will let my teen wear a bikini. I won't let her wear dental floss or some other contraption, but a traditional style 2 piece or tankini? Yep. I'll let her.

    community-manager


  • TorturedbyTWINSTorturedbyTWINS
    Posts: 1,163Member

    @ClassicalMama You are right, you didn't call anyone a whore.  I did, and I also noted the sarcasm afterwards.  I am not offended by your particular beliefs.  

    We are not talking about little girls here, we are talking about babies and toddlers wearing two pieces.  I don't see a child of that age running around butt naked as a sexual image at all.  So if they actually are willing to put on a two piece swimsuit I'm impressed.  My mom couldn't get clothes on my until I was 4.  Now when I picture the 20 something year old running around naked that's offensive amd sexual, but the neighbors 4 year old?  It's hilarious, and not sexual. 

    Now when we're talking about little girls ages 5-?  wearing two pieces, to each their own but I agree with you that skimpy clothing isn't a good idea, especially in public.  Unwanted attention is never a good idea with young children.  I don't know when I would switch to the one piece but it would be after the toddler years.  There is a line though, and young babies to me, even butt naked are completely fine as long as no one poops in the pool!

     

  • motherofdragonsmotherofdragons
    Posts: 57Member
    one pieces with little tutu frilly bottoms are way cuter than bikini's though tankinis are adorable too.
  • notperfectnotperfect
    Posts: 743Member
    We put my DD in a two piece suit, shorts and the tank style top, she was very thin for her age so anything that fit her waist was too short for her. It was the only option, sometimes you have to improvise
  • unforgivenunforgiven
    Posts: 12,699Confessional Manager
    @socalibeachmum  I like you. :) 

    A friend of mine's sister has her toddler in a bikini with one daisy on each triangle. I think what's on the bikini/suit is important. 

    confessional-manager

    "What looks like torture is a time to rejoice
    What sounds like thunder is a comforting voice
    When what is beautiful looks broken and crushed
    And I say I don't know you
    But you say it's finished"
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,551
    Not a fan at all of bikinis for toddlers and young children. At all. I agree with @classicalmama and @sammie.

    The bikini was invented to have a sexual effect on grown women. It is not intended for infants and toddlers, just like high heels are not intended for that age group. Just my personal opinion, but we only allow one piece and tankinis here, and that will not be changing.
  • ClassicalMama
    Posts: 50Member
    @Chocoholic - I agree, bikinis were designed to have a sexual effect. It is the intention of the bikini that I have a problem with, even on babies and toddlers.. actually, I would say especially on babies and toddlers.

    @torturedbytwins - when I say little girl, I include babies and toddlers in that category, I really see no difference in allowing babies, toddlers, little girls or big girls wear a bikini. After 18, if a young woman wants to show her body, that is her choice as an adult.

    I guess what I can't understand, is where is it ok to draw the line? At what point is it ok to draw attention to those body parts of a child? Some people feel a 12 year old is ok, some is 9 and others think 16. 

    (Ps- Great discussion! Its a very interesting debate, and although we differ, I do enjoy reading all the different perspectives!)
  • shadylaneshadylane
    Posts: 3,037Member
    i don't think its ever ok to call attention to a child's private parts, i just don't think a two piece bathing suit is calling attention to an undeveloped girl. there's nothing to call attention to. at the pool or beach there's a hundred of them running around and they don't even catch my eye. now, a 14 year old in a string bikini prancing around, different story. i see them with their belly buttons pierced and even tattoos. also with babies of their own, but i guess by that point its too late to worry about their bathing suit.
    ~slim shady~
  • CaMommaWthluvx2CaMommaWthluvx2
    Posts: 37Member
    There are almost too many comments to read. :) Where I live this is actually a big subject with even bigger opinions! I personally think that if I had a daughter(s), I have 2 boys :P, they would totally wear a bikini when they are(as I saw up top) 'squishy' lol but past the age 3 and definitely no later than when they start kindergarden I think a tankini or one piece is best. Who knows what kind of creeper is out at the local pool/lake/beach etc. My oldest is about 1 1/2 yrs from this, but isn't 3-4 when they start learning there is a difference between a boy and a girl? If so I think there is probably enough curiosity already without tempting more :-/ Plus starting good morals young, whats wrong with that? When they start high school, ok maybe when they are in 11th grade, ok, ok maybe when they are 18 we will take about 'slightly' changing their wardrobe lol ;-) like I said thats if I had girl(s) lol 
    And as far as gifted clothes go, even if they are ugly I have my kiddos wear them. Hell they out grow them before they can wear them more than twice anyway LOL ... xoxo
  • Kitt
    Posts: 32Member
    We opt for the rashguards with bikini like bottoms. This way everything is covered but potty use is easy. Even I have a matching rashguard too!
  • serenitynowserenitynow
    Posts: 2,175Member
    i don't see an issue with babies, toddlers or little girls wearing a bikini..............unless it's a toddlers and tiaras type thing. then it's creepy.
  • CaMommaWthluvx2CaMommaWthluvx2
    Posts: 37Member
    @SoCaliBeachMum I totally agree! The whole Cherries thing, Seriously?! Cherries are like a reference to a koochie (vagina). When did it become ok to put that on our kids' clothing? 
  • jezebeldelilahjezebeldelilah
    Posts: 337Member
    I can't read all the posts its gettin late but I thank everyone for your opinions. I think most parents are lucky to keep any clothing on there toddlers. I can remember swimming in my plastic pool in only underwear at the age of 3 with several neighborhood kids. I would never do that with my daughter but we are so informed on sexual predators nowadays. So bikini is a yes while she is young and its not a sexual thing. In a few years we will go to tankinis and one pieces. Thanks again everyone for a wonderful diverse discussion. Oh and I no longer feel obligated to put the fugly clothes on my girl just because they were bought for her as a gift by family. Back of the closet they go till she out grows them. Good night
  • MistyStacy_2010MistyStacy_2010
    Posts: 487Member
    I am 28 and still can rock a bikini but no cherries for me thank you!! I think that is a disgusting thing to put on a childs swimsuit, whether it be a one or a two piece. I think it basically boils down to how the parents feel about it. If you are okay with the two piece then go for it, but if your not then go with the one piece. Its personal preference and I won't judge any parent by what kind of suit their kids have on lol Not saying anyone has or anything like that I am just saying that is me. 
    You are not my thong, so get out of my ass!!
  • Katescrazymom
    Posts: 1,847Member
    I think a v neck is more likely to look inappropriate on a baby or toddler then a chubby belly hanging out. Not that they're all too deep, but some seem to be. To me, that's more designed to draw attention to breasts/cleavage or lack of, and a sexual display than a bit of chubby belly. Maybe that's a side effect of seeing so many underfed stars and wanna bes with dresses cut down to their belly buttons.
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