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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU for not wanting to send my dd in pjs?

128 replies

Grumpington · 02/03/2020 20:27

I've just found out that for World Book Day, my dd's school are wearing pyjamas instead of fancy dress. She's really upset as she's been planning her outfit for weeks. But I'm just generally feeling grumpy about it as it just feels weird sending her in night clothes... Or AIBU?

For context, the school had a pyjama day in November - and it was freezing and raining. The wealthiest kids turned up in brand new onesies. None of the kids seemed particularly happy about it but I guess we all thought it was a one off. Apparently the same thing nearly happened last March but some of the older kids managed to persuade the school to change their minds.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 02/03/2020 20:48

Elder Bedtime stories? What? For the 11 year olds too? It seems very unimaginative. I don't need help anyway! I'm one of the admittedly few people who enjoys making costumes.

Carpet How old are your children? What sex?

Purpleartichoke · 02/03/2020 20:50

Our school does several pajama days a year. The students absolutely love it. Onesies are very popular, but all the kids I know around here have them anyway. We live in a cold climate so the cute onesie pjs are completely practical and don’t cost any more than other pjs in the shop.

Teachers have clearly put some effort in to have pjs that meet the theme but are appropriate for a teacher to wear to school. There are lots of fleece pants with colorful patterns matched with long sleeve knit tops.

Carpetforsale · 02/03/2020 20:51

@FortunesFave all boys from 6-10

AngelNix · 02/03/2020 20:54

Put a pair of tights/leggings !and a tshirt under the PJs if it's cold!

Smurf123 · 02/03/2020 20:54

@Carpetforsale what age are dc?
My brother was a master of dressing up without a costume...
He's been Charlie from Charlie and the chocolate factory - jeans and a jumper carry a bar of chocolate or a homemade golden ticket
Jack from Jack in the beanstalk - he carried a bag of beans etc (he really hates costumes and face paint)

Could also do mr bump from Mr men - blue top and trousers with some bandages

Wear all one colour and be a crayon from the day the colours quit.

Character t-shirt if they have any just with trousers?

NoSquirrels · 02/03/2020 20:54

My DC bloody love a school-sanctioned pyjama day l, and as I’ve just finished (weary) negotiations over items needed for WBD costumes I’d bloody love a school pyjama day too!

Send them in whatever you have - onesies, dressing gown, PJs with layers underneath etc, extra hoodies. Slippers to wear in school seem to be a big attraction.

PicaK · 02/03/2020 20:54

Our school's done this. I am so grateful. So easy. Least bobbly onesie - sorted.

SpeedofaSloth · 02/03/2020 20:56

@Carpetforsale Diary of a Wimpy Kid is great for this.
Greg Heffley from the film - jeans, trainers, t shirt, shirt over the top.
Or masks printed out, like this one www.penguin.co.uk/articles/children/2019/feb/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-printable-character-costume.html and a white t shirt with jeans.

DamsonDress · 02/03/2020 20:56

I had similar a few years ago. For once I was very organised and bought DD''s costume in advance.

Largely because we were watching our money and had car tax, MOTs, insurances, etc due around the same time so thought I'd do myself a favour and get WBD out of the way.

Unfortunately they then decided to have a Where's Wally theme and we were told everyone had to come as Wally or Wanda.

DD was disappointed but I pointed out she wouldn't be the only one and why should they comply and she not? She was happy enough in the end.

Don't think she would have liked being the only not going along with the theme.

Her school tries their best for the kids and I wouldn't want them to think I was trying to butt heads. (Not that I'm suggesting this Is the case here!)

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/03/2020 20:58

I had to dress in pyjamas once (teacher) I wore clothes underneath. Leggings and a jumper so it wasn't cold.

strawberrylipgloss · 02/03/2020 20:59

Carpet - lots of Male characters wear normal clothes eg Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Horrid Henry. Do they have a onesie or footie top?

Original poster
Grumpington · 02/03/2020 20:59

Yeh, I was just a bit gutted for her as she'd been looking forward to it. Her only onesie currently has a broken zip and I'm now faced with having to get something sorted by Thursday morning. And for what it's worth, she's a really hot sleeper and hates pyjamas. She sleeps in a T-shirt. So for us, pyjamas are definitely more effort than dressing up... But I can see it varies for other families.

OP posts:
FamilyOfAliens · 02/03/2020 21:00

The wealthiest kids turned up in brand new onesies. None of the kids seemed particularly happy about it

How do you know who is the wealthiest? And did you ask every child whether they were happy about it or not?

DamsonDress · 02/03/2020 21:01

I agree with pp who said go for jogging bottoms / leggings and t-shirt instead of PJs.

Leeee-shure wear. Sure, that's passable on a PJ day these days.

Original poster
Grumpington · 02/03/2020 21:01

Totally agree @DamsonDress I am often organised in advance with these things to try to save money

OP posts:
GuineaSomethingGood · 02/03/2020 21:03

Isn't WBD when you dress as characters from a book?

june2007 · 02/03/2020 21:04

I much rather this, I went to work in pj,s last year as part of a theme day.

Opal71 · 02/03/2020 21:04

@Carpetforsale my go to is usually Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs or George's Marvellous medicine

NoSquirrels · 02/03/2020 21:05

Carpetforsake you need costumes based on clothes you already have - some great ideas earlier e.g. Charlie & Chocolate Factory.
Other ideas: The Boy in the Dress - dress, football. George’s Marvellous Medicine - saucepan, concoction in bottle, name tag saying George!
If you have pirate dressing up stuff - Captain Hook. If you have animal onesies - look for a book to suit the animal! Don’t stress too much about it is my best advice.

Original poster
Grumpington · 02/03/2020 21:08

@FamilyOfAliens I generalised based on a conversation with my mum friends in the playground. A solicitor friend who has higher than average income in this area told me she'd bought a brand new onesie the day before and a lady who owns 6 holiday cottages said she'd done the same. I know they are both wealthier than a lot of the others as it is a small rural school (40 kids) and my dd has attended for 6 years. We know each other. And most of the mums in November said their kids hadn't been very excited. My dd went it her onesie but the zip has now broken. I only found out today that she'd need something by Thursday. It's fine. I can see from other posters why the school are doing it. It's just on this occasion we were organised with a costume and I've not got to rethink.

OP posts:
CalleighDoodle · 02/03/2020 21:08

Im with you op. Fucked me right off. They both had last year’s outfits that both still fit, and they both have harry potter outfits from when we went to the studios last summer. What neither of them have is a decent pair of pjs! My ds only wears shorts and tshirt to bed. Not warm Enough for that. Dd does have a nice pair of pjs, but the rest are mainly 4 sizes too small now peddle pushers.

Ive bought them onesies. And tutted a lot.

Dhalandchips · 02/03/2020 21:09

Arthur dent from hitch hikers guide to the galaxy. Pj's, dressing gown and a sign saying don't panic.

LambriniSocialist · 02/03/2020 21:09

Oh FFS schools can't win can they?

Schools do a dress up as a character theme - everyone moans that it's a waste of money, it's such a ball ache, it's bad for the environment etc etc etc

So then schools try and make it easier on parents by doing a bedtime stories pyjama theme - other parents aren't happy!

DamsonDress · 02/03/2020 21:11

Isn't WBD when you dress as characters from a book?

Yes, but some schools like to do something a bit different.

Our school has recently changed from book character to Vocab Parade.

US inspired I imagine. I actually love it. So much scope. And it moves things away from shop bought characters to real creativity.

Some of the ideas people have are fantastic but so so simple.

Great for kids who hate dressing up (DS!) They can dress as 'casual', 'sporty', 'blue' or whatever.

CalleighDoodle · 02/03/2020 21:12

Oh FFS schools can't win can they?

Schools do a dress up as a character theme - everyone moans that it's a waste of money, it's such a ball ache, it's bad for the environment etc etc etc

So then schools try and make it easier on parents by doing a bedtime stories pyjama theme - other parents aren't happy!

Being consistent would be winner!