Vent- so hard to find swimsuit for dd5

[Jill72]

Have not read all the posts here yet - so sorry if someone already said this...

But have you looked into Kate Mack? She makes adorable, full coverage and age appropriate suits. They can be a bit pricey ($60 full price) but they really do LAST!! They do not snag as bad as other suits and I have even been able to save them from one daughter to the next. If you check out ebay - you can get some good prices on new ones. I like to by mine on sale at the end of each season for the next year.

 

[sunsprinkle24]

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.

Oh I hear ya on this one. We were at Walmart yesterday trying to find an appropriate suit for DD5. None of them looked like the belonged on a little girl. Its awful.

 

[sconnell]

Here's the suit I found for $6.99 at Old Navy. I thought it was ok. The bottom is sitting a little low in this pic. But, oh well.

 

[CharmedLife]

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.

You should show him a picture of the Lands End tankinis on-line. Honestly, I'll never buy a 1-piece for daughter again (at least not 'til she's older) because of the ease of using the ladies' room in these suits. I can tell you not a fraction of an inch of her midriff shows in these suits, but it's just so much easier. On my daughter, the top overhangs the bottom by a couple of inches. A long-torsoed girl may be different, but this is my experience.

I'm telling you - you will make your life easier if you spend a lot of time at the pool or beach when bathroom trips are inevitably going to be required.

 

[CharmedLife]

I've been able to pick up some nice tanks at Sams Club, of all places.

I second that - I've seen them sell nice Speedo tanks at Sam's Club, but they do run small.

 

[CharmedLife]

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.

You're welcome! Unfortunately to buy clothes for my daughter that are somewhat tasteful I usually have to spend more money. Now that she's a little older (almost 7) at least I can get clothes that last a little longer. It was really killing me for a while to spend money on clothes that would last one season. It seems like the "bargain" places just cater to knock-offs of trendy clothes that are tight, revealing, draw attention to places people shouldn't be looking on a young girl, etc.

Now for the boys, since the trend is for big baggy clothes, I can get lots of deals at Old Navy for my son. He's an average 4-year-old and is still wearing size 2T shorts from 2 summers ago! They still go almost to his knees! Same thing with his swim trunks.

 

[maxiesmom]

I hate to tell you this, but if you have waited unti now to look for a swimsuit, you are too late. What we have in the stores now is pretty much the end of our summer stock. So the selection is well picked over. Look at it this way, we get swimsuits and sandals in December, for people who like to cruise during the winter.

And I agree, way to much of the girls clothing now looks trampy. What we get in that still looks like childrens clothing is the first stuff to sell.

 

[CharmedLife]

And I agree, way to much of the girls clothing now looks trampy. What we get in that still looks like childrens clothing is the first stuff to sell.

Wouldn't you think that someone would pick up on that and make more stuff that's made for children? Alas, I know lots of people don't agree with all of us, given the suits I see on girls at our town swimming pool...

And you're right about the end of season - I'm expecting school supplies at Target any day now!!!

 

[Barbers2005]

I hate to tell you this, but if you have waited unti now to look for a swimsuit, you are too late.

Yeah, except dh and I started looking at swimsuits in March. Not an all out search, but we'd go somewhere (Target, Wal-Mart, the mall) and check out their swimsuits. The suits weren't any better when there was snow on the ground. Many stores (especially the mall) had really limited options in a size 5 and what they did have was hideous or trashy. Several times I was so disgusted by the poor selection that I gave up. We actually found her swimsuit a few weeks ago, but FIL took her swimming this week and I was thinking about it. I told him to treat that suit like it was made of gold-I don't think we could find another one.

 

[NotUrsula]

DH set the rule "no 2 pieces". I don't think he gave the tankinis much of a look, but he feels strongly about it.

I'd work on him to modify that to "no bikinis". I'll give you an example of why.
Last week my son's Scout troop held their annual "family camp" at a nearby state park. I was walking back to the campsite area from a restroom visit when I meet a little girl of about 4-5 headed the other way. She was wearing a very age-appropriate Speedo tank suit that was wet because she had been playing in the sprinkler fountain with other kids her age. Her family was camped right next to the first restroom, and she had run over by herself because getting to the toilet was a matter of some urgency. The poor little thing was standing at the door dancing all over the place with tears running down her face because the restroom was otherwise empty and she could not peel that wet suit off without help. I didn't know her, but I went up and asked her if she needed help. She was desperately grateful, and I got her suit off her shoulders and waited at the open door until she was ready to pull it back up again, at which point I helped her get dressed again so that she could leave the room. We were just re-opening the door when her Dad came frantically looking for her, but he didn't feel comfortable coming inside because it was a ladies' shower facility.

A wet one-piece is a tough thing for a little girl to manage on her own without help, and helping at a public pool or beach can get awkward for Dads sometimes. A two-piece can be the most practical option, even if perhaps it is a tad more revealing.

 

[tjmw2727]

You should show him a picture of the Lands End tankinis on-line. Honestly, I'll never buy a 1-piece for daughter again (at least not 'til she's older) because of the ease of using the ladies' room in these suits. I can tell you not a fraction of an inch of her midriff shows in these suits, but it's just so much easier. On my daughter, the top overhangs the bottom by a couple of inches. A long-torsoed girl may be different, but this is my experience.

I'm telling you - you will make your life easier if you spend a lot of time at the pool or beach when bathroom trips are inevitably going to be required.

ITA - for all the reasons mentioned above: using the bathroom, coverage, SPF and a very well made product. The Lands End tankini looks like a one peice but its a separate top and bottom. My dd's have worn nothing else since I bought my oldest dd one at about 4yo. My oldest can wear them for a season or more and still pass them down to my youngest. We are on a lake for the summer and they get worn every single day from mid June to late August.

They still have lots in stock and are just reduced btw

Here is the one I bought this year, the picture is my least favorite color and design but there are about 15 others to choose from so scroll down and change the colors!
http://www.landsend.com/pp/ScrunchbackTankini-73079_164059_1187.html?CM_MERCH=PAGE_66463

TJ

 

[sconnell]

Where we live, you almost need at least 2 suits. If you get wet in the morning and change for lunch, your suit is still wet in the afternoon. Putting on a wet suit is hard to do and it just feels yucky. (Especially if it's full of sand.) I'd LOVE to buy the Land's End suits for my DD, and probably will when she's not growing so fast, but right now, I just can't buy 2 suits in this size only to need the next size before summer is over. (Again, that's 8 months out of the year. )
Oh, and our stores still have plenty of suits! So, if you are traveling south, try looking around here. Sears even has a bunch of Lands End suits.

 

[Barbers2005]

before summer is over. (Again, that's 8 months out of the year. )

Too funny. We get 3-4 months of "summer" weather, tops. The pools have been open for 2-3 weeks so far, but only a handful of days have been hot enough to swim.

 

[Granite State Heidi]

Another vote for Land's End tankinis. My DD is 5, too. The one piece suits are tough to get off when a wet child comes running across the yard because she waited until the last darn second to go pee. (but at least she doesn't pee in the pool! )

I also like the one piece Speedos (I get 'em at BJ's for $12.99)

Also, Gymboree Clothes are the best. (can't speak for their swimsuits, though). If you wait for clearance, you can buy a well made shirt for the same price as a WalMart one.....

Anyway, just my .02

 

[Barbers2005]

Also, Gymboree Clothes are the best. (can't speak for their swimsuits, though). If you wait for clearance, you can buy a well made shirt for the same price as a WalMart one.....

I do love Gymboree, but dh doesn't like to shop there. It irks him to spend so much on clothes for dd when she's going to rip, stain or outgrow them in a few months. I agree, generally, but sometimes I stop in if there's a really good sale.

 

[maciec]

I had luck at Kohl's. My dd is 6 and I bought her a sporty looking tankini for $16. I am going to order another one in a different color for her on line. I really like the tankini and so does she because of the bathroom issue.

 

[momimouse27]

Another good bet, if you haven't looked, is Sam's Club. They carry little girls Speedo one piece and Tankini in lots of different colors.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

THANK YOU! I too had such a hard time finding a NON TRAMP bathing suit for my 5 yo. I don't even like to buy the 2 peices anyomre, b/c they are all so skimppy. But it took Forever to find a cute one peice that looked like a little girl should be wearing it, and Not a 25 year old Russian super model at a nude beach! lol

ETA: I do agree though, that if i could find a tasteful tankini, that would be great as it is frustrating for DD when wearing her suit all day to use the bathroom, w/o a struggle.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I do love Gymboree, but dh doesn't like to shop there. It irks him to spend so much on clothes for dd when she's going to rip, stain or outgrow them in a few months. I agree, generally, but sometimes I stop in if there's a really good sale.

Wow , I'm glad my DH doesn't pay as much attention as yours does on where I shop for DD's clothes. Boy would I be in trouble!

I admit I frequent Gymboree way too much and he cringes when he sees a bag from there, but its one of the few places where kids can be kids and the clothes are still cutsie and age appropriate. Fortunately we have 2 Disney Stores within a 15 mile radius so I usually buy DD''s swimsuits there.

I have the opposite problem. DD ended up with 4 bathing suits this year, because I couldn't decide on which ones we liked better.

 

[5dwarves]

Another good place to find modest (looking not necessarily modest priced) girl's clothes is through a catalog or online at childrensweardigest.com. They carry several brands and they are not inappropriate looking. My DS is 12 now, but when she came home from KINDERGARTEN!!!! she told me that the "cool" girls were shirts that show her tummy. I responded to her that they were not cool girls, they were cold girls because they didn't have enough clothes on. It starts early....good luck to all you conscientious moms out there!