The "naked baby on the beach post" made me think of this. It used to drive my mother crazy when little girls were running around in just bathingsuit bottoms and no tops. We always had to wear a one piece or both pieces of a bikini.
I was walking by a splashpad/park the other day and i saw many girls with only bottoms on....both babies and toddlers. I cant say i love this look, but to each their own. Thoughts?
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
It doesn't bother me to see, however my child will always have a top on covering herself. I usually only have her in a one piece anyways, so it's not an issue. The only time I would let it fly would be my sister's pool or if we are just playing at our house. Never out at a public place/pool.
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
I don't care what other people do, but I don't like the look, myself. If I'm going to bother with bottoms, I'll bother with a top too.
honeydew / 7283 posts
Noty favorite look, but I'm certainly not offended by it. I like to have M in a rash guard-style top for sun protection anyway.
pear / 1895 posts
From a sun protection standpoint, I think it's always a good idea to put kids in a rash guard. But otherwise, how is a little girl with no top different from a little boy? I mean... they look EXACTLY the same.
grapefruit / 4819 posts
Doesn't bother me any, but from a sun smart perspective, I wouldn't do it; I always put rash guards on my LOs when we go for a swim.
I do think there is an age limit though as to when it stops being appropriate - around 5 or 6 would be my limit.
pineapple / 12802 posts
@Ree723: I agree. At a certain age it starts being inappropriate, but until then... what's the difference between a little boy or little girl? ya know.
eggplant / 11716 posts
It doesn't bother me. I would stop around 5-6 like pps though. They are babies, so "boobies" don't exist and I don't see it any differently than little boys wearing just swim diapers.
coconut / 8681 posts
It doesn't bother me when other people do it but I personally would always have a top/rashguard on her.
grapefruit / 4649 posts
It doesn't really bother me but as a nanny it isn't my call to let someone else's child go without a top. Once my daughter arrives sun protection will be a priority so she is likely to be in a rash guard.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
My kid almost never has clothes on but at the beach? That's asking for a sunburn.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
Babies and toddlers top less is fine. Once little girls are aware of what makes them different from boys it's time to put a top on. I imagine a self - aware little girl will know her chest will turn into breast. Time to cover up.
persimmon / 1363 posts
I think it's fine when they're babies, and I would let them decide when they're older. I dont see it as an issue until it's an issue for them.
pear / 1846 posts
I actually thing bikini tops on babies/toddlers is weird and kind of sexualises them (covering up something that doesn't exist, one pieces etc look fine though.
honeydew / 7589 posts
It doesn't bother me in the least. The "point" of a swimsuit top on a female is to cover the breasts... which little girls don't have. So why do they need a top? I also don't like bikinis on little girls for this reason, it seems like it's rushing them into womanhood.
I put a rash guard on my LO for sun protection usually, but I would have no issue with her being topless at this age.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
I cover her with a rash guard for sun protection but otherwise I wouldn't be strict about a top until she was five or so.
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
@Snowdrop: @Arden: I agree. I don't like adult-looking bikini tops on little girls. There is plenty of time for that later. No need to rush it!
watermelon / 14206 posts
I would keep a top on her to keep a model of modesty. But it doesn't bother me on others.
squash / 13764 posts
I think it depends on age. Under 4/5, I think it's fine. Over that, I think I would be uncomfortable with that in public.
clementine / 812 posts
It doesn't bother me when people don't cover their little girls up, but if I have girls they will wear one-piece bathing suits. At some point when they learn boys and girls have different parts, you'll have to cover them up anyway--so I'd prefer to do it from the get-go.
Also, something weirds me out about putting little girls in two pieces. If it's like a boy short bottom and a sport bra type top, that's one thing. A bikini top and bottom seems too grown up and "sexy" IMO. Besides, gotta keep them tummies covered up and out of the sun! 
pomegranate / 3791 posts
I generally prefer one pieces for little girls, which makes this a moot point.
pear / 1698 posts
Doesn't bother me. At LO's daycare center all the kids in her room (1 year old) take off their shirts on spaghetti day and eat topless!
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
I am not a fan of it but I see nothing wrong with it.
nectarine / 2079 posts
If they are still in diapers, it is fine. If they are older, then they need to be covered.
clementine / 818 posts
It totally doesn't bother me, and I wouldn't be above it if there was a reason (forgot suit or something), but we use rash guards for sun protection. I really don't like seeing kids wandering around in public in just a diaper though (boy or girl) just because I don't think its a real classy look, but that is obviously a completely unrelated reason.
eggplant / 11716 posts
Don't forget the original coppertone baby! My grandad was a farmer and my grandma was a teacher, so my mom would go out with my dad to the farm every day and in the summer would wear just shorts or just short overalls with no shirt until she was 4-5 and started K. It was common then!
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
I hate it but guess what? Now that I have a daughter, more often than not in the summer, we're in the backyard with just her swim bottoms on.
pomegranate / 3393 posts
I think it's cute don't see any problems with it. I'd opt for a rash guard for sun protection for a boy or a girl, though.
watermelon / 14467 posts
I don't mind it on others, but my daughter will be wearing either a rash guard or a one-piece. I don't like bikinis on little girls.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Arden: Agree!
I have a son, but for protection, he'll be in a rashguard anyway. I'd do the same with a daughter.
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
@Arden: This.
It bothers me from a sun protection point of view but otherwise I don't care. It's not an issue of modesty or propriety at that age! I think there is nothing cuter than a one piece on a little girl and that's probably what I'll put my DD in (or a rash guard) while she's little.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
It doesn't bother me. I hate bikini tops on babies and toddlers though.
pomegranate / 3401 posts
It doesn't bother me, but for my own daughter she is in a one piece always (in public) and I'm thinking of getting her a rash guard (for more sun protection)
eggplant / 11287 posts
@Arden: exactly what Arden said.
Babies/toddlers have no breasts so I do not see an issue with it whatsoever.
bananas / 9973 posts
I'm not a fan, so I wouldn't do it (plus I want sun protection), but I don't care if others do it. In Europe though, we'd see practically pre-teens with their parents in just bottoms and it seemed awkward. The older people on our tour were aghast.
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 0 |
| Posts | 1 | 0 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
45 comments