moms of girls: what is your opinion on two-piece bathing suits?

snowflakemom · January 2013

I used to always buy one-pieces for both of my DDs, but now that both of them are PTed, it is a lot easier for them to wear two-pieces in regard to having to go to the bathroom when they have a suit on.

So I was shopping with a friend a week or so ago and we were in Janie & Jack. I was looking for a new suit for DD#2 who will be 4 soon. I ended up picking this one:

https://tinyurl.com/bdppumd

But my friend pulled these two:

https://tinyurl.com/aashje9

https://tinyurl.com/b24pfwz

Sorry, I can't remember how to put actual photos in a post!

So what is the consensus here? How do you feel about bikini two-pieces for girls? Are just tankinis ok (that's the only type of two-piece I've ever bought for either of my DDs) or what do you buy? At what age do you think a bikini suit is appropriate? I do think the ones my friend picked out were cute, there's just something about putting a bikini on a little girl that makes me balk.

MAprincess · January 2013

I still wear a bikini so I am not anti-bikini, but I don't really like bikins on little girls. Tankinis are fine and even maybe a two piece where the top looks more like a sports bra. But for some reason, a little girl with tiny triangles on her chest weirds me out.

So far, DD has only worn one piece suits but I'd buy her a tankini. I would not have bought the suits your friend bought. And the one you picked out is totally cute!

alli2672 · January 2013

I think they're cute! I really like the yellow one.

I put my little girl in bikini bottoms and a swim shirt. The boys wear swim shirts too. I have very pale children.

littlemermaid · January 2013

I have always bought tankini style bathing suits for my daughter. They're still 2 pieces but also have coverage.

joyfullyfound · January 2013

I think bikinis are cute on: little girls, adult/older teen women

Bikini's aren't ok on: babies, and age around puberty (as soon as they start getting some curves going)

+ASH+ · January 2013

I'm not technically a mom of a girl yet, but I had a bikini as a toddler (strawberries - so cute!) and my niece had one when she was little (two fish kissing made of the top). I think we were both about three. I am not scarred for life because of it lol! If I find a cute one when DD is a toddler, I'll be getting it.

If you like it, it's really not a big deal. Honestly, if someone has a problem with it, that shows more issues that the particular person has - it does not reflect on you or your child in any way.

ETA: I would agree with a PP about not putting one on a baby, but just because I can't see the fit being good, so you would constantly be adjusting it and she would probably be uncomfortable. As I got older, I was not allowed to wear a bikini until I was about 15 or 16 and I was okay with that - I always leaned toward the sportier style bikinis as a young woman anyway, so there was more coverage (I have a larger bust). And my favorite bikini as a teenager, had more coverage than a lot of one-pieces do today (or monokinis or whatever they're called).

penguingrrl · January 2013

I prefer tankini or a sports-bra type top for my girls and would not buy two pieces that looked like they were covering breasts for my girls, but don't really care what other people do. I used to only do one piece suits, but they were a PITA so I switched to two piece.

memali26 · January 2013

I prefer a 2 piece suit for ease of changing diapers and using the bathroom. DD1 potty trained right before swimming lessons last summer and it was SO much easier taking her to use the potty in a 2 piece. I always look for rash guards/bottoms or tankinis. I'm not a fan of bikinis on kids or younger teens.

Mom2Mack1 · January 2013

So far DD has only had 1 piece suits, mostly because they were hand-me-downs. I think 2 pieces are more convenient, but I would probably opt for a tankini or something with more coverage than two little triangles. Less area to cover with suntan lotion!

Deblondie1 · January 2013

E isn't PT'd yet so my opinion could be slightly skewed. But I really like her in one pieces LOL That being said, I fully believe she will have two piece bathing suits at some point, just not bikinis. In my head, there is a difference between a two piece, i.e. a tankini, a sports bra-like top, etc, and a bikini, i.e. ties, triangle top.

So I guess I say more power to you on whatever you decide but I wouldn't do an adult style bikini on my toddler.

sophie206 · January 2013

I am fine with 2 pieces, but not a fan of triangle tops or tiny bottoms on little girls. I don't care if other people do it, but I am more apt to pick out a tankini or sports bra/band type top. I will be getting a 2 piece for DD since it's so much easier for going potty.

mrswright2006 · January 2013

DD has a few 2 pc. As she has gotten older, I am less restrictive on what swimsuit she wears. I bought her a rash guard swimsuit last summer that also came with a bikini top, and while I don't like her wearing the bikini top in public, she wears it in my parents hot tub sometimes. I have no problem with tankinis, or some skin showing, but I also like to cover as much skin a possible because she is so fair skinned.

roxy_jj · January 2013

I don't have a problem with two piece bathing suits. I'm not really a fan of the triangle tops for little girls, though. I really like tankini bathing suits because they are much easier for using the bathroom. DD always wears either a one piece, tankini, or rash guard with swim bottoms. She is super fair skinned and needs more coverage than a bathing suit with an exposed stomach provides.

danienross · January 2013

I've always bought 2 piece suits for E for easy diaper changes but the top usually covers like a sports bra or is a tankini/swim shirt. I don't like bikini tops, they don't have anything to hold it in place.

MesmrEwe · January 2013

littlemermaid:
I have always bought tankini style bathing suits for my daughter. They're still 2 pieces but also have coverage.

This! DD has a really long torso so a one-piece just won't work for her. I avoid anything "bikini" style just simply because she's young and want her to have the coverage, not just for modesty, but sunburn chances (more than once when she was in DC years did she come home with the "missed spot" that made her miserable for a few days!)..

LatteLady5 · January 2013

penguingrrl:
I prefer tankini or a sports-bra type top for my girls and would not buy two pieces that looked like they were covering breasts for my girls, but don't really care what other people do.

This. N has a two piece that looks like what lala posted. I think the little triangles on a little girls chest just looks weird. A ruffly sports bra type top and a skirty type bottom is my pick.

I am also wear two piece suits but the kind with a triangle top :P

Notwifezilla7 · January 2013

penguingrrl:
I prefer tankini or a sports-bra type top for my girls and would not buy two pieces that looked like they were covering breasts for my girls, but don't really care what other people do. I used to only do one piece suits, but they were a PITA so I switched to two piece.

I agree. Though we do one pieces only for swim lessons. Don't have to worry about saggy bottoms.

kcisthebombdotcom · January 2013

LalaMama81:
I am mixed. We do lots of tankinis b/c even changing a diaper w/ a one piece is a PITA.
DD1 has had a few 2 pieces that are more like this:
https://www.target.com/p/circo-infant-toddler-girls-ruffle-bikini/-/A-14343316#prodSlot=large_2_2
and I am okay with those for now. I'm not sure if an age will come when I'd prefer a longer top.
That said, last year at Old Navy, I totally bought DD2 more of a bikini for this year b/c it was super cute, a purple tiled print and her name is Violet, so I couldn't resist. I don't know if I'll let her wear it to the pool or just at home, yet.

We had this exact suit for DD (just a different color) and I love it. We gravitate towards 2 piece styles like this or tankinis. I think two pieces on little girls are fine (of any age). I think a bikini style--think triangle top with stringy bottoms aren't appropriate for little girls regardless the age.

brooketini · January 2013

DD, like me, has a freakishly long torso and cannot wear one piece bathing suits. I do not like teeny bikinis on little girls though, so it's tankinis all the way for this family.

Cherryblossoms07 · January 2013

DH and I are not fans of bikinis on young girls or babies. I don't think they need that much skin exposed to the sun. I love tankinis - DD has always had tankinis. I usually gravitate towards a rash guard with board shorts because my daughter's fair skin and FL sun just didn't mix.

NHbride129 · January 2013

I think bikinis are cute and fun on little girls. But, I don't buy them because they are totally impractical. I buy the 2 pieces with the big rash guard tops.

Mama-Bear · January 2013

I have all boys, so maybe my opinion doesn't count for much, but I'm not a fan of bikini's on anyone under the age of 15/16. I think they're cute, but I would only let my hypothetical DD wear something like that at home, never in public. There are too many pervs out there, I would never want anyone looking at my child in a disgusting way and I would hate to be at a public pool and never know if someone was secretly snapping pics of my child. Maybe I sound paranoid, but I don't see the point in a bikini unless you have a great body that you want to show off (1 reason why I'll never wear another bikini in my life).

shibby00 · January 2013

DD wears a 2 piece rash guard exclusively. I love them, and a 1 piece is a pain to go potty in. I'm not a fan of bikinis on any little girls.

JCM · January 2013

I really like the 2 your friend bought & I'd put DD in them. I grew up wearing bikini's and really see no problem with it. During summer it was practically my everyday outfit running around the neighborhood with a t-shirt on when not in the water That being said most of the time it's just us in our backyard pool but would put her in when we go to the beach too.

regenab · January 2013

I prefer the tankinis for my girls. Mostly because it is less skin I have to put sunscreen on. Living here in FL we are in our pool every single day from May through September, so the more clothing the better. I love the rash shirts with bikini bottoms and use them as well at the beach. My BFF buys bikinis for her girls, but they are 6 and up and it looks better on them. But just not on my kids at this point. But then again I wear tankinis and love them. I haven't worn a bikini in public since having my twins. I do wear one in my own pool when it is just us in the pool. But if I have people over I wear a tankini. So I guess since I wouldn't wear them myself, I tend to go straight for the tankini for my girls when I am swimsuit shopping.

eaglesfan700 · January 2013

shibby00:
DD wears a 2 piece rash guard exclusively. nbsp;I love them, and a 1 piece is a pain to go potty in. nbsp;I'm not a fan of bikinis on any little girls.

This is me exactly. I love the rash guards for the sun protection and because I think they are adorable. I don't find bikinis on little girls cute at all

shortstuff15 · January 2013

Call me old fashioned but my daughters will not be allowed to wear bikinis until they have left my house. Tankini's are ok but the stomach has to be covered. Once they have moved out of our house then swimsuit style is up to them. I understand that two pieces are easier for kids to go potty and such, but I'll deal with the one piece just because then I don't have to be remembering two pieces of the swimsuit when I pack up! But then again we have only indoor pools here so it's also a factor of what keeps them warmer and that is one pieces!

PalmettoBaybee · January 2013

JCM:
I really like the 2 your friend bought & I'd put DD in them. I grew up wearing bikini's and really see no problem with it. During summer it was practically my everyday outfit running around the neighborhood with a t-shirt on when not in the water That being said most of the time it's just us in our backyard pool but would put her in when we go to the beach too.

This. Also, my DD is long in the torso and pretty thin so one pieces that fit her length-wise are baggy and look silly. She has almost always worn bikinis. That said, we are very fair skinned so she usually has a rash guard on.

notkateanymore · January 2013

I don't like bikinis past 4 or 5 and before high school...except I broke my own rules this summer. It was so cute! It has boy short bottoms with a little pocket. Love it!

jnksmom · January 2013

DD does wear 2-piece swimsuits but I buy a tankini or one with a bigger top that covers a little more. I don't like the bikini style on little/young girls. My mom bought DD one with a top like the one your friend bought when DD was 18 months. I only let her wear it to swim at my parent's house and told my mom I didn't care for that style.

segerama · January 2013

I hate one pieces. I haven't worn a one piece since I was in swim team in fifth grade. My three year old usually wears 2 pieces from Gymboree or Janie and Jack. Two pieces are just more comfortable and easier to take on and off for diaper changes and restroom breaks. I don't consider a bikini with flamingos, ladybugs, or other cutesy themes on it to be inappropriate.

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