Vent- so hard to find swimsuit for dd5

[Barbers2005]

I just needed to vent b/c I had such a crazy time finding an age appropriate swimsuit for dd5 this summer. This is the first year that she's totally out of the toddler section, and I am shocked (and disturbed) by what I call "tiny tramps" clothes. Dh and I tried Walmart, Target, Kohls, an entire shopping mall- hours of looking at and trying on swimsuits to find one that was the right size and didn't look completely hoochie. Why does a 5 year old need a triangle top bikini or barely there bottom? I just don't get it. Is it too much to ask that little girls look like little girls and not miniature versions of teenagers? Whew...glad I got that out of my system.

There is a happy ending to the story. We did (finally) end up finding a cute two piece with a tankini top and full coverage bottom at Gymboree. It was pale pink with embroidered flowers and looked like it actually belonged on a 5yo.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm lucky that my DD7 has no desire to show her belly. She's happy in her Lands End tankinis and Speedo 1 piece suits. The tankinis in particular are great because they offer her full coverage but the ease of a 2 piece for bathroom trips.

It's not only the girls sizes that are bad though. I remember when DD was about 2 and I needed to get her another suit. It was June so the choices where already slim. The only thing I could find in the stores were bikinis - including an animal print one complete with fringe . Needless to say I chose to pay the shipping for Lands End.

 

[Becky2005]

Oh...it doesn't stop there, not even for the teens.

We ended up at a sporting goods store to get my 13 year old a swimsuit. Unfortunately, it's nothing really cute, just a basic black & pink one but it was about the only thing we could reach an agreement on. I know she would have rather had some cute print style but we couldn't find anything that we both liked and/or fit her properly.

This is just one of those battles we will deal with every year I'm afraid and mine's a TEEN.

I'm glad you found something. I know how you feel though. At least in the swimsuit department that is ONE area that having boys is definitely easier. I've never had a problem finding fun swim trunks for them.

 

[huey duey & luey]

I was going to suggest gymboree, I also bought my 5 y/o 2 tank swimsuits from there. I find it much easier to have a 2 piece for the bathroom

her friend came over the day and I couldnt believe the suit she had on, def not approriate in my mind

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I love the Land's End tankinis for DD8. She doesn't want to show her belly, and they fit well, last through the season, and cover her up while still having the convenience of the two-piece. We seem to buy most of her clothes at Land's End or LL Bean - it's hard to find anything in the stores that isn't too grown up for her since she has moved to the 7-16 size range.

 

[blessedby3]

I was also going to suggest Lands End or LL Bean for modest suits.

 

[foltzy]

My husband and I were shopping the other night for our 2 year old in the toddler section and he picked up a two piece little skimpy thing and said "why does a 2 year old need a bikin?" I told him they don't and that I found a one piece with Ariel on it that she was thrilled about. He was really happy about that.

 

[brymolmom]

The Disney Store has a lot of great ones right now - I bought one for next summer for dd (who will be 4 next summer) for $5.99 - it is a very cute and appropriate 1 piece with Minnie on it.

CHeck out The Disney Store!

 

[dis-happy]

My oldest is 18 and I had this same problem (trashy clothes) even 14 years ago.

Some places that saved us:

Carters Outlet

Osh Kosh B'Gosh Outlet (sizes up to 12 or so)

Children's Place for some things (not all!)

Talbots for Kids (pricey, but the only place that stocked decent pre-teen/early teen clothing)

catalogs shopping:
really like CW Kids catalog
LL Bean
Wooden Soldier (pricey, but Grandma bought gifts for us!)

HTH!

 

[livndisney]

I second the Disney Store. I bought my DD6 two suits there. Target and Walmart suits were just terrible. I also bought one from GYmboree. Ooh if you have a Ross in your area try there. I bought a one piece Speedo suit for my DD for 4.99 and she loves it!

 

[kayc86]

I was going to tell you to go check out Gymboree,I work there and we have great suits this year.Gymboree is all about little kids looking like little kids!im happy you found something for her!

 

[sammyteach]

Triangle tops and tie bottoms are only good for sunbathing which is not appropriate for children. I agree that children need suits that let them play and swim and look like children. Thank goodness my dd (10) could not be bothered with shopping for and wearing uncomfy things......long may this last.

 

[Barbers2005]

Triangle tops and tie bottoms are only good for sunbathing which is not appropriate for children. I agree that children need suits that let them play and swim and look like children.

This is what I was thinking when I was going through the clothing racks. I turned to dh more than once and said, why do they even make this in a child's size 5? It made no sense to me, but someone must be dressing their kids like that or no one would make them, KWIM.

I just wanted to add that it wasn't a matter of dd wanting the trampy suits...there just wasn't much that was appropriate in her size. She's pretty used to mom and dad weeding through the clothes and giving her 2-3 things to choose from. I cringe to think what it will be like in a few years when dd wants to pick out her own stuff.

 

[Barbers2005]

The Disney Store has a lot of great ones right now - I bought one for next summer for dd (who will be 4 next summer) for $5.99 - it is a very cute and appropriate 1 piece with Minnie on it.

CHeck out The Disney Store!

Sadly, the closest Disney Store is 1.5 hours away. There used to be one in our mall, but I guess it didn't get enough business.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Sadly, the closest Disney Store is 1.5 hours away. There used to be one in our mall, but I guess it didn't get enough business.

This is our situation as well. We used to have a Disney store in our local mall but it closed. The closest one is 2 hours away. Yesterday we did do a day trip to this mall and shopped the Disney Store and Build A Bear. Kids had to eat at Chucky Cheese's of course. Not much at the Disney Store but they were having a sale on swim suits. I got a 1 piece w/Minnie Mouse on it for my DD2. The only places I've bought DD4 bathing suits is Disney Store or a tankini in Lands End which she loves. Thank god for Lands End!

 

[chb]

Another vote for Gymboree or the Disney store. That's where I get them for my 7 yr old.

 

[palavra]

Hmm... my DD is 4 almost 5. We found some cute 5-6 swimsuits at Kmart. Most were character ones like Dora and Strawberry Shortcake. Yes, we also saw inappropriate 2 piece suits as well. We did get a great deal on a two piece with a cute skirt bottom at Kmart as well.

 

[Elmo888]

"tiny tramps" clothes

LOL! PERFECT description!

I have been having this issue with clothes, too, for a couple of years now with DD7.

Along with the other suggestions (I have also found age appropriate suits at Disneyshopping.com and Lands End), I found a cute suit at Talbots Kids last year (it was August and on sale big time) that was age-appropriate. I think that they have started their summer sale, too. I also found one at Old Navy (and I mean one - they had only one style that was a one-piece), too, that had good coverage.

Lands End is a great place for suits and clothes in general that are age appropriate. I've had to start looking "outside the box" since last year, and I've been buying most of my DD7's clothes online/through catalogs (Hanna Anderson has been my favorite, and they are also having their big sale right now), with a few tops here and there from the chain stores (Target, Kohls, etc.)

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. D]

I found the same problemo, luckily she coauld still fit the one piece I got from Old Navy from last year...usually I find the cutest one pieces there. Then I found a cute one at K-Mart....it has the fuller bottom and a halter top but it covers everything. I even had to sneak that in past my DH...

 

[DawnM]

I will add to those suggesting Lands' End.

Dawn