My toddler's terrible taste in clothes (lighthearted)

[Mybobowler]

I imagined I would dress my daughter in cords and knitwear. Imagine if Monty Don was a three year old girl. Alas, she wants to dress like she went to Disneyland and got rolled in glitter and unicorns.

How do I reconcile myself to her terrible fashion sense? She's going up a size and as I sadly pack away all the lovely clothes she has furiously refused to wear, I wonder if I just save myself the money and energy and buy her the bloody unicorns and Frozen merch?

Proud of her fierce independence and sense of autonomy, I suppose

I'm mean mum. Just been out to buy new shoes for DD2.11. She kept bringing me Disney crap, I just said no. I don't allow that stuff in the house (if we get given/inherit any it gets passed on) so she doesn't have a choice.

Still insists on wearing socks with her sandals though, so I'm certainly not the fashion police!!

I wanted kids in gorgeous bright scandi stuff, and cute little suits for parties.

My youngest is already dressing like an emo - prefers leggings and a black hoodie over everything else (with wellies. Obviously), and the eldest just wears whatever is on the top of the pile as long as it's not too distinctive (think grey joggers and a simple t-shirt).

At least it's not expensive I suppose.

I've always let my DC choose their clothes. DM thinks I'm strict about their clothes, no, it's just that they have very definite tastes.

Definitely save your money and just buy things she wants to wear. I really don't understand why you wouldn't.

My son wore his santa top yesterday... He loves it so I don't complain

Oh yes, the flammable pink glitter phase. Lasts until secondary school, iirc.... But I have very fond memories of doing the school run with toddler DD2 dressed in wellies and a tutu, carrying a furry pink handbag full of random toys.

It's no better with boys - DS spent several years in nasty nylon football shirts and joggers, refusing to be tempted into a nice shirt and a pair of chinos.

Of course, now they're older teenagers I like their clothes even less AND now have no control at all over what they buy and wear.....

@AhhWoof tbf, I have recently discovered the comfort of socks and sandals so I can see where your daughter is coming from. I think I'm going to have to draw a line at character merch. I just can't bring myself to buy it.

@Keiki you are right, of course. I'm just going to have to swallow my disappointment that, in a world of truly lovely and well-designed children's clothes, my daughter only wants to wear Disney Frozen dresses and wellies with a unicorn horn.

@Sunshinebrunshine I am fully on board with your son getting excited about Christmas in August!

Absolutely delighted by the notion of Monty Don as a 3yo girl

Sadly I think this is a battle you’re destined to lose. Toddlers have no taste.

Nothing wrong with unicorns, glitter and disney! I like her style

I let mine choose (so long as it suits the weather) they get so excited over clothing - at one point my son had to be head to foot dinosaur, pants and socks included.

Lego and minecraft T-shirt's make their day, I'm happy to go with it.

I wouldn't say no to certain brands or characters, they want to express themselves and have some independence and choice.

I think I'm a horrible mum then, I pick 2 items of clothing and let ds choose. Usually its 2 tops and 2 bottoms that would match either way, my thought is, I'm still in charge, but he has a choice and thinks he's boss.
However, today he's gone to his nans in bright green cords, an orange jumper and a hot pink tee-shirt/vest. Dh dressed him... men have worse taste than 2 years old i feel 😂

I bought my 2 year old a gorgeous sailor suit. Striped shorts and a top with sailor collar in navy and white. She said “it’s scustin”
She’s 36 now and lives a nautical outfit.

@BaringasMare true. Her taste in books, music and film is equally awful. You can lead a toddler to tasteful clothes horse to water, yada yada.

To clarify, I will generally let her wear what she wants. I wish I could say it's because I want to nurture her sense of self, but it's actually because I can't be arsed with the tantrums.

It's just... I look back at her baby pictures and after I've finished admiring her cute little baldy head and thigh rolls, I'm struck by how well dressed she was back then.

I'm filling up a basket on H&M for autumn/winter basics and I can confidently say that she will love all of it

She sounds great, a real character but three year olds aren't toddlers.

Imagine if Monty Don was a three year old girl

I love this. I thought the same for my toddler but those clothes tend to be super expensive and I refuse to spend any real money on clothes that wont fit in approx 3 months!

@IHateWasps genuine question, when do they stop being toddlers?! I have no idea. She's not quite three, but I have to admit I still referred to her as "the baby" until about six months ago.

My 8yo loves cord pinafores and skirts... there's time yet.

My 10yo however lives in black and animal prints. Preferably animal prints in black and grey. Leopard being the favourite... I sort of miss pink.

I was mean. I bought a load of second hand eBay tops from Boden which she liked.

They become toddlers on their first birthday and stop being toddlers when they turn three so she's still a toddler for now, until her third birthday.

I love the sound of a mini Monty Don but I don't blame you for wanting to avoid tantrums.

Mine just turned 3 and is exactly the same. I hope the new baby is more compliant as she will inherit a LOT of barely worn dungarees, pinafores and Breton tops which were cast aside in favour of glittery Frozen and Peppa dresses purchased from Asda by my mum.

My 7 yo has 2 personalities. Some days she wants to dress like a glittery rainbow princess unicorn, some days she wants to be all in dark colours with monsters, zombies, ghosts and a hood up.

I take her shopping and have done since she was about 2 and she picks her own clothes.

She announced when she was 4 that it was stupid that girls winter clothes are thin and glittery while boys winter clothes are thick and warm, so now she almost exclusively shops the boys department for joggers and sweatshirts/jumpers.