DS loves pink

[Glassesoff]

DS is nearly 3 and his favourite colour is pink. He loves everything pink/pastel/sequiny and glittery and owns various pink/pastel T-shirts/ombré pink glittery wellies/crocs etc and spends most of his time in one or the other

He is always pointing out these things in the shops when asked to choose something and much prefers the girls aisles to the more “boy-targeted” stuff - superheroes/camo/primary colours/dinosaurs etc which is almost never chooses himself. He is certainly much happier in the “girlier” clothes too.

While I am surprised at his choices, I have no issue with them at all and am willing to get him what makes him happy despite stares/odd looks from passers-by and family insinuating that I must be encouraging it for my own enjoyment (?), which I am trying to ignore as it is most definitely not true.
He isn’t interested in unicorns/barbies etc but has a favourite baby doll that he got for his first Christmas who is still kicking about in the favourites box. He adores cars/vehicles of any type etc so seems fairly typical boy-ish and I don’t think I’m dealing with any kind of gender issues at the moment.

Basically just looking for some guidance and reassurance that I am not doing the “wrong thing” for him long-term.
I worry about him being bullied and outcast for these things and wonder if I should be discouraging it now while he’s still young? Is this an age typical thing?
just seeing that written down looks horrible.

Also, I hope it goes without saying that I am fully-supportive of everyone and really do believe people should be allowed to be who they are and should be allowed to do so without prejudice, especially children.

DS loved pink, and unicorns, and glitter until he was about 8.

He's now 13 and dressed entirely in black, or a football shirt.

Basically just looking for some guidance and reassurance that I am not doing the “wrong thing” for him long-term.
I worry about him being bullied and outcast for these things and wonder if I should be discouraging it now while he’s still young? Is this an age typical thing?
just seeing that written down looks horrible.

Okay. Of course you're not doing the wrong thing, it's totally fine for any child, boy or girl, to like, or not like, any colour.

Relatives who suggest he should be in blue because he's a boy? We had this nonsense too a bit. Smile and nod and ignore, OP, it's the best way to get through.

FWIW I think other kids making comments is a way ahead of you yet if it happens at all - kids can also absorb funny ideas about 'blue for boys' etc but they are pretty open minded when small.

Way overthinking there OP. Between 2-4 years old DS was always in pink t-shirts, his favourite and wandered round the house in my high heels. No "issues" as you put it, to deal with. At that age they don't understand girls and boys, they like what they like. DS has always had his own style, he's 14 now and sometimes wants to fit in with what his peers are wearing, but he's very much his own person. No bullying at all.

33 How does the world look from up there?

Disco your son sounds lovely, I’m glad he enjoys pink too. It sounds like it really suits him. You sound like the type of level-headed parent I need in my life.
I also hope I don’t need to point out that this post was not titled “I think my 2 year old DS is gay because he likes pink” 🙄🙄

My ds is 5 and loves pink although he has been teased by other children who live with parents with strong stereotypes. He wears his girl cousins hand me down t shirts and his cycle helmet is pink. The only problem father Christmas had was finding a pink monster truck! He has put a pink curlimal on his wish list on the fridge. It's a colour just go with it and relax.

My DS loved pink from age 2 to age 6. I just let him be, I tried to find pink clothes that were a bit more "gender neutral". I did draw the line when he asked me to buy him a rainbow bikini, but then I wouldn't let a 4 yo girl wear that either!

Grandparents were a bit horrified but they soon got over it, now they're all pearl clutching about him having long hair.

I have two boys. Both very into pink at that age. When we moved into this house, one of the bedrooms was painted pink so DS1 asked if he could have it as he was in his pink phase then (aged 4 and at school).

These days he wears his three football shirts on rotation and lives in technical shorts. Bedroom is now teal and he's over pink.

He still loves sparkle and bling.

You sound like you're doing just fine. Never mind what anyone else thinks. As RuPaul says... Mama said "Unless they gonna pay your bills, pay them bitches no mind"

I had a son the same. Well, I say had. He still loves pink, but keeps it for stuff he won't be taking to school.

At some point, your son is likely to come into contact with a boy at reception/school whose parents won't let him have pink, and that boy will tell your son that boys can't have pink.

On that day, be ready to explain that some children have parents who are very rigid and old-fashioned, and reassure him it is okay to have his favourite colours. And that you will support him whether he decides to carry on publicly liking pink things, or whether he decides he'd rather avoid the hassle, and keep them for hometime only.

We seem to have got through it here okay. Son is confidently sure that his pink stuff is fine, and that he doesn't have to follow the clothing rules of other boys' parents, he has to follow our family rules (which are focused on things like behaviour and homework!)

You're overthinking.

My 3yo DS favourite colour is 'rainbow'... rainbow EVERYTHING!
He also loves pink and dresses.

His sister loves dinosaurs, tracksuits and dirt.

Kid's like what they like! It's not that deep!

I didn’t mean “gender issues” the way it came across - I can see I didn’t write the OP well. These “issues” not why I made this post and I am not bothered personally by any of it. It’s the reactions it’s getting by those around us that make me question what I’m doing, that’s all. Maybe I should move 😬

Jazzy couldn’t agree more, I have 4 nieces and 2 are strongly stereotyped by their parents and the other 2 are not and I often buy all of them whatever toys I think they’d enjoy, regardless of what colour etc they are

Thanks for the advice, I don’t have enough of it and often overthink. I do appreciate it

Purgatory, Rhubarb, Penguin and Coffee - thanks 💕 you’re awesome

My 18 year old has just bought himself some pink shorts. His (boys school) colour was pink.

Its just a colour. I saw a little girl with a T-shirt the other day with a sequinned dinosaur (it wasn’t pink - ‘boy colours’ you could say).

Little boys often enjoy dressing up and bright colours.

My boy loves pink. I hate it and always have done, refuse to wear pink clothes etc.
At primary he came home one day and said he could only like pink at home, at school he had to like gold.
Now he's 13, he's just bought a man's highlighter pink track suit. I think it's hideous but it was his money and it makes him happy. I made sure he's got pink shirts and shorts as it makes a change from the blue and sludge most boys clothes come in. My only stipulation now is that he gets boys/man's clothes as he's an age when girls clothes are cut differently.

I’m a other pink refuser too! Were you a 70/80s kid?

Ds is 10 and his two favourite colours are purple and pink. Unless he's wearing a Liverpool jersey. (But he really wants the new Liverpool goalkeeper jersey because it's purple ) He has blond floppy hair and looks like a california beach bum most of the time.

I'd say let your little boy enjoy what he does. Ds's friends have never commented on his colour preferences and he's brushed off any kids who said anything negative. He knows colours are for everyone and he's happy to like what he does. Hopefully your ds will find friends who care more about who he is than the colours he likes.

Yes, I also broke all my barbies and sindys and wanted TMNT and thundercats.

Sweet

My DS' favourite colour was always pink. His favourite item of clothing was my silk top, which he just loved the texture of. It's just kids being kids and liking what they like.

My DH favourite colours are pink and purple. He just bought himself some new pink trainers, what does this mean? It means he likes that colour.

It is not a big deal or any deal in any way

Turning colours into a gender thing is a modern phenomenon that seems to unnecessarily lead to massive confusion

My eldest DS still wears pink shirts! He loved pinks yellow and lilac when he was little boys clothes were so boring! He could cope with dinosaurs but not how dull coloured they were!!

He played with his younger sisters he was sensitive he also played footie & rugby for school when he got older,

I couldnt care less if he was gay no or whatever as long as he's happy - but funnily enough he's gym loving rugby playing 6 foot 3 heterosexual male 20 year old now. Who's cool with his many bi , pan sexual and gay friends

• their generation don't see or buy into gender stereotypes nor fuss about fitting in to those in same way we were brought up with - state school educated so we re not rich!- and it gets more fluid each new gen. So my DS age 20 is old stylie old news!! 😎 Syill eating pink shirts now and the occasional cream one with butterflies!! 😂🥰

God I hated the hand me down barbies from my older sisters. I only liked automaton dolls and action men. And meccano.

Still* Wearing not eating pink shorts - doh my phone!! 😱

I mean you're nicer than me cos I buy the kids clothes and they wear what I choose each day. But if you're happy to give your the choice then you're right to let him choose.

My 7 yo DS on the other hand gets more say and now owns lovely pink rainbow shoes. He rocks a pair of leggings and has a handful of "girl" tops cos there is no boy Trolls top. He's very ear he's a boy, he intends to marry one of his female best friends, he steals his cousins baby doll and he adores Sonic. He's just, him

Identical twin DGSs - one loves pink, one loves blue! They're 7, their tastes may change, they might not. They're happy, healthy and enjoying themselves, let kids be kids, we're a long time old 🤣

You're doing exactly as you should - letting them explore & enjoy the world.

Both of my little boys loved pink, singing, dance, frozen, soft toys, they liked having their nails painted... Between them they had a buggy, a tutu, pink unicorn slippers, they had exclusively girl friends... I just went with it, but I couldn't help wonder if it would cause problems at school.

My eldest is now obsessed with every sport - it happened very suddenly around six. I think it was peer influence and also he realised there was social value in liking & playing football. Interestingly he definitely embraced the dressing up element of sport (he has verious footballer hairstyles & home curated 'kits' for every sport he watches 🤣). It's like he's found a socially acceptable way of doing the creative things he likes.

They both have mixed friendship groups which I hope continues & both know pink doesn't belong to girls, is just a colour, but they've definitely been influenced by outside factors to be more gender conforming.

I'm more mystified by the idea that toddlers would like grey and brown clothes. Pink and glitter is way more fun!