DD is pink and princessy and cares about hair etc and is only 5

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

So not like me.

I was brought up by progressive parents in the 70s, and got nothing but electronics kits for my birthdays - there was a cartoon I saw once with a little girl opening a chemistry kit and thinking "I would kill for a barbie" - that was me.

So I have not tried to sway in any particular direction. I am going to have to come up with a reasonable answer to "how do I become a princess?" "Mummy when are you going to be a princess?" Erm, never is the answer to both so far...

dd was taller than we realised and is having this!!

wow, that is the bees' knees

Is a prettified bike necessarily one that is not functional though?

Shoes for infants here Same basic design, many different colours and motifs.

I have a photo of my dad aged about 2 in 1919 or 1920, standing with his next older sister, holding hands. Both are wearing what I assume is either white or very pastel, very lacy, mid-calf length frocks with pinafores, little shoes with a strap around the ankle, and probably hand made stockings. For all their unisex clothing back in their early days, they went on to live very different lives.

Prettified is an unnecessary stamp that girls have to contend with their whole lives, boys don't. The later it starts the less damage it does.