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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The fear of dressing babies in the "wrong colour"

110 replies

Praisebe · 09/05/2018 23:58

So i was picking up a few bits online for my baby and came across this review for some bibs. Do people actually think this was in RL or is this some sort of joke Confused what does this woman think is going to happen if her baby son wears a pink bib that he'll turn gay or god forbid not be her "little man"

The fear of dressing babies in the "wrong colour"
OP posts:
Whitelisbon · 10/05/2018 00:01

Well, according to the elderly lady in Tesco the other day, putting a baby girl in blue will cause her "mental problems" when she's older. I'm not sure what "mental problems" they are, when I looked a bit confused, she nudged me and said "you know... mental problems!"
So that's why. Hmm

Shitterton · 10/05/2018 00:03

"really something to think about"! Ha ha ha! What a nob!

NeverLovedElvis · 10/05/2018 00:03

Unfortunately some people really are that stupid. I've seen people on freecycle claim to be desperate for baby equipment and then turn down offers because the item is the wrong colour.

SneakyGremlins · 10/05/2018 00:04

At least four people marked it as not helpful...

FissionChips · 10/05/2018 00:05

People are stupid, really stupid.

Shitterton · 10/05/2018 00:05

I ordered some yellow wellies from Next for my daughter. They're just wellies so I've no idea why they are classed as 'Boys' wellies'? Bizarre. 😞

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 00:06

Genuinely makes me uncomfortable and despair at humanity that these children get pigeon holed into categories so young by the very people who are supposed to be nurturing them and encouraging them to explore life and be themselves

OP posts:
Ylvamoon · 10/05/2018 00:07

Whitelisbon- I can tell you: it's a hormonal teenage girl that is obsessed with her lovely long hair!
Otherwise my DD appears normal despite the fact that she spent her first 18 months mainly in boys clothes. (When she was born it was link or blue and I don't like pink and went with blue... )

scrivette · 10/05/2018 00:07

MIL didn't seem impressed I bought a baby blue knitted outfit for DD.
People really do think like that, it's scary.

AtSea1979 · 10/05/2018 00:08

Some people don’t dress their boys in pink or their girls in blue. Probably the majority. Only on MN are little boys running around in dresses.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 10/05/2018 00:09

Yes sadly people do think like this.

Ive seen comments like who dresses a littke boy in pink, obviously the parents only wantec girls, they're trying to turn him gay/bisexual.

I think its less prominate about dreasing girls in blue, but then i guess if gender is stereo typed by colour i guess it makes sence there would be comments like such a shame that they think theyve got a boy.

Why i have no idea

GreenTulips · 10/05/2018 00:11

Yep DD wanted a blue dressing gown and MIL insisted on buying her a pink one - which she never wore-

I hate the 'desk suitable for a boy' or like PP boys yellow wellies or boys superman PJs -

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 00:14

Atsea1979 no one has mentioned boys wearing dresses Hmm

OP posts:
Mamaryllis · 10/05/2018 00:14

Pfft. Mine wore red white and blue and none of them are completely broken. Although...
It doesn't make any difference anyway. I once dressed dd1 in a gifted outfit (pink w flowers) and at least three people stopped to say 'what a lovely little chap'. Can't win.
Dd2 just wears grey these days. Ds1 has a penchant for orange. Bleurgh

ReturnofSaturn · 10/05/2018 00:17

I see this all the time on local buy and sell pages. Saw one the other day a lady was advertising 'a boys toddler bed'.
I have personally always assumed beds were unisex items.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/05/2018 00:19

Mine wore all sorts of colours, she's quite good at mental problems...

HerRoyalNotness · 10/05/2018 00:22

“Mental problems” Grin

We went to the fire station the other day. They had pink hats and red hats. I took a red for DD. The chief said oh we should really have blue and pink hats. I suggested they should perhaps all be red.

DryHeave · 10/05/2018 00:24

I’m convinced this blue/pink business is primarily a business ploy. If you make people think they need to buy blue/pink, they need to buy twice if they have children of opposite sexes. Rather than all colours being fine and so all clothing/equipment can be handed down, passed around and there’s no need for new in the “right” colour.

Mrsknackered · 10/05/2018 00:28

I had a woman come and buy our pram. She chose to take the pram but what only take the blue hood/cosy toes because she was having a boy and the red and tan sets were too girly so she’d leave them behind (they were free with the pram) so yes, people really are that bonkers.

My neighbour also chucked out her daughters dolls pink pushchair, when I asked if I could take it for DS2 as he loves pushing a pushchair, she said ‘but it’s pink, will your DP mind? No, he’s not an utter fruit cake, so he wouldn’t mind.

Mrsknackered · 10/05/2018 00:31

Dry Heave yet they are so offended when people say fireman instead of firefighter!

GreenTulips · 10/05/2018 00:32

DD had a blue pram and we then inherited a pink one

DS loved the pink pram and often took it out. I had a few raised eye brows and comments!

One was from a dad pushing a pink pram with his daughter in. I asked him if he thought he would turn out gay?

Mxyzptlk · 10/05/2018 00:32

My DGD (4) dislikes pink. She has a few pink garments but they have to be called red, or their colour not mentioned at all.

Praisebe · 10/05/2018 00:34

Personally my favourite colour for the baby nursery is cornflower blue with rainbow accents regardless of the gender it is. As for clothes whatever hides the stains best Grin which is neither pink nor blue

OP posts:
OnTheList · 10/05/2018 00:40

My sister was quite like this, still will only dress her child in 'girly' stuff. Really grates tbh. If she buys cloths for my kids, its always pink for my girl and blue fr my boy. If she buys toys its always dolls for DD and monsters/dinosaurs etc for DS. I am grateful for them, don't get me wrong, and the children wear/play with them. But I just think...why? Why be so obsessed with stereotypes?

She was aghast when she came round one day and the kids were playing dress up and DD was in an iron man costume and DS in a Belle dress Grin Then my niece asked to play and I said of course. Niece ended up in a teenage mutant ninja turtle outfit, DS in Iron Man and DD in Elsa dress. Niece ended up with a serious teenage mutant ninja turtle obsession after that day, and now on birthdays and such I always buy turtle stuff as I know she likes it. My sister sits with a face like she is sucking a lemon

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