Do you feel pressured to dress your kids well?

andyyougoonie

DD starts Mother's morning out in a couple of weeks.  She's not in DC.  I've never really worried about what she wore, because she just hangs out with her grandparents while I work.  But I have friends whose kids have gone through this same MMO/Pre-school/Pre-K program and from the pictures I've seen, the kids are always dressed well.  Like, smocked clothes or jumpers every day.  DD has some nice clothes for when I feel like dressing her up, but most of the time, she's just in play clothes.

I'm seriously fighting the urge to drop a hundred dollars on Zulilly today to get her wardrobe ready for MMO.  This is crazy, I know.

Anyone else feel the pressure to dress your kids up?

Libby1978

Oliver goes to an in-home.  When his nanny takes him on "fieldtrips" I pack a cute outfit, but other than that play clothes.  I save the nice outfits for when he's with me on the weekends.

MomlovesEloise

I mostly send her to daycare in play clothes. But the days I do send her to school dressed up are the days I take a lot of pictures. So maybe that's why it seems like they're always dressed up? Cause usually by the end of the week, that adorable jumper is covered in dirt and food.

Kitiara5512

IrishCoffee7:

I feel like boys are easier.  So in a way, yes...we live in a fairly nice neighborhood and everyone's kids dress pretty nicely.  But I figure if I'm avoiding jorts and his t-shirts/polos aren't stained I'm ok, because well, I have good taste in t-shirts and polos. 

 

This except that C rocks in jorts, as do many other kids.

When C went to mothers day out twice a week, he wore play clothes. They were the non-permanently-stained kind, but still play clothes. He only wears slightly different clothes to church with my mother, because she prefers that he still look like a baby/toddler in shorts and t-shirts instead of stuffy button downs or polos and pants in the summer. This pic is from April.

 

 

MrsPteranodon

No, I think its regional. I think smocked clothing and jonjons look really weird and are totally NMS. But I'm sure people think wranglers and levi's and button down shirts for boys look really dumb too. Buddy wears a lot of hoop shorts in the summer too. 

But I am a SAHM and we only go to the store like once a week. I just never worry about it.

That said, I won't even have friends over if my kids aren't out of jammies 

seahorse102410

Honestly yes I probably would.  But I feel like it's a blessing that mine is in daycare because no one sees him except at church or if we go out to dinner on the weekend.  I think you could get away with a nice t-shirt and some cute shorts at MMO though.  We really only have 3 smocked summer short outfits and just rotate them.  Only person that cares is my mom.

topbirdsix

It's a good day when her top matches her bottoms.

We're in a "no, tight!" phase right now for everything - even dresses. 

My goal is simply comfortable.

missymo

I don't feel pressure, but I will admit that if she is spending an entire day at home (which is rare) and not going out at all, I put her in less attractive or stained stuff she wouldn't normally wear.  It's like, why waste a cute outfit on just Mommy and Daddy? 

LuckyDad

Have DH drop off DD. No one ever judges men. They are just so impressed we manage to fully dress the child and put the pants on bottom and shirts on top!

maddie789

I don't feel pressured. DS wears play clothes on almost a daily basis. We may get a little fancier if we are going out to eat or something, but otherwise we keep it casual. Weddings and such are an obvious exception.

scoutkate

Yes and no.  A lot of it is pressure I put on myself because I get a lot of satisfaction out of planning and building her wardrobe.  Jeez, that sounds really *** and LCB-ish.  But seriously, I just dress her in those clothes because that's what I like and that's what I buy for her.  I get a lot of pleasure from picking out her clothes and planning outfits.  She doesn't really have "dress down" clothes.  She wears the same smocked outfits to help Daddy in the garden that she would wear to daycare or to a birthday party or out to dinner.  I mean, that's what Oxy-clean is for, right?  And her average smocked outfit costs me about $12 because eBay. 

If I were in your position, yes, I'd feel some pressure.  But I know for a fact that your kid has a darling wardrobe already, and if you want to get her a few new things, I can rustle up some awesome deals for you on eBay.  Just let me know her size!  no need to drop hundreds on zulily.   

ETA:  lol at "twattty" being censored by TB.

andyyougoonie

LuckyDad:

Have DH drop off DD. No one ever judges men. They are just so impressed we manage to fully dress the child and put the pants on bottom and shirts on top!

Haha!  I love this idea. It's so true, too.  My BIL would drop off my niece and my mom would be like "Poor S, he just has no idea how to dress a baby girl."  lol

Yules

I enjoy dressing DS well, without any pressure. My Mom spoils him with new clothes almost daily. He grows out of everything so fast that I would feel worse if he didn't get to wear his fancy clothes at least once. So I dress him well everywhere, even to drop him off at the gym babysitter. 

andyyougoonie

scoutkate:

Yes and no.  A lot of it is pressure I put on myself because I get a lot of satisfaction out of planning and building her wardrobe.  Jeez, that sounds really *** and LCB-ish.  But seriously, I just dress her in those clothes because that's what I like and that's what I buy for her.  I get a lot of pleasure from picking out her clothes and planning outfits.  She doesn't really have "dress down" clothes.  She wears the same smocked outfits to help Daddy in the garden that she would wear to daycare or to a birthday party or out to dinner.  I mean, that's what Oxy-clean is for, right?  And her average smocked outfit costs me about $12 because eBay. 

If I were in your position, yes, I'd feel some pressure.  But I know for a fact that your kid has a darling wardrobe already, and if you want to get her a few new things, I can rustle up some awesome deals for you on eBay.  Just let me know her size!  no need to drop hundreds on zulily.   

ETA:  lol at "twattty" being censored by TB.

Yes, please!  I would love to have ScoutKate as my personal shopper!  She's currently in a 2T with enough room to last her through the fall at least, I think, probably through the winter too.

I check ebay often, but I don't have nearly as much luck as you do!  I find her cute things at our local consignment sales, but that's about it for my bargain hunting skills.

Regarding stains, I need to get some of that oxyclean apparently!  I've just been using Shout and/or Borax soaks and it's not cutting it anymore. 

Your Favorite Band Sucks

I don't feel pressure from other people, but I do have the pressure from within myself. At home we have our lounge-days, where he will wear his jammies all day long, but I don't think we own a single "play" outfit.

Clothes are a big thing for me because I never want him to be judged by others for not having the best trends. This stems from the years that I lived with my bio-dad and step-mother and they dressed me in the cheapest, most heinous clothing, ever. I always felt teased for it, when in reality I'm sure none of the other children even knew or cared. 

My mother always kept me dressed in the nice brands, but she only had me every other weekend. The rest of my childhood was spent wearing really, really terrible clothing. I just never want my kid to feel like that, I suppose.

 

chardonnay24

No, but it's a little more casual here. I don't think I've ever seen a kid in smocked clothing in real life. I do try to dress him well, as in matching and clean. He doesn't wear sweats, athletic apparel, or graphic tees. But he is usually in jeans, plaid shorts, a polo, or button down. I don't dress him that way because I feel like I have to. Honestly, most kids around here wear Carter's every day.

scoutkate

So, most of these are summer but a few are good transition pieces.  Let me know if you want to see more fallish stuff.  There is a TON of cheap 2T on eBay.  All of these are less than $20:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Smocked-Frocks-blue-and-white-check-sleeveless-dress-smocked-with-frogs-2T-/261077390857?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item3cc96cd609

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kellys-Kids-Smocked-Poodle-Jumper-2t-XXS-EUC-/110928624476?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item19d3dc7b5c  She could wear this on it's own this summer or you could put a long-sleeved shirt under when it gets cool.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mom-Me-smocked-fairies-outfit-for-girls-24mo-2T-/221088672234?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item3379e969ea

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Smockadot-Kids-Smocked-Circus-Pant-Set-2t-EUC-/110928094893?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item19d3d466ad

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NWT-Claire-And-Charlie-Smocked-Angel-Wing-Dress-2t-/251120523277?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item3a77f3180d

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Girls-Flower-Patch-Smocked-Dress-by-Anavini-size-2T-EUC-/251122779944?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item3a78158728  This one is cordoruy so it would be a good fall dress.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Smockadot-Kids-Smocked-Gumball-Pant-Set-2t-EUC-/110927989826?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item19d3d2cc42

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kellys-Kids-Skirt-Pants-Capris-Matching-Cardigan-Striped-Sailboat-2T-Outfit-/251121324161?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item3a77ff5081

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Girls-M-Bailey-Boys-Pants-Set-2T-EUC-/251123569960?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item3a78219528

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bailey-Boys-Size-2t-/160858645803?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Girls_Clothing&hash=item2573ec252b  Reversible!  Two outfits in one!

I could seriously post like 20 more.

jnjmommy0609

Fashion is something I am passionate about. So there was a point where I did really well put together outfits for my kids. And not because I felt pressure to have them dress well but because it was fun. Now that my kids are older they pick out their own outfits. 

FirstBabyMomma

I actually dress her less nicely for daycare, because our sitter is awesome in a lot of ways but she just does not give a rat's ass if the kids' clothes get dirty! She goes to daycare in shorts, sweats, or jeans with a t-shirt. Sometimes if an outfit gets stained but still fits, it becomes a DC outfit. She still looks cute, because frankly all of her clothes are cute, but less publicly presentable!

Nice outfits (dresses, matching sets etc) are for when she's out with me.

insertclevername

I don't feel pressure to dress him nicely, yet.  I think it might also be a little different for boys and girls.   I do like to pick out clothes for him and prefer polos and nice shorts or pant.  For example, today I put him in a button down with rolled up sleeves, a pair of nice shorts and some boat shoes.  But there are other days he has an Elmo tshirt and crocs on. 

I never had nice clothes growing up and that caused some tough times for me.  I am sure that because of that I will overcompensate with my kids to try to ensure they never feel the way I did.

nosoup4u

I make sure their play clothes are cute. Kids get so messy, especially at preschool kind of places, it's not worth getting fancy clothes.

Abinormal

The only pressure I feel is from myself. I dress DD cute, but her clothes are not expensive. She does have a few smocked dresses and always has some nicer clothes in her current size, but she doesn't wear those to daycare. DD has everyday clothes (whether for daycare or at home) and then a few outfits/dressed for church and special occasions. When I shop for a the bulk of her wardrobe, I keep comfort in mind, but I also want her to look cute. She's almost always matching, has her hair braided and has a matching bow or bows.

FezzesAreCool

The only time the girls ever get "dressed up" is for holidays or professional pictures.

 

[Deleted User]

I don't feel pressured at all.  P's current favorite thing to do is army crawl in the dirt under the play structures & be as wild as possible.  She then hops like a bunny, which does get some of the dirt off, but not as much as you'd think. 

Srsly, I dress my kid decently & in cotton clothes that wash easily, she can move around in easily, and I let her be the Vasco de Gama of the toddler world. 

andyyougoonie

Scout, those are adorable.  You even found her a monogrammed outfit!  I can't ever find the right monogram on ebay!  Anytime you get tired of shopping for B, feel free to search the 2t stuff for M!  You are amazing. 

Now let's see if I can win any of them for a decent price.  I'm kind of an ebay chicken.  lol

stdldb29

DD's clothing collection consists of Hanna Andersson play dresses and leggings for winter, a few jeans, some Lilly cardigans.

Her summer collection consists of only Lilly dresses (that I find on resale for cheap). 

She wears smocked clothing for parties, church, and dressy occasions because I hate to iron. 

I hate spending the money on HA clothing because it is $$$, but they last forever. 

 

DS wears some type of nice short and polos, typically with his sperrys.

I will admit that both children have wardrobes that mimic ours. DS and DH can match on any given day (and DH avoids that). DD and I can match with a few outfits.

The kids have a few outfits from Kelly's kids that match that they wear to daycare as well.

We hang almost everything on the line, so most stains would come out with the sun anyway. 

FezzesAreCool

mbenit4:

Seriously, WTF is play clothes?

Clothes they can play in and if they get ruined or stained beyond cleaning it doesn't matter because they'll never wear their play clothes to church. 

 

penguingrrl

I try to make sure they look presentable when we leave the house, but not dressy by any means. My girls will not wear pants, only dresses and skirts, so they always look nicer than if they wore like leggings and a t-shirt, but we do denim jumpers or cotton t-shirt material dresses and skirts. My daughter's preschool made it clear that they should only wear things that might get damaged since they finger paint and play outside and do other things that aren't gentle on clothes.

andyyougoonie

mbenit4:

Seriously, WTF is play clothes?

For me, I consider play clothes to be like a tshirt and shorts, blue jeans or leggings or even just a comfortable cotton dress. 

What I do not consider to be play clothes: dresses that have a lot of volume (a lot of smocked dresses are like this and it can make buckling her in the car seat annoying/uncomfortable and she doesn't seem to be as comfortable playing in them), nicer pant sets that are a heavier fabric and seem like they would be too hot to play in (we're in the South) or most white clothes.  She gets filthy at her grandparents house and they don't do anything about it so the stain has set by the time she gets home.

scoutkate

andyyougoonie:

Scout, those are adorable.  You even found her a monogrammed outfit!  I can't ever find the right monogram on ebay!  Anytime you get tired of shopping for B, feel free to search the 2t stuff for M!  You are amazing. 

Now let's see if I can win any of them for a decent price.  I'm kind of an ebay chicken.  lol

Dude, you've got to just jump in and start bidding.  Seriously, it will change your life.

I got all of those from the first two pages of a "smocked 2T" search (28 pages total) and a separate search for Kelly's Kids and Bailey Boys.  There is so much more where these came from, seriously.  Also, I saw a ton of cute Halloween outfits. 

FezzesAreCool

::wonders if there's going to be a shiitstorm about penguin not putting her girls in pants the same way stlotherletters was flamed to high heaven for not putting fingernail polish on her boy's fingernails:::

andyyougoonie

FezzesAreCool:

::wonders if there's going to be a shiitstorm about penguin not putting her girls in pants the same way stlotherletters was flamed to high heaven for not putting fingernail polish on her boy's fingernails:::

lol @ "stlotherletters"

JoJoMama730

Nope, I don't feel pressured at all.  I suppose I dress my kid in clothes that I would wear if I didn't have to wear office attire - comfy knits - that are presentable and clean for the most part.  If she develops her own sense of style and wants to start wearing dresses at some point, so be it, but right now, I have a girl that is rough and tumble.  The minute she goes outside, she's dirty, playing in the mud, trying to eat mud, getting grass stains, rolling in the wood chips, squishing bugs, etc., and she's happy as a clam.  And I'm happying buying $1 and fifty-cent clothes from yard sales and mom-to-mom sales at the moment.

scoutkate

FezzesAreCool:

::wonders if there's going to be a shiitstorm about penguin not putting her girls in pants the same way stlotherletters was flamed to high heaven for not putting fingernail polish on her boy's fingernails:::

I must've missed the painted nails thing, but I took penguin's post to mean that her girls refuse to wear pants, which I myself did from age 2.5 to age 4 or so, according to my parents.

mom2pottamus

 I don't feel pressure, but its only been recently that I have let go of my need to always have them look clean and well dressed..

When we go to my parents house, the store, parties etc. I have a few "cuter" things for my DD that I set aside. Usually its an outfit she hasn't worn yet/grew into or something that I deem dressier b/c it cost more.  My DS currently has no dress pants, jeans, or dressy stuff (like for church).  He outgrew everything and since I am a SAHM I am waiting till fall to get him nicer pre-school clothes.  He is t-shirt/shorts/one pair of sneakers kids, but always looks put together.

Honestly my kids are outside for at least 4 hrs a day and FILTHY.  I buy cheaper clothes now so they can get dirty, have fun, and be kids.  When it matters to them when they get older, then we will adapt..

FezzesAreCool

scoutkate:

FezzesAreCool:

::wonders if there's going to be a shiitstorm about penguin not putting her girls in pants the same way stlotherletters was flamed to high heaven for not putting fingernail polish on her boy's fingernails:::

I must've missed the painted nails thing, but I took penguin's post to mean that her girls refuse to wear pants, which I myself did from age 2.5 to age 4 or so, according to my parents.

I read it that way, too.   But you never know with TB.

(My parents used to "punish" me for getting out of bed at night when I was 4 or 5 by telling me that I would have to wear pants to school the next day.  lolz.)

TXwife9

missymo:

I don't feel pressure, but I will admit that if she is spending an entire day at home (which is rare) and not going out at all, I put her in less attractive or stained stuff she wouldn't normally wear.  It's like, why waste a cute outfit on just Mommy and Daddy? 

This exactly.

NastyAnnie

My kid doesn't go to daycare. But if he did, I think I'd dress him like I do when we go out. Something that matches, that is comfy, doesn't have a lot of characters on it or anything, and is cute. Nothing expensive or crazy. He's a little boy, though.

Your Favorite Band Sucks

Why would anyone care if penguin didn't put her girls in pants?

I wouldn't put my boy in a skirt. I mean, unless he asked to wear a skirt. 

FezzesAreCool

Your Favorite Band Sucks:

Why would anyone care if penguin didn't put her girls in pants?

I wouldn't put my boy in a skirt. I mean, unless he asked to wear a skirt. 

ILY. 

insertclevername

scoutkate:

FezzesAreCool:

::wonders if there's going to be a shiitstorm about penguin not putting her girls in pants the same way stlotherletters was flamed to high heaven for not putting fingernail polish on her boy's fingernails:::

I must've missed the painted nails thing, but I took penguin's post to mean that her girls refuse to wear pants, which I myself did from age 2.5 to age 4 or so, according to my parents.

That is how I read it as well.  My mother says that I did the same thing.  I basically refused to wear anything but dresses, skirts or leotards for an entire year.  Even during the middle of winter in upstate NY.  My mother says any attempt to put pants on me led to a major tantrum.