AIBU to put my son in leggings?

[LeggingsforDS]

DS is three. Currently has a few pairs of leggings and needs some new clothes. Wanting to buy him a few more packs of leggings. They're comfortable, easy to pull up and down for using the toilet. Both DM and DH hate his current leggings and don't think I should get anymore. He's too old for leggings apparently and they're too girly. I do mostly buy them from the 'girls' section because they are harder to come by in the 'boys' section. Yes, they are typically more colourful than a pair of plain black or blue joggers but he's three years old! So, AIBU to just but them for him anyway?

@user1493494961

I'd buy him joggers or elasticated shorts, they're still comfy and easy to pull up and down.

So are leggings. And quicker to wash and dry than joggers too. Win win!

My 7 year old wears leggings and has done since he was younger than your ds. Currently he has one pair that are blue with dragons on and one that are like the black and white combats. So not very "girlish". He chose both of them and loves them. If you and ds both like them, keep buying the leggings.

They're just clothes. If he likes them and you find them practical, then there is absolutely no reason why he shouldn't wear them.

Maybe your DH and your MIL need to reflect on why they think clothing needs to be gendered in this way. See if they can actually articulate why they think it matters.

Adult women in brightly patterned ‘quirky’ leggings is the worst thing ever (see Lucy locket loves fans) but little kids look adorable 👍

Conversely, my girls (14 and 10) have recently discovered that boys tracksuit bottoms are better than girls ones because:
They have proper pockets you can actually fit “stuff” into
They are more roomy especially in the bum and where the pockets are.

DD1 is now trying to get me to buy DS(17) new clothes so she can steal his old ones

DD2 is moaning that she didn’t get given his outgrown ones until I found a pair of age 12 ones buried somewhere

@00100001

And so what if he thinks they're "girly"? Is his dad really going to tease his 3 yo child? Is he expecting the 3yo to bully his son?

Leggings are brilliant.

I bet he doesn't think that footballers are girly for wearing under leggings?

Bet he wouldn't call this chap, girly...

Not to his face I bet.

God are men really so insecure in themselves that they don't want their male children to wear comfortable clothes? Is that where we are now, in 2021? Jesus wept.

My son was in tights for months when he was about 1, the little monkey kept pulling his socks and shoes off in the middle of winter! Had to do something

Conversely, my girls (14 and 10) have recently discovered that boys tracksuit bottoms are better than girls ones because:
They have proper pockets you can actually fit “stuff” into
They are more roomy especially in the bum and where the pockets are.

And boys pyjama bottoms are more comfortable than girls too! My son didn’t want the ones I got him for Xmas so I took them and they are now my favourite pair! They have pockets!!

I love leggings, so easy for little ones! I don't know when they became a gendered thing, comfy, stretchy and practical doesn't grab me as sex specific.

I've got some lovely ones for ds (1) from Sainsbury's, bright colours rather than the dull grey/black/navy so many 'boys' clothes seem to be. He's short but chunky so leggings are generally better than joggers as they have more give to accommodate the smooshy thighs.

DH isn't a fan of some of the funky outfits but he's told to buy the clothes himself or keep the comments to himself.

I have 3 boys, all have worn bright patterned leggings and tights. They are comfortable and easy, wash and dry well.

Second Rainbows and sprinkles for some fab leggings with some “boyish” designs like tractors on them!

Footballers wear skins. My dh wears runners tights but wouldn’t wear them casually. I think for a 3yr old they’re ok. Alternative is joggers

My son was little he use to wear them, I brought dull colours and Custom them with fabric dye. With tye dye pattern and dinosaur feet and stamps of car's etc to make it more "boy"

My DS still wears leggings aged 5. He's tall so wears 6-7. He mostly wears a mix of jogging bottoms, leggings and shorts.

Best places recently are Next, Tu and H&M.

H&M do some soft cotton trousers that look like chinos but feel like more joggers. They are good as they are a little smarter and more lightweight for spring/summer.

My 4 yo DS lives in leggings, and I see lots of little boys at his nursery in them as well. I think they look much smarter than joggers which are more for lounging about at home. I get his from H&M and Lindex.

Your DS will no doubt tell you if/when he has an issue with leggings.

I used to put mine in leggings, but eventually, they refused to wear them. Maybe about 4, possibly they noticed at kindy that the other boys were in baggy pants.

To be fair, we live in a hot climate and I don't think DS has worn any casual long pants since the age of 5 (he's now 12), but leggings were singled out early on as being particularly unacceptable.

I’d actually argue that leggings ARE in fashion for boys. Supermarkets are always behind the times on what’s actually fashionable as they tend to prescribe to very strict gender norms for their clothing.

However so many kids independents sell leggings for boys and girls. My DS, almost 4, has chosen a colourful pair for himself today.

There’s are in the ‘boys’ section (though of course they are really unisex): www.piccalilly.co.uk/organic-kids-clothes?clothing_type=800&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyZmEBhCpARIsALIzmnJcoqqWHbWElAiqdn1pt8BQOvG-O7bbHk7hkV0WsLR99oR_0cmCkpcaAvayEALw_wcB&gender_ms=1121

Hi OP, yep totally agree this is fine. My DS wore leggings at the same time. He was very slim and nothing stayed up! Plus I had to send him to nursery with SIX changes of clothes at one point when he went backwards with toilet training. Honestly they were great! My DH was a bit weird about it, but knew he couldn’t justify his discomfort... so he sucked it up!

Leggings would have been too hot for mine. Soft pull up cotton shorts were the favourite.

Nothing wrong with it at all. My DP wears leggings when he is relaxing in the evenings, they look great on him. I really don't understand why people feed the need to gender clothes so much.

How tight are the leggings? If loose fitting like slimline jersey trousers I don’t see an issue.

Lots of designer brands and Scandi brands make boys leggings or unisex. Plain, bright, stretchy cotton or black with a silver stripe and fake buttons, why not?

If they’re more like tights/underwear I think you need to size up or choose a different style. Lots of girls leggings are designed to go under skirts and dresses or tunics. They’d look bizarre with a T-shirt unless your son is a baby.

I love the trend for knitted stretchy leggings on crawling babies as they’re so practical, no runching or bunching or tripping babies up (especially when they practice walking or pulling up). Past the age of 2 not so much.

If your family are objecting have you tried loose fitting cotton jersey leggings in a dark colour? Or slim leg lightweight joggers or skinny summer joggers (I can hardly tell the difference)? My DD has some denim jeggings she loves, they’re basically leggings with thicker fabric and a denim print! She goes through the knees of thin leggings a lot.

Personally I don’t like patterned leggings or joggers on boys OR girls past babyhood or the young toddler stage as they resemble PJ pants. I know they’re marketed as leggings but you still get silly comments like ‘forgot to get dressed did you?’ which seems unfair to the child.

Any leggings that are getting worn or short or a bit tight I put in DD’s PJ drawer if she still likes them.

Also I think you need to style leggings differently to joggers/jeans. They good with ankle boots or wellies or high top trainers. Not so good with sandals or shoes.

Tell your dh they are "skins" or "base layers" and beloved of sporty blokes

Base layers are designed to go under trousers though. And skins are compression layers for sports aren’t they?

I’d just refer to them as summer trousers. You can get baggy leggings in darker shades eg navy, black, burgundy, forest green, burnt orange. They’re easier to pull up and down for potty training than tight leggings. And the darker colours hide accidents until you can get home or find a loo to change him in!

It is not too long before your DS will be at school and probably in trousers. So get him used to them in advance and no more leggings.

My son wears leggings quite often. He’s only 14 months but I don’t think 3 is too old at all.
And as for being “too girly”, well that’s all nonsense isn’t it. My son has girls socks because I like him to wear bright colours and apparently only dark colours are “boy approved”
He also has a girls raincoat (it’s yellow and spotty) because I didn’t even realise it was “for girls”.

I buy D's leggings too. They are so much more practical. Wish more stores stocked them.