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Due a baby girl in October, how to avoid a 'sea of pink'?

77 replies

DollySpartan · 01/08/2019 08:30

is there any tactful(?) way of avoiding seas of pink when havig a baby girl? already people are saying "Ohh you'll be wanting to paint their room pink/get nice pink clothes" etc

I'm not ungrateful.

but would much rather avoid pink as much as possible, for fearo f being drowned in it!

I much prefer the bright and bold patterns you see around (see examples on pictures)

how to nicely say.... no bloody pink!

Due a baby girl in October, how to avoid a 'sea of pink'?
Due a baby girl in October, how to avoid a 'sea of pink'?
OP posts:
PullingMySocksUp · 01/08/2019 08:32

Just say it. Smile

It’s only rude if you say it when they’ve already bought it.

I was known amongst my family, DH family and friends for hating pink!

supercee · 01/08/2019 08:34

When people give you that chat could you not say something like 'I'm not the biggest fan of pink, will probably be going down the yellow, grey, anyothercolour route'.

Bobbiepin · 01/08/2019 08:34

Don't buy any yourself. If other people get it then it will be diluted by all the other colours you have bought. And remember that babies are in first clothes for such little time, so you get to change things a lot.

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Cantchooseaname · 01/08/2019 08:35

It’s really hard.
I’ve tried. Really tried. But people want to be kind, and often choices are limited in some places. I accepted that things are given with love.
3 years on, her favourite colours are pink and purple, she loves dolls and home role play, and is desperate to have her nails painted.

whirlwinds · 01/08/2019 08:35

Just say it, loud and clear, no pink. One of my friends did this when she had her first DG, absolutely no pink and gave alternative colours that were more neutral. None of us got pink things for her baby.

Venger · 01/08/2019 08:37

I don't think there is a nice way to say it as (in my experience at least) most people who buy baby clothes as gifts don't tend to ask what you would like beforehand, they choose something they like or that looks cute so in most cases you'd be saying "no pink" after it's already been bought and given.

I used to keep the bits I did like and discreetly return the ones I didn't, most places will give store credit on returns without a receipt. I would tell the person who gave it that it was too small by the time she got chance to wear it because they grow so quickly "so I hope you don't mind but I returned it for something in a bigger size".

Lumene · 01/08/2019 08:37

Only way i’ve seen that worked was not to tell people the sex.

SnuggyBuggy · 01/08/2019 08:37

The horse may have bolted but not saying that it's a girl at least helps before the baby is born

Joopy · 01/08/2019 08:38

Could you tell people you don't know if it's a girl or a boy?

ifeellikeanidiot · 01/08/2019 08:38

Noone ever suggested I paint dds room pink Hmm

Buy the bright stuff you like yourself and If you get given pink stuff, smile politely and then shove in back of cupboard.

FamilyOfAliens · 01/08/2019 08:40

It’s such a shame clothes are so gendered now.

I dressed DD in strong, dark colours (some of her clothes were “boys”) but we were lucky as she was born with a full head of long, dark brown hair which never fell out, so she suited those colours.

My favourite outfit when she was about 6 months was a black all-in-one with tiny blue flowers from Baby Gap. I kept it because she said she wants it for her DC!

Her first shoes were brown Mary-Janes from Clark’s.

ErrolTheDragon · 01/08/2019 08:40

Maybe the easiest way (in retrospect) would have been to not tell anyone else the sex of your unborn child!

If anyone overtly says things like 'already people are saying "Ohh you'll be wanting to paint their room pink/get nice pink clothes" etc' you can just say, good grief no, I much prefer bright colours.' . You can tell them what colour schemes you might be choosing, or maybe if online post a couple of photos like in your op of what you do like.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/08/2019 08:40

Does it matter if you get a few clothes that are pink? Like another poster said just mention if the subject comes up, but otherwise the clothes you buy will be the majority...at some point you’ll just be grateful to have some clean clothes, pink or otherwise

TequilaMockingbird0 · 01/08/2019 08:41

We found the only way to avoid was to pretend we didn't know the sex of the baby. And then once born emphasise we didn't want just pink (or better, by then say you have everything you need and would appreciate food more than baby clothes).

ErrolTheDragon · 01/08/2019 08:42

It's just occurred to me that with some types of people, telling them you think pink looks very dated now might be effective.

userabcname · 01/08/2019 08:42

I have a boy and obviously when he was first born I didn't say anything about all the blue as people were very kind to buy gifts and I know that a lot of newborn stuff comes in blue, pink or white so there's not a lot of choice. As he's gotten bigger I have mentioned to family that I find blue a bit boring and bland (and I hate navy blue/black/dark grey on toddlers - I prefer him to wear bright stuff!) so now my mum and mother in law look out for stuff that's more neutral. Also if you buy and dress her in the colours you like then people will likely start to purchase similar once they know your tastes. You won't be able to avoid pink entirely though!

Chocolatedaim · 01/08/2019 08:42

Oh god I got this when I was pregnant with Dd. She was the first girl grandchild and all the grandparents wanted to buy the prettiest sparkly pink clothes 🤮
My DH and I said no, all neutral colours please. They listened, sort of. But as soon as DD reached 18-24mnths she was insistent on wearing all pink glitter unicorns everything. Which I was fine with as it was her choice. She is four now, unicorns still feature but so do football shirts, running clothes, lots of blues and greens, and she has eased on the sparkles...slightly. 🤷🏻‍♀️

JenniR29 · 01/08/2019 08:43

I’d just try and be direct, say you aren’t into pink clothes. You can return anything if you don’t like it.

Just to warn you though unless your baby is dresses in head to toe pink everyone will assume she’s a boy anyway. Sigh.

ApplesOrangesPears · 01/08/2019 08:43

Unless people ask first (most won’t) there really isn’t a way to say this that isn’t rude.

But does it really matter if your baby has pink vests or babygros? Most people will but newborn outfits or 0-3 which will be grown out of quickly anyway. And you will probably be changing clothes at least a couple of times a day in the early stages.

People will buy outfits they think are cute as a way of welcoming/celebrating your baby. Getting hung up on the colour is pretty churlish. Just wear them while they fit and you can replace them with things more to your taste when they no longer fit - which won’t be long!

SeaEagle21 · 01/08/2019 08:44

I had mine in the 80's and it wasn't that bad - have people become more gendered about babies ? I didn't paint my DD's room any colour, just left it neutral, and I dressed her in Mothercare navy and yellow . And orange.

You can dress your baby any way you like - really ! If people know it's a girl and want to give you pink stuff, tell them you'd prefer bright colours instead.

Fundays12 · 01/08/2019 08:45

I have a friend that hates pink she just told told people nicely before her daughter was born. It was no big deal I bought her a cute mint green dress and white cardigan instead.

Babdoc · 01/08/2019 08:47

Well, you could drop subtle hints beforehand.
Let it be known that you’re a supporter of the Pink Stinks campaign, for example.
Or say how revolted you were by a hideous pink baby’s bedroom in a catalogue, and that you are banning the colour for your own baby.
Tell people that someone has already given you a pink baby gift and you’re trying to find a tactful way of getting rid of it as you hate it.
Keep drip feeding the anti pink message from now to delivery!

Witchend · 01/08/2019 08:49

Most people buy the majority of things themselves so if you don't want pink don't buy it and then it won't be a sea of pink.

RoonilWazlibsQuill · 01/08/2019 08:50

With respect OP, I said this to my DM when I was expecting my DD (who’s now almost 20) but tbh she looked so gorgeous in it that I ended up buying her more clothes in pink long after ‘the sea of pink’ would have subsided.
Why not just wait and see, your daughter might look beautiful in all colours Smile

Loyaultemelie · 01/08/2019 08:52

It's almost impossible. We bought anything ourselves bright and bold but dd1 was a preemie and so many people were really lovely and bought gifts when she came home I didn't need to buy clothes until she was 3. Unfortunately she didn't suit pale pink (or pale anything) but I was just amazed at the generosity of the farming community(some people who didn't even know us but dhs late parents etc) I used them. Swore I would buy new for any subsequent dcs but didn't because I couldn't justify the waste Blush