Tired of the circ debate? Baby bikinis!

MrsAJL

Just kidding!

However, I was wondering about modesty and children, especially with girls. Over on the SAHMs board, there is a post about teaching children modesty and not dressing girls in immodest clothing. The OP points to this outfit says "I can not no matter how risque it might be not let her wear stuff like this for just this summer..."

My questions ---

Is this kind of outfit immodest for young girls (under age 4, if you need an age)? 

Are you concerned with demonstrating modest for your daughters?

Do you have the same concern for your sons?

 

ali-1411

I didn't like halter, strapless or spaghetti strap tops for Layna.  I don't think its about modesty, I'm not much of a modest person.  If you got it, flaunt it. 

But babies and toddlers don't have anything.  They have pale, tender skin and little fat rolls.  Tops like that are made to show a woman's assets.  Babies and little girls don't have assets. 

Same with bikinis, Layna won't wear a bikini until she actually has some boobs to put in one.  I cringe every summer when I a little girl ages 5 - 9 with a bikini top that rides up every time she jumps in the pool, showing off her nipples because she doesn't have the right development to keep the top on.

fjaril

I don't see anything wrong with that outfit. It's super cute and if I had a girl, she's be allowed to wear it.

H spent most of the last 4 years in a cloth diaper and a t-shirt or less (when at home or a friends). He wore regular clothes out, but could always take off his shirt if he wanted. I see a boy in a tank top, or just in shorts as the same as a girl in a romper/ jumper thingy. 

There is nothing sexual about that bubble jumper to me. But then again, while potty training, I let me kid run around the house naked. 

kiarox2002

I think it's adorable.    

If it was a glittery halter top that looked like club wear my opinion would be different even if it was less revealing.  To me, it's more about how "adult" the outfit is and not how much skin is showing, KWIM? 

For the record, I think babies in bikinis are *adorable* (baby ones, not triangle tops) but DH hates them.  We've compromised on rash guard tops and a separate bottom.   

Mrs.Froggianna

kiarox2002:

I think it's adorable.    

If it was a glittery halter top that looked like club wear my opinion would be different even if it was less revealing.  To me, it's more about how "adult" the outfit is and not how much skin is showing, KWIM? 

Ditto.  I've got a FB friend who's 2nd grade daughter is in competitive cheerleading and she's posted several pictures of her in outfits like this:

I cringe every.single.time she posts them because the intent is for these 2nd grade girls to look sexy and that, IMO, is disgusting and wrong.  The parents who put that little girl in a jumper weren't trying to make her sexy.  All that said, if I had girls I probably wouldn't put them in something backless because it would mean I'd have to slather on sunscreen all.the.time.  And I'm too lazy for that. 

AustinAggie01

I think the outfit is adorable and would have put DD in something like that, no problem.  I'm against baby bikinis, although DD does have a couple 2-piece suits (rash guards and bottoms or a tankini style that covers the belly) and I still like the outfit.  We'll teach modesty when it's appropriate.  Right now, I don't want to lay the foundation that they need to hide their bodies or somehow feel they need to be ashamed of something.  My kids still bathe together, half the time we do pj's in the living room all together and after bath they still like to run around the house naked doing the "booty dance."  Neither one has ever tried to strip in public or go out without clothes.  They realize this is something we can do at home, but not around others.  In the summer, after swimming in the backyard, many times we strip them of their suits, lather them up and give them a "hose bath."  There is always a little bit of running around the backyard naked involved.  We also bathed them in the lake this summer with special enviro-friendly soap in MN.  They thought it was great.  DH and I don't set the example of nakedness ourselves, so I'm not afraid of raising nudists.  We'll phase it out when we think its run its course.

thethomps

Sheesh.  I consider myself a very modest person (I am really uncomfortable if I have any boobage/cleavage showing in a shirt) and I have no problem with bubble outfits at all.  They're cute, they're comfortable and cool during the summer.  Am I trying to sexualize my daughter by having her wear one of these?  Absolutely not.  And, believe me, her nipples did not show in any of her bubble outfits.  I am not a fan of baby bikinis - a la Alli's comment.

I am concerned about demonstrating modesty for my daughter and would be for my son, too.  I think girls need to learn to respect their bodies.  There are enough Britneys, etc. out there that will teach them how to be hoochies, if they're interested.  I want to represent the other side of the coin.  And I'd like to be modest for my son.  Again, he's going to see enough of the highly sexualized dress while out there - I'd like for him to know that not every woman dresses that way and that women who don't dress that way can still be considered beautiful.

abh1977

kiarox2002:

  

If it was a glittery halter top that looked like club wear my opinion would be different even if it was less revealing.  To me, it's more about how "adult" the outfit is and not how much skin is showing, KWIM?    

Ditto! 

brideonjuly8

I think that outfit is perfectly fine, and in fact, I wore tons of outfits just like that.  ME, coming from a mother who wouldn't let me wear boxers and a t-shirt in front of my college boyfriend (turned DH).  She's is THE model closet-nun and I had tons of backless and halter style tops when I was little.  In high school?  Not so much.   

Taytee

I don't think it's immodest but I wouldn't put it on my kids. Just too much skin showing for me. Plus, I freaking HATE the way a halter feels against my neck so I try not to inflict that upon my children I do try to dress them like children and NEVER in any kind of sexy or even too cutesy sayings.

I recall on the Knot a bride being frustrated she couldn't find any strapless dresses for her <5 year old niece to wear I can barely keep up a straples comfortably. I can only imagine a tiny cute flower girl walking down the aisle only reach the end with the whole thing in a puddle around her ankles!!!

kiarox2002

Taytee:

I don't think it's immodest but I wouldn't put it on my kids. Just too much skin showing for me. Plus, I freaking HATE the way a halter feels against my neck so I try not to inflict that upon my children I do try to dress them like children and NEVER in any kind of sexy or even too cutesy sayings.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the "brat", "princess", or "does this diaper make my butt look big" onesies.  In fact, I may have taken 2 of the "butt look big" ones straight to goodwill with the tags still on them.  Not the message I want to send my child. 

brideonjuly8

kiarox2002:

Taytee:

I don't think it's immodest but I wouldn't put it on my kids. Just too much skin showing for me. Plus, I freaking HATE the way a halter feels against my neck so I try not to inflict that upon my children I do try to dress them like children and NEVER in any kind of sexy or even too cutesy sayings.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the "brat", "princess", or "does this diaper make my butt look big" onesies.  In fact, I may have taken 2 of the "butt look big" ones straight to goodwill with the tags still on them.  Not the message I want to send my child. 

Oh goodness, one of my biggest pet peeves is all the "Princess" clothing.  Not characters really (although I don't like those either) but the ones that say "I'm a princess" and such.  And not just shirts- car bumper stickers, folders, purses, necklaces, license plate cover thingys....makes me want to poke my eye out.

fjaril

brideonjuly8:

kiarox2002:

Taytee:

I don't think it's immodest but I wouldn't put it on my kids. Just too much skin showing for me. Plus, I freaking HATE the way a halter feels against my neck so I try not to inflict that upon my children I do try to dress them like children and NEVER in any kind of sexy or even too cutesy sayings.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the "brat", "princess", or "does this diaper make my butt look big" onesies.  In fact, I may have taken 2 of the "butt look big" ones straight to goodwill with the tags still on them.  Not the message I want to send my child. 

Oh goodness, one of my biggest pet peeves is all the "Princess" clothing.  Not characters really (although I don't like those either) but the ones that say "I'm a princess" and such.  And not just shirts- car bumper stickers, folders, purses, necklaces, license plate cover thingys....makes me want to poke my eye out.

This yields an immature 20 something who won't use her first name on FB but rather calls herself Princess Surname. And it's even worse when the father still calls her Princess and the mother thinks she (the 20 something) needs to find a guy who'll treat her like a princess. Oh and this gal wouldn't have a 5 yo, and certainly wouldn't be expected to hold a job b/c you know moving back into your parents house with your 5 yo after only just moving out a few months ago wouldn't be anti princess-y at all and your certainly wouldn't be my sister or anything (vent over) I have a problem with calling girls princesses to the point they don't differentiate reality and think life should be handed to them on a silver platter... (she's 26 by the by)