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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Kids can wear whatever they want to the shop

79 replies

Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 11:17

Dh said this to Dd, 7, they’ve just nipped out to the shops, she asked if she could stay in her slippers, he said yes and that she’s just a kid and can wear whatever to the shops

Do you agree?

OP posts:
Brightbluesomething · 14/06/2026 11:20

Within reason but for me slippers are for indoors so I’d be asking her to put some shoes on.

Iloveeverycat · 14/06/2026 11:20

No I wouldn't. I am not a fussy person at all but slippers are for indoors. Like I wouldn't let them wear their pj's.

angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 11:24

I'd probably get her to wear shoes but I kind of agree with your DH. Wouldn't dream of wearing pyjamas or slippers to the shops myself but my DS has gone out early morning in Oodie and Crocs to get croissants previously.

tiramisugelato · 14/06/2026 11:24

No. Slippers are indoor shoes and will get ruined outside.

ChalkOutlines · 14/06/2026 11:24

Indoor slippers? No. Unless you don’t normally remove shoes in the house anyway.Sliders, crocs , garden slippers etc.? Yes.

BeardySchnauzer · 14/06/2026 11:25

For hygiene reasons I really wouldn’t be happy for slippers to be walked around the supermarket. Would feel the same about dressing gown.

as for wearing whatever you want - if she had wanted to go in her swimming costume would he have let her? It sounds like he was just too lazy to change her

reminds me I saw a couple walking together - he was in jeans and a t shirt and she was in hello kitty pjs with a fluffy dressing gown and big slippers. Looked like they’d popped to the shop but it was so weird as she was dressed like a kid!

Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 11:31

BeardySchnauzer · 14/06/2026 11:25

For hygiene reasons I really wouldn’t be happy for slippers to be walked around the supermarket. Would feel the same about dressing gown.

as for wearing whatever you want - if she had wanted to go in her swimming costume would he have let her? It sounds like he was just too lazy to change her

reminds me I saw a couple walking together - he was in jeans and a t shirt and she was in hello kitty pjs with a fluffy dressing gown and big slippers. Looked like they’d popped to the shop but it was so weird as she was dressed like a kid!

This is weird!

OP posts:
Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 11:33

For me, I sort of get it not mattering what kids look like etc, but the other part of me thinks it might not be a great start to showing them we don’t do this in life, I mean how hard is it to slip on other shoes? -she has sliders and so on, would be fine with these

OP posts:
HelpMeGetThrough · 14/06/2026 11:43

Right, showing my fashion ignorance and age here, WTF are sliders?

Hallywally · 14/06/2026 11:45

Not slippers or pjs as they’re indoor clothes/shoes (particularly slippers- treading dirt through the house). Otherwise I let DD wear what she wants (within reason/appropriateness to the occasion).

mummabubs · 14/06/2026 11:46

Sorry I meant to vote YANBU but accidentally tapped the other 😅
I'm with you OP. I don't believe in wearing your 'Sunday best' every time you step outside, but it's about teaching your kids how to choose options that are appropriate for the context. (Our battle this morning was 5 year old DD wanting to wear princess dress up shoes on a bike ride... After a 10 minute stand-off she was encouraged to choose trainers instead 🤣). As I'm sure 99% of people would say, slippers are indoors shoes you wear at home. I'd be annoyed at the idea of them getting dirty in the car park/ supermarket and then being trodden all over the carpet at home. I suspect this was a case of your DH either being lazy or not wanting to face the battle of convincing her otherwise. My DH is prone to this on occasion and I have said it's not attractive as a parenting trait and inevitably leads to me being the bad guy when boundaries have to come in. Maybe ask your DH if he'll be wearing his slippers to the shop anytime soon then...?

mumofoneAloneandwell · 14/06/2026 11:51

Depends

I take dd to our pre christmas big shop in her pjs underneath a pair of joggers 😭. Its as much for me as it is her, I have a whale of a time i am aware i'm making myself sound a right saddo

Shes also been to lidl in her supergirl costume once

Sometimes you have to chuck the kids in the car for an emergency tesco run 🤷‍♀️. But i think going in the full dressing gown and looking unkempt is a bit much, imo. Still, who am I to judge someone (its definitely not what I do best)

Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 11:53

mummabubs · 14/06/2026 11:46

Sorry I meant to vote YANBU but accidentally tapped the other 😅
I'm with you OP. I don't believe in wearing your 'Sunday best' every time you step outside, but it's about teaching your kids how to choose options that are appropriate for the context. (Our battle this morning was 5 year old DD wanting to wear princess dress up shoes on a bike ride... After a 10 minute stand-off she was encouraged to choose trainers instead 🤣). As I'm sure 99% of people would say, slippers are indoors shoes you wear at home. I'd be annoyed at the idea of them getting dirty in the car park/ supermarket and then being trodden all over the carpet at home. I suspect this was a case of your DH either being lazy or not wanting to face the battle of convincing her otherwise. My DH is prone to this on occasion and I have said it's not attractive as a parenting trait and inevitably leads to me being the bad guy when boundaries have to come in. Maybe ask your DH if he'll be wearing his slippers to the shop anytime soon then...?

Yes it makes me feel as if i’m uptight for questioning it, it’s such an easy one though, just slip some shoes on?

OP posts:
MrsShawnHatosy · 14/06/2026 11:54

I’ve only ever worn slippers to the shops by accident.

Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 11:55

mumofoneAloneandwell · 14/06/2026 11:51

Depends

I take dd to our pre christmas big shop in her pjs underneath a pair of joggers 😭. Its as much for me as it is her, I have a whale of a time i am aware i'm making myself sound a right saddo

Shes also been to lidl in her supergirl costume once

Sometimes you have to chuck the kids in the car for an emergency tesco run 🤷‍♀️. But i think going in the full dressing gown and looking unkempt is a bit much, imo. Still, who am I to judge someone (its definitely not what I do best)

Edited

Super girl costume or any costume wouldn’t bother me at all and that’s where I think ‘They’re kids, it’s fine’ but slippers seems more of a lazy, cba thing

OP posts:
Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 11:56

HelpMeGetThrough · 14/06/2026 11:43

Right, showing my fashion ignorance and age here, WTF are sliders?

Just like a slip on show with a strap across, usually for the pool or beach, but shoes at least

OP posts:
angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 11:56

MrsShawnHatosy · 14/06/2026 11:54

I’ve only ever worn slippers to the shops by accident.

Nobody is asking about adults wearing slippers to the shop though.

TeenToTwenties · 14/06/2026 11:58

Dressing up clothes, fine.
Mismatched, quirky, fine.
Winter coat in summer, fine if they won't overheat or will carry it.

Pjs, dressing gown, No.
Slippers, No.
Swimming costume, No.

StrawberryMatchaLatte · 14/06/2026 12:01

I'd say it's ok as a one off or now and again but I wouldn't make a habit of letting them do it.

Shithotlawyer · 14/06/2026 12:03

You don't usually get teenagers thinking "oh no I wore my slippers in Tesco when I was 6, now I don't know how to put on appropriate clothing!!!!"

You don't get adults (who have been otherwise socialised and exposed to social norms around workplaces, cinemas, shops, banks, schools etc) thinking that you go to work in your slippers.

You DO get neurodivergent people with sensory issues, who feel that comfortable clothes help them make it round the supermarket.

You DO get small children who are dealing with the world and who love their PJs and want to wear them.

As long as it doesnt damage the clothes or the home (like wearing slippers through a puddle then going into the living room) then crack on, let them wear what they want so long as it's hygienic and doesn't expose their bodies.

The short answer here is - either they need it to feel comfortable, in which case let them; or they want it because it's fun, in which case let them. If they get indoor PJs dirty, swap 'em out at home and put them in the wash.

There really is no such thing as a rod for your own back when it comes to clothes. And honestly, most things don't matter when you really examine them.

Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 12:05

TeenToTwenties · 14/06/2026 11:58

Dressing up clothes, fine.
Mismatched, quirky, fine.
Winter coat in summer, fine if they won't overheat or will carry it.

Pjs, dressing gown, No.
Slippers, No.
Swimming costume, No.

Yes agree

OP posts:
Shithotlawyer · 14/06/2026 12:06

You know you can usually put slippers in the washing machine too.

Lovecloudydays · 14/06/2026 12:06

Shithotlawyer · 14/06/2026 12:03

You don't usually get teenagers thinking "oh no I wore my slippers in Tesco when I was 6, now I don't know how to put on appropriate clothing!!!!"

You don't get adults (who have been otherwise socialised and exposed to social norms around workplaces, cinemas, shops, banks, schools etc) thinking that you go to work in your slippers.

You DO get neurodivergent people with sensory issues, who feel that comfortable clothes help them make it round the supermarket.

You DO get small children who are dealing with the world and who love their PJs and want to wear them.

As long as it doesnt damage the clothes or the home (like wearing slippers through a puddle then going into the living room) then crack on, let them wear what they want so long as it's hygienic and doesn't expose their bodies.

The short answer here is - either they need it to feel comfortable, in which case let them; or they want it because it's fun, in which case let them. If they get indoor PJs dirty, swap 'em out at home and put them in the wash.

There really is no such thing as a rod for your own back when it comes to clothes. And honestly, most things don't matter when you really examine them.

Yes, you’re probably right, when you put it like that, it’s when I feel/fear I may have become too uptight

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 14/06/2026 12:07

Slippers aren't meant to go on the ground outside or in shops etc as they'd get dirty. So I'd probably say no to that for a kid.

But within reason of course anyone of any age can wear what they like to a shop. As long as it's not Harrods and you break their dress code! And you're not exposing yourself.

Sirzy · 14/06/2026 12:10

Autistic Ds went through a phase where he would only going out wearing his dressing down when he was about 6. He had 5 of the same one I rotated so it was always clean and if it helped make trips out easier then great!

Sometimes it’s a case of pick your battles