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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to not allow popular kids characters/music in the house?

533 replies

Elilanna · 09/08/2022 07:37

No kids yet, but I'm hoping to have them in the near-ish future, work in the early childhood sector and have a young niece and nephew so I'm quite aware of what's popular with the little ones these days, but I'm personally not a fan and would rather not expose my own children to any of that media, at least not when they're very small - but I've heard a lot of criticism of this approach, that "only crunchy hippie mums do that!" and "it's part of our culture, you're depriving them of an important part of childhood!" Specifically I'd be avoiding Disney, Cocomelon, and the Wiggles, and even things I don't mind wouldn't be on baby's clothes & other belongings as I don't believe in turning your child into free advertising for a popular brand. I'm otherwise not very "hippie" or "crunchy", this is just the one thing where I'd like to limit their exposure.

So... tell me I'm not the only one who wants to do this?

OP posts:
Tessabelle74 · 10/08/2022 17:51

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 sorry but I swore my kids would never have either Barbie or Thomas the Tank Engine but my father in law bought my boys a Thomas dvd and kicked off an obsession! We had toys, duvet covers, trips to Thomas land the lot! Thankfully I dodged Barbie! You can try and avoid whatever you like but if your child sees a t shirt with a character on it and they want it, I pretty much guarantee you'll succumb. We are all perfect parents before we actually have kids 🤣🤣🤣

Madsciencecovid2020 · 10/08/2022 18:04

YANBU I remember when I was expecting first child and inlaws first grandchild. Mothering law rushed out to buy stuff and it was teletubby themed. I made it clear that she would have to return them! None of my children have ever watched 1 episode of teletubbies! You should stand up to what you want for your children based on your values. Just be polite and kind when rejecting things.
I also refused to put my first child in pink! The response I got for not putting a girl in pink! I genuinely believe that children should wear all colours and play with all types of toys

TheKeatingFive · 10/08/2022 18:07

What's wrong with the Teletubbies 😵

D1ngledanglers · 10/08/2022 18:08

Twenty years ago I had a toddler who didn't watch TV, played with wooden toys, the full biz!
Then as we were on play dates, her little best friend spoke about The Tweenies and would put a video on.
Mine also only had home cooked food until introduced to smilie faces and chicken nuggets by the same best friend.

I remember how my DD's Angelina Ballerina top was her favourite and worn to death... As was her Fizz top and the Tweenies & Angelina were her favourite books along with fairy tales.

I remember a very houseproud friend of mine with her newborn saying they'll only be allowed one toy at a time out of the toybox! Yeah right....
With the best will in the world, have your standards now but be prepared to change as they will be exposed to these characters, they relate to them, it gives them joy and a sense of self, plus it's not a hill worth dying on.

ReneBumsWombats · 10/08/2022 18:10

TheKeatingFive · 10/08/2022 18:07

What's wrong with the Teletubbies 😵

I confess I had a bar on them. I don't know if my kids regressed developmentally from watching them but I know I did.

SzechuanSally · 10/08/2022 18:10

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

TheKeatingFive · 10/08/2022 18:11

Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth

Or had a wooden toy lobbed at their head

Olsi109 · 10/08/2022 18:12

I have 3 (a teen, a tween and a baby). The only programme banned and always has been is peppa pig because she is a brat. I don't particularly like character clothes so this is why I don't really buy them, but I wouldn't deprive my child of them if they really liked it - that's just personal choice and what I like, no media/alternative reason behind it.

I think others have said it before I had loads of intentions before kids - the only one like the above that I stuck to was no peppa and no electronics at the table. I'd wait and see because when you're sleep deprived and your child is screaming and the only thing they want is head shoulders knees and toes by coco melon, you'll put it on.

StreetwiseHercules · 10/08/2022 18:12

I think children should be allowed to like what they like and have every opportunity for joy in their childhood. Don’t like Fireman Sam? Well…..it’s not about you.

i really try not to judge other parents but this is one thing where I get a bit of a red flag vibe, especially if it’s about sex tropes. When people put their baggage onto their children, it’s not the children they are doing it for.

my daughter had every opportunity to play with anything she wanted. Loved Paw Patrol for a while. And Spider-Man. But she gravitates to unicorns, rainbows, sparkles and princesses. The thought of tainting that for her with current identity politics is just awful.

FreddieMercurysCat · 10/08/2022 18:14

Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa. Good luck 😉

Phos · 10/08/2022 18:20

I spent 18 months avoiding Peppa Pig and then found her watching it at nursery (they had tv time once a week on a Friday after tea before anyone starts)

Unless you're going to keep kiddo at home until they're adults, they'll find out about them someway.

Mommabear20 · 10/08/2022 18:22

I mean each to their own, and it's certainly not something 'bad' to not want cartoon characters in your kids life, but trust me, as a mum of a 2 year old and a 1 year old, it's almost impossible! 😂 we do watch the cartoons, but I too aren't keen on them wearing it, but if DD sees a piece of clothing with a fun character on it, you better believe she'll want it 😂 sometimes I win the battle, sometimes she does. Parenting is constantly deciding which hill you're willing to die on! 🤣🤣

Buttercupsx · 10/08/2022 18:26

Much of pop culture is like McDonalds. We all know what happens if you eat too much of it.

It’s possible to skip most of it. Just introduce a wide range of things early on. Young kids are able to develop their own tastes. Children have no concept of pop culture/trends. It’s usually the parents/family who feed them what ever is convenient.

mamabear715 · 10/08/2022 18:29

Not RTFT but MY children weren't having dummies.
#falls about laughing!!

The only prog I banned (apart from the soaps, as they were the worst things on the tv) was Tracey Beaker, back in the day. I always told my kids she needed a damn good slap, shouting at adults & being rude. ;-)

TheKeatingFive · 10/08/2022 18:31

Much of pop culture is like McDonalds. We all know what happens if you eat too much of it.

I find it weird that you're talking about children's TV in those terms. It's just mainstream, popular programming. Much of it is actually pretty good.

Children have no concept of pop culture/trends. It’s usually the parents/family who feed them what ever is convenient.

As you'll see from even a cursory read of this thread, that is rubbish.

MMUmum · 10/08/2022 18:32

My DD learnt all sorts from C beebies and CBBC, the trick was that the characters interact with the children, so we used to talk back to them and discuss what was happening, mostly these programmes are very carefully planned and the content is always educational in some way

saraclara · 10/08/2022 18:33

I've run out of time to read beyond the first half of this thread. But Hey Duggee is a total classic. And programmes like Duggee and Bluey are about education for toddlers. They really are. So don't deprive your future small kids of learning about caring, their emotions, and actual facts, from TV.

saraclara · 10/08/2022 18:37

I also refused to put my first child in pink! The response I got for not putting a girl in pink! I genuinely believe that children should wear all colours and play with all types of toys

All colours? Or all colours except pink @Madsciencecovid2020 ?

hiredandsqueak · 10/08/2022 18:37

I think hypothetically it's fine but be prepared to change your mind when you are trying to get yourself to work and your three year old to nursery and the choice is the screaming abdabs over what you want them to wear versus the Hey Duggee t shirt that they love above all others.

PugInTheHouse · 10/08/2022 18:44

Madscience - why not pink if you believe kids should wear all colours. My DS2 is 14 now, he chooses to wear pink sometimes, also blue and everything in between. Should I ban him from wearing blue?

Threeboysandadog · 10/08/2022 18:50

I was determined not to go down the road of princess dresses, nail varnish etc but that was before I met ds3

Albgo · 10/08/2022 18:51

EnjoyingTheSilence · 09/08/2022 07:44

I too was the greatest parent before I actually had children

Me too!

Madsciencecovid2020 · 10/08/2022 18:52

PugInTheHouse · 10/08/2022 18:44

Madscience - why not pink if you believe kids should wear all colours. My DS2 is 14 now, he chooses to wear pink sometimes, also blue and everything in between. Should I ban him from wearing blue?

I am not against pink but I don't see why a girl should wear pink. I have sons that have embraced pink

Islandgirl68 · 10/08/2022 18:55

My kids watched the programmes of the day. Many were quite good programmes, but never liked the clothes etc from such programmes, so they can watch without buying all the merchandise. My 16 was Cars the movie mad. Met with friend recently and spent it watching all 3 cars movies. You can it in moderation. Hard to avoid. But you will find that your views may change as time goes on. What you think you will do and what you will do can change. Good luck.

Beees · 10/08/2022 18:56

I am not against pink but I don't see why a girl should wear pink. I have sons that have embraced pink

You are against pink though? If you think it's not acceptable for a girl to wear it but fine for a boy then that's the very opposite of allowing your child the choice. Confused