Mums across the country have lashed out after seeing Poundland are selling “crop tops” for babies who are just six-months-old.
The tops – branded “disgusting” by some mums – are available for children aged six-months to two-years-old
Kate Clarky spotted the top at her local Poundland store in Medway, Kent. The crop top comes as an outfit complete with leggings, and uploaded a photograph of it to a local Facebook page.
She said: “This is by far not the worst case to use as an example. Poundland is selling a crop top for six to nine months onwards.
“These are not pyjamas for the comfort of your own home on a six-to-nine-month-old baby. Perhaps a vest would cover the midriff but what about on a two-year-old as it goes up to 24 months.
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“Is it just me? I find this really DISGUSTING. It’s amazing how people pass the buck to others OWN mindset. Yes peados will look at any child regardless whether they’re wearing a coat or crop top and shorts but personally I feel as though I don’t need to make my daughter perhaps more appealing to these sickos.”
The post prompted a heated discussion between other mums on the site, with Lindsey Platten saying: “Yes it is disgusting. My babies won’t wear nothing like that.”
Katherine Elizabeth simply said, “Yuk.”
Lou Elizabeth said: “So don’t buy them then – problem solved” to which Kate replied: “I won’t ever buy anything like that ad good luck to those that do.”
Lou Elizabeth added: “Well done you! Adults shouldn’t be sexualising children’s clothing. They are children. The problem lies with you.”
This sparked a debate where Kate replied: “I’m not personally sexualising the clothing but the world we live in has too many people that do! I’ll stick to keeping my kid a child for now thanks. But each to their own aye.”
She was backed up by Amanda Grout who added “So wrong” and Phoebe Ware who said: “People are putting their tiny kids in bikinis…Kids clothes these days are awful overall and way to adult looking, personally wouldn’t dress my kids in it. But each to their own!”
Hannah Heather said: “Kinda feel like this is how body issues in girls starts. Although my daughter was nine before she had cropped tops like that. I personally wouldn’t for children so young but it’s easily fixed with a vest.”
Carol Moore disagreed and said: “Why would you put a nine-month-old in a crop top really?”
Liane Smith said she believed music videos have a lot to answer for and added: “Totally disgusting and why do they make bikinis as well for babies? It’s just asking for trouble in my eyes.
“I personally think a lot of music videos these days have a lot to answer for too with how young girls dress.”
Angela Brown Luetchford added: “I find it disturbing on three counts – that a manufacturer chooses to make them – a family store chooses to stock them – and it seems some parents are prepared to let their children wear them.”
Others disagreed – and even blamed Kate.
Kase Gray said: “Clothes are just fabric. If you sexualise them no matter the age of the person then you’re no different than the people who blame the victim’s outfits. Control your thoughts. To even have thought something like that is wrong.
“We are supposed to teach people to be brave and strong. Not feed into the sexualising clothing and scare them into covering their whole body like a black sack.”
Danielle Lucy said: “STOP sexualising children and the clothes they wear. STOP shaming parents for choosing to put their children in clothes like this. STOP posting public pictures of your children and then claim you don’t bait them.”
Furious Kate then responded: “People saying it’s my mind set. I personally feel they’re trying to sexualise our kids! Obviously each to their own but I’d like to keep my lil girl a child.”
What Poundland say:
A spokesman for Poundland said: “We’re bemused. This is just a T-shirt and leggings set that’s a summer best-seller. What’s more, the leggings are high-waisted so when worn together, no midriff is on show.
“That’s obviously why our customers like it.”
