1. Home
  2. Style
  3. Kids' Fashion

Readers Respond: Do You Let Your Tween Daughter Wear Bikinis?

Responses: 75

By , About.com Guide

Do you let your tween daughter wear bikinis? At what age do you think it's appropriate for girls to wear bikinis? Share Your Opinion

READ this!! Bikinis!!!!

OKay i havent ever worn a bikini but ive worn friends and my parents want me to cover up and no show my uper part!! i small so not all things fit my right so i have things that are to lose or to tight and i think that you should go out and get a bunch of swim suits and let her try on tons then ask her what she would wear if all her friends from school were there and saw her then let her pick the best one and im getting one this summer ill be 13 then and ive tryed on 100 and i look so HOT
—Guest J-baby

OMG!! Let her if she wants to!!

I'm 11 and I've never owned a one piece! At the moment I only own one tankini, which is my first tankini.I only wear it when I'm going to a surf beach where I could get dumped and a bikini would not be appropriate because it would flip!! When I was a baby I would just wear a nappy but as soon as I had stopped wearing them I was into bikinis!! They are much more femenine and everyone will think your daughter's got a too strict mum, which she has, and tease her. If her friends are still in full piece they wont tease her but if they are in bikinis then let her wear them.If she doesnt want to wear them and you dont want her feelings to be hurt, suggest she get a tankini which looks like a full piece but is a seperate top and bottomso she will be showing off a bit of her stomach. It is really cute on girls ages 7-9 but if she is 10 let her wear a bikini!! It's just mean if you tell her she can't.Just make her try it on at the shop so you can see if it fits properly.Good luck with the bikini
—Guest Lacey

yuppers

im a 12 year old girl and i wear bikinis... i think that once ur daughter has turned like11 or 10 then its cool if she wants to.whats the harm in showing off a bit?? as long as its not too much.=]dont be so paranoid because all girls want a chance to look good!
—Guest woo hoo!

yes yes yes yes one million times yes

i let them as long as its not like showing off , if it covers everything let them wear it
—Guest me

No Way!

Would you want a guy who has hormons see your chest and behind and front private? Thats all there looking at. And all they think about is the bad word. So no way! Not ever! You souldn't even choose to wear them unless you want to show your body off. Well thats all your doing any way.
—Guest ModestPotroll

i don't think so...

If you are doing anything other than lying at the edge of the pool, a bikini is no good. Also, they allow for more sun exposure. I want to teach my daughter that modesty is important and attractive. There are plenty of cute, more modest suits. Why dress a girl up like a grown woman? Spend the day wearing something that will stay on and make you feel comfortable, with nothing hanging out.
—Guest mommaj

Depends...

Well, I have worn nothing but bikini's ever since I was born! My parents are completely 'OK' with it. However, from a 13 year old's point of view, they are not for everyone. DON'T DO IT JUST TO FIT IN! Though you might think it is 'instant popularity' you are wrong. Only get a bikini if it is right for you! If your body shape and activity isn't going to be helped by a bikini, don't get it to avoid embarrassment. Sometimes modest is better, but sometimes it isn't. Hope this helps! :o)
—Guest Blondie

bikinis (L)

When i was a little girl, all i wanted was to have fun! , and so i wore a one piece which was perfect for surfing swimming, jumping, splashing etc. But at the age of about 10 or so, i think every girl should have the right to decide between a swimsuit and a bikini because at that point most girls are mature enough to make their own sensible decisions. Tweens tend to be more into sun bathing, glamourising themselves and looking+feeling good about the way they look - a bikini is perfect for this :) BIKINIS FTW! xxx
—Guest BOO ;D

yes...as long as...

im 12 years old. i wear bikini's all the time during the summer. my parents let them as long as they do not reveal to much, and they are not slutty. also, dont let your daughters wear them if they dont look good in them. expecially if they are not so skinny. so take my advice!
—Guest Guest Tween

whats wrong with a bikini?

Bikini's are perfectly fine for tweens thats when some of them start wearing bikini's! Of course, no thongs tho.
—Guest Whateva

bikini

wearing a bikini is jsut like boys wearing speedos. in encourage it, i wear a thong bikini and my 16yr old started wearing one with me. my son wears speedos and has done since we first went to the beach... ever. when my daughters were younger they dont even have a need for the top. they jsut walk about in bottoms. but as soon as they felt self conscious or it was appropriate the tops were on. there is nothing special about bikinis now. they are just normal beachwear items. my mother back in the 70s did not mind me wearing bikini when i was extremely young. some of you mothers are too paranoid.
—Guest mumE

Depends on what you are doing

I am a parent. I have 2 kids, 20 years apart. So I have been around for a while. I have also worked for a large metropolitan PD for many years...so I know what is going down. That being said, I have no issue at all with my daughter wearing a bikini if she wants. "Perverts" will snatch a child fully clothed - it rarely has anything to do with what is being worn. Parents tend to project their own sexuality on these sickos, it doesn't work like that. Their brain is wired differently. It also doesn't have to do with a girl wanting to be sexy. I may be older than many parents, but I can remember being that age, and sex was the furthest thing from my mind. However, you need to consider what you will be doing. Just lying out on the beach or a little bit of swimming in a pool, a bikini is fine...but if you are going to be doing activities that could make you lose your bottom, it would be best to wear a 1 piece. My suggestion, buy both.
—BadTigz

Well??????? :I

I'm a tween and i personaly think we should be able to wear bikinis beacause it's realy our chose and besides it's our mistake to make and learn from not our parents! But at the end of the day its realy not if you let you child wear one it's if they feel comfterble wearing one! Lets face it there not realy ugly so you cant blame us for wanting to wear one and also i bet most of the parents out there have or had one in the past!
—Guest Smile Sunshine!!!

yes

i think you should i've been wearing one scince i was 3.
—Guest anonymos

allowed to wear bikinis

i think all girls should be allowed to wear bikinis providing the are not to revealing. girls under 7 and fat should not wear bikinis as they dont suit them
—Guest hiya

Share Your Opinion

Do You Let Your Tween Daughter Wear Bikinis?

Receive a one-time notification when your response is published.

Explore Kids' Fashion

About.com Special Features

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

Fall Fashion Accessories

These hot fall accessories will update your wardrobe without breaking the bank. More >

  1. Home
  2. Style
  3. Kids' Fashion
  4. Fashions for Girls
  5. Do You Let Your Tween Daughter Wear Bikinis?>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.