Clothes chain Primark has been accused of encouraging paedophiles by selling padded bikini tops to girls aged just seven.
The store was lambasted by child protection groups for "exploiting and sexualising children" with the £4 sets in candy pink.
Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association For People Abused In Childhood, described the product as "disgusting".
He told Sky News Online: "This is completely playing into the hands of paedophiles and those determined to steal their innocence.
"It's just crazy and disgusting. It's yet another move to exploit children to make money."
The bikini sets, sold among normal costumes in the seven to eight-year-old range, are available in candy pink with gold stars.
They are also sold in black with white polka dots.
Child protection consultant Shy Keenan, of The Phoenix Chief Advocates, said: "It never fails to amaze me just how many High Street household names are now prepared to exploit the disgusting 'pae dophile pound'."
She added: "You should never sexualise children.
"Kids may be learning how to look sexy in an adult way but no one is teaching them what to do if they receive unwelcome robust adult attention."
Siobhan Freegard, founder of Netmums, called on the government to bring in legislation to stop the sale of similar items.
"These tops are plain wrong, full stop," she told Sky News Online.
Sam Carlisle, The Sun's parenting editor, said: "Seven-year-old girls still dream of ponies and pianos, not cleavage and fake tan. They are little kids, not Lolitas."
Primark, which has 138 UK stores and 38 in Ireland, says on its website: "Every girl wants to look her best and at Primark we make no exception for the younger ladies.
"All the high fashion trends can be found in our Girlswear section, no matter what age you are."
Chris Cloke, head of child protection awareness at the NSPCC said: "It is important that products accessible to children are appropriate to their age and understanding.
"Manufacturers and shops can help by giving more thought about how their products might affect children."
Primark was not immediately available for comment.
CommentAuthorskitty666
omg thats just wrong!!!
CommentAuthorohfiddles
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the thing is i have notice little girls getting boobs alot younger now, supportive tops yes, but they dont need to look bigger than they are!!!! your right Eilowny definately encourages peadophiles xxx
CommentAuthorb2bnicola
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How awful!!!!!!!!!!!! x
Happily Married! :) xxx
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
omg this is awful ...we should email primark with complaints ..... we have enough people on here alone to make them take notice
Well I know I had boobs at 10..but I wore just a training bra, that's the right thing to wear & as you say supportive tops too fiddles..but to have little girls in padded bikinis is just totally digusting!
CommentAuthorBeckythemadcow
Blimey! I imagine Katie Price coming up with an idea like that.I was too shy to even wear bikinis when I was that age!
CommentAuthorMrs Rebecca Hossfeld
edited
I'm still to shy to wear one, I wear a swimming costume with a skirt on it..jeez..some people just do not seem to realise how much this is gonna pi ss off a lot of parents, I hope to hell Primark remove this line of clothing & soon!
CommentAuthortrustmeimawoman
that is bad, my daughter wanted all the things teenagers liked wen she was 7 now she's 11 she's into all the fashion wars now short skirts low tops etc and she's very well developed 4 a 11 yr old this is so terrible and it needs to be stopped now !
CommentAuthorMrs Rebecca Hossfeld
I agree, just because they are developing younger does not mean they need to be little se x symbols & attractive targets for theose paedophiles either!
CommentAuthormrsjones
That is sooooooooo wrong, disgusting, girls should be kept "young" as long as possible and get to behave like kiddies not grown ups, in my opinion!!!
CommentAuthorauntiewoo
It is disgusting-but what sort of parent would actually buy one for their child??
CommentAuthorlittle miss red head
I agree with you all completely its disgusting and I can't believe there's a market for it.
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
thats disgusting,,,,but it makes you wonder would some parents actually allow their child to wear it just to make them appear grown up..i know i wouldnt
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
if they dont sell they will be withdrawen ...but sadly i bet there are parents that will buy them , i wouldnt buy one for my 14yr old
thats awful i dont even like my 10 yr old wearin a padded bra. kids that age dont need to hav bo*bs. in my opinoin its makin kids grow up way to quick
CommentAuthorJoolsy
OMG I just saw that on This Morning and they said that Primark have now removed them from their shelves and that the proceeds from any sold already would go to charity!! Who in their right mind would buy these for their kids let them have a blooming childhood why do some parents want their kids to grow up too fast!!! xx
Officially Mrs Julie-Anne Muir
CommentAuthorG.I
Didn't they have this row last year as well?
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
wasnt it that shop that started selling thongs for little girls????
CommentAuthorG.I
There was definitely a shop that did padded bras last year, maybe it wasnt primark but I remember everyone kicking up at the time
CommentAuthorKatie
Thats totally wrong and disgusting its just taking childrens innocence away from them for heavens sake we are adults long enough!!!
Those who mind dont matter
Those who matter dont mind
CommentAuthorPuddleduck87
I think anyone that puts a kid in a bikini, padded or not is sick in the head anyway. You may as well stick them in a thong and let them run around like that. I hate the things!!
I saw a 7ish year old the other day in the town centre shopping with mum, knee high boots over jeggins, with a body suit underneath that was pulled up that high im suprised she could walk.
all her hips were exposed and her trousers started right on her pubic bone, red lipstick and a designer handbag. Honestly I was totally shocked!!
CommentAuthorKatie
Has anyone seen that program about the baby beauty queens?
It makes me wanna heave!
x
Those who mind dont matter
Those who matter dont mind
CommentAuthorPuddleduck87
yeah I saw that. Their parents want locking up and sterilising Katie x
CommentAuthorRelfy
OMG thats so wrong.. It really annoys me when i see kids all dressed up and wearing make up. The sad thing is that the parents dont evber see whats wrong with it. I see this all the time at my local shopping center. skanks of an excuse to call themselves a parent let their kids parade around like porn stars. and then they wonder why their kids will be a target to a pedo!!! x
CommentAuthorMrs Rebecca Hossfeld
UPDATE:
Several high street stores have pledged to review their product lines after they were accused of stocking clothes that sexualised children.
The promise came after Primark withdrew padded bikini tops for young girls after the chain was accused of selling products deemed too adult for children.
The Sun newspaper has reported other stores including Next, Tammy, Tesco and Peacocks were selling similar items and revealed that Primark was also stocking underwear aimed at young girls bearing the slogan "You've scored".
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson said: "We will look into the issue. If anything needs changing we will do it immediately."
Peacocks pledged similar action, with its boss Richard Kirk telling the paper: "We have started checking every product top make sure everything is appropriate."
Tesco, Tammy and Primark said products would be reviewed.
Primark was forced to act after calls for a boycott of its stores by an organisation which helps child victims of abuse and following criticism from Conservative leader David Cameron.
Child protection consultant Shy Keenan of The Phoenix Chief Advocates, which called for the boycott, welcomed the chain's decision to remove the padded bikini tops.
Mr Cameron, who branded the sale "disgraceful" in an interview with BBC London Radio said he was "delighted" the bikini top had been withdrawn.
He said: "I am delighted they have taken the decision to withdraw this as we need a more responsible society and that means not just the Government playing its role but, as I said at the launch of my manifesto, all of us recognising we are in this together. Parents want to protect their children from the commercialisation and sexualisation that can take place in our society. Businesses have got to think of their responsibilities. I'm glad Primark has done this."
CommentAuthorRelfy
I saw this in the paper this monring and well pleased that they are being removed..... OMG the knickers with you scorded is mental. talk about puting your child on a silver se x platter!! x x
CommentAuthorMrs Rebecca Hossfeld
Yeah I know...bleeding idiots huh?
CommentAuthorvintage lass
That was my exact point in regard to the previous post about Katie Price allowing princess to wear makeup....paedo alert!!!!I am absolutely gobsmacked, concerned and disgusted about this, what kinda world are we living in????? This really worries me as I have a 6 year old daughter, childrens childhoods are being destroyed here and it all revolves around MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!! MADDENED!!!!!!
CommentAuthorNicci
I have a 3yr old girl and i dont know if its just me but i have a nightmare finding clothes that arnt "sexy" Everything seems to be based on what 18-25yr olds are wearing at the min-why are kids being forced to grow up so soon?! It took me 2 days to find a pair of "normal" bootcut jeans for her, they were either jeggings or skinnys! Now i know thats isnt half as bad but id like my daughter to look cute and innocent-not like some of the tarty teens i see in the city! Im only 25 myself so im not even oldfashioned x
CommentAuthorxAbix
Has anyone actually seen the bikini in question? My friend bought her daughter this bikini for their holiday. She is a very protective and responsible mother and she told me that the story had been on GMTV yesterday and was appaled, she then showed me the bikni. There is absolutley nothing wrong with it. The padding is not padding as we are led to believe by the press its to give the top shape and the bikini bottoms are big almost like shorts! When I was little bikinis were available much more grown up than this one so I personally cant see what all the fuss is about!
CommentAuthorNicci
I think its because in this day and age children need to be protected and a bikini (wether its padded or not) just isnt a good look on a minor-just MO x
CommentAuthorxAbix
Yes I agree completley although there are many shops selling unsuitable clothing for children so it is unfair to pick on one particular item. I was walking through a shop recently and a dress caught my eye so I went over to it and decided it was maybe too revealing for me, then I realised I was in the Tammy section and this was a dress for a young girl! That shocked me! Glad I didnt attempt to try it on, I'm small but not that small!
CommentAuthorNicci
Yeah i understand completely, thats what i was just saying in my previous post. Inapropriate clothing for kids has been around for ages-its just a shame it took this long to realise x
CommentAuthorRelfy
I just cant understand what kind of person thinks up these idead for the clothes for kids.... they need to be shot!!! Nicci - i had the same issue trying to find my 6yo neice clothes for her birthday... i was disguested with what is out on the rails! x
CommentAuthorKerrylou
*grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* This is what annoys me so much as a mum - kids are kids, not mini-adults who are "gagging for it like a bunch of filthy sl*ppers" (sorry) It really yanks my chain that I can't walk into a clothes shop aimed at younger children - so Next, Primark,Tesco etc and buy a frilly dress or something little girly, your choice is styled by either the latest models, pop star or film star. HELLO!! My child is 4, not 24!! *sigh*
I had a bikini when I was 7, I loved it because I felt all grown up but looking back now to those holiday photos I can't believe my mum would dress me in something that made me look like a miniature p rostitute. When Honey is old enough to make the choice for herself (or should I rather, earning her own money to pay for her own clothes) then she can wear what she likes, but up until then she'll be kept as what she is - a child!
It's right what they say
"The course of true love never runs smoothly"
But if it had been easy then we wouldn't love each other as
much as we do right now - 1 week to go :D
CommentAuthorMrs (Dove) Pidgeon
I'm sure I had a bikini when I was 7. For when I was on holiday in the sun all day. And when I wasn't in the pool, I was wearing sorts and t-shirt.
Now a extremely happy German housewife and now a Mother!!!!
Islay Jean born 24th June in Hannover.
CommentAuthorSuz80
Kerrylou i completely agree with you, and all the others. Our daughter is 3 years old and allready i have some trouble in finding "appropriate" clothes for her. At xmas time you would be amazed at the sort of clothes top brand stores had for children. I am 29 years old and i wouldn't wear some of that stuff. Really provocative, really short, tight skirts and tops that are wayyyyy too mature. These are babies and young children were talking about here (even when my daughter is 15 she'll still be my baby).
When i was young i remember if i wanted to look like my mum or a grown up we had fancy dress or i would wear my mums clothes ( at home obviously). Do you know of, or, maybe like me some of you will have actual photos of yourselves as young girls wearing mums shoes, the high heels that made us feel like such a grown up but sadly 5 sizes too big. Nowadays you want high heels little one, don't worry theres a pair in your size. It disgusts me and worries me endlessly.
I guess the only thing we have to do as parents is make sure that the innocence is not lost on our children!
CommentAuthorPuddleduck87
I used to run around in just bottoms when I was a kid and yes like some of you have said you wore bikinis too. It was all completely innocent. But how many pedos did you here about back then and how many kids were abducted, raped and murdered now?
Things like were not thought about, didn't happen. It was safe. We know differently now SO kids shouldn't wear that type of thing. Its bad that in this day and age a child cannot wear what they want to without having to think of the consequences I do agree to some degree but I also got to see this bikini too. Why the F would a child need shape to a part of their body that didn't need any?!!
When I was 8 I wore jelly shoes, socks with frills on, pink, bows and I played with barbie and my little pony. 8 year olds these days have mobile phones, make up and strive to be skinny!
We are in an image obsessed society and it is putting more pressure on our little girls more than ever. If they don't wear make up and arn't thin then they arn't nice people. And its because they sit and watch their parents on fad diets and its plastered all over the media - if your not pretty your nothing.
And those You've Scored pants...... My god HOW gross? any parents willing to buy them for a kid wants them wrapping round their thick head and suffocating with them.
CommentAuthorMrsB
When i was younger you could go on the beach with just bottoms sometimes nothing now you have to be covered up just incase its sick. My daughters a little girl and thats how it should be when she starts getting boobs ect then we'll have that chat but until then she will stay a little girl its horrible to think people who look just like us could get such horrible thoughts urgh makes me sick!
CommentAuthorHedge
I've got 5 daughters, 3 under 10 and have to be so careful with what they're wearing as often my ex's parents buy them what I deem as inappropriate. Its often a pitched battle when they are constantly exposed to so called fashion icons and idols who frankly need to firstly start eating and secondly put some b*****y clothes on! Kids should be allowed to express themselves but within reason but above all surely they should be taught self respect and restraint and the age old adage "less is more" instilled.....but not where clothing is concerned!!!!
CommentAuthorGiGee2B
tell me bout it i cant even nuy proper knickers for my 7 year old who is tall for her age, her dad hates it you see him tut every time she comes down stairs as they mak jeans and t shirts so fitting. even my babies 2 and 3 are forever going round with backsides hanging out because their jeans are hipsters even though babies dont have hips it is ridiculous
