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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

for keeping my 7 month DD in baby grows?

204 replies

fishybits · 06/08/2012 10:18

MIL and SIL have both said that I shouldn't keep dressing DD in "pyjamas" during the day. MIL has bought her "proper clothes" and pointedly said they are for nursery and SIL took DD upstairs and changed her.

DD is in baby grows for a number of reasons
they are cheap in baby bundles off eBay, her feet stay warm, she sleeps a lot so is comfortable, she's quick to dress/undress,
I don't mind when they get covered in paint etc at nursery etc.

Obviously for smart occasions she has a couple of dresses she wears but I intend to keep her in baby grows till she's about a year old. I said to SIL that when she had children of her own she could dress them in whatever she liked but that DD was my child and that I could dress her however I liked and would continue to dress her in baby grows for as long as I felt like it.

I'm curious to know if I am a bit odd or not. DD is my PFB so I don't know any different.

OP posts:
CouthyMow · 06/08/2012 10:53

I found baby grows were ok as daytime clothes until they started crawling. I find they hamper crawling and walking as they sort of crawl up inside the baby grow.

I wouldn't personally leave a crawling / walking baby in a baby grow during the day, as I think that while they look cute and are practical for a baby not yet crawling, after that they are only good for pyjamas.

CouthyMow · 06/08/2012 10:58

And by 18 months, I have given up on them for nighttime too, as DS3 can undo the poppers and strip off. Even when it is freezing. Mostly so he can take his nappy off in the night and pee on the floor, NEXT to the potty. Hmm

He then expects a rapturous round of applause at 3am just for attempting to pee in the potty...

Pyjamas are much better once you hit that stage!!

PatronSaintOfDucks · 06/08/2012 10:59

The only problem I can see with babygrows is that it's harder for the baby to use the feet as babygrow feet are rather loose and prone to sliding. My DS wore a lot of rompers (essentially a footless babygrow) at this age. They were not pajama-like ones though, but brightly colored affairs. "Organics for Kids" make fabulous ones, for instance, although expensive.

Perhaps your MIL just wants to see "nicer" brighter more aesthetic clothing on your baby. Maybe brightly coloured, printed babygrows would be ok with her.

babyboomersrock · 06/08/2012 11:00

Babygros are fine as daywear (back in the 70s, we didn't think of them as sleepwear; I had pastel ones for night and bright ones for day) - my issue with them is the feet. I preferred my babies to have bare feet, and especially at the stage where they might be crawling, so I chose the footless ones, or short rompers, for both my sons and my daughter.

I prefer to see a baby in comfortable clothing, whatever that is - the only time I ever put my daughter into a dress was when a granny appeared and wanted to see the dress she'd given her. I feel the same about the fashion for baby boys in jeans, mind you - give me stretchy clothes with poppers any time.

They have such a little time to be babies - why not let them be comfortable?

PatronSaintOfDucks · 06/08/2012 11:02

DS is 18m now and I still put him in an odd romper. He has a couple very bright ones from the Green Baby company. After all, "onsies" are all the rage for teenagers now, so why not toddlers?

mumnosGOLDisbest · 06/08/2012 11:03

DD is 6 months and just getting to the point where babygrows are becoming less practical. Untill recently she wore them most of the time except special occasions or visiting people. She spends a lot of time in her baby walker and playing with her feet so now sge wears footless all in ones, leggings or jogging bottoms (rarely/ never tights). I do like dress/legging combos.

JugglingWithFiveRings · 06/08/2012 11:04

If her Auntie and Granny want to buy her some cute little clothes for her to wear occasionally then I think you could probably stretch to accommodating that, but would be nice to have it recognised that there's nothing wrong with her being in practical baby-gro's, as it's not so good to feel criticised.

SIL may never have her own DD - who knows - so let her enjoy being an Auntie.
Similarly perhaps your DD may be MIL's only grand-daughter.

I think you and they may be missing out slightly on the pleasure of dressing her up a bit. Of course there's much more to life than clothes, but it could be fun?!

ksrwr · 06/08/2012 11:04

children that age dont care what they wear! but shortly your DD will want to start crawling/pulling herself up, so the footless bodysuit suggestion sounds good ;-)

HappySunflower · 06/08/2012 11:05

These kind of things are nice:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Mini-Baby-Boden-Romper-Sleep-Suit-0-24-monthsspots-or-flowers-/170852747718?pt=UK_Girls_Nightwear&var=&hash=item27c79e09c6#ht_500wt_1054 as they tend to be a bit roomier than a baygrow (they tend to fit a bit snugger in my experience) hence enable baby to move a bit more freely.

Badgerina · 06/08/2012 11:06

I dressed DS in baby trousers (soft squishy ones) and a comfy top at that age, or those romper suits with no "feet" in them. BUT, she's your baby and you can dress her the way you like. I don't really get the trend to dress young babies in full-on "outfits" - jeans with belts and shirts with buttons - I chose soft, stretchy "lounge" clothing at least until he could walk.

I do think your DD would like to play with her feet though Smile

If my SIL (if I had one) took my baby upstairs and changed her clothes, I'd have to summon up all my power not to march her straight back up there and change her back!

I think you said the right thing to her. YANBU

LilyCocoplatt · 06/08/2012 11:06

My DD was mostly in babygros for the first 3 months because we didn't know the sex of the baby until birth and plain white/yellow babygros were all we had bought clothes wise. She did get a few little outfits as presents which I put her in if we had visitors or were going out, once she was into 3-6 months clothes babygros were only for night time.

Ephiny · 06/08/2012 11:07

I would say YANBU, but then I can't imagine noticing or caring what someone else's baby is wearing.

Don't babies sleep during the day as well as the night anyway, so 'pyjamas' for the daytime isn't so unreasonable at that age?

Babyrabbits · 06/08/2012 11:13

My mil always asked id dc2 was still in pj's...no comfy clothes.

I had an early walker so had to call it time on them, but they are so comfy And easy.

Also would have gone ape shit if someone changed my bAby.

MrsRogerSterling · 06/08/2012 11:17

I dressed both dd's each day but only ever in comfortable strechy clothes, nothing restirictive, leggings, tunics, jersey dresses etc. Cannot stand to see babies in denim or clothes with no give in them.

I probably kept dd1 in sleepsuits longer than dd2 as we spent more time at home as no school run etc. I think seeing a baby over about 4 months out and about during the day I would just assume you had not got round to dressing them yet.

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 06/08/2012 11:21

the people who slag off babies in jeans don't seem to realise that baby jeans are very soft fabrics, not the hard demin you or I would wear, and they have big soft elastic waist bands, so for the wearer they are just the same as wearing light tracksuit bottoms

and they're cheap

Psammead · 06/08/2012 11:26

Babygros are great. I think Dd was mainly in them for the first 6 months. In the end you'll get sick of them and start using 'real' clothes, probably Grin

MrsApplepants · 06/08/2012 11:30

It's entirely your choice how you dress your baby. Personally, I preferred babygros for nighttime wear and dressing DD in sweet little outfits was part of the fun of having a little baby, but do what works for you.

JennerOSity · 06/08/2012 11:31

Baby jeans are usually really soft and giving is true. My ds still needed no waistband at all despite this, but his reflux was rather severe.

So dunno if Lacking was responding to my previous post, but certainly wouldn't 'slag off' baby jeans or anyone who used them personally.

What baby wears is up to parents and I would be a bit Hmm at any relative who felt the need to press the point either way that OP was doing anything wrong.

Pastabee · 06/08/2012 11:35

I have always dressed DD in day clothes since she was a few weeks old as it is just part of our routine. I like putting her in her baby gro at bedtime and having a cuddle but as others have said 'your baby your rules'.

BonaDea · 06/08/2012 11:35

I'm pregnant with my first, but can totally imagine doing what you're doing fishybits.

I hate hate hate seeing little babies dressed up in stiff looking jeans and ridiculous skirts and dresses. They are constantly crumpled up the back and look so uncomfortable.

Good luck to my MIL if she attempts to tell me what to dress DD/S in! Grin

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 06/08/2012 11:36

wasn't really responding to anyone on this thread, just in general as people can be fairly critical and say things like they "HATE" seeing "POOR LITTLE BABIES" in them as if the child is suffering for fashion, when in fact they are comfortable, wash well, a practical dark colour and cheap as ships

LackingNameChangeInspiration · 06/08/2012 11:37

cheap as chips Grin

Moominsarescary · 06/08/2012 11:38

Ds3 wore them for the first 8 or so months. He really didn't like things round his waist.

JennerOSity · 06/08/2012 11:39

Lacking oh good, was hoping hadn't offended. Ships are certainly not cheap! Grin

MrsKeithRichards · 06/08/2012 11:41

My ds is 4 months and I love babygrows but for daytime he's usually in soft stripey legging type things and vests with a cardi.