To hate the blue-dinosaurs-cars-trucks-navy-grey thing for baby boys?

[pandarific]

I hate it! My son is a tiny baby - he doesn't know wtf a dinosaur or a car is and couldn't give a shit.

Why do so many tiny baby clothes have to be so depressingly gendered? Even the more modern style supposedly tasteful ones for baby boys are all navy and dark grey, way too adult - why does a month old baby need to be trussed up like that?

I've got some lovely bits from m and s and Debenhams which are very cute without being HEY I'M A BOY I LIKE CARS - stripy ones in light green, yellow, white etc with little shapes and animals all over, so it's perfectly possible. Am I alone in my hatred?

Grey and black for a baby and toddler looks horrible I think. Agree that boys side of baby clothes shops is always pretty boring.

really cant understand when people dress their kids mismatched . summer dresses (in winter ) with long sleeved tops undernearh paired with purple stripped tights that really dont match outfit.

Because my 3-year old has very strong opinions about what she wears and she therefore chooses her own clothes. I step in if she wants to walk out in a strappy sundress in the middle of winter, but I honestly can't be bothered with arguing over striped tights with spotty dress.

rubyslipper1 I encouraged my kids to choose their own clothes and dress themselves as soon as they showed interest (from about 18 months in DD's case - not independently at 18 months obviously, but she was interested and motivated therefore she could choose from the season appropriate stuff in her drawers and have a go at putting things on). Key word being "themselves" - they aren't, and never were, my dolls...

As toddlers the kids had their clothes in little baskets in drawers - all the short sleeved t shirts in one, all the long sleeved in another, leggings in one, jeans in another, jogging bottoms in another etc etc and from 3 all my kids, girl and boys, chose their own clothes and dressed themselves. I'd heard people say they still dressed 5 and 6 year olds (without special needs) "just because it's easier" and didn't want to lumber my kids with that kind of learned helplessness.

Choosing their own clothes early makes it less of a big deal to do later. Like non uniform school - if choice isn't a novelty it's no big deal and there's no angst.

So I dont understand people who dress their children up like dolls.

In the end there's no major harm done either way, but each approach has its logic. The "mismatch" outfits are unlikely to be the parent's specific choice, more likely the parent values teaching independence skills above matching outfits for preschool/ a trip to Tesco.

Instead of teaching them independence and dressing like a clown, you can also teach them to dress appropriately for the weather and the occasions.

Not all of us allow their 3 year old to rule the house! It's much better to guide them from an early age, and avoid any tantrum or attitude because they have been made to believe that they can wear any random and unsuitable outfit.

It's usually the same ones who will have issues about the school uniforms because they are used to mummy telling them they are special and they can wear some garish fancy dress outside, a summer dress in the snow, or a flower girl dress at a wedding when they are not in the wedding party (as seen on this forum recently).

My kids all dress themselves by the way but know to chose appropriate clothes.

IamSusan choosing your own clothes isn't ruling the house? Presumably your husband choises his own clothes but doesn't "rule" you and your house, nor you him despite choosing (presumably) your own clothes.

School uniforms are an extension of the ridiculous attitude that children cannot choise what to put on their own bodies. Where we live there are no school uniforms. My eldest is nearly 14 and all my kids dress themselves in variations on jeans and a t shirt/ jumper for school each day. The eldest is doing work experience in reception in a hotel soon and asked for herself about the dress code and has checked she has suitable outfits.

It's children who are not used to choice who turn up to "Mufti" days in utterly unsuitable clothing, are paralysed with the stress of choosing what to wear on the first day of non uniform sixth form, are brand obsessed etc.

and yes of course advise them when they're little, don't have the summer dress in the wardrobe / drawer in February etc obviously - that goes without saying!

There's a world of difference between weather inappropriate (no) and mismatched (who cares).

Ds has lots of gendered "boy"stuff but I'd put a girl in exactly the same stuff - frilly dresses are far too impractical for a young child.

yes of course advise them when they're little, don't have the summer dress in the wardrobe / drawer in February etc obviously - that goes without saying!

so you don't let them chose what they want after all, which was exactly my point!

Dressing for weather/occasions is a different matter. Yes I will let my DD 'rule the house' by choosing what tights she wants to wear, even if in my personal opinion the colour does not match the dress and some people will judge that she looks like a clown.

IamSusan the post of mine you initially responded to was in response to rubyslipper1 who objected to people dressing their children "mismatched". I pointed out that many parents allow their children choice for sound reasons. If children want to wear a less than "put together" outfit who cares? As long as they're warm enough and can run and play. It's good for children to exercise chouce within boundaries frequently. That's what parenting is, not dressing kids up like dolls or mini junior insurance salesmen.

Vote with your wallet @pandarific . Research unisex baby clothes and stock up.

What am I saying is it shouldn't be pink in the girls section and blue in the boys..
He seen I had pink knickers on the other week, and wanted pink underpants like mummy..went on John Lewis, M and S, Next..I can not get pink underpants anywhere!

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-girls'-briefs-pack-of-5-pink/p3765538

www.marksandspencer.com/10-pack-pure-cotton-briefs-1-10-years-/p/p60215970?image=SD_04_T71_1698D_ZE_X_EC_0&color=STRAWBERRY&prevPage=plp&pdpredirect

www.next.co.uk/xc02102s1

Where were you looking? There are LOADS!

My fave brands are Frugi and Little Green Radicals - nice, bright colourful and hardwearing clothes for boys and girls. Can only get them second hand though because I'm tight and thy cost a fortune!!!

That's what parenting is, not dressing kids up like dolls or mini junior insurance salesmen.

and you can't imagine a middle ground between this and street beggars in mismatched rags? My own kids look like neither, so I am quite happy with the result. They don't need to wear mismatched outfits and look ridiculous to have a blast.

All clothes are gender neutral. You don’t have to agree with the shops definition of ‘boy or girl’

If you look at a pink frilly T-shirt with a cat on, or a blue jumper with a car on, and assign it as masculine or feminine, then it’s you that's gendering it.

If you look at a pink frilly T-shirt with a cat on, or a blue jumper with a car on, and assign it as masculine or feminine, then it’s you that's gendering it

The big sign in the shop declaring it BOYS or GIRLS might also gender just a little..

Which is why I said You don’t have to agree with the shops definition of ‘boy or girl’

It’s a real insight into the mind of a toddler if you let them choose their own outfits. My favourite photo of DGD is of her stood on the stairs wearing a blue cord pinafore with a yellow duck on the front, a pair of long shorts underneath, a plastic knights helmet and London bus slippers.

Zara and Next are my favourites for things that are a bit less traditional. I’ve bought lots of stuff in both that I think would work for both boys and girls.

True, would be nice, but we don't live in a bubble and while I try my best, my children are also influenced by advertising. At some point, my son was very carefully checking if the item in question was advertised as for boys or girls - so if shops tell him it's not for him, he will take note.

There are a bajillion other options. Look at Frugi, Polarn o Pyret, Tootsa McGinty and a million others.

DoJo Where were you looking? There are LOADS!

I think OP wants pink boys' underpants. Even boys' briefs are slightly differently shaped to girls'. I don't know if there's a practical reason for the differences in cut between boys' briefs and girls' briefs, or it's just a social convention, but there is.

Only gendered if you perceive it that way. When pregnant with my newest addition I bought some dinosaur sleep suits from Mothercare because I liked them, they were soft and stretchy. I also bought some pink bodysuits from Primark with Harry Potter logos on because we are all a bit HP mad in this house. I didn't know if I was having a boy or a girl. Turns out my son looks lovely in his pink bodysuits and I suspect my daughter that was not to be would have rocked her dinosaur sleepsuits.
If it bothers you that much stick to unisex. (Next do good pink T-shirt's for boys for posters who were saying they couldn't find one :) )

Problem seems to be that 'standard' selections in shops seem to be very limited. But I am making notes of the places people recommend for colourful clothes for my dgc.

I've noted that little toddler boys seem to be hampered by restrictive clothing involving heavy materials and huge unnecessary pockets.

Not sure why huge pockets is seen as manly.

Sorry @KatharinaRosalie I didn’t mean it to look like I was having a pop at you.

I agree somewhat about advertising. I’m very GC, and We didn’t have tv when my eldest 2 were small - just watched DVDs. They’re 12 months apart so had a selection of toys marketed for both genders, clothes were handed down etc, yet my Dd still wanted princess dresses and ds was train and digger mad. Sometimes the influence is so subtle you don’t even realise it.

No I didn't see it that way Misery. I get what you mean. It's just sad that my son has decided he can't wear something or play with something because someone somewhere decided it's for girls. If it was all sold and marketed as 'for children', it might be different.