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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be irritated with the Next baby section

31 replies

TheFruitWhisperer · 27/07/2010 14:57

I am having a little boy, and would love to go in there (or any other shop selling childrens clothes) and find lots of little boy clothes to get excited by.

However our local one is 90% girls clothes and 10% boys. To the degree that they even have areas labeled and dedicated to boys clothes filled with girls stuff.

I realise girls have more choice of clothing and boys generally have a top/bottom combo, but should that mean I am limited to the blue and brown crap they have on one measly stand?

OP posts:
Elemental · 27/07/2010 15:01

As the mother of a toddler ds, this annoys me too! It's as if they think it's comparable to adult clothes departments where the women are far more interested than the men as a rule. It is bizarre, the mother is probably buying most of the clothes, and is as interested and needs to buy her baby boy just as many clothes as a girl would need.

Having said that, I am a big fan of all the dinosaur stuff and the girls don't get a look in there.

mangoandlime · 27/07/2010 15:03

I always think the baby clothes buyers at Next only have girls. YANBU!

belly36 · 27/07/2010 15:03

I rarely shop in Next for this reason. Mind you, most shops are nearly as bad.

Original poster
TheFruitWhisperer · 27/07/2010 15:04

I think Mothercare are quite good actually, but even the baby H&M we have near us is 80% girls!

I also like crocodiles and have seen a really cute sleep suit in Blooming Marvellous (note: this is the only thing Ive even remotely become excited about despite going in a million shops!!!)

OP posts:
Drusilla · 27/07/2010 15:04

Everyting abuot Next is irritating

Miggsie · 27/07/2010 15:05

At the moment it seems to be:
2 shelves of unimaginative clothes for boys
12 shelves of utter tat for girls

I gave up on Next some time ago

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 27/07/2010 15:10

It's the same for older boys clothes, most of it looks cheap anyway.

twoistwiceasfun · 27/07/2010 15:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

louii · 27/07/2010 15:18

The girls clothes are shocking, bought a couple of bits in the sale but it's mostly all pink princess shit, grrrrrrr
I don't want my 6 month old in stupid slogan t-shirts.

When my 5 year old DS was little the boys stuff was ok, now there is totally nothing I would buy for him out of next.

SloanyPony · 27/07/2010 15:21

Can you stretch to GAP? I had a boy first and found GAP a godsend. Now I have a girl, its not so good for that. But Next, which I found rubbish for my boy, has been quite handy for my girl.

When I had a boy I perceived there to be acres and acres of lovely girl stuff and nothing for boys. Now I have a girl, at times I have been stuck and not able to find much I truly liked. So maybe it is a case of grass is greener - or at least knowing which shops "specialise" in which gender.

SloanyPony · 27/07/2010 15:23

Its true there is some garish tat for girls at Next though - its fine for layering pieces, leggings, sleepsuits are great and have the fold over scratch mits up to 6 months, and matching vests (very important you know!), and plenty of nice romper type outfits for the summer.

TheDoodler · 27/07/2010 15:23

I would normally agree with you but i've just bought a set of 4 t shirts from there for DSs - in bright blue, green, yellow and red - with no logos on or anything. They are fab!

Original poster
TheFruitWhisperer · 27/07/2010 15:27

I hadnt considered Gap - I may take a look in there tonight after work.

I remember Next having a big range of baby clothes but that was when I was buying for friends and now I think of it, they've all had girls!

Does anyone think a letter might shake things up? I do like complaining

OP posts:
Fartytowels · 27/07/2010 15:28

Agree with Sloany GAP is by far the most even split of clothes for boys and girls. I tend to buy when they have their friends and family vouchers on the go, you get 30% off, or in the sale I'll buy the next few sizes up.

The quality is good and you can get v good wear for a few generations, or a good price on ebay if you want to resell.

I love H&M though, the trousers seem to last my son for about 3 years with those adjustable waists. They aren't great clothes for chunky monkeys' though, as my friend has trouble with the fit, my son has snake hips and spagetti legs and the jeans etc look great on him.

Next just make me sigh inwardly, i don't even bother looking at the boys stuff. Have you tried Debenhams or John Lewis? Zara?

happywheezer · 27/07/2010 15:34

I've always had this problem. Lots of high st shops not great for boys.
There are jeans and ere.....
Not as bad in the summer because at least you can buy shorts but good grief.

Next aren't the only ones. H&M not bad,
Zara things for A and W just fab too
Asda ok sometimes but hate t shirts with slogans and characters on.
I feel a campaign coming on for better boys clothes.

After all it's mostly us mums who have to buy the clothes that they wear.

I've seen a lot of Boden copies in the shops, especially stuff with stars on.

John lewis really nice BTW

Jbck · 27/07/2010 16:24

I love Zara stuff but it is a bit pricier. I've two girls and recently wished I had a little boy as their stuff was so adorable.

Gap good too as others have said and 30% off their logo stuff just now. I don't mind a little logo like the wee bear but I'm not sure if it's included.

LittleSilver · 27/07/2010 19:22

Next is rubbish, full stop.

That said OP, as the mother of 3 girls I have a choice of pink pink pink pink lilac pink.

Which is why they wear "boy's" clothes.

noblegiraffe · 27/07/2010 20:45

I went into Monsoon to look for baby stuff once. Rows and rows of skirts and dresses for girls, I could barely even find the boys' stuff. They had one rack of boys' clothes from ages 0 to 12. Rubbish.

Tootlesmummy · 27/07/2010 20:47

John Lewis is good for boys clothes, I buy a lot from there as I get fed up with Next.

Shaz10 · 27/07/2010 20:48

I love M&S boys' stuff.

Chunkamatic · 27/07/2010 20:56

YANBU. I take everything back that anyone gets my DS's from Next. I dont get it. It's just not nice stuff.

My boys mainly wear things from Gap, Zara, John Lewis, H&M and Polarn O Pyret. I have some lovely bright and unusual baby stuff from labels such as Katvig and Ej Sikke Lej, which you can easily find on-line. I regularly get comments about how nice their clothes are.

I agree though that in any of these high street shops there seems to be a very unequal shift towards much more girls stuff.

ponceydog · 27/07/2010 20:58

Maybe it's just to do with your loczl shop. There's some nice boys' things on teh website and in shops near me. I often see nice boys' things

pik · 27/07/2010 21:00

Aha, I'm glad it's not just me, I thought I was just imagining the fact that there are so many more clothes for girls. It's especially noticeable when there's a sale on (racks and racks of girls' stuff stretching off into eternity, a few pairs of muddy coloured tracky bottoms for boys...). Next are particularly bad for it. I agree M+S are nice for boys- also Sainsburys if you have a really big one nearby.

create · 27/07/2010 21:01

By the time your DS is 4 you'll be delighted that you can get away with 1 pair of trainers, some jeans/shorts and t-shirts, compared to the huge shoe collection and wardrobes little girls seem to need.

ponceydog · 27/07/2010 21:01

I do like this