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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not dress my child as an elf?!

36 replies

Wizadora1 · 12/12/2015 23:06

Be gentle it's my first album.
So today I took my ds (8 months) along to a baby sensory Christmas party. I'm not normally one for chain things but I thought it's Christmas, I will make an effort.
I bought a new outfit for him, dungarees and a long sleeve top. I thought it was practical to play in, I was clearly wrong.
Every other child was dressed as a bloody elf or santa! I've checked the confirmation email, fancy dress was not specified.
Is there some unwritten festive rule that says elf attire is required, therefore making me a terrible mother or are there other apparent scrooges out there?
I love Christmas and everything that goes with it but it genuinely didn't occur to me that I should dress him up!

OP posts:

PoorFannyRobin · 13/12/2015 02:32

Actually, having to dress a baby in a costume for a baby party sounds utterly ridiculous. So I'm torn -- fun and adorable or the stupidest thing I've ever heard of?

nooka · 13/12/2015 02:47

My children are lovely teenagers now and have never (apart from school Christmas plays) dressed up in any sort of Elf or other Christmas costume (dd might enjoy being Legolas though!). I have no regrets

ds had a lovely stripy babygrow for his first Christmas (similar age to the OP's ds). We took him along to our neighbours New Year's Eve party (in 1999!) and everyone was most impressed by the stripyness (he had a little hat too that he wore for all of 2 minutes). They were all pretty stoned though, it was long ago and we were much younger then

Homebird8 · 13/12/2015 03:59

What is wrong with the traditional reindeer jumper?

Senpai · 13/12/2015 04:16

Actually, having to dress a baby in a costume for a baby party sounds utterly ridiculous. So I'm torn -- fun and adorable or the stupidest thing I've ever heard of?

I'd say adorably stupid.

You took him to a baby sensory party. Of course people are going to go all barmy with the Christmas outfits.

Xenadog · 13/12/2015 06:56

OP you went obliged to dress your ds up but I guess you felt the odd one out because you didn't. If you don't like costumes then that's equally as valid as those who do

My dd was only 2 weeks old at Christmas the first year and I put her in a reindeer costume and I bloody loved her being in it. Getting little babies dressed up for Halloween and Christmas is one of those things people either love or hate but don't ever feel obliged to do something you don't want to.

AuntieStella · 13/12/2015 06:59

Even though I've not come across a precise Baby Sensory Party, I guess this is an attempt to draw more people in to coughing up for the main classes because they liked the party. But in practice, the majority of people who go are those who use the classes. And in your area, it seems to be colonised by a group who either just like dressing up their babies or who think that it's vital extra input to their Dc's development.

People, who go to 'build-a-better-baby' classes tend to be a bit earnest, but it's all harmless.

You've discovered Wizadora1 that this isn't the class for you. And your DC will be just fine getting stimulation from friendly rivalry with the dog.

SchnooSchnoo · 13/12/2015 07:28

I enjoy dressing a baby in stupid clothes as much as the next person, but I have never heard of 'Baby Sensory Party' therefore would not have had a clue that my baby would have been required to be festively attired, so YANBU.

FreeSpirit89 · 13/12/2015 07:34

It's not a requirement to dress them up and there wasn't anything in the conformation email don't worry.

Some new parents can be crazy with the cliche! Ignore and move on!

missmargot · 13/12/2015 07:41

I did Baby Sensory with DS, mostly to get me out of the house. There was lots of dressing up- red, white and blue for French week etc. We didn't do the Christmas term as I'd gone back to work but I would definitely have dressed him up in a festive outfit. Dressing DS up in silly outfits was my subversive revenge for him being a terrible sleeper.

But of course YANBU not to do the same if you don't want to. Although if you want a halfway point Blade and Rose do very cute Christmas leggings that look festive without being a full on Rudolph outfit.

KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth · 13/12/2015 08:15

I once did the opposite, I sent DS to his preschool party in an elf costume and none of the others kids were dressed up

He was a particularly cute 3yr old (obvs!) and loved all the attention he got!

YANBU though, of course up to you if you dress your child up or not! I'm a huge fan of fancy dress (I went to a party recently dressed myself in a christmas t shirt and red and white stripy leggings,everyone else was all dressed up posh in LBDs etc! each to their own) and we do a lot of dressing up in our house so I always jump at an opportunity. But you don't have to! Just be aware that others might want to! Neither stance right or wrong.

cigarsofthepharaoh · 13/12/2015 10:31

Everyone in the house is almost permanently dressed up around Christmas. I'd have probably been dressed as an elf too

I don't understand that not everyone is into fancy dress so I'd not think grinch anything odd about anyone not dressed up, even if everyone else was.

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