Does anyone else have a complete ban on character clothing and accessories?

[backonthewagon]

Or would you buy items like umbrellas, bags, towels, hats, sunglasses, gloves, scarves, pants, vests, socks, pjs, dressing gown, swimwear, raincoats, puddlesuits, wellies, slippers etc with tv characters on?

[FranklinMR]

Does anyone also avoid character toys, dvds, cds and books?

[oobedobe]

I never really liked it on my kids, but that was usually cause they were cheap or badly designed. I was never a fan of the basic t-shirt with an iron-on print on the front, simply cause they never looked that nice. But if it was something my kid really wanted then I would get it for them.

DD2 had a pokemon party last year and I found a cute H&M dress with repeat pattern pokemon characters on but it is generally pretty hard to find cute stuff that has different characters on. (mostly Disney, Frozen or MLP at H&M).

I also find that my girls are mostly into minecraft, pokemon, marvel etc and it is harder to find girls clothing in those themes (and they refuse to wear things from the boys dept).

So yes I am a bit of a snob about it, but not enough to 'deprive' my children lol! I love the Boden x HP gorgeous stuff but way to spendy for me!

[yourestandingonmyneck]

It took me a while of scrolling through comments to work out what the problem
with character clothing is - seems to be a fear of being perceived as common?

I agree with a pp; banning all character clothing doesn't make you seem classier, it is just a bit "try hard".

I mean, obviously, if you don't like it, don't buy it. But trying to make a "thing" out of it and looking down on those who do is a bit Hyacinth Bucket in my opinion.

[Doyoureallyneedtoask]

Before I had kids,I said I wouldn’t let them wear these things.

However, once I had kids, I realised that it’s not for me to limit how they choose to dress and express their likes. They’re not dolls to dress up but people, separate people from me, who are allowed different tastes and choices.

I wouldn’t allow them to wear clothing that was inappropriate, suggestive slogans etc, but otherwise I feel strongly that it not ok to prevent them wearing something that they’re so excited about.

This.

I didn’t like them because I admit to being a bit snobby about them. I find many of the clothes are colours I dislike - pink for girls etc.

Then my DD developed a passion for Pokémon and wanted to wear Pokémon clothes. Who am I to dictate she must wear a plain long sleeved T-shirt instead of one that has Pokémon on it. As long as she doesn’t wear clothes that are offensive to others, I do not see the harm in her expressing herself via her clothes.

[Proseccoinamug]

Before I had kids,I said I wouldn’t let them wear these things.

However, once I had kids, I realised that it’s not for me to limit how they choose to dress and express their likes. They’re not dolls to dress up but people, separate people from me, who are allowed different tastes and choices.

I wouldn’t allow them to wear clothing that was inappropriate, suggestive slogans etc, but otherwise I feel strongly that it not ok to prevent them wearing something that they’re so excited about.

[Salene]

Why would anyone not want there child to wear characters on their clothing.? If kids enjoy it why would you not allow it.? My children love jumpers etc with toy story and such like on.

[NerrSnerr]

I don't understand the fast fashion/ environmental argument at least for younger children. My son has 2 Thomas t shirts, a toy story shirt, Peppa socks, pyjamas and probably more I can't remember. None have been bought new. All hand me downs or charity shops. All in good condition. All characters he knows and loves wearing.

Not everyone who is wearing character tops is buying new and throwing them out after 3 months.

I hate buying new clothes so as my children get older and have more specific tastes I can imagine I'll be using EBay more.

[formerbabe]

I don't know why I wrote class twice

[formerbabe]

I assume everything is made in a sweatshop unless it expressly states that its not. Therefore a plain top next to a character top I assume is made in the same type of place so no different to me.

Just be honest, you don't want other middle-class class parents to assume you're working class do you?

[cookingonwine]

Yes, can't stand it.

[shearwater]

Yes, it was conflating this clothing with fast fashion and environmentally unsound choices to infer that there was some actual virtue around their snobbery that prompted me to comment.

[CanICelebrate]

*ban not nab!

[CanICelebrate]

The environmental issue is different to the snobbery issue but I suspect most posters who nab character clothes are not trying to save the planet!!

[CanICelebrate]

Not sure why but some of these posts have made me sad! My older dc used to love their little character clothes and get really excited about choosing them.
My younger dc are still into them and have a mix of character, branded and plain.
I can’t believe people would be snobby about this. We are not super posh but we move in very middle class circles (horrible phrase but it makes the point!) and clothing snobbery has never been a ‘thing’ in real life for me or any of my friends.
We also have some t shirts and pjs from ASDA and didn’t realise that was considered common 😂
Some people are ridiculous and do get stressed or opinionated about some pointless things.

[Starlight456]

The sweater shop crap came out on the primark thread a pointed out by many paying more does not mean it wasn’t made in a sweatshop.

As for the environmental impact are you buying ethically sourced second hand clothes?

My Ds wore largely second hand clothes as a youngster but I do remember he had a couple of Thomas ones from mother care which were cloth made would you let your child wear that?

[shearwater]

The ridiculous snobbery, hand-wringing and desperation to be different and set oneself apart from other mums or belong to a set of virtue-signalling naice middle-class mums rather than genuine enviromental concern involved with worrying about that kind of stuff will bring about your own mental disintegration long before global environmental distaster.

[CountFosco]

Yeah, I couldn't give a shit

And this is why we're all going to hell in a handcart due to environmental destruction.

[MerryDeath]

i wouldn't personally buy them by my DS is only 2.. if he had strong feelings about his clothes i'd probably bend to his will!

[formerbabe]

quality of the product, having plastic stuck to a cotton tshirt so it can't be recycled, hideous gendered designs, cheap fast fashion made in sweatshops, shortlived obsession or overly gendered that reduces the opportunities for passing down to younger siblings

Yeah, I couldn't give a shit

[CountFosco]

there's a choice of a plain one or one with a superhero on it and your DC wants the superhero one, why on earth would you not allow it just because you prefer the plain one.

Because, as I've explained to my children multiple time, it's not just you who will wear this but your younger sibling and so lets have a think about what is neutral enough that you both will find it acceptable. The plain version usually wins.

There are multiple reasons for not wanting some character items: quality of the product, having plastic stuck to a cotton tshirt so it can't be recycled, hideous gendered designs, cheap fast fashion made in sweatshops, shortlived obsession or overly gendered that reduces the opportunities for passing down to younger siblings (particularly true for big ticket items that I want to last for years, I'd never buy a character duvet cover for example), age inappropriateness (e.g. superhero stuff for little ones who are too young for 12 rated films), gendered slogans.

We don't have an outright ban but I rarely find it attractive so don't buy much of it myself (we've had HP tshirts and Hey Duggee pyjamas that are OK) and the DC are used to being told 'no' when they ask for things they don't need in a shop so pester power is not an issue.

[Deathraystare]

I am very aware of all the branding and disney/Marvel clothes for kids. I know my SIL hates them. Me too so I don't buy them for her little ones.

[Mayhemmumma]

How miserable. I let my two (5 and 8) pick their clothes - so long as they are weather appropriate. Eldest is not overly fussed except how clothes feel but 5 year old has very specific ideas. Children shouldn't look like mini adults or boden models. I've sent mine off for non school uniform today and they are excited and happy to be in clothes they love.
I grew up with awful clothes, no choice and only sensible options permitted. No fun at all.

Go forth and by PJ mask gloves and hello kitty hats!

[Gooseygoosey12345]

What I hate more though, is the stupid slogans and "quotes" across T-shirt's. Even for adults! See a nice jumper hanging up, go over, it's got some stupid slogan on it. I don't feel that, as a grown woman, I want writing all over my clothes!

[Gooseygoosey12345]

We don't have a ban, if anyone else buys it for them I'll put them in it, but I don't like it and don't buy them personally unless they specifically request it.

[Osquito]

I dislike it but bought DS a character backpack (to encourage him to carry it himself all holiday, which worked) and a Toy Story T-shirt, which he was very proud of. I would never get him a coat, or bedding etc because I feel he would probably turn around and say he didn't like that cartoon anymore/it’s babyish, etc. and we can’t afford to buy clothes all the time.

I don’t actually know what’s so awful about it, though.... and when his classmates wear a Spider-Man jacket or whatever, I don’t even notice until he points it out! Ridiculous.