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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To put my boy in girls clothes sometimes

87 replies

hibbledibble · 27/09/2020 13:16

He is a toddler, so doesn't care. I have lots of lovely clothes and that aren't overly girly. Is it ok to put him in these?

I'm not thinking floral dresses, but pink vests (under his clothes), a navy jacket in a 'girl' cut, red shoes. I think it's ok, but I am meeting resistance from others.

He has beautiful long lashes, and people often think he is a girl whatever he is wearing, but I don't see this as an issue.

OP posts:
Lockheart · 27/09/2020 13:19

What makes the pink vests or red shoes girls clothes?

PolarBearStrength · 27/09/2020 13:19

My two year old wears ‘girls’ leggings quite a lot. He’s tall and slim, and potty trained early so finding trousers that stay up is a pain. Leggings seem to work. If he picked himself something from the ‘girls’ department I’d have no issue with it’s him wearing it.

I’m due a DD in a few weeks and I’m dreading all the floral and frills tbh. I hate heavily gendered kids clothes.

ArchieStar · 27/09/2020 13:20
Hmm
TinySleepThief · 27/09/2020 13:20

I'd honestly be amazed if I did this and anyone I knew said anything at all, let alone that so many people I knew would be resistant. It's not even comment worthy.

Surely unless the clothes are inappropriate for the weather tbe only rule is dress him in what ever fits and keeps him warm?

user12533685436 · 27/09/2020 13:21

What are "girls' clothes" ?

Original poster
hibbledibble · 27/09/2020 13:25

I have given example's above of what constitutes 'girls clothes'. They are hand me downs from girls. I personally don't see an issue with them, but certain people really do.

OP posts:
TinySleepThief · 27/09/2020 13:28

@hibbledibble

I have given example's above of what constitutes 'girls clothes'. They are hand me downs from girls. I personally don't see an issue with them, but certain people really do.
But thats the point everyone is making, they are just clothes. As long as they are appropriate for the weather and not fall3to pieces then clothes can be worn by anyone male or female.

I'd be pretty embarrassed to know so many people who made comments on what my child was wearing.

oblada · 27/09/2020 13:30

How are red shoes girly?
I have 2 girls and then 1 boy - he has worn quite a few of my girls' clothes. I wouldnt put him in a dress (he wears princess costume dresses at home all the time though) but everything else is fair game really.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 27/09/2020 13:30

Yanbu.

DD gets put in lots of "boys" trousers and coats etc. Because she has got a big brother and a good quality navy blue warm coat isnt being replaced by a pink flowery one purely because the 1 yr old doesnt have a penis.

Kanaloa · 27/09/2020 13:32

If they are hand me downs it’s better to use them than waste them. I wouldn’t put a boy in a dress but red shoes or a navy jacket seems fine.

BuffaloCauliflower · 27/09/2020 13:32

These all just sound like normal clothes that either sex could wear. If anyone feels the need to comment I’d just ignore.

oblada · 27/09/2020 13:33

My 9yrs old DD recently chose some school shoes from the 'boys' section. She also chose another pair which was more 'girly' (ie the first one were simple practical black shoes and the other were sandal styles) the distinction betw boys and girls clothes is pretty silly tbh.

WorraLiberty · 27/09/2020 13:33

Are you incredibly new to Mumsnet OP?

If not, you'll know the answer.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 27/09/2020 13:35

Ps DS is 3 and chose red trainers.

Look back at photos from the 70s and 80s. People had less disposable income and it wasnt considered normal to buy reams and reams of clothes for babies. Things were far less gendered. Every photo of my sisters and I, we are just in shorts and teeshirts in a range of colours. If you trimmed the heads off the photos you would have no idea if we were boys or girls.

In the waves of consumerism since, retailers have realised we all spend more if we are flogged heavily gendered stuff, as we dont pass it on so much between boy/girl siblings or cousins etc.

Kazakaren · 27/09/2020 13:37

Oh for goodness sake, if they fit then let him wear them. No point in wasting perfectly good clothes. Its not a problem is it.

GoldfishParade · 27/09/2020 13:37

Why are you making this into An Issue?

Magicbabywaves · 27/09/2020 13:37

Seems sensible to me. My DS wears his older sister’s coat and her old Peppa pig leggings.

Laaalaaaa · 27/09/2020 13:38

In the real world absolutely not a chance in hell. On here - there are no boys and girls clothes. Funny I’ve never met a real life person who dresses boys in frilly pink outfits.

Mutabilis · 27/09/2020 13:39

it's fine, not an issue at all, especially for 2nd hand, it's just fashion what's said to be for boys or girls. We get a lot of clothes from charity shops and it's not that obvious what was marketed as for boys vs girls, we buy whatever we like the look/style of. I also regularly buy my DDs 'boys' clothes, especially as toddlers because they loved Thomas trains, paw patrol, dinosaurs etc and couldn't always find them in the girls section. Also the knees of boys trousers were thicker than girls leggings. It's totally up to you, ignore the marketing.

Original poster
hibbledibble · 27/09/2020 13:40

Thank you for the replies that answered my questions.

No thank you to worraliberty and goldfishe
As I said, I am not the one who has an issue with this.

OP posts:
Camomila · 27/09/2020 13:41

I think that's fine D.S is 4.5 and I am reusing an girls expensive ski-jacket that was his cousins. Its bright blue with a pink zip but it would be a waste of a jacket to not use it because of a zip.

He doesn't care either way.

SmudgeButt · 27/09/2020 13:49

My husband constantly complains about the lack of colour in men's clothing. He'd love to be able to buy red shoes. (& no he's not gay, girly, effeminate or trans, just colourful with a great sense of style.)

Marmitecrackers · 27/09/2020 13:51

I confess, I like little girls in dresses and boys in dungarees or t shirt and trousers.

I detest tacky overly pinked out girls with bows on their heads but I do love girls to look like girls and boys to look like boys.

I have zero issue with anyone wanting to/ dressing as another sex in adulthood. It's not a discriminatory thing.

Neolara · 27/09/2020 13:52

I often used to dress my D's in his big sister's clothes when he was a baby and toddler. I thought he looked lovely in pink.

SpecialWGM · 27/09/2020 13:53

@user12533685436

What are "girls' clothes" ?
Ugh you know full well what 'girls' clothes are! I feel sorry for the OP on threads like this.
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