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Original poster

What do mums of toddler boys wear?

38 replies

Lifeiswhatyoubakeit · 06/02/2012 20:15

I've had it! I used to be relatively well dressed, but now i've lost all the pleasure in getting dressed in the morning. It's starting to get me down. I am a mother to a 18mo very active DS and i have no idea how "yummy mummies" do it. Please help.

I seem to always be covered in snot/smears of sudocrem/diprobase creame/nutella/half-eaten biscuit.

I live in skinny jeans because dresses and tights just aren't up to scrabbling around on the floor with diggers and cars.

I see no point in wearing nice jumpers that need hand-washing or shirts that need ironing because my washing pile would take eons to do. In fact it already does take that long with easy-care stuff as it is only 3 days max before the quotient of snot makes clothes a biohazard.

My cashmere is relegated to the bottom of the cupboard. I look at old silk dresses wistfully. I have no idea what the other 30 pairs of beautiful shoes and boots are doing in my wardrobe as i always wear the same old biker boots day in day out.

I am very tall with an hourglass size 10/12 figure, and even though i feel past it, i know i should really be making more of an effort. Or should i?

Please tell me what do you wear to make you feel like 'you' - that's toddlerproof?

OP posts:

ReduceRecycleRegift · 06/02/2012 20:19

umm, I guess what I always wore. We have always had a no eating standing up rule which keeps clothes and house free from food smears, I hate when running around with food is allowed! and I wipe his nose as soon as there's a bogey.

I personally think toddlers get a lot of bad press, I don't really understand posts like yours and anyway YABU for aiming it at boys only, they're as clean as you keep them!

misdee · 06/02/2012 20:20

same stuff i wore when my girls were toddlers.

SixtyFootDoll · 06/02/2012 20:21

Same as what mothers of girls wear?

TheParanoidAndroid · 06/02/2012 20:22

I wear my clothes. Then I wash them. It makes no difference what the gender of my children is.

CountessOlenska · 06/02/2012 20:22

I just wear dresses and leggings. Cardigan too. I wear all my clothes, whether they be "good" or not, and don't worry about their fate, just stick them in the machine on handwash and hope for the best

I did find that was keeping clothes for"going out" (haha) but was pointless as they were just never worn. I feel much happier in my proper clothes than in Practical ones. I also wear full make up at all times, as I find that I am much cheerier and nicer to dc when wearing lipstick. He finds it amusing. I should say that I do almost always wear biker type short boots or docs, but do have some nicer boots with bit of heel that still ok for playing.

Msarsebiscuit · 06/02/2012 20:26

OP - my years of toddler wrangling are thankfully over - I have 2 boys, 2 years apart and a girl, 2 years younger again and I spent YEARS covered in snot and fromage frais - how wonderful it must be to be such a marvellously organised mum that one avoids messiness .... Anyway, no practical help to offer, I bet you look lovely, I just wanted to offer a bit of solidarity.

TheSpreadingChestnutTree · 06/02/2012 20:31

You might as well wear the clothes that you already own

OctonautsOnRepeat · 06/02/2012 20:42

With DS1 I wore my usual clothes, he was always fastidiously clean, even now can't stand mess or stickiness on his hands- but that's a sensory part of his ASD.

DS2, just attracts dirt. There is no other way to describe it. I'll be loading the washing machine or tidying up and he will emerge covered in something sticky. I don't know where from. I clean him regularly and keep the wet wipes handy but he just seems to like getting stuck into everything. So i wear jeans and long tops.

STick with what you have and make full use of the 'handwash' function on the washing machine.

Eclairwaldorf · 06/02/2012 20:44

I wear clothes with tractors and skulls on

forward · 06/02/2012 20:45

You shouldn't have said boys in the thread title because it distracts people, but I know what you mean.

My problem was always that I needed shoes I could run in and when the outfit starts with "sensible" shoes it seems somewhat restricting.

As for toddlers being a clean as you keep them, I always think it's a bit sad to see immaculate small children - imo grubby children are happy children. I'd hate to think they were scared to get their clothes dirty.

My best effort is still jeans and a "nice" top, so unfortunately have no help to offer.

ReduceRecycleRegift · 06/02/2012 20:47

that's bollocks, sorry, but I do way more painting/baking/messyplay/outdoor play with my DS than any of the mums of sad looking grubby kids I know who are often just grubby out of laziness, doesn't take long to take outdoor shoes off or pop on or off baking apron or painting apron or pop down an oil cloth for painting and remove and put away after!

ReduceRecycleRegift · 06/02/2012 20:49

and he's not scared to get grubby. He gets grubby, he just doesn't STAY grubby!

brandysoakedbitch · 06/02/2012 20:50

Well I am expecting my 5th and following the logical progression of this OP I should just be wearing a sack and wellies. Get a grip woman and put a nice dress on (if that is what you want to wear) - My children are pretty mucky, wearing black is always tempting fate imho (I did it today and by 10am I was covered in snotty/biscuity smears..)

Wear patterns it is the way ahead re. child filth as is more forgiving (rather like a swirly patterned carpet)

I wear a dress every day I only own jeans for decorating or gardening as I feel scruffy in them. I cannot understand why people think they have to change their choice of clothes when they have children. They are just children not cattle.

ReduceRecycleRegift · 06/02/2012 20:51

and it feels HORRIBLE to be covered in snot. Don't blow your nose next time you have a cold and see how happy you think kids left covered in snot feel then!

brandysoakedbitch · 06/02/2012 20:53

Wear patterns it is the way ahead re. child filth as is more forgiving (rather like a swirly patterned carpet)

ChasTittyBeltUp · 06/02/2012 20:53

Buy an apron. You can wear the same clothes as Mothers of toddler girls wear you know. All toddlers leave handprints and snot on things. Boys are not made of puppy dogs tails either.

Eclairwaldorf · 06/02/2012 20:54

Sorry sensible contribution time, I find leggings and tunic/dress the best way to 'feel' more groomed and if going out just have to put on a pair of heels or nice flats and still feel feminine. On a bad day however, you will find me in tracky bottoms, a nice hoody and trainers, but these are usually days I don't leave the house....

Agree with keeping children clean / wiping hands as soon as they get sticky, keeping face clean so when they do hug your thighs, they leave no residue....

brandysoakedbitch · 06/02/2012 20:54

apologies for the double post I am having tinternet probs....

Msarsebiscuit · 06/02/2012 20:55

Depends if one's children ( male or female ) scream blue murder at having their nose wiped, of course ...

chocoroo · 06/02/2012 20:56

I think Lauren Laverne wrote a column about shit mum clothes in the Observer last week.

alwaysrunninginheels · 06/02/2012 21:01

The one thing I will say is it gets easier. I spent years crawling round with 2 sons followed by a much easier girl. I used to gaze longingly at the dry clean only clothes in the wardrobe and all my lovely cashmere.....but it is a short period out of your life that you are crawling round. Promise!
So dig out the silk dresses and wear them.....there is nothing to lose as if you leave them in the cupboard for too long they will go out of style. If they get covered in nutella and snot just put them in the machine on hand wash cycle. Most things survive that.
The well dressed you is still there just hidden a bit
Day to day good jeans that fit well are a god send. I used to wear them with a white t shirt and little cardi....the t shirt was cheap and I had loads so when sticky fingers caused havoc I just put on a fresh one.
Dresses will be easier when it warms up but meantime what about tunics and leggings or really thick tights.
A big scarf is good too cos it covers a multitude of sins and snot so worth stocking up on a few of them.
What would you like to wear???

Cassettetapeandpencil · 06/02/2012 21:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ObviouslyOblivious · 06/02/2012 21:05

I went to a soft play type thing the other day in a dress, tights and boots. Won't do that again...

TheSecondComing · 06/02/2012 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LauraMercier · 06/02/2012 21:06

My DS will have your arm clean off if you try to wipe his snotty nose. There is nothing he likes better than a face full of snot. Doesn't really help you but I get it. I tend to use a lot of babay wipes on myself. And I hope noone looks too closely.

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