Would you buy an eight-year-old a coat with real fur trim?

[JustPearlQuail]

My son, who’s 8, has his heart set on a Canada Goose coat with the real fur trim that we found for a good price on ebay for his birthday because all his friends have them and he thinks it’s the coolest thing .. I get the practicality, they’re warm and tough, but I’m really uneasy about the idea of him wearing real fur, especially coyote fur, which I’ve heard can involve pretty cruel trapping methods....

I don’t want to shut him down completely and make it a big fight, but I also don’t want to support something that feels wrong. Has anyone here let their child wear real fur? How did you explain it to them, or how did you steer them toward a faux option without it becoming a battle? He said the faux option looks terrible, which I do agree! Will it survive playground life without getting stolen?

What on earth..,., no for just every reason under the sun!

And I'm very surprised that an 8 year old would even notice the difference or care!

It is worrying that 8 year old children even know about brands and fashion. They should be outside, getting dirty and not having to think about their clothes.

I would start a conversation about how unethical wearing fur it is, show him some videos then take him off to buy a perfectly serviceable coat elsewhere.

If you pander to this nonsense about it being cool now, how will you feel when he's 15 and even more in the thrall of ridiculous fashions?

No. Just say no, mean it, say it's not open for discussion and shut the whole thing down.

Mind me asking how much the ebay CG jacket is? My guess is if affordable, that will be a replica and won’t have real fur anyways. My 8 year can’t even hold onto a school branded parker, so they defo would not manage the responsibility of a designer jacket. Assume your school allows kids to wear designer jackets?

I don’t want to shut him down completely

He’s 8. Sometimes 8 yr olds don’t get the expensive and ethically dubious things that they want.

What kind of social circles do you move in where an 8 year old boy wants an expensive brand of coat and has decided that fake fur isn't good enough?

It seems utterly bizarre as well as very sad.

At only 8 I'd be buying a coat from m&s or Tesco etc and expect him to be wanting a Lego set, football kit, model cars etc.

No I wouldn't. But apparently there are a lot of items for sale saying they are fake fur but are real as real fur is cheaper to use than faux fur.

Yes it might. Lesson learnt

I will be completely honest, I have been gifted 1 and bought 2 more for my boys over the years WITHOUT knowing the hood is even real fur!
I was shocked when I found out in the labels, it didn't even say in the descriptions online...
They have outgrown them now, I don't want to put them on ebay because I don't want to proft from the cruelty, but it is also wasteful throwing them in the bin.
In fact if a lovely Mumsnetter wants one I will send one to you for free by post, I have boys sizes 5-6, 7-9 and 11-12- just Pm me, all 3 are in perfect condition x

"On eBay for a good price" = almost certainly fake. Which may mean that the fur came from any animal, including ones more commonly thought of as pets.

I wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t show him the videos. Just explain to him like you’ve explained here.

The goose down isn’t ethical either

Also, you have a child demanding a £500 coat? think you need a word with yourself and him.

No I wouldn’t buy an expensive coat for a child in any event and certainly not with real fur. If he’s old enough to want to wear it he’s old enough to learn about the horror that is the fur trade.

There would be no big deal about it, at 8 a simple “no, real fur is cruel and the coat isn’t practical” would do it.

Not if you watch it in bits with him and chat it through. And watch it first. You could even find another one with children his age going on hunts, and talk about how he feels.

Sitting with discomfort and learning about the world is part of his moral education. It isn't trauma.

Fur is not the issue imo.
the fact its Canada goose is.

Some little dickhead will steal it or damage it and it will cause more headaches than its worth.

If i bought it i would be weekends only and that would lead to more whining and whinging ...
So on balance its a no from me

So many things wrong with this - the real fur, the fascination with branded items, giving in to peer pressure, your concern about getting in a big fight with him...! No to all of this, with bells on.

FWIW I did know the difference between materials at 8. My parents were keen on knowing how things are made.

No. But it's a great occasion to talk to him about ethics in fashion.

No.

No for all the reasons on the thread. Also, if it were real, is it even going to get cold enough to actually wear it?

No absolutely not and I would also show him a video