Don't Strip your Kids!

[karliebug]

one time we were at typhoon lagoon and there was a family there from France, I'm guessing because they were speaking French. Anyway, they had 2 girls, maybe 7 and 10 and both were topless. I thought it was inappropriate and was surprised that no CM's said anything to them about it not being the custom here. My children were uncomfortable seeing them semi-nude and they were far from being toddlers. While it may be acceptable where ever they live I don't think it is acceptable here. Just my 2 cents.

 

[phorsenuf]

I can remember growing up and since we lived at the beach many of the little girls would run around in just bottoms. No big deal. I'm sure there was just as many pervs than as there are now. I suppose the only difference now it the outlet they have (internet, porn dvd's, etc). Thankfully I have all boys so I don't need to worry so much about bathing suits.

When I say something is European, I say it as a compliment! I'm just a wanna be expatriot, waiting for a job that only my husband can do to show up in another country so we can run away.

I'm sure there's a country somewhere that will take you if you hate America so much. Isn't your husband Korean and have relatives there. Wouldn't they allow you there?

 

[princessmom29]

While I don't think that it was ok to strip a 7 year old to the skin in a theme park I do feel that we as a country need to get a over the whole "must be covered at all times thing" I feel that PPs are right in saying that it feeds into the wold child predator thing. 95% of molested children are molested by a family member or friend, not by strangers. We should be looking in our own back yard for child predators, not around every corner, but no one wants to aknowledge that someone they actually know is capable of such a thing. We want to look for some stranger in the dark. Children often become victims because we ignore warning signs by saying "I know him and he didn't mean it that way" ect. Odds are slim to none that allowing your child to wear a 2 piece swim suit or change their clothes in public is going to open them up to a child predator. It is much more likely for it to happen in your home or the home of someone you know. Mabye if we weren't so prudish when it comes to our bodies the "forbidden fruit" wouldent be quite so appealing to child predators.

 

[seashoreCM]

Not at Disney but some years ago I was talking with some neighbors including a mother and at least 10 yo daughter when suddenly the daughter began screaming. Seems like a bee had gotten under her T-shirt. The mother went over and took the T-shirt off leaving the girl topless. After inspecting the shirt the mother gave it back to the girl.

Maybe "equality" was running through her mind at the moment since I had on only cutoff jeans. I was the only male in that group.

I would be indifferent to people getting changed with a moment of being undressed. But I think that changing diapers and similar actions that can compromise sanitation should not be done where people expect cleanliness and especially not in restaurants.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[MichelleVW]

Not at Disney but some years ago I was talking with some neighbors including a mother and at least 10 yo daughter when suddenly the daughter began screaming. Seems like a bee had gotten under her T-shirt. The mother went over and took the T-shirt off leaving the girl topless.After inspecting the shirt the mother gave it back to the girl.

Maybe "equality" was running through her mind at the moment since I had on only cutoff jeans.

My guess is that she was thinking of the bee stinging her daughter and trying to save her... I'm sure equality didn't enter her mind at the time.

 

[Fabinva]

Originally posted by karliebug
one time we were at typhoon lagoon and there was a family there from France, I'm guessing because they were speaking French. Anyway, they had 2 girls, maybe 7 and 10 and both were topless. I thought it was inappropriate and was surprised that no CM's said anything to them about it not being the custom here. My children were uncomfortable seeing them semi-nude and they were far from being toddlers

My kids, DD6 and DS8, were just asking me the other day why when the kids are playing outside with water (garden hose) the little girls have to wear a top while the boys are allowed shirtless ...I did not know how to answer that one properly but I do know that if DD6 would had been gigling and the topless girls in the water park while my DS8 would had been most likely uncomfortable.
I would not undress my girl in public, she would not let me either but we did witness a mother completely changing a 4 to 5 yr old girl in the line to Ariel's grotto, the little girl had been playing in water and the mother did not bother to try to cover her up while changing underwear and she did not look foreign to me.
I would worry about predators looking too

 

[pyrxtc]

well, growing up we always changed out of our wet suits before getting in the car while leavign the beach. I still do it as do my kids. We do it right in the parking lot next to the car so we don't get the seats wet. There are not any free changing rooms where we go or free bathrooms. The bathrooms are so disgusting that I would NEVER change in them. It is only sexual if you look at it that way. The chances of you coming across a photo on the internet of your kids half-dressed is probably 5 million to 1, unless you were actually looking for it and you knew exactly what tags the person put on it.

I don't see what happened as a problem, my 2 boys (5 & 8) would have noticed but only because she was changing. We don't run a modest household, they both still run around naked in the house and it's not a big deal for any of my kids to see me naked or nearly naked. I don't want them viewing the human body in a purely sexual form and they need to learn that while they are young. All my kids know that everyone looks the same (more or less) under their clothes. They are right to be wondering but it doesn't mean it's sexual, just funny to them that it's different. (for the boys anyways).

 

[WDWorBUST]

DD always wears a 2 piece. It's much easier for bathroom breaks and she looks adorable in them. With that said, I am particular about which styles she wears. I was at Target and we found some really cute fabrics and bottoms....but they had the "traditional" two triangle tops (sorry I don't know how else to describe them) and my personal opinion is that they are not appropriate for a 5 year old. As far as stripping her down.....when she was younger I might do a quick top change somewhere public (outside type place where there really wasn't anywhere close) - but I wouldn't totally strip her down.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

one time we were at typhoon lagoon and there was a family there from France, I'm guessing because they were speaking French. Anyway, they had 2 girls, maybe 7 and 10 and both were topless. I thought it was inappropriate and was surprised that no CM's said anything to them about it not being the custom here. My children were uncomfortable seeing them semi-nude and they were far from being toddlers. While it may be acceptable where ever they live I don't think it is acceptable here. Just my 2 cents.

This is where I think the US gets the reputation for being prudish.

At that age, with no breast development what is wrong without having a top on?

Bikinis on toddlers are gross - and they sexualize the little one. Just bottoms are cuter. Wearing a top implies there is something taboo or something to hide - when in reality toddler boys and toddler girls look identical from the waist to the neck.

 

[JustcallmeHappy]

Bikinis on toddlers are gross - and they sexualize the little one. Just bottoms are cuter. Wearing a top implies there is something taboo or something to hide - when in reality toddler boys and toddler girls look identical from the waist to the neck.

so what are the age ranges of "toddlers"?...

My DD will be 5 next month and she is getting one for her bday (And NO i see nothing wrong with it)

 

[MichelleVW]

Bikinis on toddlers are gross - and they sexualize the little one. .

That is just a really creepy statement.....I don't know how anyone can look at a 2 year old playing in the sand at the beach and think they look sexual because they have a bikini top on....

I think bikinis are adorable on babies and toddlers in a totally innocent, mothering "aw aren't they cute" way. How anyone can see anything sexual is beyond me...

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

That is just a really creepy statement.....I don't know how anyone can look at a 2 year old playing in the sand at the beach and think they look sexual because they have a bikini top on....

I think bikinis are adorable on babies and toddlers in a totally innocent, mothering "aw aren't they cute" way. How anyone can see anything sexual is beyond me...

But the point is - when you put a top on a baby girl (in an instance when you would not on a boy)- YOU are sexualizing the infant.

You are dressing her like a 15 year old/40 year old/someone with breasts.

When the fact is there is no anatomical difference in a baby boy versus a baby girl from the neck to the waist - so why the bikini top?

Other nationalities get the point - and children of young ages swim only with bottoms.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

have to agree on the last point. Here you can buy swim pants for babies and they are the same for boys and girls - just bottoms. Some places do sell one pieces with a built in swim nappy. The girls ones do have frills on them though but you are right - no need for a top.

 

[TKL SHOP]

well, growing up we always changed out of our wet suits before getting in the car while leavign the beach. I still do it as do my kids. We do it right in the parking lot next to the car so we don't get the seats wet. There are not any free changing rooms where we go or free bathrooms. The bathrooms are so disgusting that I would NEVER change in them. It is only sexual if you look at it that way. The chances of you coming across a photo on the internet of your kids half-dressed is probably 5 million to 1, unless you were actually looking for it and you knew exactly what tags the person put on it.

I don't see what happened as a problem, my 2 boys (5 & 8) would have noticed but only because she was changing. We don't run a modest household, they both still run around naked in the house and it's not a big deal for any of my kids to see me naked or nearly naked. I don't want them viewing the human body in a purely sexual form and they need to learn that while they are young. All my kids know that everyone looks the same (more or less) under their clothes. They are right to be wondering but it doesn't mean it's sexual, just funny to them that it's different. (for the boys anyways).

I too find most bathrooms disgusting that I would rather change dd quickly in public, than using the bathroom. Most theme park or highly traveled public restrooms, always have wet nasty, maybe urine??? gross floors, so would have to keep her shoes on, where do the sit down to take the clothes off? The nasty public toliet?(because if the don't sit, their bottoms touch the nasty floor. The germs in the public restrooms make me more sick than someone changing a child quickly in public, I really don't see anything wrong with it as long as you change them quickly, and don't leave their girly parts exposed too long to the public...jmo

 

[MichelleVW]

But the point is - when you put a top on a baby girl (in an instance when you would not on a boy)- YOU are sexualizing the infant.

You are dressing her like a 15 year old/40 year old/someone with breasts.

When the fact is there is no anatomical difference in a baby boy versus a baby girl from the neck to the waist - so why the bikini top?

Other nationalities get the point - and children of young ages swim only with bottoms.

uh...no....I"m not....I'm dressing her like a little girl in a bikini because it's cute.....not to cover up her non existent breasts...

 

[TKL SHOP]

uh...no....I"m not....I'm dressing her like a little girl in a bikini because it's cute.....not to cover up her non existent breasts...

I agree with the 2 piece suit, my dd is almost 6. I do not see anything sexual about it! I buy them for her since it is easier for her to go the bathroom, plus they are cute. When dd is playing she forgets about having to go to the bathroom until the last second, it is so hard to get a wet suit off quickly! So the 2 Piece works for us! They are innocent little girls, nothing sexual about them. Even at 10 they are barely developed enough for a bikkini to be sexual. JMO

 

[crashbb]

This is where I think the US gets the reputation for being prudish.

At that age, with no breast development what is wrong without having a top on?

Bikinis on toddlers are gross - and they sexualize the little one. Just bottoms are cuter. Wearing a top implies there is something taboo or something to hide - when in reality toddler boys and toddler girls look identical from the waist to the neck.

The poster you quoted wasn't referring to toddlers - the girls she was referring to were 7 and 10 (or there about).

 

[maraki527]

Well i guess I am one of those bad parents because I put a bikini on my baby with the top and bottom. and you know what? she looks cute in it

 

[timzagain]

We live in Barbados - year round hot climate - where we have raised three girls. They're now 11 & 17

I can't think of one good reason why I'd strip my daughters down in public unless it's a situation where I'm trying to prevent them being hurt. One example - when we were kids, my cousin stood in an ant's nest and was covered with ants from head to toe in seconds. I remember one of the adults stripping her down because that was the fastest way of getting the ants off her (by this time, the ants were making a meal of her and she had dozens of stings/ bites and red marks all over her body)

As for swimsuit, our girls were permitted to wear 2 piece swimsuits (not bikinis) when they were younger. Two of them are quite long in the torso, so getting a one-piece to fit properly was a bit of a challenge. Additionally, I find one-piece swimsuits unbearably hot and miserable in our climate. If there was "less of me to love" I'd wear a two piece swimsuit too.

I certainly don't approve of little girls in itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny bikinis. It's just not appropriate, it's too provocative and will attract the wrong type of attention. Bikinis are no more appropriate on little girls, than ultra-short minis and fish-net stockings! Call me a prude, but I cannot STAND seeing little girls dressed in scaled down versions of sexy adult clothes!

Having said all that, I don't think that we parents can be too cautious about protecting our children, boys and girls, from sexual predators.

 

[tartemis]

As for swimsuit, our girls were permitted to wear 2 piece swimsuits (not bikinis) when they were younger. Two of them are quite long in the torso, so getting a one-piece to fit properly was a bit of a challenge. Additionally, I find one-piece swimsuits unbearably hot and miserable in our climate. If there was "less of me to love" I'd wear a two piece swimsuit too.

I certainly don't approve of little girls in itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny bikinis. It's just not appropriate, it's too provocative and will attract the wrong type of attention. Bikinis are no more appropriate on little girls, than ultra-short minis and fish-net stockings! Call me a prude, but I cannot STAND seeing little girls dressed in scaled down versions of sexy adult clothes!QUOTE]

Since I think I was the first pp to bring up not liking the idea of bikinis on toddlers, I feel compelled to chime in on this dicussion again.

The poster above summed up my feelings pretty well. I see nothing wrong with 2 pieces -- of course they offer lots of utility. Often my daughter will swim in a swim shirt and her swim diaper because I want to protect her torso from the sun. I just don't see the point of putting a triangle bikini top on a little girl -- I would rather my daughter just go in the bottoms.

And I don't think anybody is a bad mom that thinks otherwise -- I recognize my views are probably in the minority given the plethora of toddler bikinis out there for sale.

The same moms putting their toddlers in bikinis probably think I'm the bad mom for letting my toddler go topless.