Bikinis for Young Girls: Adorable or Wrong?
I love a little baby belly. I love seeing it over the top of a diaper, running wild in a bathing suit bottom, anywhere except in a bikini.
I just think bikinis for little girls are a bit wrong. Now I know that many people disagree with me, that they think bikinis are adorable and sweet. But I think those little triangles (c'mon leopard print??) that rarely cover the nipples are at best useless and at worst, trying to portray little girls as sexy. And let's be honest, bikinis aren't even comfortable! So what's the point?
I have tossed out every bikini that has made its way into our home by way of hand-me-downs. So, of course, that means that my 5-year-old daughter wants one. But I will hold it off as long as I can.
Like it or not, bikini tops are supposed to be accentuating breasts which little girls obviously don't have. So why bother? There are so many cute suits out there. Why not put on a one-piece that has much better sun protection anyways? Or let them run around in a bottom like the boys do?
I know that I have written on the sexualization of young girls many times in this space. I understand that on the scale of things to be afraid of, a 2-year-old in a bikini is not high on the list. And before you call me a prude, it's not because I am afraid of my daughter having sex (which I am a little), but because I want her to have sex on her own terms, and not to feel that her body and her looks are public property available for consumption by all.
Over at Cafe Mom they did a poll on this issue and it was split down the middle. The mom bloggers at Momversation also debated it with mixed results.
What do you think? Are bikinis on babies and little girls so cute you can't help but smile? Or you would never put one on your child?
Want more chaos? Last year I asked what are your labels and how does that define you?
Photo credit: iStock
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