That was the question this morning on GMA when the subject of little girls in bikinis came up again. Abercrombie Kids were the makers of the controversial bikinis with padded tops for the prepubescent set. Now Babi-kinis are the new controversy. They are itsy-bitsy triangle tops and tie sided bottoms with no room for diapers. I have decided to weigh in on this one because I was quite opinionated about the Abercrombie Kids bikinis. I must admit that it is a little strange to see newborns in animal print bikinis but you gotta admit, they are kind of cute. The difference for me is that they are cute and funny and while impractical they make cute little photos when paired with sunglasses and brimmed hats. They are meant to be just that……CUTE! The padded top bikinis for the older children had a different connotation for me. The sexualization of young girls is the real issue. Unfortunately young girls are imitators and they want to look like the older girls that they see on TV. When girls are old enough to strut and shake their booty albeit innocently, they become fodder for the sickies that are out there. That is why pageants for tots really creep me out. The message to the young girls is that their bodies need enhancing and that they should look “sexy”. Fortunately, Abercrombie Kids was forced to take the padded bikinis off the shelves. Babies and toddlers are not strutting their stuff, unless I have missed something. They are just sitting with their little rolls of fat and feeling liberated from the short reprieve from their cumbersome diapers. For this one I say “lighten up folks.” What do you think?