There has been a lot of controversy in the news the last couple of days about the string bikinis for little ones featured on GOOP. What do you think? No big deal, or no way you'd let your LO wear one?
If we had a girl there's no way I'd let her wear one of these - the featured swimsuit on her homepage is a black ruffled low cut string bikini. I'd probably let my LO wear a more age appropriate two piece though, like a tankini, or rash guard/separate bottom combo!
pineapple / 12526 posts
No, no and no. I actually refuse to buy a bikini for C this young. She's only ever had 1-piece and tankinis.
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
My daughter who is 18 months has a one piece and a two piece. The two piece is a bottom with a matching rash guard so I don't really consider it a bikini. I just like the extra coverage of the rash guards. I don't think I would let her wear that or any other bikini for awhile.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
I think there can be age appropriate two pieces. A string bikini doesn't sound like one though.
grapefruit / 4819 posts
Wow, just checked out the bikini on GOOP's website and no way. No freakin' way. I don't have a problem with girls wearing cute, kid appropriate, non-sexy two piece suits; I do, however, have a HUGE problem with dressing little girls as though they are sexualized mini-adults. So many clothing choices out there for little girls really disappoint me and this is just taking it to another level.
So no, not a chance in the world will my LO wear a two piece like that.
papaya / 10473 posts
@Ree723: I can't believe those little girls' parents let them model something like that. I don't want to be judgy but I can't help but think about all the pervs out there saving those pics to their computers right now 
watermelon / 14467 posts
Nope. I wasn't allowed to wear a bikini until I was 18, and while it sucked at the time, I'm so glad my parents were sticklers for modesty.
grapefruit / 4819 posts
@grizz: Yuck, that makes my skin crawl but I know you're right. In the photo of the back of the suit, I actually had to do a double take as I thought it was an adult at first glance. That speaks volumes right there - little girls swimsuits should not be able to be mistaken for an adult swimsuit at all. And yes, I do wonder how those parents are ok with it...
GOLD / papaya / 10206 posts
I don't have a problem with them directly, but I wouldn't want to put DD in one, I prefer more coverage from the sun more than anything.
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
It's definitely not for me, but I looked at those pictures and didn't see them as sexualized... it's just a kid, she looks kind of bored actually.
coconut / 8472 posts
I'm not a fan. I'm not against bikinis or 2 pieces in general (except I think rashguards are better for the sun protection), but they need to be age appropriate.
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
I remember wearing a bikini as a little kid. Geez, there are topless pics of me as a little kid at a pool. If the kids were posed in a sexual manner, I think that would turn me off. Having said that, I think a string bikini is a poor choice for a little kid. They run, other kids pull on strings. Just doesn't seem conducive to keeping it on.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Goop is blocked at my work, so I can't see, but I can imagine what a string bikini on a child would look like.
I lived abroad, and I'll be honest, at the beach, in the summer, little girls ran around with bikini bottoms on, no tops. It's not uncommon for kids to be completely naked in the backyard, running around through the sprinkler, up to about age 5. Is it a modesty issue, or is it adult clothes on kids that's the issue at the heart of the matter?
eta: I know there are other bees that live abroad on these boards, but Continental Europeans seem to have different views on nudity.
bananas / 9899 posts
I don't think it's so much that they are bikinis that are turning me off... it's that they literally look just like bikinis I would buy for myself. They don't look child like. No fun colours, cute patterns, ectect... they just look like adult bikinis sized down for babies.
Not to mention they do not look practical for running around and playing in the water.
cantaloupe / 6869 posts
No, I would not let my LO wear a bikini like that until she was in high school..
@looch: I think it's kids wearing mini adult wear. It's like little girls wearing halter tops and mini skirts. It's just not right. I lived in Italy for a time when I was a kid and we used to go topless on the beach all of the time with no problem. So for me, it's not nudity but the sexualization that's the issue.
squash / 13764 posts
@looch: to me, I'd rather have a little girl running around in just bottoms than see one in a string bikini. Not sure how to explain that...but the first seems to say "There's nothing to hide here, I'm just a kid" whereas the second does (IMO) send a more sexualized/adult message.
I wouldn't let my child wear one of those, although I have no issue with less "adult like" bikinis for girls.
pineapple / 12526 posts
@Grace: See, I remember wearing one as a kid too, when I was like 8-9. I remember mine looking like a kid's swimsuit though.
I don't have a problem with age appropriate bikinis. I do, however, take issue with dressing a child in the same bikini a college girl on spring break would wear.
pineapple / 12802 posts
@Grace: I agree.
I had a two piece when I was just little and it was pretty cute. A string bikini may not be my first choice for my daughter, but a two piece is no big deal in my opinion.
I also have to agree that the photo was done right, it's not like she's being sexualized to model the bikini like the models from VS.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@looch: I took a screenshot for you.
I don't have kids yet but I understand the message it can portray by kids wearing two pieces. I personally wouldn't judge another parent for their LO wearing a two piece unless they are yelling at the poor kid to lose weight, become a model or point out others weight issues. I think until a certain age, kids in a bikini can be cute and not sexualized. When the kid gets older and are more aware of how they look and what society pressures are out there, that's when I would have concerns. I would likely make sure I talk to my daughter about it.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@looch: that's interesting to hear! I actually dated a guy who grew up in Cote d'Ivoire and he said it was totally normal for women of ALL ages to be completely topless on the beaches and he always thought it was somewhat normal until he moved to the states.
I'm not a fan.
pear / 1698 posts
Not a big deal for me, except as someone else mentioned the strings aren't conducive to running around and playing so I wouldn't purchase for that reason. I wore bikinis growing up and will allow my daughter to do so also.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@bluestriped bee: Thanks! I see now, that the photo isn't over sexualized and I am okay with that bikini on the model. At the end of the day, some girls are going to want to wear what they see other women wearing and some will want to wear board shorts and rash guards.
grapefruit / 4817 posts
I don't think it's a big deal, but being in FL and living in a swim suit for 6 months out of the year, I've seen kids in every type of suit there is. It doesn't bother me either way. Personally, I wouldn't do it because it looks like a hassle to keep on and I'm more concerned about the sun than that.
nectarine / 2085 posts
I echo the concerns about keeping a string bikini on! I own a few of them, and they are not really that conducive to, you know, actually swimming. If they're going to the beach or pool, I think children should be encouraged to be active and participate, and an outfit that may fall off would hinder that.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6703 posts
My LO will be wearing a one-piece suit. When she's a few years older, her 2 piece will be tankini or shorts style. I just feel like kids ought to dress like kids, not mini-adults.
coconut / 8475 posts
@hilsy85: I know. If she were in just a diaper and running around it wouldn't even bother me as much.
Bikinis are sexy...come in, people: the purpose if then isn't to look like a granny.
So, I don't like them for kids but even when I do, it's not this plunge neck, string style.
pomelo / 5628 posts
This is why I'm glad I have a boy! I don't think that bikini is a whole lot different than other ones for little kids, but I wouldn't buy anything but a two piece until she was old...very old.
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
I'm not a fan of that bathing suit. I agree that some bikinis for little girls are cute, but that one looks way too much like something you would see at VS! I actually think one-pieces for babies/toddlers are cuter, though. I mean look at this one-piece from Baby Gap...it is taking every ounce of self-control for me to not buy it right now!
cantaloupe / 6800 posts
I don't think it's a big deal. I'd let my LO wear a two piece, given it was age appropriate and stayed in place. String bikinis....no, wouldn't even consider it.
When I think of a two-piece I think of picture one, which I am OK with. Picture two, i'm not.
@lawbee11: Buy that. You have my permission. 
pomelo / 5000 posts
I hate the string bikini.
The pictures are not sexual in content, but I still think they're inappropriate. I would not blink an eye to see a little kid running around topless at the beach, but would definitely react to one wearing a string bikini. @Looch, it's definitely a kid in grown-up clothing for me.
@Lawbee11: very cute. You need to buy that.
bananas / 9227 posts
I don't think that image of the bored little girl is sexualized at all. She looks like a sweet little girl to me and the bikini doesn't seem so "stringy" in that picture either. Look at her sides.
Here's a close-up picture of the actual bottom. There's a fabric that drapes the front and back. I personally wouldn't chose it for DD, but it's kinda cute and if I saw a little girl wear one, I wouldn't think anything -- as long as she's NOT wearing make-up, heals and bright red lipstick!
coconut / 8305 posts
We're a one-piece or long takini matched with shorts bottoms kind of family! Even as an adult!
pear / 1895 posts
I guess I don't understand the concern of "kids in adult clothes" when we dress our kids (boys, especially) in clothes that mimic adult clothing, like jeans, v-neck tees, vans, etc. I mean, isn't that the same concept? Or do you all dress your little boys in jon-jons and knee high socks?
I agree that string bikinis are not conducive to play, and that (along with poor sun coverage) would be the reason I wouldn't buy one for my little girl.
pineapple / 12053 posts
yeah, it's too adult-like for my taste, but i don't mind little girls in 2 pieces. i also live right by the beach, so i don't know if that matters.
pomelo / 5257 posts
@allison: Agreed. I think one pieces are probably more comfortable for little girls, especially since it's not like they have boobs to hold the triangles in place so the top probably shifts around a lot, but I'm not offended by this. As much as I'd like to be because I find Gwyneth irritating, lol.
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