To dress my baby in black?!

[ThePolishWombat]

But of a strange one.....

my mother thinks it’s “inappropriate” for me to dress my baby in anything black, and for me to dress any of my DCs (age 4, 3 & newborn) in band merchandise
This all stemmed from me showing her some things I’d ordered for Christmas, including a black babygrow with my baby’s name on it, and a Metallica T-shirt for my 3yo DS.

Personally I think her outrage and pearl clutching is a bit silly seeing as though DH and I wear band merch all the time. But then it got me thinking: what do other people think when they see babies/children dressed in black/band merch etc.
Is it weird??

Ultimately your baby your choice and one of the nice things about babies is you can dress them how you like before they get all opinionated and want to wear things you hate. But...I have to admit I don’t really like black on babies but I don’t know why. Even navy seemed to look a bit harsh on mine. There must be something culturally hardwired that puts people off as I know I’m not the only one or maybe just because baby sick is white. There was a lady at one of my baby classes that only ever dressed her little girl in monochrome. I couldn’t tell you what anyone else wore but this little girl always stood out as she was dressed so differently but it seemed a bit joyless.

It's your baby to dress as you want, a lot of people will judge, so either you care what others think or you don't.
Personally, as black seems to be the universal uniform for a lot of us adult females, then your kid has most of her life to wear black - why not enjoy colours for the short time they're little ...

@Strokethefurrywall

Awww, your kids look fab. (on your post at 22.23.) LOVE the outfits.

It’s a personal choice.I think babies in band merch look ridiculous but it’s your baby, dress them how you want.

Dressing your dc in cute clothes is one if the pleasures of having them, so go ahead.

Its not weirder than any other colour. Why do baby blankets have the abc printed on them, when baby won't learn to read for another 4-5 years and currently doesn't even understand the concept of reading.

Why do disposable nappies for newborns have cartoon characters printed on? The baby hasn't heard of the character, can't look down there anyway as they have no neck control, and the nappy is hidden under clothes. What's the point? But I don't see anyone worried about that.

I don’t give a shit what baby is wearing, I just like seeing their tiny little faces

I don't personally like black on small children. My DS is a riot of colours and patterns. However I don't judge people who do put babies and young children in black, it's only clothes. I just think there is only a short period of life can DS can wear crazy colourful clothes so we should enjoy it while it lasts :)

I don't like black on children - I always thought it was considered 'inappropriate' I suppose that's old fashioned now but I can see your MIL's point of view.

I also realise it's none of my business what other people dress their kids in.

I love black and live in it much of the time. And dressed my girl in a multitude of colours but not pink and rarely girly or twee.

She then hit pre school and only wanted pink for about 4 years. Be prepared for this! Enjoy and encourage that freedom now! !!!

Thank goodness for online shopping now, you have more choice. Even 10 years ago, everything in the high street was stereotypes clothes.

I’m always surprised when people say things like “She’s a baby, not a dolly”
Mine certainly were dollies- and I dressed them up for as long as they couldn’t resist!

@Winesalot DC1 has become very pink and princess since being at school, but she also still loves her Iron Maiden pjs
She can rock both looks!!

My children, yes, I did have very nice polo necks for them and they looked stunning in them, it really set off their red hair.

Now my eldest is 10 and only wears black...

Its fine. Mylene Klass brought out a really cute range of baby clothes with a lot of black a while back and they were adorable. I dont subscribe to the idea that babies can only dress in pastels, it's silly.

Babies DO look lovely in dark colours. DS had a black one at about 6 months and he looked ever so dashing in it.

Ignore that nonsense of babies not wearing black.

With the band merch t shirts, I dont see what the issue is if the kids like the music. If not, I'm not sure why you'd give it to them to wear? I dont really see a massive issue though.

Wearing rock and metal tshirts are not going to lead them down a dark and misguided path. It's a fucking t-shirt.

Meh, last Metallica concert I went to had loads of young kids having an absolute ball.

Don't see an issue with a 3 year old wearing a MetallicA t-shirt, it's only music. No different to them wearing the Wiggles or whatever if they like listening to them and can play air guitar confidently.........plus who the hell doesn't like Metallica ?? 🧐

My DD had a 'Metallica and justice for crawl ' t-shirt made up when she was a baby. I've still got it somewhere.

And can clearly recall DS wanting a Slayer t-shirt like his dad.........he'd also been weaned on the music and loved them. We held off, mainly because kids sizes were less available back then, he finally got to 8 and was tall enough for a small adults t-shirt. Albeit rather baggy.........figured I'd shrink it in the tumble dryer.

Anyways, he was presented with it on his birthday and of course loved it. He wore it everywhere. To school, granny's house, church etc etc. Must have been wearing it a good six months until I looked at it closely one day and noticed the bleddy inverted cross staring at me, merrily burning away inside the skeletons ribs !

I had to convince him to give it up and bought him a different one to replace it.

I found mine grew out of it and refuses to wear clothes that she identifies as girly in anyway. It was a brief time. I am glad she developed her own sense of style. Sounds like your oldest will soon break that mould again soon.

This thread reminds me of a family I saw at a museum last summer.

About 8 adults and teenagers all very gothic and punky, gran and grandad included, with a little girl of about 5 or 6 dressed head to toe in pink and sparkles including a sparkly tutu and lots of sparkly costume jewellery.

Absolutely the cutest family I've ever seen.

My OH nan, very opinionated woman, believes babies should be in white until they're two...

She gives me so much grief if I put DD in too much pink even.

Your baby, your money, your choice

Nothing wrong with dressing a baby in black although I think it’s a bit strange to dress a child in a band T-shirt unless they actually enjoy the band. Not so bothered for under 2a but once a child is old enough to be aware of what they’re wearing I’d try and buy clothes based on things I know they like/ are interested in rather than to advertise things I like.

Black is very practical. I no longer buy any children's clothes in light colours because it seems those are always the ones that get stained. They wear a mix of strong bright colours and dark neutrals (black, grey, navy). Once they can keep their clothes clean for 5 minutes they can have white and pale colours.

Personally my taste is towards obviously childish clothes and I wouldn't want mine to look like small adults, but everyone has different tastes and young children don't care as long as they're warm and comfy so I say just enjoy it! Dressing babies is one of the great joys of parenthood imo.

Lindex always has great plain black long sleeve vests and joggers on 3 for 2, btw, for anyone looking.

I have an acquaintance who puts her kids in stuff with skulls on, cringey band mercy and generally just gross "emo/green" style crap, looks like they are from 2003.