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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to dress my sons the same?

246 replies

ExhaustedandScatterBrained · 03/01/2017 09:56

I have 2 sons aged 2 and 1 (14 months age gap) i generally put them in the same clothes. This is purely so i dont have to find 2 different outfits every morning. Its mainly jeans/joggers with a longsleeved top. A friend has told me i shouldn't be dressing them the same as they are individuals. Are they not still individuals when wearing the same clothes lmao Hmm?

So tell me, aibu to do this whilst they are still young enough to not care what clothes they have on?

OP posts:
DorcasthePuffin · 03/01/2017 13:51

I don't own an iron OR a tumble dryer [crowns self queen of the scruffs]. So you probably don't want my advice, OP. But if you did, I'd say: I barely care what my own kids are wearing, let alone yours. So crack on with whatever makes you happy.

Hersetta427 · 03/01/2017 13:52

Sorry, but it is not cute. Its twee and ridiculous looking. Can't stand it....not even for twins !

Original poster
ExhaustedandScatterBrained · 03/01/2017 13:52

I did ask for opinions, and every single one is appreciated.

A few have asked how i find it easier to dress them in the same stuff. We dont have a lot of space so they share a wardrobe and chest of drawers, i grab one from one side and one from the other. If they were in a drawer it would be far more effort.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 03/01/2017 13:53

I think when one or both start objecting, this would be the time to stop. If not before. They're really little. My dd was choosing her clothes at 15 months so it would never have happened if I'd had another child. Boys often don't care about their appearance when they're small. Personally I think it looks cute.

musicposy · 03/01/2017 13:55

The Queen & Princess Margaret were always dressed the same as children, despite a 4 year difference in age - looks silly in the pictures I think

But then hardly common as PPs have said! Grin

Original poster
ExhaustedandScatterBrained · 03/01/2017 13:56

Their tops and trousers are in the wardrobe, missed that bit out. Everything else is in their drawers

OP posts:
00100001 · 03/01/2017 14:03

"grab one from one side and one from the other. If they were in a drawer it would be far more effort."

But then that must mean you hang them up in the "correct" order? Confused

BaldricksTrousers · 03/01/2017 14:09

So you would let your kid go out looking a scruff rather than iron a top?!

Ahahahhahaha

Holy shit

This is next level

Original poster
ExhaustedandScatterBrained · 03/01/2017 14:10

Hahaha oh god no! I think its just easy to see. They don't have tons of clothes, maybe certain colours just catch my eye first? Maybe I'll make more if a conscious effort to dress them differently.

OP posts:
Original poster
ExhaustedandScatterBrained · 03/01/2017 14:13

Ironing clothes seems to have become a side issue here, i hate ironing so rather than standing for ages doing it i iron as its wanted. I also fold/hang straight out of the dryer so not a lot actually needs doing. Either way my boys never look scruffy.

OP posts:
Cadenza1818 · 03/01/2017 14:13

Personally as a mum of twins, I find it really annoying - irrationally feel that you haven't had the hardship of carrying twins so you can't have the 'priveledge' of dressing them alike. As I say this is completely irrational even more as I hate dressing mine the same! I was also made to dress the same as my sis and absolutely hated it.
Yours are young though -enjoy it while they're not complaining!

smellyboot · 03/01/2017 14:17

I never get why anyone would want to buy everything twice???? Buy set of clothes for older one (or hand me downs). Pass on to younger ones. Then pass on to some one else. I never get the expense or hassle of matching outfits.
And thinks its a bit like dressing toy dolls.
Each to their own.

DixieWishbone · 03/01/2017 14:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LizB62A · 03/01/2017 14:20

YABU - it probably looks like you've got twins and one of them is poorly and small for his age :-)

kel12345 · 03/01/2017 14:20

Personally for twins it's cute up to a certain age. Otherwise no I wouldn't. Surely you're getting 2 outfits out anyway, so why does it matter? (Say if one had on jeans, t shirt and hooded jacket, and the other had tracksuit bottoms and a jumper, it doesn't make any difference)

Mawsymoo · 03/01/2017 14:21

I have 2 boys the same ages as yours and DS2 is always in DS1's hand-me-downs so they're never dressed the same. When buying new things I don't buy matching as I then DS2 will end up wearing the same stuff again in the next size up - I think I'd get sick of looking at him in the same things all the time!

HanYNWA · 03/01/2017 14:23

Well no because obviously if they've been worn on the same day it stands to reason that's she'll of washed them together too ... common sense

Go for it love whatever works for you I personally wouldn't care what anyone thinks tbh 👌

moggle · 03/01/2017 14:24

oh my god re the comments about hand me downs - is noone reading the OP's posts? She says they're different seasons so the younger boy would be wearing shorts now!!
OP I can totally imagine it is easier when clothes shopping to just buy two of the same off the shelf. Most shops I go into I only like a couple of things so I could not be arsed to go into a different shop just to find a different pair of trousers or whatever. Personally I'd rather spend less time shopping for the kids clothes! Fine at this age, obviously when they're older things will change and also you'll be able to use hand me downs more once they stop growing so fast and clothes last more than a few months.

I think everyone's different with clothes. I preferred to buy fewer clothes for my DD at each stage, and also buy a fair proportion of it second hand, but it meant more washing, and by the time she was finished with them they were not really fit to be passed on apart from messy play use or spare nursery clothes. My best friend buys more clothes, all new, so washes them less, and is selling them in bundles on ebay once they're outgrown. Each to their own. (but that wouldn't make for a very interesting mumsnet would it).

Zarachristmas · 03/01/2017 14:29

I don't think it matters either way. Most of us buy clothes we like for our children when they're small. We dress them in what we think is comfortable and looks nice, that might mean matching outfits.

I don't see how it makes any difference to individuality anymore than having to have all of your siblings old clothes.

Obviously it's a problem if you're forcing them to match when they're 10.

Bluntness100 · 03/01/2017 14:30

irrationally feel that you haven't had the hardship of carrying twins so you can't have the 'priveledge' of dressing them alike

ChocChocPorridge · 03/01/2017 14:31

Mine have a bigger gap, but I'll dress them mostly the same for special occasions or for travelling, for the practical reason that it makes it obvious they are a pair, so who they should be returned to if they wander off, plus it means I only have to glance around for 2 in the same jacket to know I have them both (bright coloured jacket too, to make them easy to spot)

Plus, they look pretty darn cute.

Original poster
ExhaustedandScatterBrained · 03/01/2017 14:37

Re the comment on the hardship of carrying twins. Obviously i know nothing of your pregnancy as you know nothing of mine. I had hg on both and then severe spd, could barely walk and went into labour at 34 weeks with ds2 resulting in an emergency c-section, so my pregnancies were extremely difficult so i do agree your comments are irrational as you pointed out. Although i do not see what that has to do with dressing them in the same style of clothes?
I do not make ds2 look a clone of his brother, and i have already said that as they grow and develop their own tastes in clothes i would never force them to wear something else because his brother was.

Hand me downs, i shall be able to do this from this winter as it will work next year when ds2 is in 2-3, but until then I'll stick with keeping him in the appropriate clothing for the weather.

OP posts:
talkshowhost97 · 03/01/2017 14:39

No YANBU, they are your DC and it's harming no one. Twee and odd looking IMO but it's no one else's business to comment.

School mum friend does this a lot but then likes to point out how cute they look. I just smile, nod and change the subject,

And ironing DC's regular clothes is madness, but again, no one else's business.

DistanceCall · 03/01/2017 14:58

Don't. Your children are individuals. How long does it take to get an outfit out of the drawer, anyway? (unless you are one of those people who want absolutely everything to be matchy-matchy).

ChocolateIsMyCaffine · 03/01/2017 14:59

I personally don't like it.

I have boy /girl twins and I can count on one hand the number of times their outfits have been 'co-ordinated' and apart from Xmas elf outfits etc have never worn same thing at the same time. I do sometimes have them both in dungarees though as if we are going to park keeps them warm (no gap between jumper and jeans) and stops them pulling each others trousers down when they grab at each other. but their tops, jumpers, coat, shoes etc all different.

if it is both in jeans and long sleeved top that's normal obv one isn't going to be in shorts and other in a snow suit however if the tops are exactly the same to me it is a bit weird but then if they are too young to care what does it matter.

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