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.

For the past week my 16yo ds has been going around in this poncho. We did not go to buy beach towels, but when he saw that towel he totally fell in love with it. And I was delighted. Because until ds went to school his favourite colours were pink, orange, purple, and he loved colourful design. But it was bullied out of him, and for the last few years he has only worn plain black, navy and gray. So to see him have the confidence to express his love of colour again was wonderful.

This gendered stuff is rubbish. Let toys be toys and let clothes be clothes.

Forgot to attach the pic

Basically what you have written is "child likes toys and shiny things". I'm not sure why it's even an issue for anybody?

Ds loved his toy buggy & loved dressing up & dancing to Mamma Mia, it isn't the reason he is gay, that is because he was born that way.

You would be amazed at how many complete strangers, acquaintances and family members tried to convince me it was an issue when I had a male toddler at exactly that developmental stage.

One even told me explicitly that I should be worried he'd grow up to be gay. (To which my answer was I didn't care if he did, and I didn't think being allowed sparkly things at 3 was going to influence his sexuality as an adult.)

Sheepless I agree, I’m glad you can see it that way too. I wish others could be as open minded.

Pink is a lovely colour if it's good enough for rugby teams. My sons have always worn it in the summer, shorts, shirts, my grandson loves his cousins dressing up box, frozen, Beauty and the beast etc.

I have a daughter whose favourite toys when younger where cars & train set. My younger daughter loved babies princesses & dolls.

Mt eldest would cry if you put a dress on her hated make up etc etc Now she’s 19 and now gets her eyelashes & nails done - she grew up. We didn’t stick labels or even really thought about it as she got older she followed her own path - without the predefined list of pink v blue
Same with our youngest.

Recent football win comes to mind.

Bright colours are fun. Boys clothes are often sludge colours. It's totally normal for him to have interest in pretty colours.

Sludge colours!! You've absolutely nailed it! DS1 had a set of three tshirts from Sainsburys when he was 2. Varying shades of brown with a large brightly coloured animal on the front (one was a bright green snail).

I used to team them with bright shorts or trousers to offset the dark, but one day put him in one with his brown shorts. We went to a local arboretum that day and looking back at the photos, you can barely see him when we went into shaded areas.

My stepmum bought him a similar set from Next about a year later only this time it was bold colours with an animal on the front. The orange was a firm favourite with all.

Next often do colourful clothes for boys. We have a pink t-shirt from there with a goat on a rubber ring in a swimming pool on the front and the slogan 'whatever floats your goat'. I'm a sucker for a terrible pun so naturally we got them one each. They still make me laugh.