[guest^]

We don't.

I am so frustrated at trying to find semi-modest clothes for dd. Then the swimsuit issue comes up. Since she is doing swimteam, I bought her a cute,modest 1 piece suit from Lands End. Then her friends come over to run through the sprinkler-all in 2-pieces. Of course dd challenges me on the issue.

My issue is that while our faith does teach modesty, I feel the whole clothing industry is into exploiting young girls with crop tops, super short skirts,skort, and shorts. When choosing a swimsuit I am so grossed out!! To me, it is *not* cute to see little girls running around in bikinis. It begins at a young age, and only gets worse. Todays trend means sexual exploitation of young girls. THis leads to pedophilic attraction-something young girls are not ready to handle. What seems so innocent now, leads to who knows what next.

Whatever happened to the days of "looking forward to something-like bikinis,ear piercing,makeup,etc."????

Our dc are being exposed to so much already, why can't we protect them as the little girls they are,rather than pushing them to look like teenagers??

mp

 

[onlyzombiecat]

We haven't bought our dd a 2 piece swimsuit yet. Dh is actually the one who insists most on a 1 piece suit. Last time we went shopping for a suit a lot of the ones we saw looked too mature I thought. We did find a cute one piece but there weren't many of them to choose from.
I do see a bunch of clothes for little girls that seem way too mature- copies of what teens are wearing. It gets frustrating because we want our dd to dress like a child and be able to play comfortably.

 

[TiredX2]

I, personally, have no issues with two piece swimsuits for girls. DD wore two piece swimsuits for years. Her first one piece was just this last fall when she was 5.75. Before she was always too thin for a one piece--- she could fit a 2-3T around, but was as tall as a 5. Now she is a bit more proportional and she prefers two piece suits.

If you are looking for a good source of one piece suits, though, I think Costco is the *best* Their girls Speedos (so great cross back) are only like $12 and come in a variety of patterns and colors.

I think it is simplistic to say that a two piece swimsuit will attract pedophiles more than a one piece suit, though. There are just so many more issues that go into it than that.

 

[Ann-Marita]

Yes, I allow my 9 yr old to wear a two piece. She is long in the torso for how big around she is, and two piece suits usually fit better.

They are still "little girl" suits - not smaller versions of the teen suits. Their bodies at this age are no different from the waist up than little boys. I think there's nothing wrong with a little belly showing (at the pool) on either boys or girls.

 

[AdoptChina]

my 5 yr old DD does wear 2 piece swim suits...but they are more like a tankini than a bikini (I dont like the triangle tops...they look too grown up for her). They actually make it easier for her to go to the bathroom at the pool/beach/etc. But she has 1 piece suits too

 

[alegna]

I don't have a problem with 2 piece suits. I am very long in the torso as are most women in my family and if I had to get a reasonably cheap one piece I'd have a major wedgie.

-Angela

 

[Alkenny]

My DD is older now, but she's always worn 2 piece suits. There are some decent cut ones out there that aren't too "sexualized".

 

[AngelBee]

Yes, if that is what she is comfortable in.

 

[the_lissa]

Yep my dd wears a two piece.

You know 70 years ago, even a modest one piece by our stanards would have been scandalous. It is all subjective.

 

[Wilhemina]

My dds wear modest 2 pieces. Like another poster's dd, my oldest is long in the torso and on the slender side, so they fit better. Plus, when she was younger we found potty training much easier in the 2 piece suits.

I have to say I am really torn on this issue of modest dress for young girls. On one hand, I completely understand what you mean about young girls being encouraged to dress too "sexy." I am very selective about the clothes I purchase for my dds - and it's becoming increasingly difficult! On the other hand, I think suggesting that this contributes to pedophilia is a bit of blaming the victim.

My 6 year old should be able to walk around naked and not have anyone think of her in a sexual way, much less attack her. One could argue that while that may be *ideal,* pragmatically I have to protect my daughter. One could also argue that pragmatically I shouldn't run to the grocery store after dark by myself, or try to help a woman I see being abused in a parking lot, or...

Parallizing women with fear is one of the most insidious ways misogyny is perpetuated in our culture.

I grew up in a very conservative Christian church. I never felt more *icky* about my body than when the director of my church camp instructed me to change out of my (modest, just above the knee - believe me, my mom wouldn't have allowed anything remotely inappropriate) shorts when I was 9. I was told that shorts were not allowed for girls because they were too suggestive. I was only 9. I didn't understand exactly, but I got a clear message that something about my body was shameful and needed concealing. I think one of the ideas was to teach us girls to fear our own bodies and sexuality.

Please understand I know you are not going to this extreme. Still, I am acutely aware that when my dd admires a swimsuit I find distasteful that it is me who is finding a 6 y.o.'s clothes sexual, not a pedophile.

I fear I haven't made myself clear here, but it is something that has been bothering me for a long time. I have been silent on these type of threads for literally years because of my internal conflict, but I really feel the need to speak up, finally.

 

[lumi]

I really prefer modest two-pieces ( the kind with tank tops and shorts-style bottoms) and my older DDs (10 and 6) agree. One-pieces always seem to ride up, so the two-piece is more comfortable, and that's really important.
When you consider modesty, well, any swimsuit is form-fitting anyway, and with the more modest two-piece suits, compared to a one-piece,it's only a difference of showing a few inches of skin at the midriff.

 

[thenewme]

I try to buy only 1 pc swimsuits. But, I am looking for a modest 2 pc because I have a long torso, short leg girl who seems to be uncomfortable in the 1 pc suits.

 

[wende]

Recently, I bought my 2 older dd's new bathing suits. They are 13 and 10 years old. I thought for sure that my 13yo would insist on a one piece because she is very modest. Boy was I shocked when she insisted on a 2 piece because she doesn't like the way the fabric feels on her stomach in a 1 piece. She got a 2 piece. My 10yo had no other choice. She is long and thin. They look great in their 2 pieces.

 

[simply me]

I have no issues at all with 2 piece suits. we all wear them in my house. My oldest 7 1/2 has never owned a 1 peice until this summer. It is only because she was unable to find a 2 piece that she liked. We look everytime we are out in hopes she will find the right one. My dd is very fashion consious. My littlest is 2 & last yr & this year she is in her 2 piece. looks adorable i might add.

I think everyone has their own views & what ever works in that family is what is right. Does that make sense?? i hope so... :LOL

 

[kama'aina mama]

My almost 5 y/o wears a two piece some times. It's very modest, sort of 'boy cut' shorts and the top closer to a cut you would expect from a halter top than a bikini. We swim a lot and I got really frustrated trying to help her peel off a wet one piece to go potty. So... two pieces if I can manage it. (If it's wet or needs washing we have a one piece that is the back-up suit.)

 

[SagMom]

My dd wears a 2 piece and has for years. She preferrs is, says it's easier to move, more comfortable, and easier to use the bathroom.

*I* wore one as a kid--it's not a new issue at all!

 

[Beverly]

My daughter is the same age as OP's, and two-piece swimsuits are an issue for us, too. I say no way ...

 

[1xmom]

My dd likes two-piece, but when we went shopping for a new one, she found a tie die rainbow color one piece that she liked, so we went w/that.

Just wanted to add, that when I was about 9 or so, my grandmother bought me a two piece red and white striped bathing suit. Well it was TERRY CLOTH, and we all know what happens to terry cloth when it gets wet.

 

[stafl]

I have no problem with 2-piece bathing suits. Don't wear them myself, but if DD wanted one, that would be up to her. So far, she likes one-piece suits better anyway. I honestly don't see anything sexual about little kids, no matter what they are wearing. People don't just turn into pedophiles by looking at kids in skimpy clothes. I doubt it matters what the kids are wearing, and, since the nature of their problem is a sexual attraction to children, just maybe "little kid" clothes would be more of a turn on than more grown up styles.

 

[Breathless Wonder]

Can someone explain to me why a child wearing a two piece is being "sexualized"?