A mother has sparked a fiery debate online after purchasing her eight-year-old daughter a bikini for their upcoming holiday.
The anonymous woman took to Mumsnet after her friend branded the item 'completely inappropriate'.
In a post on the parenting forum, she wrote: "We are going away this summer, I have started buying bits for our holiday. Out with a friend shopping who has a daughter a year older than mine.
"I picked up a cute little two-piece swimwear for [my daughter]. She thought it was completely inappropriate and was shocked that I would even consider putting her in one.
"Am I being unreasonable to think it's fine to put my daughter in a two-piece?"
Do you think the purchase was inappropriate? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below
The mum went on to explain that her daughter had picked the outfit herself, adding: "She has only ever worse a full suit before as we haven't been away since pre-Covid. She always wore a more full suit to protect her from the sun".
The thread attracted a slew of comments and stirred opinions online, with many parents siding with the mother.
One user said: "My seven year old wears them all the time. She prefers them as there are easier for her to use the toilet".
Another wrote: "I loved bikinis when I was little, swimsuits were for proper swimming. I had a lovely brown one with orange crabs on (it was the 1970s)".
However, some blasted the mum's decision, urging her to purchase a rash vest over a bikini.
Someone else replied: "No, a child doesn’t need anything covering her ‘breasts’ and separate bottoms. Rash vest and shorts. Swimsuit and rash vest...
"You might be all like, she’s a kid there’s nothing sexualised about a bikini. But there is. Sorry. And why should a child wear an adult swimsuit?"
While a different user added: "I’m not a fan - for the reasons stated in similar threads: eight-year-old girls don’t (generally) have breasts and therefore don’t need to either cover their chests or dress like an adult who does have breasts".
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