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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think DD isn't fully dressed in leggings & a t-shirt?

520 replies

shesellsseacats · 15/08/2021 00:44

When I ask DD (nearly 9) to get dressed she often comes down in just leggings and a t-shirt, tucked in.

She looks undressed to me.

A t-shirt and leggings are fine for sport, or bed, or for toddlers IMO. Or a long tshirt over leggings is fine too.

But she likes to wear her T-shirt tucked in (which looks lumpy!) She just looks like she forgot to finish getting dressed like that, AIBU?

And AIBU to ask her to put another layer over the leggings? e.g. a skirt or pinafore dress or shorts?

I know it's only a small thing in the scheme of things and I'm inclined to let her get her way if we're just going to the park for a play or something. But I'm curious how others see it?

OP posts:
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XelaM · 15/08/2021 01:23

That’s my daughter’s all-weather uniform 😂 You are being massively unreasonable OP. Although I agree about the tucked in look being awful

FortunesFave · 15/08/2021 01:32

I get you...tucked in t shirt with leggings wouldn't look good but she's only 9. It's fine really.

elliejjtiny · 15/08/2021 01:33

Sounds fine to me. I would wear a dress or skirt over leggings but that's because I'm 39 and fat.

DumbestBlonde · 15/08/2021 01:41

Actually I don't think you are being unreasonable...... It does depend a bit on the leggings? Personally, i hink it looks so much nicer - and was probably the original intention of leggings - if the top they wear covers their bum, longer T-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie - or tunic-type or a dress sometimes, depending on the style.

Aside: Please, no-one get me started on cycling shorts as a "trend"; I saw an adult woman coming out of Tesco today in a pair (obviously NOTfor cycling), with a denim shirt that was just hip length - and obviously no underwear - because it looked like she was IN her undies - as the shorts were white.

audweb · 15/08/2021 01:42

@endlesscraziness

You are definitely being unreasonable. My 8 year old mostly lives in leggings and a t shirt because it's comfy and practical
This

Honestly what else do you want her to wear? This is one of the weirdest threads I’ve ever seen on here.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 15/08/2021 01:45

An 8yo doesn't need to cover their bum with a long t-shirt FFS

DeflatedGinDrinker · 15/08/2021 01:55

Yanbu op it looks awful.

DeflatedGinDrinker · 15/08/2021 01:56

So much worse when adults do it.

FortunesFave · 15/08/2021 02:04

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

An 8yo doesn't need to cover their bum with a long t-shirt FFS
Well you say this but it's not little boys walking round in that outfit is it? Boys don't generally wear leggings which show their bodies to that extent.

There's nothing wrong with a child's body but then why is it only girls who wear leggings unless we're talking about men riding cycles?

And if you go to the shop to buy a girl's t shirt, from toddler size up, girls t shirts are cut smaller and tighter than corresponding age boy's versions.

Like a girl of 5 needs a t shirt that fits her form??! She doesn't. She needs to be comfy and cool or warm...whatever the weather dictates.

I used to buy boy's t shirts when DD was smaller...if I tried to get her a comfy t shirt, they were all tight and reached her waist. Say she was 9, I'd try different age t shirts...and they were all like that. But the ones for 9 year old boys were loose and comfy.

DD was a skinny, average height child by the way.

QueenBee52 · 15/08/2021 02:04

@DeflatedGinDrinker

Yanbu op it looks awful.

this is an 8 year old Child... we're talking about

PinkCheetah · 15/08/2021 02:10

If it's good enough for me to wear to Sainsbury's, it's good enough for your DD

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 15/08/2021 02:13

I dress my 5yo son in leggings! But yes the T-shirt fits are much baggier on boys than girls, very annoying and ridiculous but that's not why the OP has a problem with leggings and a top

XelaM · 15/08/2021 02:15

@PinkCheetah Grin

@FortunesFave Honestly, you’re overthinking this! I have a daughter and if a T-shirt is too tight I buy a bigger size. Problem solved. Leggings are comfy. It’s my daughter’s favourite thing to wear. If I could squeeze my butt into leggings and get away with it without looking like a hippo, I would wear leggings too.

FortunesFave · 15/08/2021 02:17

[quote XelaM]@PinkCheetah Grin

@FortunesFave Honestly, you’re overthinking this! I have a daughter and if a T-shirt is too tight I buy a bigger size. Problem solved. Leggings are comfy. It’s my daughter’s favourite thing to wear. If I could squeeze my butt into leggings and get away with it without looking like a hippo, I would wear leggings too.[/quote]
No, I'm not overthinking. It's an issue. Manufacturers deliberately make girls' clothing form fitting and not boy's clothing.

ichundich · 15/08/2021 02:22

What else is she supposed to wear?

DoingItMyself · 15/08/2021 02:29

Yes, there are issues with clothing for female children.

OP, fill her wardrobe with longer, looser tops that she can't tuck in. You're her mother, you can do that.

Leggings and a top are respectable clothing. I wear them every day.

Worst-wear for women - lycra leggings stretched to all-but-nudity (all-butt?) with a string-type thong underneath. Seen (in glorious detail) at Harlow Carr recently - staff not visitor.

Mummyoflittledragon · 15/08/2021 02:52

I also preferred my dd to wear something over the top like shorts or a longer top as I, personally preferred the look. She did too as it happens. But I definitely wouldn’t have forced her to do so as she was fully dressed as is your dd.

Fast forward to 13. The uniform of today is super skinny Nike pros. Not a skirt or covered bum in sight.

Plumtree391 · 15/08/2021 03:24

Leggings and a T-shirt are fine, especially if she isn't going out.

MessOfEyelinerAndSpraypaint · 15/08/2021 04:51

I agree OP. Leggings are underwear. People look terrible when they wear them as outerwear : lumpy, & don't start me on the number of camel toes.
Train her out of the habit now. It's a horrible look, and all it takes is another layer to look tidy, and cover up. Im no prude but ffs we're supposed to be civilised.

FrancescaContini · 15/08/2021 04:56

Ah, leave her be…

user1483387154 · 15/08/2021 05:08

she is most definitely dressed.

MrsMiddleMother · 15/08/2021 05:13

I think leggings and t-shirt are fine and as long as they're not see through, she's full dressed. I wouldn't like her tucking her top in tho just because it looks a bit silly as leggings aren't designed for that

QueenBee52 · 15/08/2021 05:30

@MessOfEyelinerAndSpraypaint

I agree OP. Leggings are underwear. People look terrible when they wear them as outerwear : lumpy, & don't start me on the number of camel toes. Train her out of the habit now. It's a horrible look, and all it takes is another layer to look tidy, and cover up. Im no prude but ffs we're supposed to be civilised.
You're talking about an 8 year old child...

a young girl..

MessOfEyelinerAndSpraypaint · 15/08/2021 05:36

@QueenBee52 I'm talking about adults. And then saying it's a good idea to get an 8 year old used to the idea that leggings are underwear.
My daughter wore leggings from an early age, of course, they are comfortable for little ones scurfing outdoors all day; but 8 is time to start layering. Especially if she's tucking her tee in.
Don't you care about the state of the streets and people's sloppy dressing? If men dressed the way loads of women do they'd be arrested under the obscenity laws.
Teach her some self-respect.

randomsabreuse · 15/08/2021 05:41

Girls can be narrower than boys - my 6 year old girl has shoulders narrower than my 2 year old boy which makes it quite handy that girls' clothes are tighter cut than boys' stuff. She also wears leggings but they're like light tracksuit bottoms on her. Having different shapes to cater for different builds is useful.

DS wears leggings, often hand me downs if they survived without massive holes in the knee.

I also would not make clothes choice a battle at this point, just make sure any leggings you buy are solid enough not to fail the squat test.