Vent- so hard to find swimsuit for dd5

[NU2WDW]

I like Speedo 1-pieces for my little girls (5, 4, and almost 3) as they stay put and wear very well. Very good "no nonsense" suits. I also found some cute, age appropriate 1-pieces and tankinis at JC Penney on-line. While I love most LL Bean stuff, I had a bad experience with their swimsuits last year -- by mid season they had stretched so far out of shape my girls couldn't wear them. I mean, they were literally hanging off of them, like the elastic had simply gone out of them! Don't know if we just had a bad lot or what, but it drove me to other options!

 

[Barbers2005]

I actually ordered a one piece from JC Penny, measured dd and checked the size chart. It was way too small, and by the time I got it they were sold out, so I couldn't exchange it. That's how we started "the Great Swimsuit Search of 2007." JC Penny did have cute ones online though.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

I'll toss out a mention of the Carter's Stores. I know someone already mentioned their outlet, but if you have one of their "regular" stores nearby, they almost always have great sales that are just as good as the outlet prices (sometimes even better!).

This year I bought DD5 2 identical 2-piece suits from there. The best part is that the top is a swim shirt with 3/4 length sleeves and the bottoms are the "boy short" style, so it's very modest.

I was never into the whole bikini thing growing up myself, but I find that I'm even more of a prude now that I have a daughter!

ETA: I also learned this year about the great (but slightly higher-priced) selections at your local swim store. DS started swim team this year, so we had to pick up the team suit. They had a nice selection of true swim suits (the kind that you could wear for competition), and they were already having a 40% off sale. These suits are great, since they are designed to actually stay on when swimming!

 

[sconnell]

OLD NAVY! I actually got my DD5 a suit there a couple weeks ago. It's one of those with the rash guard top and a little bottom. (think surfer girl.) There was one set for $14.99 and I was looking to see if there was another color and there was. It was so pretty and then I looked at the tag and it was $6.99! They said, some colors go on sale faster than others.
Last week, DH and I were at Wal-Mart without the kids picking up some beach supplies and we were going to get the kids some new sunglasses. $3.84 or something for the cheap ones we picked out. Then we were in the toddler sale rack and found whole outfits WITH UV protection sunglasses for $4! We upgraded. DD's was a bikini that had a full coverage bottom (reminds me of something Marilyn Monroe would wear with draws on the side) and a top AND a water dress and sunglasses. DS2's is a rash guard type shirt, plaid bottoms (too big, put away for next year) and sunglasses!
DD's been at swimming lessons every day this week and today is the first time she's reworn a suit this week. lol. We use a lot of suits here.

 

[DisneyPhD]

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!

We always like TDS bathing suits too. We perfer the 2 piece (eaiser to get off in a hurry to use the bathroom.) The one peices are nice too.

I find carters runs too small. My 2 year old is super tiny. We have a 3 T one that is too small and tight on her. She can fit in size 18 months cothes. We normally get her size 2 T suits right now.

 

[MissLiz]

I don't know if you have a Macy's by you, but that is where we found DD4 (5 in three weeks)'s one piece.


Some of the summer camp kids at our school did a mini car wash this week and can I just say how absolutely shocked I was at some of the teeny tiny bikinis! I wouldn't say that I'm a prude, but I sure felt like one when I say them! One of the little girls who was in my daughter's Pre-K class had on a tiny string bikini!!! It was just awful!!!!!

 

[futreWDI]

haha... thank you parents for caring!

i am only 21, no kids yet but i was in blizzard beach last summer and some of the tiniest girls are wearing the smallest bikinis. in your own back yard pool if you want to do this, or want them nude, that is fine but in public...

do you know who could be looking at your kids? there are some sick people out there...

so honestly, this was a thank you!

 

[pooh4evr]

I was able to find a one piece at Target earlier in the season for DD6 , and another at the Disney Store too- otherwise I completely agree the clothes for girls are really too mature! Shorts are too short/tight as are most skirts, if I see a skirt with the shorts built in I buy it - they can always wear a apir of tights in the winter with it!

 

[monorailsilver]

Yep, I agree!

I went to Target a few weeks ago expecting to get my dd (6) a two piece (easier for bathroom pit stops), a tankini style not the triangle, you move & out pops her well you know.

I was surprised they didn't have any. I didn't buy her any last year because the 2 I bought her the year before still fit her. They year they fit but are a bit shorter.

So I went to my local Walmart & they had a few, very few to choose from because I am assuming everyone else bought them since there were a ton of triangles hanging there in shame.

 

[Schmeck]

My 13 yr old still picks Lands End for swimsuits - we love the mix and match pieces. For years my girls wore the Lands End one piece with the circle opening in the back. Even with tons of sunscreen they got a bit of a tan through that silly circle and would laugh at each other's 'target' on their backs... And those suits lasted 3-4 years, even with chlorine, salt water, sunscreen and machine washings.

 

[CharmedLife]

Yet another vote for Lands End. This year they have also added an SPF 50 factor to all of their swimwear - yet another reason to love them. I also like the tankinis - no belly showing, but lots easier to get in and out of the bathroom quickly at the pool.

I can't understand how parents would allow their daughters to dress in a way that sexualizes them, especially at such a young age. I stopped shopping for DD7 at Old Navy years ago when the toddler clothes had words across the bottom.

 

[livndisney]

I can't understand how parents would allow their daughters to dress in a way that sexualizes them, especially at such a young age. I stopped shopping for DD7 at Old Navy years ago when the toddler clothes had words across the bottom.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for posting this! I thought I was the only one. WHY would anyone want to advertise your daughters hind end? I never understood that. I had to stop shopping at Old Navy for the very same reason. Once my DD was out of the T clothes the clothes got ALOT more revealing.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

We recently took a weekend trip and the whole family needed new suits! The only place we could find close to our hotel was a Gordman's. We easily found a princess tankini with shorts and a skirt for DD5...But DD10 was a different story. Her favorite color is pink, and the only pink one left was a triangle top bikini! NO WAY! The only age appropriate one was a navy blue one piece with a skirt. Not exactly cute, but at least it covered everything! It's such a rough age for clothing. Everything is either way too old or else way too young looking. We just wanted something cute that didn't look like a Sports Illustrated model in training. Her old one (which is lost! I still can't figure out where we put the swimsuit box!) was an extremely cute tankini with rainbow stripes that I bought at Target.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

My 4 yo dd is a swimsuit size 5 or 6, so I have a lot of experience with this. (Dd is my youngest, and I want her to look and act like a child for as long as possible!) Talbots Kids, Lands End, LL Bean, Gymboree, disneystore.com, etc. for on-line shopping. My local Macy's sells Penelope Mack, which is the less expensive label from Kate Mack. (Quality is every bit as good, but there are fewer frills and sparkles.) Our TJ Maxx is a great place to pick up one piece Speedo Suits. Dh and I saw lots of cute one-piece suits (and cover-ups) and Target last night. All of the children's shops in town sell lovely suits by brands such as Hartstrings, Kate Mack, Bailey Boys, Funtasia, etc.

 

[Tikicampers]

Not swimsuits, but have you all seen the Hannah Montana stuff at Macy's? it made me think of this thread. All the stuff was so cute and trendy, but also very modest. The shorts were very long, and the shirts would definately cover the belly and had sleeves instead of straps. I was so happy to see something I would actually let my DD wear when she gets older.

 

[Jen66]

Not to sound like I want my daughter to dress like a hoochie mama, but she is 12 and wears bikinis. I really don't see anything wrong with showing your stomach in the swimming pool. She doesn't go to the movies or mall in her swimsuit.
I am 40 and remember the suits that we wore in the 70's and 80's and they were worse or as revealing as any we see today! I could not have been the only one on these boards that wore the crochet bikini??? Of course, 2 kids and 40 pounds more, I now wear tankini with a skirted bottom

 

[graygables]

voluntarily removed as to avoid debate.

To the OP: I'm glad you are interested in teaching your daughter modesty. We buy suits for the whole family from Lands End (they last YEARS) and I've been able to pick up some nice tanks at Sams Club, of all places.

 

[Jen66]

All voluntarily removed. Sometimes right or wrong, there is a time and place for everything, and this is not it.

 

[mello]

I hear ya! We're having the same problem this year. I was going to suggest Gymboree 'til I read your happy ending. I love that they usually have lots of age-appropriate clothes - it's my favorite kids' store for that reason. Also, for those who have a Shopko store, I found a really cute Minnie one-piece suit that went up to size 5T, they still had some in stock last week at our store, so run check it out!

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.

 

[Whosemom]

It is a shock as you move out of toddler sizes. But now we're up at the next step, as wwere other pp. DH set the rule "no 2 peices". I don't think he gave the tankinis much of a look, but he feels strongly about it. And I figure err on the side of the conservative opinion in parenting decisions. He's had to back me on a couple.

Anywho-back on topic

We were packing my 11yo for camp, and saw her suits hiney was about to wear out, so ran to target 8:00 the last night we'd have a chance to shop. She is a skinny mini, but she was very unhappy with the lack of bottom coverage. She ended up with a suit thats a little too big at the top. Even then she hates it. They didn't have anything between "hearts and flowers" and "cut to the belly button"