To think that muted pastel baby toys that cost about X5 the price of the average are a waste of money and a bit pretentious?

Bobbiepin · 26/05/2021 03:49

Step away from instagram. No one cares about the toys other people's kids have unless it's noisy and in a public place! The stuff on Instagram is for show, you just know they have a pile of brightly coloured plastic crap out of shot!

NiceGerbil · 26/05/2021 03:52

?

Just buy your baby the toys you want.

Others will do the same.

How do you even notice or know what different brands of baby toys look like?

What's wrong with pastels?

In general. Eh?!

Onestep2021 · 26/05/2021 03:55

I know what you mean. I actually don’t like the aesthetic at all.. people do and pay for all sorts of ridiculous crap for their kids. Most of the time I see through it, sometimes I get caught up and do the same.
Be confident in your choices. That is the key

NiceGerbil · 26/05/2021 03:56

' it's starting to annoy me how snobby some people are about kids toys,'

What have people irl said or done?

I'm baffled.

Babies? When you've got a baby aren't you mainly occupied by nappies and hoping it will sleep for a bit longer etc?

Has anyone in real life insulted or sneered at your baby's toys. If not

Are you ok? Not in s bitchy way. I had pnd. This sounds s bit paranoid. Apologies if not. (If not then. Don't get it).

Original poster

FreesiaFairy · 26/05/2021 04:21

It's more from discussions with other mums where they talk about things they are buying their babies and them being snobby about stuff just looks like normal baby/kids stuff. Just wondered if anyone had noticed this and found it a little bit annoying.

@NiceGerbil yes they have and I think this is what has triggered it haha, someone in our group of friends is getting an expensive muted pastel paddling pool and I got a cheap and cheerful one from Argos and there were some comments made that lead to me think that they were being snobby about it behind my back, as if it meant I don't have good taste or something.

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Original poster

FreesiaFairy · 26/05/2021 04:25

They are more like toddlers now but yes I am definitely more preoccupied with just getting though the day / getting enough sleep / making sure he's happy etc! I would rather have kids plates and cutlery that can go in the dishwasher rather than over priced bamboo and silicone ones does that mean I have bad taste lol

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Original poster

FreesiaFairy · 26/05/2021 04:27

@Onestep2021

Think you're spot on there abot trying to be confident in your own choices. This is something I struggle with sometimes. And glad you get what I mean about the aesthetic haha

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Sls668 · 26/05/2021 04:32

If I’m honest, I’d much prefer the pastels as I find the standard plastic primary colours stuff really garish and don’t want them in my living room BUT I do work in a nursery where all the plastic toys have been replaced by wooden so I’m more used to that!

Octopuscrazy · 26/05/2021 05:00

@FreesiaFairy

They are more like toddlers now but yes I am definitely more preoccupied with just getting though the day / getting enough sleep / making sure he's happy etc! I would rather have kids plates and cutlery that can go in the dishwasher rather than over priced bamboo and silicone ones does that mean I have bad taste lol

If you have bad taste then I'm guilty too. Honestly can't be bothered with that shit that's literally just for show. I'm not spending my time handwashing over priced Bamboo to give my dishwasher a break lol. Plus the kids and babies love all that garish brightly coloured stuff. My dd4 is going through a rainbow phase so we literally have everything mismatched rn. She'll grow out of it soon enough but we should let kids be kids and giving them some sort of choice is good for their development. (obv not really applicable to babies but 12m on I think can be applied).

You'll find alot of stuff is done for show. For me I've learned it's much better to have a happy messy home than an insta worthy show home but what do I know? I just want an easy life.

partofyoupoursoutofme · 26/05/2021 06:05

I don't like the pastel aesthetic either! I always think it's like someone washed out the colour.

Little ones love bright colours and the toys are supposed to be for them. It's pretty sad that some people care more about how things look than what their children enjoy playing with.

It sounds like your children are young. If so, you may find things change as they grow and have opinions.

I would ignore these judgemental people and look at getting some nicer friends.

UsedUpUsername · 26/05/2021 06:08

@FreesiaFairy

Have noticed that some mums seem to only tolerate muted pastel baby toys from brands such as Little Dutch or Liewood, that usually cost about X5 the price of the average for that toy, is this a first time mum thing?

I like to think I have good taste and appreciate good quality, but it's starting to annoy me how snobby some people are about kids toys, surely at some point they are going to have to break free of the muted pastel colour palette? I think Instagram might have quite a lot to do with it.

I get most of my little ones toys second hand and as long as he finds it fun don't massively care what it looks like. I feel like I'm getting judged on my taste for this!

I don’t know, I get my tasteful wooden toys from IKEA 🤷‍♀️

Tk5787338 · 26/05/2021 06:13

I would love to stick to more pastel and neutral colours but my DC prefer the bright stuff, even as babies they preferred the brighter more exciting looking things.
The people who are a bit snobby about stuff were like that before they had DC in my experience but just about different things

linerforlife · 26/05/2021 06:13

Yes! Agree about Instagram having a lot to do with it. I feel the same about weaning - people making highly elaborate meals for their 6 month old, putting it in a sectioned bamboo plate and posting it. The reality is the baby probably only eats the carb or fruit element and the rest gets chucked off the plate. But it made me feel for a while I was doing enough and my baby wasn't adventurous enough!! I have enough to do cleaning the high chair several times a day, you can get fucked if you think I'm hand washing the baby's plates too 😂

linerforlife · 26/05/2021 06:14

Oh and I have lots of wooden toys (and plastic ones) for my 1 yr old. All of them are bright colours because that's what she is interested in!

mum2jakie · 26/05/2021 06:18

My kids are older so I think this predates Insta and the likes. I remember when (some) parents preferred the scandi wooden toys and were horrified when their kids preferred the bright garish (usually noisy) plastic toys that the grandparents bought them!

Kids and good taste don't always go together!

Sidesaladofchips · 26/05/2021 06:19

I agree OP, such a lot of concern that some people have over having tasteful toys. It's bullshit, most (if not all) toddlers and kids will opt for the most brightly coloured toys, I mean who the hell derives any joy from a GREY ball pit? Choose some new friends who will literally bring a bit more colour into your life.

Flowerclock · 26/05/2021 06:23

I have to admit, I do wonder how much washing new parents who like neutral things expect to be doing. I am very much cheap and cheerful, what makes like easier with my kids things. We didn't have a lot of 'nice' things when the kids were babies and toddlers because so much got chewed, sicked on, climbed on and broken. Now they are older and look after things more, I do go more for my taste of things. Which is still not neutral TBH.

Are these people who's entire living room is grey by any chance?

KM38 · 26/05/2021 06:25

@FreesiaFairy I actually quite like the muted pastel colours from an aesthetic point of view and they would definitely look better in my living room - BUT...what baby wants muted colours?! 🙈 Surely the point of toys is to be fun and engaging for the little one? Bright colours, lights, the MOST irritating songs playing on repeat...that’s how toys are meant to be IMO lol.
I do buy wooden toys where I can(silly things like stacking rings etc) just because I prefer the quality but they’re still brightly coloured and engaging for baby 😊
The only think I bought for baby to sort of match in with our decor was a beautiful playmat from Totter & Tumble. I’ve done away with our livingroom rug and just turned the floor into a big safe space for DS with a huge playmat. Gorgeous quality, DS loves being on it and looks good in the room too 🤷🏻‍♀️ Win win!

KM38 · 26/05/2021 06:32

Id also just like to say that while I’m a big neutral fan, I’m not a “grey livingroomer” 🤣🤣 and I absolutely do not dress my 6m old DS in all neutrals for obvious reason 🙈🤣 I don’t know how any parent has the time to maintain that 😅😅 @Flowerclock

BendingSpoons · 26/05/2021 06:46

The snobbery I have experienced is in relation to only wanting wooden toys. I prefer wooden too, but it's not always affordable. I certainly wouldn't pay over the odds for a paddling pool! DS2 has been given loads of plastic hand me down toys and loves them. Personally I love bright colours, so I clearly have child-like taste.

rachelvbwho · 26/05/2021 06:53

I am huge fan of bright colours for both myself and my daughters and they are too.

However, I have got a number of Little Dutch items as I do think they are nice, my girls like the pretty flower, dolls etc and they are reasonably priced to the 'bright' competitors.... Liewood and other similar brands are overpiced though and purely fouced on that aesthetic!

Mousetown · 26/05/2021 06:55

@BendingSpoons

The snobbery I have experienced is in relation to only wanting wooden toys. I prefer wooden too, but it's not always affordable. I certainly wouldn't pay over the odds for a paddling pool! DS2 has been given loads of plastic hand me down toys and loves them. Personally I love bright colours, so I clearly have child-like taste.

You can buy really cheap brightly coloured wooden toys from IKEA.

Strugglingtodomybest · 26/05/2021 07:02

I remember this from my baby/toddler days, so before Insta. Just remember that children prefer the bright colours and the toys are for them, not for showing off what impeccable taste () you have!

As the pp says, it's all about having confidence in your own decisions.

As far as the wooden-toys-are-better thing went too, I figured it was better for the environment if we reused someone else's cheap, garish plastic toys. It was second hand all the way in this household and proud of it too.

RockPainting · 26/05/2021 07:04

My DCs are older.

It's only a matter of time before they're all snorting haribo and legging it around soft play in princess / superhero outfits.

Don't sweat it!

newnortherner111 · 26/05/2021 07:05

If you are being judged perhaps it is not you who should be judged but those who are judging you.

As for stepping away from Instagram, remember it does not act quickly enough or at all against racism and other forms of hatred. Do you want to be supporting such an uncaring response to such nastiness?