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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell my husband to stop saying this?

512 replies

cittykat · 29/08/2025 07:48

my 9 year old son is a massive cat lover. He has cat slippers, tshirts, pens etc etc. I got him some cat pyjamas. These ones. https://amzn.to/45XnCwa

my husband (son’s dad) keeps telling him that he has to stop wearing them as they are girls’ pyjamas.

my son has said to him “please can you stop calling them girls’ pyjamas” and my husband says that he will be bullied if his friends see him wearing them. I have pointed out that the only one bullying him is his own father.

my husband says that telling him that they’re girls’ and not appropriate is not bullying it’s “parenting”

my husband thinks the shorts on the pyjamas are too short. Like little hot pants. Sometimes when son is lounging on the sofa they ride up and some bum cheek is visible. This angers husband and starts him off on his “girls’ pyjamas” conversation again.

son likes the pyjamas. I said I would ask on here what people thought. Please vote.

YANBU - your husband should stop calling them “girls’ pyjamas” to your son and back off

YABU - your son shouldn’t wear the pyjamas and your husband is right to protect him from future bullying if son’s friends saw the pyjamas on a sleepover.

OP posts:
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12
Magnificentkitteh · 29/08/2025 08:16

I'm not sure pjs are "shaped for a girls' body" - certainly not at 9. There may be things in the styling that means they are marketed more at girls - but they'd ride up equally on a girl. I bought my 9yo DD boys' pyjamas - Pokémon ones. She likes Pokémon, they were in the sale. She used to have Minecraft ones as wel and arsenal ones. I didn't give it a second thought and am assuming the posters against that you bought pjs marketed at girls would be equally horrified.

Cecilly · 29/08/2025 08:15

I would not want my child’s butt cheeks hanging out of their pyjamas. They are inappropriate for either sex.

landlordhell · 29/08/2025 08:14

But they are just grey cat pyjamas. I wear clothes for men sometimes if I like them.

SomeOfTheTrouble · 29/08/2025 08:13

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 29/08/2025 08:11

Click the link in the first post. They are being sold as for girls. OP didn't say that and is ignoring when several people pointed that out so I think this is a bit unfair on DH when she purposely bought her son girls pyjamas from a store specifically selling girls pyjamas. In that case yes they are girly so I don't see why husband have such a hard time ?

You haven’t said why it matters that it says ‘girls’ in the description though? So what? My daughters wear things that say ‘boys’ in the description, because they like them. The description is a marketing tool, not a law.

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 29/08/2025 08:11

landlordhell · 29/08/2025 08:07

What’s girlie about them?

Click the link in the first post. They are being sold as for girls. OP didn't say that and is ignoring when several people pointed that out so I think this is a bit unfair on DH when she purposely bought her son girls pyjamas from a store specifically selling girls pyjamas. In that case yes they are girly so I don't see why husband have such a hard time ?

PurpleThistle7 · 29/08/2025 08:11

I think both children can wear whatever they want ‘and’ that children shouldn’t be wearing things that show their bums. It’s harder to find for all sorts of depressing reasons, but I get my daughter boys shorts or bicycle shorts or similar.

My daughter is a bit older but has a friend who is a boy but always liked girls and ‘girl’ style better. He wore lots of pink and liked fun leggings and has always had long hair. He is very much his own person and has - to my knowledge - never had an issue with it minus being misgendered regularly which doesn’t bother him. So I think cat print and pink is great - but these particular shorts would be a no go for me for my son or my daughter.

Thundertoast · 29/08/2025 08:10

Have you tried saying 'God, you are making me so unattractive to you right now, do you know how thick you sound? Unless pajamas require you to use a vagina to put them on then they dont have a gender. Do you realise how stupid you are making yourself sound?' And on and on and on.
You've tried speaking nicely to him, he's bullying your son so it's time for him to get a taste of it to be honest. Obviously not saying the above in front of your son.

Iwantitidontwantit · 29/08/2025 08:10

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 29/08/2025 08:05

But it says on your link these are girls pyjamas?So you bought him girls ones on purpose?

Op said she'd have got boys PJ'S if she could have found any.

How odd supporting a man bullying his son just because a clothes manufacturer said the pj's were for girls, simply as that's where they think will sell 🙄

As you've seen the link, do tell me what makes them not suitable for boys?

SomeOfTheTrouble · 29/08/2025 08:09

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 29/08/2025 08:05

But it says on your link these are girls pyjamas?So you bought him girls ones on purpose?

So what? It says ‘girls’ to come up in searches when people are looking for pyjamas. It doesn’t mean they can only be worn by girls. I often buy my daughters things that say ‘boys’. What difference does it make?
OP would your DH be happy for a daughter to have her bum cheeks on show, just not a son?

landlordhell · 29/08/2025 08:09

Why is it ok for a girl’s bum to be on show but not a boy’s?

Hoardasurass · 29/08/2025 08:08

cittykat · 29/08/2025 08:02

He has size 11-12 and normally wears a size 9-10 so I already sized up. They’re not too small for him it’s just the style of them is quite a ‘short’ short

So their really not designed for a boys shape then.
May I suggest that you get a different pair of boys shorts to go with the top as he shouldn't be showing his arse off and if they're riding up that high its only a matter of time before he either exposes his genitals or traps/crushes his genitals

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 29/08/2025 08:08

Is this real? The link is for girls pyjamas It says in big letters for girls?

landlordhell · 29/08/2025 08:07

HerecomesMargo · 29/08/2025 07:58

I have a 9yo ds who likes cats and I asked him if he wants this he’s said no that’s a girls pj’s. So your dh is right.
but only up to your ds if he cares or not.

What’s girlie about them?

StrikeandRobinlol · 29/08/2025 08:06

Get ones that fit or tell him to sit so he doesn’t reveal himself

SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 29/08/2025 08:05

cittykat · 29/08/2025 08:02

He has size 11-12 and normally wears a size 9-10 so I already sized up. They’re not too small for him it’s just the style of them is quite a ‘short’ short

But it says on your link these are girls pyjamas?So you bought him girls ones on purpose?

Rainbowcat99 · 29/08/2025 08:04

HerecomesMargo · 29/08/2025 07:58

I have a 9yo ds who likes cats and I asked him if he wants this he’s said no that’s a girls pj’s. So your dh is right.
but only up to your ds if he cares or not.

You know that having one other 9 year old agree with him doesn’t make dh “right”??

They’re pyjamas and people wear all sorts of things to bed, for a 9 year old to be bullied by his dad over nightwear is awful!!

SomewhatAnnoyed · 29/08/2025 08:03

It angers his father when his bum cheek is occasionally revealed and he doubles down on them being girls pyjamas…. So he’d prefer to see his daughter’s bum cheek…. 😳

PoshDuckQuarkQuark · 29/08/2025 08:02

You husband is reinforcing stereotypes and being misogynistic. He needs to stop.

My 9 year old DS has really long hair and loves wearing jewelry. We teach him that anyone that picks on him is just jealous and to ignore anyone if they make a comment. People can dress as they please.

He gets a few questions about the hair but mainly compliments about the necklace and the kids at school are fine.

I'd be worried that your DH is implying that its OK for girls bum cheeks to be on show!!!

cittykat · 29/08/2025 08:02

Hoardasurass · 29/08/2025 07:57

If there riding up so far that his arse is hanging out it might be time to replace the pj's with a larger pair.
Gently noone wants to see their child's arse hanging out of their clothes

He has size 11-12 and normally wears a size 9-10 so I already sized up. They’re not too small for him it’s just the style of them is quite a ‘short’ short

OP posts:
1099 · 29/08/2025 08:01

It literally says in the link,
bout this item

  • Girls Cat Blue Eyes Short Pyjamas. These come with a short sleeved top with a stunning Cat design and shorts with an all over paw print and elasitcated waistband for extra c
So on hand your DH is right, but if you DS likes them then it doesn't really matter, but your DH is wrong to be making it a big deal.
SuPollardsPolkaDotFrock · 29/08/2025 08:01

It does sound like you need a bigger size. Before long it won't be bum cheek showing if they that small. I wonder if your husband is getting as is that they may be viewed a little immature as he gets older rather than girly? As children grow they stop playing with toddler toys and start interest in older more grown up toys and clothing is often the same taste do change In that respect yes I can see him being teased by friends for wearing stuff smaller children would usually wear? Maybe that is it not girlish but is something much smaller children usually wear?

ittakes2 · 29/08/2025 08:01

This is a joke post right? The link you posted literally says they are girls pjs so likely designed for girls bodies.

Katemax82 · 29/08/2025 08:01

Who cares what pyjamas they are FFS!! your husband is being mean

LeeshaPaper · 29/08/2025 08:00

Unless you need a penis/vagina for the thing to work they are unisex.
So they are pyjamas not girls' pyjamas

Swiftie1878 · 29/08/2025 08:00

Ask your husband to introduce himself to the 21st Century and stop with his stereotyping shit.

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