OT: Gymnastics/Dance moms

[Honeymooner04]

My daughter will be 4 later this month and she really wants a leotard for her gymnastics class so I'm thinking this would be a great birthday present. She's been taking gymnastics for over a year and I'm the mean mom that makes her wear shorts and a tee instead of the fancy leotards all the other girls wear. The leotard isn't a requirement for the class by the way.

Anyway, the leotards sold by the gym are GK Elite but they didn't have very many cute ones to choose from in my daughter's size. The GK Elite website is somewhat confusing and the prices with shipping are steep. What are other brands for "nice" leotards. I don't want to go the Target/Walmart route because the ones I've seen other girls wear seem to ride up if you know what I mean. The GK leos seems to stay put a little better!

Any help you can pass on would be great! Thanks!

 

[mom2threets]

My daughter will be 4 later this month and she really wants a leotard for her gymnastics class so I'm thinking this would be a great birthday present. She's been taking gymnastics for over a year and I'm the mean mom that makes her wear shorts and a tee instead of the fancy leotards all the other girls wear. The leotard isn't a requirement for the class by the way.

Anyway, the leotards sold by the gym are GK Elite but they didn't have very many cute ones to choose from in my daughter's size. The GK Elite website is somewhat confusing and the prices with shipping are steep. What are other brands for "nice" leotards. I don't want to go the Target/Walmart route because the ones I've seen other girls wear seem to ride up if you know what I mean. The GK leos seems to stay put a little better!

Any help you can pass on would be great! Thanks!

I have my 5-y-o (started gymnastics when she was turning 4) wear the unitard/biketard style. They are shorts so that they don't "ride-up." I buy them on ebay.

 

[woodkins]

Leos will cost you between $40-60. You can sometimes find GK Elite and other gym brands on Ebay for less, or just google the brand name plus sale & look for clearance/sales online.

 

[jakenjess]

My DD is a dancer, and I'm not sure if they wear the same leotards for gymnastics, but we get great deals at discountdance.com.

 

[lindsmom]

I bought my daughter some beautiful leos off ebay - they were made by a woman in Hawaii. There are a few others who create some beautiful custom leos. But you can find good deals on brand names also on ebay.

 

[Honeymooner04]

The problem is I don't KNOW any other brand names other than GK Elite. Can anyone give me any names?

 

[IndianaJ]

We also have motionwear leos. A good way to get the name brand without the pricetag is to look at consignment/second hand stores and ask mom's with older girls. Once I told people my 6 and 7 y.o. girls were in competitive gymnastics people just started giving us their old leos.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

My dd is a dancer, not a gymnast, but most of her leotards are Balera or Motionwear. Both of those companies also make gymnastics styles. Usually I buy them online at either www.dancewearsolutions.com or www.discountdance.com.

 

[sharlon]

Gym mom here. I did want to let you know that gym leos are not the same as dance leos. They are cut differently and are typically a different material. This matters a great deal with the different types of movements that gymnasts do. That said, since your DD is 4, I would recommend going with a less expensive leo.
GK Elite is a line made by GK. There are regular GK leos that are a tad less expensive. Another popular line is Alpha Factor. GK normally run a little smaller than Alpha Factor. They also, in our experience, tend to run longer. My DD is long in the torso, and GK fits her better. Now, she is a normal size 11 year old and wears an adult small in GK.
As for where to purchase, I send the suggestion of Ebay. Another website would be discountleotards.com .
Good luck and Happy Birthday to your DD!

 

[bhoffman]

I have two daughters in competitive gymnastics. I would highly suggest you stay away from motionwear leotards. they are poorly made and if you have any problems they are NOT customer friendly. They are so bad our gym changed the competitive leotards away from them and back to GK because they are made so much better AND if there happens to be a problem they will make it right. My girls prefer the GK but they are expensive. If you search on ebay there are plenty of people on there who make leotards and I have bought a few, all were nicely made. You can also try k-bee leotards, they are nicely made as well. Hope that helps!

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

We also have motionwear leos. A good way to get the name brand without the pricetag is to look at consignment/second hand stores and ask mom's with older girls. Once I told people my 6 and 7 y.o. girls were in competitive gymnastics people just started giving us their old leos.

I had the same thing happen to me when my DD6 started gymnastics. I told a few friends and next thing I knew she had about 10 leotards that looked brand new. My DD prefers the ones that are one piece that are like shorts.

 

[pmarkley]

Dancewearsolutions.com also sells gymnastics leotards. They have a section for them.

 

[nexttrip4us]

Another gym mom...I did get my DD a GK Elite leo with the little shorts...she rarely wears it...she wants to wear the biketard style...actually both my girls do. We've gotten leos from lots of different places from Target/Kohls on up...I've spent $10 and I've spent $50 and for their once/week gym class, they are all fine and the vast majority of them get passed from my niece and then down through my two girls. We just bought two new ones from Snowflake Leotards...super cute and they had some really fun biketard patterns.

Happy shopping!

 

[momof1princess]

my DD has taken dance for several years, and i buy her leotards at allaboutdance.com. their products are VERY high quality and their shipping is reasonable. DD has worn the same leotards and tights for 1 1/2 years now (bloch leotard and danskin run-resistant tights).

 

[princessmom29]

At this age I don't think a $50 leo is necessary unless they are competing and it is required. I would just look at online reatilers and order her one there. If you are not happy with the quality she will soon grow out of it. I know nothing about gym leos,but for dance we use bloch almost exclusively b/c they are the brand that fits DD the best. You are likely going to have to try several brands before you find one that wears right and fits well. It is really hard sometimes to be completely sure about it until they have worn it to class. We have gotten leos that fit great when we tried them on, but straps will slip, or it will ride up in class. Once you have an idea of brand and size ordering online and sale shopping is the way to go.

 

[singnring]

When DD11 began gymnastics 2 years ago, we went to wmart and bought her 2 unitards. She was too modest to wear a leo.

Six months later she was on the competitive team and had to have leos.

I went on Ebay and found some very nice ones for anywhere from $6-12 ea.

I would suggest first asking around the gym. The kids outgrow the leos quickly and most see very little use.

You can probably get them free or cheap from other parents.

 

[amylcollins]

my daughter is a competitive gymnast, so she spends hours a week in a leo. she Alpha Factor. Google Alpha Factor Aerials.

 

[loveysbydesign]

The ones sold at Target work just fine for little kids!

 

[Honeymooner04]

Thanks for all the brand recommendations! Off to do some shopping!

 

[WDWorBUST]

I get DD's class leos from jillybeans.....just google it. You can get some really cute ones and she has been doing gymnastics since she was 3 and has not worn out a leotard yet....she outgrows them first. The other place I would suggest is consignment shops or sales. I sell DD's outgrown leos at the Just Between Friends sale and have not had one not sell yet.