To not want to dress ds in stuff just because it was a gift?

[sweetjane]

Let me be clear: it's very kind of people to give us baby clothes. I do realise that. But why why why do people persist in giving us those T-shirts with stuff like "Tiny Tearaway", "Gremlin", "Menace", & "Here Comes Trouble" on them, and jeans - JEANS!! for a 6 month old baby?????

Dh says we should dress him in them when we see the people who have given them. I say we should donate them to charity and have done with it.

I admit I am a bit strict when it comes to baby clothes and it's only very recently that I have dressed him in anything other than sleepsuits. And I don't really want to offend people. But I am putting my foot down on this. Am I being unreasonable? What do you think?

Agree on the 'Little Bastard' t-shirts. Why on earth would you dress your beautiful baby in something which announces to the world that he's a pita?

Got bought a top emblazoned with the legend 'The Future Is Mine': quite like that.

I don't mind "Mummy's little monster" type things - quite affectionate

but I agree some go too far and are just nasty

Katy: I think the problem I have with it is that some people take that as licence to start referring to your baby in this manner. Little girls are 'princesses' and little boys are 'monsters'.

I suppose I'm sensitive to it because DH's family are traditionally horrible to boys. DS kicked a hell of a lot in utero, and my SIL said 'looks like he's going to be a little bugger from the off, then'. T-shirts would make them worse, I tell ya.

I say let the kids wear it until he is old enough to complain himself.

Hate all slogan tees with a passion but particularly the negative labelling ones - they're just wrong on every level. You are right to object. But baby jeans are fine I think. Give the slogan tees to charity and don't worry about the people who gave them to you not seeing your ds in them, bet they probably wont even notice and wont be in the least bit offeneded. In the very unlikely event they do question their wherabouts fib and say they're in the wash or they've grown out/yet to grown in to them.

Agree with diplomatic dressing. My lovely (now passed away) gran got out shopping about once in the 2 years before she died and spent a ridiculous amount in a baby boutique. She got a nice top for ds, but the most impractical (IMO) velvelty, ribbony ivory special occasion dress.

We took the dress to a photo session and got a couple of dd wearing it and gave the photo to my gran who was delighted. But the dress never came out of the wardrobe again!

Obviously I'm in the minority but after about 2-3 months I loved dressing my son in outfits. Love jeans and combat pants. Even really like the slogan t's! But then he wasn't a sicky baby so the having to get him in and out of outfits was never a real issue.

So if you hate the slogan t's and jeans you are given send them on to me!

I don't think you're being unreasonable by the way. I also have things I was given that I didn't like and thankfully most of them were from people who would never know he didn't wear them. Kept them though - don't really know why!

This time I will be exchanging anything I don't like without feeling guilty. Ditto to changing sizes (millions in 0-3!!!!) and also inappropriate seasons - never thought about that before I had my ds!

I got bought everything in 3-6. Everyone was very pleased with themselves for being so thoughtful (which they were).

However, DS is tiny. and I had to beg, borrow and steal quite a lot when he was born.

Both my DD and DS have tops with Little Monkey written on them - gender doesnt come in to it!

Booboobedoo - I WANT a "Future Is Mine" T-shirt for ds. That's so rock n roll. Where did you get it?

I think you make a really valid point about boys/girls' clothes as well - the vast majority of "here comes trouble" type t-shirts are for boys and I think there is a real tendency to be negative towards little boys and assume that they are going to be 'little buggers', ref your SIL's comment.

Tbh I'm not sure I would buy clothes as a gift now, having had a baby of my own - ime you end up with far too many, especially in the 0-3, 3-6 month age range, and it's clearly a bit of a minefield!

If you don't like them then give them to someone who does or who needs them more than you do.

Must admit I pass on slogan clothes for my dd but she did have a pair of elasticated jeans at about 5/6 months - I bought them for her plus a hooded sweater top. Seemed a practicable outfit as we were going in the colder months by then .

There's only one slogan tee shirt I want for my baby when he or she is born:

"Please excuse my nipple breath"

I like to cause people to blink

Agnes

I had elasticated jeans for dd1 0-3 months. I loved 'em

agnes.

sweetjane: It's from Oh Baby on BrickLane (from a Fashionista neighbour). There are some bits here, but not the one I've got. Lots of nice, positive boy stuff though, including jeans.

Each to their own and all that....DS had jeans from about 3 months, I don't see the problem if they are soft denim and worn with a vest.

I don't really like slogan t-shirts either but does the baby really care what is on his/her clothes??

However, I draw the line at baby football kits/football themed clothing. These are items that will never see the light of day.....Baby size England football kit (with socks) or Newcastle United vest anyone???

I would never dress mine in slogan t-shirts. But I did buy DD an England t-shirt in newborn size when it was the european championships to wear when the match was on. I also found knitted cardigans were ideal instead of huge coats because she was born in May.

YANBU, I am with you re slogan t shirts and jeans, just doesnt look right on a tiny baby. My MIL buys various outfits not all to my taste. I dont ever feel the need for him to wear them when we see each other. I just out on what I like him to wear.....cotton t-shirt and nice needlecord dungarees!' If she asks I say they are still too big, too small or in the wash.

On a practical note, not all charity shops take kids' clothes. But if you join freecycle.org and offer them people will collect them from you happily.

jeans will be brill when he is crawling in another month or two. and t-shirts, just wear at home and they can get all carrot stained!

to secind what someone said earlier - if you put the clothes on your DS when you se the people who gave them to you, they will assume that you like that sort of thing and buy you more.

I have only just realised (after 5 years!) that my MIL does this. She was surprised when I bought something for DS3 in very bright colours and said "I thought you preferred something plainer". Thing is, she always buys beige or khaki clothes for the DSs and I put them on them when they see her so she thinks I like them.

NO more! I take them back now and exchange them for red clothes

Slogan t-shirts are cute to many people - i've always dressed my son in cute tees that say things like 'little punk' and 'rock baby' and (my favourite) 'voodoo child' with a pic of Jimi Hendrix!

Whats wrong with Jeans on babies? Why not?

I would just put the outfits on when you visit the people who gave them, as your DH suggested.

try not to be too bothered though, just think when he is older adn can choose his own clothes, what he might have written across his chest then!