Photo by CristinJoy
My 5-year-old son would be naked all the time if I let him. He's never cared about clothes and wears anything I give him. My 4-year-old daughter, however, is unreasonably obsessed with her clothes. She insists on picking out every outfit, including her socks and undies. I was such a tomboy at her age and just can't relate to this at all.
Here are her rules:
1. All items must be pink (that includes shoes and coats) or colors in the same family, which means ...
2. Red is okay, but orange and some purples are a no-go--"Those are boy colors, Mommy!")
3. Those pink articles preferably have some type of flashy design, pattern or sparkles, else they are too boring for my girl.
4. Stripes are out (boys) and polka-dots are okay, as long as they are BIG garish-looking dots.
Of course, she insists on picking out her own outfits each day -- you would die if you saw some of the shirt/pant combos she's come up with. But then, if you have a toddler girl, you've probably seen plenty of your own fashion disasters. I just had to laugh when I read that zachysmommy04 is having her own but slightly different clothing issues with her 4-year-old boy.
Here are his hangups:
1. He will only wear denim pants with a button and pockets and only a few shirts. He once wore the same clothes for three weeks. I have to wait till he gets a bath to steal them away and wash them.
2. The only time he will wear anything different is his school uniform. But even then it has to be a blue short-sleeved shirt and button pants.
3. Even when we both pick out the clothes the night before, he changes his mind in the morning.
Is your toddler a fussy fashionista? And, on a mildly related note ...
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Comments 24
As far as "boy/girl" colors, I don't think it's wrong for a child to make that distinction. I don't think they really "know" what that means anyway. I think what it means is they just have a preference for certain colors and if it's not a color they like, it must belong to the other sex. Who knows why kids do some of these things.
One of my two year old twins is very particular about his footwear. He only likes a certain type of sneaker. I did finally get him to wear winter boots but he's still not crazy about getting suited up to go play in the snow. Plenty of winter left to practice that though!
My daughter goes through stages of only liking one outfit and wanting to wear it every day. Then it will be something different the next week. She always wants me to buy her skirts but then refused to wear them. Everything has to be pink. She is 8.
Our oldest son is into the skater look. Has to have the skater clothes. But does not care if they are dirty. Will put his clothes back on after a shower! He is 13.
The baby will wear whatever I pick out. He couldn't care less. He is 5.
My son will happily run around in anything we do or don't put on him, he could care less and that includes my daughter dressing him up in fancy frilly dress up stuff. My daughter is 10 and has just this year become a bit more conscious of her "fashion choices". Her 2nd grade pic has her in a green plaid dress with hot pink polka dotted tights. She occasionally still wears rather creative outfits. I figure, hey, if they're weather appropriate, who cares?
My son only recently started talking about boy colors and girl colors - and he'll also tell you that pink is sometimes okay for boys! He's loved pink for a long time and most recently picked out a pair of pink shoes. Personally, I think he associates pink with all positive attention he got from the little girls around here when he was a baby - they all wore pink and became his fan club (yes, even cheering his name as we walked). He picks out all his own clothes/shoes and prefers clothes that have a "theme" or purpose - like "jogging pants" or "jeans with the sword holder" or something that he can point out in each article. But he does NOT like brown...can't get him to wear it for the life of me.
I'm so glad Meg never believed in "boy" colors and "girl" colors. Although I can completely relate to not being able to relate to my child and her inner fashionista. I won't wear anything but jeans and sneakers and T-shirts (in fact, she has NEVER seen me in anything but those things and she is 14 now.) I do have to say my child has (ever since she was a preschooler) been able to pair up some of the most amazingly diverse things that should never in a million years work together and yet, she makes it not only work, but it looks good. She has an uncanny innate ability -- I see a career in fashion in her future.
Since she's girly, she probably likes ponies and unicorns...try telling her unicorns have purple eyes and therefore love purple. It might sway her to the purple side. :O) Yeah. Good luck.
I am glad that I am not the only parent going through this.I am glad you had a laughed about my ordeal. I laugh too when I think about how picky he is. I really do believe that it is a phase. I just thought only girls were that picky.Not boys. Thanks for mentioning my story. Good luck with your daughter.
our 2 1/2 will only wear one dress willingly it is a sun dress i wore before i had her, she hasbecome attatched to it forsome reason (its kinda funny, most usually laugh when they ask why she has it and i tell them .) and has tried to take it every where since she started walking i let her keeep it with her at home and in the car , but anyway she has recently discovered princesses wear dresses and she request's that she wear it so i had to shorten it up and tie the straps and there she goes in my red heels(mind you the dress is blue and white ) yeah it's great ! soo cute, tried to put her in a christmas dress no way ! she wanted it off i had to tell her it was a princess dress and i took most of 2 hours to finally talk her in to it -but she will wear any pant and shirt ,she loves pink, and red! our boy wears anything and likes to choose himself he's 6,wow what a difference. hey ya gotta love 'em though, if ya ever need to smile they are always happy to help. may you and yours be blessed!
My son will wear anything I put on him, he would prefer to not wear anything at all and I have become so immune to his nakedness that at times it can takes hours before I notice, which of course he misreads as acceptance. he does however have the worst taste when picking out his own clothes. I firmly believe that his clothing choices are designed to convince me that he would be better off naked.
As annoying as it might be to get her dressed because of all her restrictions -- I find it amusing and adorable that she's so opinionated!
Stella is convinced she's a real princess!!