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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hate most kids clothes these days (lighthearted)

234 replies

TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 08:13

Babies and toddlers in ripped jeans, demon jackets, leather jackets and girls with huge bow headbands on to loudly proclaim THIS BABY IS A FEMALE CHILD. It looks ridiculous. Leggings, slogans, it's just all so tacky. I hate most kids clothes I see. It's so ugly.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
Original poster
TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 13:36

you don’t like earrings don’t have your child’s ears pierced but why does it become an area so many comment on.

Because it's cruel? Much like circumcision. Subjecting kids to a painful procedure because of cosmetic or cultural reasons is cruel in my opinion.

Nothing to do with class again.

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Original poster
TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 13:37

April why are you so offended that some people don't like certain clothes?

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FenellaMaxwell · 27/04/2019 13:37

@Bluewall Next have bright green ones and M&S have red and yellow ones.

flirtygirl · 27/04/2019 13:40

The brands mentioned are nice but expensive. Asda, tesco and Sainsburys also have non adult type bright soft cotton kids clothing. As do H and M and zara.

NerrSnerr · 27/04/2019 13:41

Are people basically saying they don’t like the look of children who don’t look typically middle class?

I agree with the above. I don't know why people are bothered but people seem so concerned about how others perceive them.

My daughter loves her Paw Patrol dress. I bought it because I knew it'd make her happy. Same with my son and his Thomas t shirt. They both wear joggers and leggings because they're comfortable.

WombatChocolate · 27/04/2019 13:41

Shops sell to meet demand. Clearly lots of people want to dress their children as mini adults and shops respond to that demand. People also like lots of clothes these days in times of almost disposable clothing. This is just the current thinking amongst most people. Shops offer lots of cheap clothes to meet what customers want.

Clearly there are other markets too as there are lots of shops offering more expensive, more traditional (in terms of comparing to post ww2 or styles of 60s and 70s) clothes. They are available without doubt. There are enough people willing to spend more on clothes for kids so shops design those for what they particular market wants.

Most people are interested in comfort and practicality and also looks. The balance between these shifts for different people. I guess for sheer comfort and practicality we’d all be dressed in some kind of neutral coloured easy wash, elasticated waist bottoms and simple kind of t shirt top which might be quite shapeless and without adornment and vv simple wash and keep. Most of us are a bit interested in how we and our kids look though, but our willingness to compromise on ease of care and comfort for looks varies.

WombatChocolate · 27/04/2019 13:48

Stating that having earrings or circumcision is categorically wrong as if it is an indisputable fact, shows a lack of empathy or awareness of different views.

You might not like those things. Fine, don’t do them to your kids. And if you don’t like headbands on babies or short shorts on little girls, don’t buy them, but don’t use those things to stare or infer that those who do choose them are somehow cruel or inferior as people or parents......that is the problem with this kind of threat - it is inferred, implied and sometimes openly stated that those making different choices are doing a lesser job of parenting. And some people can’t even see this happening but just think ‘it’s just I don’t like x’

WindsweptEgret · 27/04/2019 13:48

I bought her a lovely Oilily Mac for school when she had just turned 6 as it was in the exact colour of her school uniform, it lasted over 18 months so I felt it was worth the money- £127. Were you able to sell it on? DS has a £24 coat that has lasted 3 winters, it won't fit next winter but would still be fine for another child to wear.

Although we do buy expensive clothes sometimes I am shocked at how cheap some clothes actually are, there's no excuse to dress dc in scruffy clothes these days when you can get leggings and tshirt for £4 in Primark. What do you class as scruffy? I prefer to buy second hand over new if I can for environmental reasons.

Original poster
TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 13:50

Wombat they are painful procedures inflicted on children for no medical reason. Do what you want, wear clothes others find ugly, that doesn't matter at all really hence why it's light hearted. But harming a child with painful procedures is cruel.

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WombatChocolate · 27/04/2019 13:55

People have so many different views and many think theirs are right and others’ wrong.

One poster refers to brands which ‘keep kids as they should be’ which implies other brands prevent kids being the way they believe they should be, so is a criticism of other choices.

Some criticise those who buy lots of cheap, disposable clothes on environmental grounds, where others criticise those whose kid look scruffy and don’t have enough new clothes.

It seems to me that parents just like to judge each other, and kids’ clothes is a key way they do it - it’s something visible and easy to latch onto. People seem so sure about their own choices and critical of others. What a shame!

Original poster
TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 13:58

wombat it doesn't actually matter. I don't think less of people who wear clothes I think are ugly, and anyone who assigns deeper meaning to it than "that person has bad taste in clothes" is a bit silly. I doubt people are actually judging people's character based on it.

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WombatChocolate · 27/04/2019 13:59

Teen, you seem to fail to realise the cultural and religious significance, which strikes me as a simplistic view of the world and lack of empathy. These practices have deep rooted, centuries old roots and are deeply loved and valued by millions of people.....even if you don’t understand them or can’t see the value of them. You can consider them cruel and not choose them. It’s quite different to say that those millions who do choose them are cruel. Is that what you really intend to say - about whole races of people who circumcise their small sons, for example?

Original poster
TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 14:01

Wombat You can't continue something that's objectively cruel just because it's cultural or religious. One of those practises is relevant to our family and we chose not to do them because what is relevant thousands of years ago isn't relevant now. We know more and should act accordingly.

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Drogosnextwife · 27/04/2019 14:02

. I am grateful my mum dressed me more traditional like princess charlotte and fully plan on dressing my children in the same style once I have them

Are you sure you are planning on having children, dolls might be better suited.

Rarfy · 27/04/2019 14:02

Dd has been bought loads of leggings and tops sets in 0-3. They just seem so grown up. I don't like them.

SarahTancredi · 27/04/2019 14:04

teen

So what would you put a potty training female child on for pre school? Bare in mind dresses and tights would be amongst the worse possible outfits to send them in

Original poster
TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 14:05

Why are dresses awful for potty training? If it were summer just a dress and knickers and nappy. I don't get the problem.

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SarahTancredi · 27/04/2019 14:06

Because they have to lift up hold up and pull down tights . If the lid is starting out its tricky

WombatChocolate · 27/04/2019 14:07

Well Teen, I guess I don’t agree that it is objectively cruel. There are lots of things which some people feel are objectively wrong or objectively lesser choices, which are actually just different choices to our own.

I’m going to leave the thread now, but finish by saying it would be good if parents could be less judgmental about the choices of others and just accept them as different rather than lesser choices...and clothes is one of those!

SarahTancredi · 27/04/2019 14:08

And if there is play equipment outside or little peddle bikes etc again dresses not practical

Original poster
TeenTitans · 27/04/2019 14:08

I think it's easier to just hold up a dress than faff with trousers!

Wombat I don't see how either cutting or piercing a child can be perceived as anything other than cruel.

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Bbang · 27/04/2019 14:09

I’m a proper lazy larry and keep mine in funky onesies until they are are walking around lol 😂 can’t be bothered for real people clothes, now they are old my DS8 wears a lot of coloured chino trousers, converse and plain t-shirts in colourful colours, he’s not big on character stuff or branded stuff (yet!) DD2 wears leggings and matching top, dress and leggings, play suits in the summer etc. Comfy and cute ‘little person’ colours and patterns. Usually TU, Nutmeg, Next, John Lewis etc

Sirzy · 27/04/2019 14:10

Kids need to be able to run around, climb on things and generally be kids without having to worry about getting clothes dirty, or tripping on their dress, or sore feet from inappropriate shoes.

There is a Time and a place for “dressing up” but for day to day then practicality surely has to come first?

SarahTancredi · 27/04/2019 14:11

But leggings just pull down. And a top doenst need lifting up.

If you are 2 and just starting toilet training having to lift up a dress and hold and pull down tights one handed and hold yourself on the toilet it's far harder than pulling down some leggings

SheChoseDown · 27/04/2019 14:12

There's an amazing lady near me who makes kids clothing with beautiful materials and colours. Pricey but so much more diverse.
John Lewis have beautiful clothes, lots of more pastel and neutral colours rather than dull blue and grey.
I detest bows