to make DD (4) wear shorts under her nightdress?

[StarlingBirdsong]

So DD has just discovered it is possible to sleep in a dress (a birthday gift) and is now point blank refusing to wear her usual pjs (shorts and t-shirt). Not a problem, she needed new nightwear so i'm buying her a couple more.

However I was planning on getting some cycling short/cut off leggings for her to wear underneath. DH doesnt understand why and thinks its a waste of money and not needed. My thoughts are that she is only 4, so she comes downstairs in the morning and is turning cartwheels etc and generally mucking about with her brothers and i dont think its necessary to have bare bottoms waving about, or sat on my sofa.

Whilst i'm not a prude, i am conscious that she has an older brother and i think its important to set some ground rules for acceptable nudity - getting changed for bed etc is one thing but surely its not right for her privates to be on display while she's playing?

So what are your thoughts - shorts underneath? or perhaps just a pair of pants? to be worn all night or should i get her to put her pants on when she gets up? (also thinking of 'breathability' as it were if she's in something close fitting all night?)

(if its relevant i also generally encourage her to wear short leggings under her skirts and dresses, again due to age and her love of being upside down and climbing things - seems more practical than bare legs climbing a gate/on a slide etc)

[AStreetcarNamedBob]

YABU I'm with your husband.

[NoCapes]

just put underwear on her

[PPie10]

Just put some normal underwear on her like everyone else. No reason for bare bottoms to be on anything.

[OuchLegoHurts]

Eh, what's wrong with underwear?

[poocatcherchampion]

Just get dressed she wakes up?

Shorts under all dresses is wierd imo

[NeedACleverNN]

[rainbowstardrops]

Why can't she just wear a pair of knickers under it????

[Ihatechoosingnames]

A pair of knickers would do?

[Candycoco]

Just wear pants, agree privates shouldn't be on display downstairs in front of older brothers. But as she has no body awareness at 4 you need to tell her to wear pants

[EnidButton]

Sure I've seen this thread before.

[MrsJayy]

Urm what ? Its a nightdress put pants on her have been reading the school dress thread op

[LegoCaltrops]

You'd really hate my house... bare bottoms every day here. DD will strip off & dance around the living room at the drop of a hat. just like DH as a child, apparently

[StillMedusa]

Clean pants on for bed. Shorts seem a bit OTT!

[GrimmauldPlace]

I get DD to put on some knickers when she's up and about, mainly because we have laminate flooring and I know I wouldn't want to put my bare bum on there. Wouldn't make a big deal out of it though, and leave it up to her whether she wants to wear anything under the nightdress to bed.

[StarlingBirdsong]

Sorry if it wasnt clear - DH sees no reason for her to put anything on at all.

Maybe just pants is the answer then. (i hate nightdresses myself and hate wearing pants under my pjs as they feel restrictive which is why i didnt think of them first)

The daywear thing - surely its more comfy when climbing about to have shorts on than having delicate skin scratches etc when she's climbing trees/gates etc? but i'm a fan of leggings under skirts for myself too so perhaps thats why i favour it.

[eurochick]

Surely she can just put some underwear on when she gets up?

[MadameDePomPom]

Weird thread.

[Marymaymay]

The Victorians have got a lot to answer for.

[PalePolkaDot]

I've got 2 daughters and this has literally never come up.

Fwiw, they wear dresses all the time and play without difficulty.

[lavenderdoilly]

Loose knicks for bed.

[StarlingBirdsong]

havent read another thread no, just popped on to ask this before i finish my online shop for pyjamas!

ok ok, point made, i'm overthinking. will just ask DD to put a pair of pants on when she gets up.

[GrimmauldPlace]

Completely missed the last bit of your post about wearing shorts under dresses in the day also. Why get her dresses in the first place then? Might as well only buy her shorts and trousers. DD wears dresses with underwear on underneath and has never had a "delicate scratch"

[PolaroidsFromTheDead]

I'd let her wear what she prefers personally. I wear knickers under nighties and my 4 year old does too. My older DD prefers not to. Both fine IMO. Leggings under a nightie is a bit odd. There is no need and they don't sound very comfortable to sleep in.

[MadameDePomPom]

I'd think a person was stark staring bonkers for wearing cycling shorts under their nightie.