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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the selection of toddler boys clothes on offer is shockingly bad!

45 replies

pitterpatterfeet · 08/04/2011 12:58

I've been trying to buy new clothes for my 18 month old recently and found it incredibly difficult to find plain, well made clothes. I find most clothes are too fussy with logos or writing on them. I think the quality has really gone downhill in shops like M&S which used to be good. The only place I've been able to find nice, plain jogging bottoms was polarn o. Pyret which is relatively pricey but nice. Can anyone relate?

OP posts:
MissJanuary · 08/04/2011 13:01

if your 18month old cannot jog, why do you dress him in jogging bottoms?

I cannot stand any kind of jogging/track suit outside of a gym. How does this constitute well made clothes?

NEXT is fab for small boys.

mitochondria · 08/04/2011 13:01

Yes, and it gets worse as they get older. My biggest boy is now six and I really struggle to find anything that doesn't have a skull / football related slogan / naughtiness related slogan on it.

I don't think girls have it any easier though, it seems as I walk past the extensive girl selection to get to the one boy rack to be pretty much wall-to-wall pink and sparkles.

2BoysTooLoud · 08/04/2011 13:04

Fleecy jogging bottoms I think are much more comfy than jeans on babies/ toddlers.
I do relate to you pitterpatter - always more choice for girls. I am lucky to get hand me downs at mo but usually buy toddler clothes from supermarkets to save money. Find quality fine [eg Tescos].

2BoysTooLoud · 08/04/2011 13:05

I too avoid skulls!!

Original poster
pitterpatterfeet · 08/04/2011 13:05

Miss January - I just like him to wear comfortable clothes going to the park and toddlers. Can't actually stand seeing children wearing uncomfortable " mini-adult"clothes for playing in. For example saw a young boy wearing mini Argyll sweater and trendy jeans with belt the other day at soft play and he looked very uncomfortable.

OP posts:
sausagesandmarmelade · 08/04/2011 13:07

Have you tried Gap?

They do some really nice bits (I think)

Happymm · 08/04/2011 13:08

Just bought my boys some lovely things from m&s. Also next is good, and cheap-plain t-shirts, and checked cotton shorts. Dreaded Boden has things as does White company, though pricey. Agree about sports wear-only for in the gym use & that goes for mummy's too!:o

BobbiDazzler · 08/04/2011 13:09

Toddler boys? try the 6-10 yr old age range. Horrendous. Always about 4 choices, and guarantee they will feature a surf dude, a skull and crossbones, a premiership football team or Sponge frigging Bob.

shouldnthavegoogled · 08/04/2011 13:09

I think it's dour too.
Girly bits are always HUGE comapred to boys bits in shops. I have noticed this. It really annoys me!
H&M do some nice bits that are quite neutral.

REALLY struggle to get a good choice of lighter jackets/swim stuff sometimes just in the shops. If I'm looking for specifics I often go online and Google shop instead.

mypandasgotcrabs · 08/04/2011 13:09

It always has been in my experience. After 9 years of getting fed up walking past row after row of girls clothes to find 2 measly little racks of boys clothes covered in horrible slogans and skulls and allsorts it's lovely to finally have such a huge choice of clothes for DD.

shouldnthavegoogled · 08/04/2011 13:10

And YY to the horrificness of design choices!! Is he in the army? Nope! I want to find the little bugger at a glance, I certainly don't need him to blend in with foliage!

mitochondria · 08/04/2011 13:12

BobbiDazzler - exactly. My six year old doesn't surf (I don't know many six year olds who do), isn't into football, doesn't like Spongebob.
I don't mind the odd piratey skull and crossbones but they all seem to be on-fire skulls with burning eyeballs at the moment. Will be time for that later, I think.

I went in M+S yesterday and there was the same stuff in there - skull, surfboard or Spongebob.

WassaAxolotl · 08/04/2011 13:12

shouldnthavegoogled
"Nope! I want to find the little bugger at a glance, I certainly don't need him to blend in with foliage!"

This! I most definitely agree.

mrsoliverramsay · 08/04/2011 13:12

I hate the fact that when you go into shops there are about 10 rows of girls clothes and 1 of boys. Really winds me up.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 08/04/2011 13:13

YANBU - I think the choice of boys clothes is shockingly bad compared to the girls....years ago I complained in M & S about the lack of nice boys stuff.

My DS is amost 9 now and the choice isnt much better!

foxyD · 08/04/2011 13:14

I agree about the amount of clothes with skulls etc on them - who buys them? Also can't undrstand people not wanting to put jogging bottoms on tots - I think they are the most comfy and practical thing they can wear! Love polarn pyret too think there things are lovely quality :)

ceebeegeebies · 08/04/2011 13:17

Yy to mitochondria -I gave into DS1 wanting a set of 3 t-shirts with skulls/snakes on a few weeks ago (they were from Matalan so were quite cheap). It is non-uniform day at school today and he desperately wanted to wear one with a very scary-looking skull on - he is only 4.9 Shock I had to put my foot down as I could just see him scaring all his Reception class-mates Blush He went in a Cookie Monster one instead Grin

OP - I would definitely recommend Next as they have some good plain clothes (such as packs of 4 plain-coloured t-shirts for about £12, packs of 2 plain jogging pants) You have to dig about amongst all the crap but they are definintely there and reasonably priced.

MissJanuary · 08/04/2011 13:18

Thank you happymm sportswear outwith a gym is just mad

Ineedacleaneriamalazyslattern · 08/04/2011 13:21

I actually find it much easier to find basics for my 4 year an d 9 month old boys than I do for 7 year old girl.
I also favour the supermarket for a lot of ties stuff and like a lot of the stuff in dare I say asda.
it is so hard to find car.bs for girls. once they are around 3 or 4 they mote into the range that goes right up to teenage years and it is all fashion wear far too grown up looking for the younger end of the age range.

MrsCarriePooter · 08/04/2011 13:23

I like John Lewis' own range too.

MrSpoc · 08/04/2011 13:28

totaly agree. I have two small boys and the choice is lacking companred to girls clothing.

Try H&M, Baby gap, Next all seem to have nice neutral boys clothing.

I also find it a little weird how someone does not like tracksuit bottoms on children. Surley this gives them more freedom when in play and is like being in the gym. Well sort off, if you know what i mean.

thaigreencurry · 08/04/2011 13:33

My mum often gets nice bits in M&S for the boys. If I'm honest I'm not very fussy and will dress them in anything from Tesco to Boden. I have bought stuff from NEXT in the sale, I'm not keen on their stuff but they are in it for such a short time that I'm not really worried what it looks like. The girls stuff in NEXT is very pretty not sure why they can't quite get it right for the boys.

jamaisjedors · 08/04/2011 13:39

H&M good atm - got some nice shorts and nice bright t-shirts - and organic cotton.

VeronicaCake · 08/04/2011 13:44

Frugi has a sale on right now - loads of lovely comfy trousers: www.welovefrugi.com

rookiemater · 08/04/2011 14:00

M&S has a reasonable selection and DS got some lovely tops from Sainsburys for his birthday.
I tend to get most things in the Boden or Joules sale as the clothes seem a lot funkier than the ones in the shop, plus are better quality.