To think this isn’t a nice top for a kid

[user1471550615]

We’ve just had another baby and DS (almost 3) has been given a lot of lovely wee presents when people have bought things for his new sister. MIL’s friend sent through presents for them both. We don’t know her so it was really kind and I don’t want to be ungrateful as I’m not questioning her choice as much as the thought process of whoever at Next came up with this design. To have a child wearing something stating they are the ‘next best thing’, generally meaning second class, feels a bit wrong.
DS will obviously have no idea but I think Next have dropped the ball with putting that on a top.
Probably just me being over sensitive and hormonal!

I took it to mean that the baby or child is mum's next best thing, ie her new best thing. Ok if you've got one child but not so good if you've got two!

Not something I would buy but I don't think it would turn my head in the park either.

I don’t think they meant any harm in sending it , but yes the message doesn’t really work. I think it’s bloody hysterical 🤣

It’s a bit weird. To me it rather implies ‘what we really wanted was a dog, but that fell through so we had a baby instead’?

I agree it’s a bit yucky and would buy it...

BUT surely you’ve totally missed the point?

It means ‘I’m the next best thing’ as in ‘I’m going to take over the world when I’m bigger’ type of thing!

Not ‘I’m second best’ 😮

Imagine Simon Cowell saying to a contestant they're going to be the next best thing.(rubbish example, I know) That would be a compliment. Is that not what this top is trying to say

Sorry ‘wouldn’t’ buy it if course!

You’ve mid interpreted it. It means next best thing. As in the next to be the best thing. It’s just very badly worded.

The ‘next best thing’ doesn’t mean second best though it means superstar in waiting.
It would be rubbish to buy for the baby (implies baby replacing older child) but fine for the older sibling.

imo tops with writing on them tend to be a bit naff, esp 'daddy's little princess' or'future wag' it's bleugh.

Surely the saying is “next big thing”. Next best thing means 2nd best.

It’s next big thing innit? 🤣🤣

Actually you’re right it is next big thing. Top is just bizarre now I’ve find to that realisation.

I read it as you OP - second best. I appreciate what others have said, and realise it's the probable intention but I saw it as

Thanks everyone. I totally did miss that interpretation of it. Clearly feeling guilty about DS having less of our time recently!!

In the context of the new sibling, I interpret it as the wearer having been displaced to second best to the new baby. Not nice, really.

@3out oh my god! This is exactly what I thought! Its made me laugh so much reading your comment I almost want one now for DD

🌷😴

I don’t like it for a couple of reasons, to me ‘next best thing’ has the same immediate implications as it did to you, second best. Like you, I appreciate it’s not how they intend it, but even so...even if their intent is ‘You’ll BE the next best thing’ (singer, football player etc) that’s not relevant to who a 3 yo IS. He’s already The Best Thing.

Plus it’s just a ‘meh’ top.

But her heart was in the right place and it’s a nice warm top for nursery or playing in the garden.

I read that to mean ..like the next best thing in music or tv or media..

I read it as a complement.

Yes. If I saw a child wearing it, I’d wonder ‘To what?’

Dog? ‘Is it the next stage from the baby’s vest that says ‘Daddy only wanted a BJ’...what? If I saw a baby sibling I’d be 😳

Then I thought, I saw there a full stop. Next (as in the brand). Best thing.

I wouldn’t have thought about it in terms of the child hitting the big time as a singer or footballer etc. Maybe on an older teen?

Not Next’s finest work, but not their worst either...unfortunately.

See, I don’t get that. Why would you see it that way on a small child? A 3 yo is good at being 3. Not many of them are showing a particular talent...?

In context, someone saying to a singer, skier, dancer, footballer etc yes...I get it, but just ‘in general’ my immediate thought would be ‘Next best? What would you prefer?’

Haha @ChampooPapi! Glad it wasn’t just me 😂

I'd think it meant next best thing to a girl...which I hope it doesn't mean as thats awful, but these shops seems to have weird ideas when it comes to clothing designs!

But the saying is ‘next big thing’, not ‘next best thing’.