Girls and Leotards

If there is a cotton gusset in the leotard, then it is to be worn without underwear. If there is no cotton gusset, then underwear needs to be worn.

I would think that it depends on the leotard. Was it made to wear without underwear? Is it breathable etc? I always wore underwear underneath when I was little, but if the leotard was a good quality one, it probably was designed to be worn without underwear.

It depends on the quality and cut of the leo.
As long as it fits well, and has good coverage, no panties are needed.
It's like a swimsuit, most girls don't want their undies hanging out or riding up their rear ends anyway, right?

I don't wear panties with leotards. Nor did my daughter when she took dance.
I didn't worry about breathability, since they're only worn for a couple of hours at a time.

I think it draws more attention to the bottom when you wear panties. They always stick out. At gymnastics I usually have her wear shorts over her leotard.

From what I've seen, girls up until about 5 seemed to wear underwear and then after that, not so much. It does show but when they're little, who cares and we then didn't wash the leotard after every single wearing.

No. Big faux pas to wear panties with leos!

From a dance teacher perspective - no panties and I'll tell you why.

First, it is a distraction to the child wearing them and the other girls. Once one child "sees" the panties hanging out, they snicker and giggle or they start comparing panties. Another distraction is the child wearing them is so consumed with trying to "hide" them, that they don't dance. This creates a situation for the teacher trying to get them focused on steps, not panties. Teachers want to give your child the best lessons possible, and not be consumed with time spent on fixing panty distractions.

Second, in my opinion, dancers should wear tights with leotards. This eliminates the need for panties. I understand the need for panties for the 3-5 year old age with potty training and accidents, but most studios want your child in tights to prevent blisters from their shoes and to make it easier to get shoes on and off sweaty or dirty feet. Believe me - I've seen some nasty stinky feet on a 3 year old...

I'd check with your studio to find out their policy on the matter. Mine says no panties, but we have a few who "break" the rules. If it's a major distraction for the child or other students, we talk to the parent. However, at recital time, it is mandatory - no panties. We will take them off of your child. Who wants to see underwear sticking out of a sequined tutu?

I teach dance and we don't require our little ones to not wear panties during the dance year...however, for recital they are not allowed to wear them with their costume. It is better to get them used to not wearing them before recital time. You are not doing your daughter a disservice at all. She will be better in the end not wearing them. Sometimes it just takes getting used to. I feel bad for the girls who are older and still wear panties. Nothing more embarrassing than having your panties hang out of your leotard when you are 7 & 8 or older. If she ends up going to a strictly ballet school then she won't have the option. Good luck and God Bless.

My daughter has done gymnastics and ballet. No panties. You can see them when they slip down and its either uncomfortable for the younger ones and embarrising for the older ones

The girls in my gymnastics studio were advised that underwear can get wedged in places they shouldn't be if you fall on the bar or beam. It sounds a little far fetched, having never done gymnastics myself, but that was the common wisdom of girls who had done it for years.

our dance center says no. but a lot of the younger girls do and they don't say anything. they'll only really get strict at recital time.

No, I can't tell you how many mom's make their kids wear their panties under their leos and they continuously pull and pick at them.

If a mom truly has issues with a child going without underwear then there are some choices. There are nude panties that are made with spandex and Lycra. They are slick and the leo, all fabrics should be the same, will slide around over them. They are tight and stretchy. They are only to be worn with their leo's or under a performance costume for the purpose of modesty when changing costumes out in a main dressing room. Much like a cheer brief that is worn under a cheer outfit.

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For gymnastics:

When they are reaching up on the uneven parallel bars their underwear hangs down on the outside of the leo and they get embarrassed, they let go so they can try and pull their leo down over the undies again, then they try to do the task and have to try and manage theri underwear again.

It's just mean to make a little girl embarrassed because her underwear is showing.

Do not wear underwear under a leo. It is the same as if the are wearing a swim suit.

If you are a prude and simply must make them wear it please go buy that child some short shorts that are stretchy and have a super slim leg so that they can wear them over their leo and there will be no chance of the underwear showing.

I have these shorts in just about every color. The nylon/spandex blend is the best because they are slick and the leo, even if it is velvet, will slide on the fabric and not be clingy.

http://www.bodywrappers.com/details.php?id=451

The brand we carry in our store is from Basic Moves and it is called a V-Front hot short. They run at least one size smaller. My granddaughter is just going into a 7 slim jean and I buy the girls large size for her, a girls 12-14. She can also wear a ladies small but the legs are cut wider. Ladies tend to have a wider hip that a little girl so that is the only difference. The waist and length are the same in those sizes.

Other than a plain leo there are other choices for the mom who just can't let their kids be like the other kids.

Biketards

http://www.bodywrappers.com/details.php?id=1292

http://www.bodywrappers.com/details.php?id=1630

We have had almost all of these in our store.

https://www.google.com/search?q=body+wrappers+v+front+sho...

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Dance:

Now, if the child is in dance instead of gymnastics they should have a class leo along with the tights and shoes. All exactly the same. Some teachers will not let the kids attend class if they even have their hair not exactly correct. So the teacher should be addressing the underwear. If it is showing and is a distraction then she needs to tell the mom to either stop putting it on the girl or tell the girl to go sit out until mom comes to get her.

The dance teacher is much more dogmatic about dress codes and such.

The don't even notice the children that much. They are watching for muscle movement, pointed feet, correct positions, shuffle done right, all the movements. They don't want to be distracted by a girl contstantly picking at her hiney trying to make her underwear get out of their crack or push it back under the leo.

So for dance I would ask the teacher about underwear, I would be totally surprised if she didn't say they are not to wear underwear.

If she is a little one, have her wear them if you want. But if she's, say, six or up, and it's for dance -- she should be in tights anyway. Dance schools usually require tights and leotards but no underwear as it both looks bad and gets in the way of the child's movement. Tights take the place of the underwear as they get older.

My daughter hasn't worn underwear with a leotard since she was about six. Many little girls say they feel funny without the underwear but they do get used to it if they also wear tights.

If there is a dance recital or show coming up, be aware that the dance teacher is very likely to say that there must not be any underwear under the costume. I'd get your child used to no underwear, so she is not freaking out if she is told to wear a costume without any.

My daughter is almost 5 and she wears panties underneath. She is only in her ballet leotard for less than an hour (getting her dressed,driving, and a half hour class). We keep her in them for ease of changing her when she's done, especially if we are getting an errand done afterward or getting dinner out.

While I watch her practice, I do notice her panty line and occasionally she is tugging at her leotard/panties for a better fit. I'm sure both of these reasons is the REASON they don't want them wearing panties underneath.....it's a distraction to the audience AND the performer.

We'll worry more about that as she gets older.

I was a dancer from age 3-29. When I was younger, I wore panties. Made sure they were the higher cut that didn't stick out, or that they matched my leo - i.e. black undies with black leo so it wasn't so obvious if they stuck out. However, as an adult, I didn't because it was uncomfortable. Does she wear tights? 3 layers can be uncomfortable. Depending on how old she is, underwear sticking out of the leo isn't that big of deal...but if she is older (pre-teen and up), it might be more embarrassing, but you can find the "higher cut" ones then. When I was in HS, I wore Victorias Secret "String Bikini" style and they stayed hidden.

My daughter and I were both competitive gymnasts. No regular underwear under leos. The teeny little ones wore nothing, the older ones wore something like this.

http://www.gkelite.com/Gymnastics-Gym%20Gear-Undergarments

No idea about dance or cheer.

:)

Either way is fine . At recital you don't wear panties . During the year its fine either way . At gymnastics my daughter doesn't . At dance this year she doesn't but has always in years past . It is just whatever is comfortable .

I had my daughthet wear panties so i didnt have to wash the leotard every week. she only wore it for 40 minutes once a week.. so if she wore panties.. it was good enough to wear 2 or 3 times..

I really dont think it is a big deal unless she is a competitive dancer up on stage ...

We always wore panties (not thongs).
It's kind of gross not to.
It certainly prevents camel toe.

I always had my daughter wear them. I guess if she has tights and a tutu on, then it would be ok though

It doesn't really matter if one wears panties or not. Do whatever is comfortable for you and your daughter.

I have always worn leotards with underwear---is it for ballet?? I would make your daughter wear them. Extra protection :)

I think this is different on how we as parents were raised. My daughter (age 7) started gymnastics this year for the first time. She always wears underwear under her unitards. I don't think its a faux pa at all!

Never crossed my mind not to have them wear panties under their leotards including tights.I was a dancer and never went w/out them to uncomcortable feeling naked under my clothing

We do wear panties with leotards, but I know that some gymnastics and ballet schools have no panties in their dress code - they want to avoid having the kids pulling at their underwear the entire time...
So for a recreational dance or gym class I think panties are fine, but once you get more competitive/serious no panties under the leo.

I always have my daugther wear underwear with EVERYTHING!!! I have never heard of not wearing underwear with your outer clothing. Gross!