It's summertime and the swimsuits are skimpy

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) May 15th 2008 6:03PM

At what age would you consider it appropriate for a young girl to wear a skimpy bathing suit? Before you answer that, let's define skimpy. For me, that would be anything with high-cut legs, low-cut waist and/or tiny triangles covering the upper body. I don't consider myself a prude, but I think little girls should look like little girls and not flat-chested Victoria's Secret models. And while I know that swimsuits by their very nature reveal lots of skin, I think a child's suit should not necessarily resemble a tiny version of an adult suit.

Unfortunately, finding the right suit requires trying on a lot of wrong suits. Wrong suits that my 7-year-old desperately wants, of course. I won last year's battle of the swimsuit and have every intention of winning again this year. After all, I hold the credit card and therefore the power.

I am now gearing up to do battle again, but this year I am previewing selections online first. It is important to try a suit on of course, but looking online beforehand helps me avoid stores where we might run into something like this. Or even this.

I recognize that appropriateness is sometimes in the eye of the beholder, but I also know what I feel comfortable with. What about you? How do you feel about little girls wearing little bikinis?

Perfectly nice swimsuits for girls(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Comments (15)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sabrina 5-15-2008 @ 6:55PM

In my personal opinion little girls should wear one-piece bathing suits. I don't care to defend my opinion as it's just that, an opinion. It's the rule at my house as well. I don't know how I feel about older girls (11 years old and up, starting to develop womanly bodies) and their bathing suits. I guess I'll figure that out as my daughter grows!

Heather 5-15-2008 @ 8:10PM

I disagree with allowing young girls to wear skimpy swimsuits (or skimpy anything for that matter). Kids are growing up way to fast these days and there's nothing wrong with letting little girls stay little girls for a while longer. Besides, if you ever watch To Catch a Preditor, you realize that pedophiles are everywhere. Allowing our little girls to appear too sexy could potentially put them at risk of being victimized.

the goddess anna 5-15-2008 @ 7:13PM

We're a no bikini household. When she hits puberty, maybe a tankini. There's no need to show that much flesh in public. I mean, I'm not a huge prude, but swinsuits are for swimming. Little patches of cloth do not hold up as well under waves/jumping/playing as a larger one-piece suit.

And that's the way it is in our house. It might not work for others.

eugene 5-15-2008 @ 7:20PM

that first link is down right disturbing. There's no reason in the world a child's swimusit should have a cut like that.

Jules 5-15-2008 @ 7:54PM

The first link was outrageous, but the gap suit wasn't that bad. I guess I am a hippie out here in Northern California, but my babies go topless sometimes (they are 1 and 3) so the triangle tops aren't an issue. I do think that dressing babies like grown women is ridiculous though.

Lori 5-15-2008 @ 9:21PM

My little girl's first bathing suit was a hand-me-down from a friend. The suit had a skimpy, triangle bikini top and big bottoms made to cover a swim diaper. For some reason, I had less of a problem having her go topless than I had putting a little bikini top on my 6-month-old. Putting the bikini top on just seemed ridiculous and too suggestive. I know, I can't explain my reasoning. This year I found a great little one-piece suit at Target.

Jenn 5-15-2008 @ 10:02PM

I use the SunSmartie swimsuits with my daughter, and will until they don't make them in her size anymore (these are the SPF 50+ suits with the zipper, short or long-sleeve and -legged). We are very fair skinned, and I just don't want to deal with sunburn.

That said, I agree with the commenter who said that swimsuits are for swimming, and you can't do that in a bikini! I don't have too much of a problem with high-cut legs, what they used to call "French cut," as long as it's not combined with low-cut -- that cut always simply fit me better so if it is the same for my daughter when she's older, well OK.

And I also agree with Lori & Jules, I have less of a problem with the little ones going topless than wearing those little teeny bikini tops! I think because topless babies in a swim diaper just says "baby" to me, while the little bikini top says "little girl dressed like a grown up."

Mel 5-15-2008 @ 10:40PM

Ok, this is in response to anyone who worries about pedophilia and skimpy swimsuits. Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a sexual attraction to *children,* specifically children under 13. Kids dressed in skimpy or provocative clothing cannot lead to pedophilic tendencies. If anything, such clothing would *decrease* a pedophile's attraction to a child.

One may find it inappropriate to dress kids immodestly. That is a matter of personal morals, taste, and standards.Regardless, this is in no way a matter of pedophilic risk.

Sherry 5-16-2008 @ 3:21AM

I let my four year old daughter wear a two piece, but it has to be one of those tankini things that ends up looking like a one piece and everything in the middle is covered. This kind of suit is easier for her to go to the bathroom by herself.

ameitup 5-16-2008 @ 8:38AM

I had a heck of a time finding a one piece for my 8 year old that wasn't too low cut in the front and back. I finally found a tankini that provided adequate coverage.
I won't get into how much time it took to find a tankini for my 10 year old. She is curvy, so I had to go into the petite junior section to find her suit.

Jill 5-16-2008 @ 9:22AM

go straight to Lands' End- great suits for kids over there

ame s 5-16-2008 @ 10:14AM

We went with tankinis this year. I had a hard time finding a one for my 8 year old that wasn't too low-cut in the front and back. DD10 is curvy so I had to go into the petite junior section to find a tankini for her. I don't even want to think about swim suit shopping for that child when she's 12!

caitlin 5-16-2008 @ 2:32PM

My sister always got to wear tankinis because she was so long waisted. One pieces never fit her well, but my mom never let her veer into "7 going on 17" fashion statement. My sister in law is going through this with her 7 year old daughter. My niece burns easily, so my sister-in-law has a little extra ammunition in convincing my niece that she needs to cover up more. It's difficult though, because many of her friends do get to wear skimpy bikinis. I don't think my niece necessarily wants to wear a skimpy bikini, but it's more that she doesn't want to be the only one -not- wearing one.

Dawn 5-22-2008 @ 10:03PM

If you think it's hard trying to find a modest swimsuit for the average 11 year old, just imagine trying to find an age appropriate swimsuit for an 11 year old girl with a very developed body. My daughter is in fifth grade, 11 years, 5' tall and 105 lbs, wears a size 2 pants and is overflowing her 34D bra. Due to her bust size, it's very hard to find clothing; I need to shop in the juniors or misses sizes for her. Tried to find a swimsuit for a school trip to a water park, and all I could find in the Juniors Dept. were teeny tiny bikinis; the bottoms were cut so low she'd need to wax, and even the large tops were showing way too much breast. Next stop is the Misses section for a one piece with more breast support. Does anyone else have the same problem? Suggestions?

Sarah 7-12-2008 @ 4:32PM

What do you think of a 12 year old girl wearing this: http://www.roxy.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2865419&cp=2818165.2818106&pg=2&fbn=Taxonomy%7CSwim&f=Taxonomy%2FROXY%2F2818106&fbc=1&parentPage=family
Does it show too much? Please give me your honest opinion.

How To Submit Photos:
If you'd like your children (any age will do!) featured on ParentDish, upload photos into the ParentDish Flickr Pool. Be sure to read our main Flickr page for more information.