To think that dressing DD in pink or dresses might give SOME sort of hint to her gender?!

[Galena]

DD is 9 months old, although 6 months corrected age (3 months premature) and looks only about 3 months old. She has little hair, and I'm aware that it's very difficult to tell the gender of little babies.

So... I make it easier for people - pretty much EVERY day, DD wears something pink - it may be a pink top with trousers, or a pink coat, or a pink and white striped hat. You get the idea.

Today, she was wearing a gorgeous brown check DRESS with a white long-sleeved top. She also had a turquoise and pink coat on. I had about 5 people ask me how old my SON was!!!

I am beginning to get very bored with people asking me about 'him'.

So, AIBU to think that I have given enough hints as to her gender, and the least people could do would be to work it out!

Ds sometimes gets istaken for a girl, and it is similarly down to the fact his hair is quite long (because he hates haircuts!) and he has the sort of eyelashes supermodel spend obscene amounts of money to achieve

Asana, I agree you and your ds are gorgeous! I just love that dress!!!

Others are not necessarily ignorant just because we you have gender stereotyping issues.

My mil brough my newborn baby son lots of pink baby clothes, along mint, and yellow, and cream. She could not understand why I did not like the pink clothes. In her native Poland, babies wear all sorts of colour, mainly pastel though, regardless of the gender. She said "pink is not for baby boys? Rubbish! Of course it is"

I think also the pink for a girl thing is relatively new - I seem to remember something about it being pink for a boy in the early years of the 20th century - because red was masculine and pink was the 'littler' version of red, whereas pale blue was colour of sky and seen as all gentle and pretty and airy and feminine for baby girls.

Not sure when they changed over; sure there will be someone on MN who knows their stuff about this.

So maybe - if they are really old little old ladies - they see pink and assume it is a boy because of what they were used to? Longshot I know!

Galena, why do you care so much about this?

I like the sound of your MIL, QuintessentialSnowStorm. I can't say it bothers me when people get mixed up. I find most babies pretty androgynous myself.

This was a Big Deal to my PILs: no-one must think DD is a boy. They were horrified when they discovered we had bought a couple of blue sleepsuits, and goodness knows what they would have done to anyone who had made this mistake in their presence. They also issued me with a set of headbands with bows on and instructed me to make sure DD was wearing one at all times to ensure that it was absolutely clear that she is a girl, even if she does have short hair.

DH and I found it really bizarre.

i was born in the early 60s and it was Pink for a little girl even then

I think also the pink for a girl thing is relatively new - I seem to remember something about it being pink for a boy in the early years of the 20th century - because red was masculine and pink was the 'littler' version of red, whereas pale blue was colour of sky and seen as all gentle and pretty and airy and feminine for baby girls.

Was watching an edition of QI about a month ago apparently it was the 1920's all about a mix up in a royal nursery they had it decorated in pink thinking it was a boy.

also if its old ladies baby boys in the 50's/very early 60's wore smock style dresses until about 2 my older brother did.

DD was always referred to as 'he' and you know what, I can't get worked up about it. People aren't as interested in your child's little outfit or the pushchair as you are and I think it's just lovely that people coo over and want to talk about babies. So they get it wrong, it's the hair usually. They're not ignorant or trying to annoy you, they're trying to be friendly.

I've just had a whole three weeks of this on holiday. Ds was dressed in 'boy' clothes but it took some convincing of people that he actually was a boy an not a girl. I think maybe it was because of his hair. After being told his gender, I nearly always got "he's sooo cute/pretty for a boy". I just smiled. I did think it was like people were surprised a bot could look 'cute'

Ds always gets " Oh she has lovely hair" He can be dressed head to toe in blue and they still say it.

I'm with you both, lisianthus and showofhands, I'm really not fussed if people think DS is a girl, it just really doesn't bother me. I do object to gender stereotyping babies and the only blue clothes I have for DS are gifts other people bought for him.
I had this argument with someone before was pregnant, and their response was 'oh, it'll bother you when you have kids', but here I am, and can honestly say it doesn't. I don't even tell people if they get it wrong, only if they specifically ask. I do get most people ask though, as he's normally dressed in quite gender neutral clothes.

I can see why it annoys you, I get it a lot with DD (aged 2). She usually wears hand-me downs from her cousins who are obsessed with pink so a lot of her clothes are pink and sprakly, but people still comment on how lovely my little boy is! I tend to ignore it because mainly it is older ladies making these comments, and I know they are just trying to be kind and have a chat. DS (aged 5) notices it now though and he can usually be relied upon to correct them!

It really doesn't bother me, comments on her size I find much more annoying.

Well, currently my DD2 is wearing blue jeans and a blue and yellow Batman t shirt from the boys' section at Asda. She has hair down to her elbows but she can look SO boyish, mainly because she is the spit of DH. However dress her up in pretties and she is just gorgeous (pics on profile!)
Asana I agree... You and your dress are stunning! And your little boy is adorable

Galena I bet your DD is beautiful

DS is a beefcake. You could not get a more blokey looking baby. He was 96th centile last time got him weighed and he looks like a rugby lad.

We took him swimming and he was wearing boys swimpants and honestly couldn't look more like a boy. A lovely old lady asked what her name was DH just said Oscar and old lady said 'oh that's unusual'

Not sure if she thought we'd chosen Oscar for a girl or if she just thought Oscar was an unusual name full stop.