My mum has bought DD a dress knowing we won’t like it.

[Glasscabinet]

It’s DD first birthday soon and my mum has asked me to collect an outfit from hers ready for DD birthday.

My mum was laughing as she said that neither me or DH will like it/to our tastes but in her eyes it’s lovely.

What planet would I dress my DD, on her first birthday, in an outfit that caused a round of laughter over.

One hand I could be polite and pretend that DD got it dirty or I could straight out refuse to accept it.

What a waste of money and material. If anything I’m actually quite annoyed.

Why does everything have to be a battle?

I think this is the point. @Glasscabinet does your mum have form for trying to override your wishes? If this isn’t part of a wider pattern of behaviour, I would treat this as your mum just having a bit of a laugh, take a photo of DD in the dress as suggested by others and then take the dress off.

It really annoyed me when people treated my children like they were dolls to dress up. I used to put them in the gift clothes for a bit out of politeness but change them back as soon as I could. It wasn’t for the child, it wasn’t for me or my partner, it was all about the pleasure of the clothes buyer, so I don’t think you have to feel particularly grateful!

But I have decided all presents seem to fall into this category, unless the giver is particularly unselfish and actually wants to give pleasure to the person they are giving to rather than themselves.

My dm did this yesterday. Big floofy princess dress. Took a few pics of dd in it for her, then let her carry on as she ripped the skirt apart. She had a wonderful time.

Get one made in your mum's size with her age on the front as her christmas present

Your baby, you choose the outfit. Charity shop the dress.

Some people are missing the point. It's not about whether they personally think the dress is nice. It's about the fact that your mother KNOWS FULL WELL you would hate it, and bought it anyway.

My mum does this all the time. Buys us things she knows we won't want. What's infuriating is, HER mother does it to her, and she gets ENRAGED about it, but then doesn't seem to see that she's doing the exact same thing to us. I used to try and rationalise it that "gift-giving is her love language", but I've lost patience for it, I think it's actually that she's got an addiction to consumerism. And maybe some sort of weird control thing. At the end of the day it's their choice, but what a bloody waste.

Any baby girl would look completely adorable in that dress. It's not my taste but it is undeniably cute.

I don't seem the harm in putting dd in it for a little while on her birthday and letting your mum briefly enjoy her dgd dressed like that.

Are you very militant about dd avoiding pink girly clothes? Perhaps you could let your mum indulge her whim for old-fashioned gender stereotyping just this once?

I think its very pretty what's wrong with it no one will laugh at your child in ut she will look cute

What an odd attitude.

I think more worrying is the number of posters on this thread who actually like the dress. Specsavers do free eye tests, or if you've recently had a blow to the head maybe a concussion assessment is in order.

You could go for the approach that you don't believe she has actually bought it.

'Ha, ha mum, you had me there for a moment. It is totally hideous isn't it? Maybe I should get you one of these for your birthday <insert picture of hideous t-shirt with Margot is 63> 🤣🤣.'

I agree. It's beyond dire. Looks ridiculous. None the less I would just let her wear it. She won't remember but your Mum will if you don't.

Nothing wrong with it except OP has said she doesn't like it. (FWIW I think it's hideous too, although I accept my opinion is also irrelevant).

Anything bought for a tiny child is a bloody waste when you think of it like that, they only wear things for five minutes then grow out of them.

Yet we do buy things for them and grandparents like to do so too.

Life isn't about basic needs only. How joyless it would be.

Yes, and the mother KNEW she didn’t like it, which is the point many people are missing

No, people aren't missing it, they just don't see the problem.

Grandparents should be allowed to buy their grandchildren outfits without getting approval from the parents 🙈

Are you always so unkind about people who have different tastes?

I agree it’s hideous but just put her in it, take a photo and then accidentally tip something on it.

I like the dress, but hate the attitude behind OP’s mother buying it. No reason OP can’t fake a dress-ruining “accident,” though 😉

I personally think it's far odder that someone would ostensibly buy someone a gift, knowing full well they will hate it, but hey, maybe I'm the odd one for thinking you're supposed to get gifts that people will actually like ...

This. People aren’t ’missing it’, they just don’t think that buying a baby a tacky tutu you know its parents will think is revolting is some kind of capital crime. It’s more a ‘here’s a photo of Baby X eating yoghurt in your horrid frock, Mum, and not giving it another thought’ scenario.

I wouldn't think twice about this.

I wouldn't expect my DD's grandparents to ask for my approval before buying her clothes. If they got anything I didn't like then oh well, quick wear, picture or two, get on with life.

I love it and would use it for my daughter if I had one... but the bigger problem is your mum seemingly taking pleasure in buying something she knows you won't like.

For that reason alone I wouldn't put it on DD. It's weird and immature of your mum and this may not be a bad time to set some boundaries before DD gets older and your mum begins undermining you.