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Hmm... if I ever came into custody of a baby or toddler...

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Bao Sanniang

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:14 pm


I would try to avoid anything like animal costumes, superhero costumes, sailor suits, or anything else that would look embarrassing 20 years later.

Second, I'd probably avoid dresses or suits, or anything blue or pink or any other color or style that I felt was "gendered". Seems to me like putting a girl in pink dresses and a boy in blue baseball jerseys just because it's a boy or girl is really cliche.

I know it's for immediate gender identification due to babies having a genderless appearance but I would want to avoid cliche outfits. I'd probably go neutral for a boy, neutral or slightly tomboyish for a girl.

I don't know why I am turned off by the very thought of doing those things. I just am. I would wait until the child was old enough to choose.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:13 pm


Good luck avoiding pink and blue... especially pink. I did some shopping for my nephew before he was born, and probably about 80% of the clothes were pink. Especially in thrift stores.

Avoiding dresses and suits actually isn't a bad idea, unless it's a special occasion. For everyday, something that's easy to throw in the washer is best.

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:26 pm


Kits Rose
Good luck avoiding pink and blue... especially pink. I did some shopping for my nephew before he was born, and probably about 80% of the clothes were pink. Especially in thrift stores.

Avoiding dresses and suits actually isn't a bad idea, unless it's a special occasion. For everyday, something that's easy to throw in the washer is best.
I'm thinking plain shirts in an ungendered color, like red or white, blue jeans, and plain shoes.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:30 pm


I work in retail too... once they're up to the 12 months size, it's really hard to find neutral clothes. It is possible, but you wouldn't have much to choose from. Most clothes are definitely "boy" or "girl".

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:33 pm


Kits Rose
I work in retail too... once they're up to the 12 months size, it's really hard to find neutral clothes. It is possible, but you wouldn't have much to choose from. Most clothes are definitely "boy" or "girl".
I would want to raise him or her as a kid, not necessarily as a boy or girl. emotion_puke

I know it's untraditional thinking but why force a kid into a mold?
PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:43 pm


And you think clothes impact how they turn out that much? I can see avoiding the costumes and stuff, but I really don't think that everyday clothes matter that much before they can tell you what they like. That young, it's more about their parent's taste than anything else. If you're worried about looking back at baby pictures, well, that's going to be embarassing no matter how they're dressed. cat_lol

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 06, 2012 8:45 pm


Kits Rose
And you think clothes impact how they turn out that much? I can see avoiding the costumes and stuff, but I really don't think that everyday clothes matter that much before they can tell you what they like. That young, it's more about their parent's taste than anything else. If you're worried about looking back at baby pictures, well, that's going to be embarassing no matter how they're dressed. cat_lol
I see. Well, I wouldn't want to dress a kid in something an adult wouldn't be seen wearing (aside from diapers of course). xD
PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:33 am


Dude there's always the option of making your child clothing. My mother did that. Most of my clothing were Hawaiian printed when I was a baby. Save for the few shirts she bought for me from a store called Taj Clubhouse.  

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 6:44 am


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I'd probably go neutral for a boy, neutral or slightly tomboyish for a girl.
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I know it's untraditional thinking but why force a kid into a mold?
Like it or not, deciding your girl is going to be a tomboy is forcing them into a mold just as much as "forcing them to be a girl" is.

But like Kits said, the clothes they wear at that age isn't going to effect how they grow up to be anyway, but just pointing out that just because tomboy girl is "untradiational" doesn't mean you're not imposing your own preference on the child to dress them that way.

Don't want them to be embarrassed of things they wore as a kid? Don't take pictures emotion_awesome
PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:04 am


I was allowed to dress myself as soon as I was a conscience person.... That shows still today. I went through many phases, from tom boy to pin up emotion_awesome What you put someone in before they have a choice in it mentally can only be used as blackmail in pictures later, like TES said . twisted I also agree with Kits, I don't think it molds their attitude toward their "gender" at all. Seriously my sister and I found Halloween pics form when we were kids and I was somewhat of a princess red lipped butterfly thing and she was, best we could guess, a hobo rofl . And we CHOSE those outfits. I think it's more of let them do what they want to once they start showing signs of ability to make a preference. But I don't have kids so I don't really know.

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:49 am


Ya know, as a mom, i'd just like to chime in here. Honestly, you can dress your kids in whatever you want (heck, you could even dress them in garbage bags, though don't be surprised when child services cimes by!) but no matter what you try and do, they'll choose what they want. My sons have always dressed in traditionally boy clothes, but every once in a while, i'll see my sons trying on their sister's clothes just to see what it says,and they even have their own opinions about girls as well (they're gross!). And their sister loves anything pink, but she also plays as much with her brother's action figures as she does her baby doll. It doesn't matter what you try and do, they'll do what they want.
PostPosted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:56 am


I think what would be more valuable than "not embarrassing" them or "not forcing them into a mold" when they're too young to remember or care what the hell you're putting on them, is raising them with humility... letting them know that it's okay to laugh at themselves when they look back on their life instead of feeling ashamed.

It's a much more valuable quality to be able to not let things that some would consider "embarrassing" bother you than it is to just try to not embarrass them in the first place. Because, for one, you might find you're more embarrassing of a parent than you think you're being, and even if you're not, it's not going to save your child from ever being embarrassed. Something or someone will come along and embarrass them eventually. Being able to let it slide will help them in that situation, but simply trying to be that parent that doesn't personally embarrass them won't.

Of course, to be able to impart that quality on your children, you'd have to have some degree of it yourself, as children often learn by example.

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