To buy pink for a boy?

[GrinAndTonic]

So the backstory is that my DB and SIL (who is nice enough but is a 15 year old trapped in a 24 year olds body) have a 11 month old girl and a boy on the way.

SIL believes that boys wearing pink is wrong and girls shouldn't wear blue.
She has sold every single pink thing that DNiece has in order to buy blue things for the new DNephew This includes sleeping bags, socks, false washers etc. Any toy that is not pink and 'girly' has been given away. I paid a small fortune for those reusable nappies and they were sold as they were not pink.

Now I know it's not my child, money or decision so I'm not interfering. I have said that it's a waste but I was bitched about on FB about it so I'm keeping my mouth shut.

Anyhoo, AIBU to buy nothing but pink, yellow etc boys clothes and 'girly' toys for the new baby?

Wishful - I've become an expert in returning and exchanging for exactly the same reason. Or on the rare occasion I haven't identified the shop it goes in the present cupboard to be re gifted or given for the summer fair...

bwow, what do you think will happen if you let a boy use a pink play gym? It's just a toy, not even clothes!

Oh fgs so she doesnt want to put a boy in a pink baby gro or frilly dressso what I dont see why you think she is immature its her children yabu and really smug

My daughter turned 1 in April. She didn't wear head to toe pink at all. Nonetheless, the clothes she had were obviously designed for a female child. Pastel dresses, floral smocks, leggings.

I'm having another baby in August. To be honest, I was relieved when I found out i was having a daughter for a second time as I would personally feel odd about putting a baby boy in a lavender dress! It isn't about 'catching the gay' but, I think, when they are very young and pretty much sexless, clothing is the only outward indicator of whether they are a boy or a girl and to 'indicate' that my child was female when he was not would feel to me a rejection of him, of part of him.

Some people do just like buying clothes and things for their babies

Well as you obviously know she would not use the pink item , you would annoy a woman that has just given birth ( assuming you take it over after) If it is a gift it is supposed to be something nice and thoughtful not to piss her off because she has a different opinion as you.

I had a bright yellow and bright orange sleep suit and my DS looked awful in them to the point he only wore them when he had a sickness bug and was running out of clothes.

OP I think your sentiment is not U but it would be U to buy something pink if you know it isn't going to be used. Silly of her to get rid of the reusable nappies though - they are expensive and nobody would've seen them under his clothes anyway!

At least she sold/given stuff away rather than binned it to landfill. That would be a waste.

Her baby, her money, her ideals. I don't agree with them, but I'm not her.

I would do the same thing!! I wouldn't dress my boy in pink.

Yes, YABU.

If you want to use a baby to make some tedious "right-on" political statement, then do it with one of your own.

I think you should buy her DS a tutu and fairy wings and educate that bitch on what being a right on parent is all about.

Or you could just grow up and buy something you know she will like.

How about a book on gender stereotyping instead?

It's her business. It annoyed me no end when people gave DD pink frilly things with "little princess" on them, so she'd probably feel the same about those things.

You could be more subtle, though. I'm sure I've seen a pink baby-grow with BOY on it in big letters. Pastel-toned but clearly boyish might be the way to go.

I always say this, but good old next has loads of girls stuff that isn't pink! Lots of lovely bright colours there.

She's BU for selling everything that is pink, that's silly. But yanbu for thinking of deliberately buying something she won't use.

I just don't get this obsession with colours. I've met people who are flabbergasted to see my dd wearing a blue hat or jacket. It's crazy.

YABU.

I think she's being ridiculous and wasteful to throw out all the pink things because she's having a boy instead of another girl. Personally, I don't see any problem with dressing a baby boy in pink, and it could save her a lot of money.

Having said that, I would buy something for the baby that is likely to be used. It would come across as a bit passive aggressive and childish to buy pink and 'girly' stuff for her baby boy when you know that she doesn't want that. You'd also be wasting your money.

What's your SIL's opinion on gender neutral baby clothes and toys?

The gesture would be lost on her and she'd be offended.

I understand that her attitude doesn't match yours, but she will be miffed that you buy the baby pink/yellow items and it may cause an issue, which no-one needs post birth. A falling out will only cause you to be distant with your niece and nephew.

Yes Aldi, I got some fantastic colourful unisex baby clothes for DS1 from Next. Not sure what their current range is like.

FWIW I quite like a mix for my two, and I like the Jools Oliver range for being bright and colourful without being colour/sex specific.

Just a shame my two are now too big for those clothes!

she is being incredibly U and has a very narrow minded backwards mindset but i wouldn't bother buying anything to fight it. as pp's have said she'd only bin it or return it.
just think of all your future babysitting time when her dd comes home in black nail varnish clutching the digger you let her have and her ds has matching hot pink nails and a tutu
i just thank fuck my kids don't agree with that nonsense myself and when we've been out and about after they've dressed themselves people have been supportive (apart from my idiot nephew anyway)

YABU - if you're buying something new and know her preferences then adhere to them, it's unnecessary and v passive aggressive to intentionally buy something you know she doesn't want.

I know im in the minority...but I find the blue pink thing v helpful when babies are so young that you wouldn't know if they're male or female otherwise....

In all seriousness, you could get him things like a soft baby boy doll, and as he gets older, cooking, cleaning, sewing, childcare toys etc in "boy" colours, because that's the sort of play that he might not get the opportunity to experience much until he goes to school/nursery.

Remind me of a family meal out we had on Sunday.
There was one of those rip off toy dispensing machines in the pub. Stick a quid in and out comes a Frozen watch thing.
DS is 3.5. He got a pink one and was delighted. No concept of 'pink is for girls' yet.
DD is 1.5 and got a turquoise one. Equally couldn't care less about colour.
Next child's dad was getting him one. His little boy was about 8m. He got a pink one - same as my DS'.
Father asked to swap with my daughter's as he didn't want his son to have a pink one.
My DP complied.
I was , especially as we are a same-sex couple and should not be endorsing the 'might catch The Gay' crap!

Yes I know I am being a bit U.
However I'm not planning on buying an entire wardrobe. Considering that every single gift (clothes, books, toys) that I have given over the past year that was not pink (I bought purple, green, yellow, white, blue, red and orange items) has been sold or given away. It is such a waste.
She thinks boys wearing pink makes them gay and that girls in blue makes them look like boys.
Yes I'm being petty but her attitude is driving me nuts.
I was only going to buy a cute pink button up shirt and little khaki cargo shorts outfit for when he is older.

She thinks boys wearing pink makes them gay

FFS, I can't believe idiots like this still exist. Her poor son. If by some chance he does turn out to be gay then I feel sorry for him.