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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that everything a girl owns doesn't HAVE to be pink?

74 replies

CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 12/12/2008 20:40

Obviously it's different if you/your child like pink. I am not that keen and would prefer everything in my house not to be pink. DD is still young enough for me to decide I'm sure once she hits the princess stage I'll be screwed.

The issue is my mum wants to buy DD this for Christmas. I have very politely said that I would really prefer this version of it. Same price, same bloody toy, just in nice vibrant colours, which imo babies/v young toddlers prefer anyway. My mum has said she doesn't think she could possibly buy that, as it's a toy for boys. Obviously I would accept the pink one graciously as it's not that big a deal, but AIBU to think that just because DD is a girl doesn't mean that she can only have toys in one colour, as opposed to a variety of colours including blue!

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 12/12/2008 22:25

I dont mind pink in moderation but theres just too much of it.

ThomcatIsForLifeNotJustForXmas · 12/12/2008 22:32

Steer clear of pink while you have the option.
My DD2 is obsessed and I'm really trying to keep it to a minimum, but when they cry because they absolutely need to wear pink tights and not black or when you hear the say 'ow wow, i a pink hair clip I love it, I love it, thank you so much mummy', it's hard not to have some pink in your life!

She is 3 in a week or so and I asked her what she wanted for her birthday. Her answer "PINK". I asked her 'pink what?'. She thought about it for a while and said "PINK THINGS". I asked her to expand and after a bit more thinking she said "JUST PINK"!

Whadda ya gonna do?

elkiedee · 12/12/2008 22:33

I think the bright colours version looks much nicer and could be used by any child - I wouldn't freak at ds having to play with pink toys but wouldn't choose clothes or toys in that colour for a boy or girl (it looks like I won't have to deal with the pink thing though as my next baby is expected to be a boy too).

As for football kit in pink, I was horrified by the catalogue from the football club dp supports. Baby boys' clothes in blue "daddy says I'm going to be a footballer" - girls' stuff in pink "daddy says I'm going to be a WAG" - this is at 0-3 months or 3-6 months or something?!

bozza · 12/12/2008 22:35

Grimma you are behind the times. My DD has a pink Huddersfield Town scarf (their colours are blue and white). It only ever gets worn if the school send round cheap tickets and we go to a match.

I am not a fan of pink but DD has lots because it gets bought for her. I tend to buy other colours. Her Christmas dress is deep purple. She has 5 pairs of trousers all bought by me because the gifs tend to be pretty rather than practical - two blue jeans, handmedowns from DS, 1 grey, 1 pair red jeans (cheap from Asda but I love them) and purple cords.

DaidiNaNollag · 12/12/2008 22:36

Well, as a Mum of four boys I am just very, very of all of you and your pink "stuff" Not much pink in our house! And all you can get for boys is blue or sludge.

Original poster
CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 13/12/2008 00:13

devoutsceptic I don't like the colour pink in general. I hated it before I had DD too and now I'm blardy surrounded by it! I didn't demand it, just told my mum politely that I preferred the other one. It's no biggy if she does buy the pink one, I'm grateful that she wants to buy for her at all. Maybe I could paint it

OP posts:
vlc · 13/12/2008 00:25

YANBU

accept the gift graciously.
then repaint it.

Original poster
CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo · 13/12/2008 00:29

Yes maybe that the best idea. I could paint flames on it and she could be a little girl racer

OP posts:
elportodelgato · 13/12/2008 19:38

when I was pg (and very hormonal), i fired off several emails to baby clothes emporiums (mothercare, gap etc) complaining about the gender stereotyping of their clothes. Only one got back to me saying (paraphasing) "but blue and pink is what consumers want" - well, not this consumer!

I had a girl in June and have studiously avoided all pink (not easy). Any pink gifts were returned to the shop or sent to charity. personally I am quite liking green for baby-wear...

bozza · 13/12/2008 19:51

I could never go that far because I am grateful for the gifts and handmedowns. But I just don't buy much pink myself and make sure that people see her in other colours so they don't think she only wears pink.

BingleJells · 13/12/2008 23:22

This recent gender stereotyping of all things blue for a boy and pink for a girl is just another marketing ploy to get us to splash out twice on the same bloody product. (well, not for everyone, but for a lot of families) I refuse to buy unisex items in blue or pink as i think it's not a good idea to reinforce these stupid 1950's gender stereotypes.

SantasNuttySTaff · 13/12/2008 23:33

YANBU - i HATE pink, dd has recently got all princess like and she loves the colour, shes 4, so have had 3 and a bit pink free years (happy days) purple has been my savior so far and luckily dd likes it too, but she still has a pink fluffy crimbo tree in her bedroom (her choice)

am due in april with my 2nd dd and will not be buying any pink things if i can help it all friends and family know how i stand regarding it and everyone apart from my mil adhere to the no pink rule (hooray)

i preffer your bright coloured choice of toy

MoChan · 14/12/2008 21:11

Come join us

Fennel · 14/12/2008 21:20

Lately I just avoid all the shops which have pink and blue aisles, despite having 3 dds we don't have a particularly pink house.

2 of my dds actively dislike pink and princess items, which helps. Some shops are far better than others in their pink/blueness. Or I just shop online.

KatieDD · 14/12/2008 21:20

I over did the pink thing with my girls as they were toddlers now age 6 and 8 they won't wear it and would choose yellow/green and purple/lilac everytime so don't worry she won't be scarred for life.

Wheelybug · 14/12/2008 21:29

I steered clear of pink for about 2 years as can't bare the colour and bought all the 'boys' versions of elc toys. DD turned 2 and decided to be very girly. She does prefer purple to pink but still loves pink, princesses, fairies, glittery things etc etc. Her latest obsession is wanting Barbie things which I am holding out on but know I'm going to have to get someone to buy her one for her 4th birthday (in January) - I think her grandmother (my MIL), a v. girly girl who had 2 sons will love it. Siiiiggghhh.

EmmaHMoore · 03/01/2009 17:52

My sister and I feel so strongly about the 'culture of pink' that we've started a campaign - www.pinkstinks.co.uk - and we are hoping to have big impact this year. Personally I can't stand it. And I want to do something about it!

Nighbynight · 03/01/2009 18:33

Interesting website.
www.pinkstinks.co.uk

Stefka · 03/01/2009 19:47

YANBU!

I hate the whole blue/pink thing. I was looking at buying something for DS the other day but I didn't because as usual the only bloody options are blue or pink. Drives me nuts.

MmeJaffaB · 03/01/2009 19:52

YABU in my 3yr old girls eyes! although purple or silver may just about cut it.

YANBU in my eyes.

MsSparkle · 03/01/2009 20:05

I don't see what the fuss is about? I mean if you hate pink then just don't buy it. Surely the stores sell pink/blue stuff because people buy it? If no one bought it then they wouldn't sell it.

My dd wore alot of pink as a baby, mainly because i was so thrilled at having a little girl and she looked lovely in pink clothes. I draw the line at a pink pushchair, i had a black one and now a red one. Plus i decorated her nursery unisex colours when she was a baby and her big bedroom now is coloured in big bright colours with no pink at all. More of a childs room rather than a girls room.

fizzbuzz · 03/01/2009 20:41

When I was a childrenswear designer, all the store groups wanted pink, pink and more pink for girlswear as it sells and sells and sells and sells and sells and sells etc etc

The other colours sold nowhere near as much, although purple came a close second.

Don't blame me

bronze · 03/01/2009 20:44

Tell her you're thinking of having another one and that you want unisex stuff so you can pas it on. she'll be so busy getting over that she'll just comply.

RabbitWrangler · 13/01/2009 01:21

I'm 43, just had my first child, a girl. My mum refused to let me have any pink as a baby/child. I went through my first pink stage in my mid 20s and the second one in my late 30s/now.

I also have my own toolkit and am at least as good at DIY as my lovely bloke. I suspect it doesn't matter too much what colour you have so long as you don't become defined by it.

I've got a fair bit of pink bought by myself (on ebay)and others for DD, but lots of aqua and other colours. Just bought some blue, red and green babygros today. There is a lot of not pink around for babys/kids, you just have to look. In 15 years I don't think I've bought much in the way of pink for any of my significant children (god daughters etc)except when they were going through their pink stage (inevitably followed up by the purple stage, the blue stage and then the Gothy black or trendy stage in due course)

I used to force my baby brother into frocks and told strangers he was a girl when I was 11, he's a strapping mountaineer/pot holer/canoeist now.

Writing this uner my DP's login by the way...

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