Sweatpants in Public

Sheila92003 · February 2013

So one day I sent DS #1 (7 years old) to his childcare provider in sweatpants (fleece pants with no elastic at the bottom). There was no school, it was MLK day. When DH got home he gave a disapproving look and asked if that was what he wore that day. I mentioned to my Dad that DS #1 was wearing sweatpants (same kind as before) yesterday. We didn't leave the house. My Dad said that the sweatpants were fine for in the house but not in public. DS #2 wears sweatpants sometime, but he's 2 years old. Do your kids wear sweatpants in public? Do they really look bad to wear in public or are my DH and Dad just being picky?

suv75 · February 2013

My 2 year old does and so do I!

LadyXaverian · February 2013

No one has ever given me grief for putting DD is fleece pants or other types of sweat pants in public. I think they're being ridiculous.

wife1014 · February 2013

I have girls but if yoga style pants or leggings are considered the same, the answer is yes. Almost every day. Unless they're wearing a dress, they're in some type of knit pants.

JET29 · February 2013

Well my kid is only 2 but he wears sweatpants or fleece pants every day that he goes to day care. I purposefully avoid sending him there in jeans because I don't think he would be as comfortable.

penguingrrl · February 2013

My kids don't wear sweatpants. In fact, they don't own any. But that's only because they will only wear skirts or dresses. I've finally convinced them to wear leggings in cold weather, but that's the closest they'll wear to pants.

juniper19 · February 2013

As long as there are other cozy, zipperless pants options, then I would skip sweatpants. Like Old Navy has pull up cargo pants with fleece lining. I put my ds in those.

For me, I wear yoga pants when I'm feeling lazy.

I wouldn't go so far as to judge someone else for putting their kids in sweat pants, but I would notice it. I am a little judgey about adults wearing sweat pants. I just think there are other options that accomplish the same goal but look more flattering.

cgr8979 · February 2013

wife1014:
I have girls but if yoga style pants or leggings are considered the same, the answer is yes. Almost every day. Unless they're wearing a dress, they're in some type of knit pants.

This!!! My DD wears leggings almost daily...I don't think they are the same as sweat pants, but I would never judge someone or look at them weird of their child had one sweat pants.

Hesterlicious · February 2013

I send ike to DCP in sweats often. He naps longer in sweats. If I take him somewhere else I will usually put jeans on him. It's hard to find jeans that fit him so he only has a few pairs.

Hesterlicious · February 2013

I am wearing yoga pants at work right now.

MrsPteranodon · February 2013

I wouldn't side eye a toddler in sweats but mine do not wear sweats or jammies in public ever. Not even as newborns I always dressed them. Buddy has tons of sweats, they are for outdoor play out in our back yard. If we go anywhere he knows he has to wear jeans or khakis.

I would probably wonder why a 7yo is wearing sweats in public. But I'm not going to be bothered by it enough to judge it or give it a second thought.

suv75 · February 2013

I like the new style sweats without the elastic on the bottom and that fit properly and don't sag.

klondikebar · February 2013

My kids don't wear fleece or sweatpants out, but DS2 has a couple nike basketball outifts and has worn them to preschool when they've warned us ahead of time about big painting projects. They're like these pants with a coordinating top.

missyishere · February 2013

I wear yoga or sweats daily. Sometimes, my DD will wear jammies all day. Sometimes, it's even the same pajamas two days in a row.

quidditchcapn1120 · February 2013

DS has quite a few of the fleece pants with fleece sweater or vest combos that I think are super cute. Plus they are comfy and warm. If anyone judges that, it's their own issue. I personally don't wear sweats out of the house unless I am going to the gym but I enjoy dressing up.

I just don't think my kid could get a good nap in with jeans or khakis on. When he does wear jeans or khakis, I switch him to pjs for his nap.

I do not, however, let DS go out with pjs on. I don't judge parents who do let their kids, though.

I do not understand all the judginess of parents. Most parents are doing the best they can with the resources they have and unless I see something deliberately neglectful or a safety risk, I do not judge.

shopgirl78 · February 2013

Yes, they are more like athletic (DS1) or Yoga pants (DD). I think actual sweatpants and pjs bottoms are a no-no though.

LadyXaverian · February 2013

It is so strange to me that people actually give a 2nd thought to others wearing sweats in public and assume it must "mean something".

I guess people think a lot of things about DD and me on weekend afternoons because we pretty much live in sweats/leggings/yoga pants etc.. all weekend. In and out of the house.

mhaas28 · February 2013

If wearing sweatpants is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Wufroggy79 · February 2013

I wouldn't side eye a kid in them, but adults, yes.

PrideandJoy29 · February 2013

I put my kids in sweatpants all the time.

thetheisens · February 2013

Ds almost always wears either fleece or sweat pants to daycare. He always has food or stuff from making crafts on him by the end of the day when I go to pick him up. I also think most baby jeans fit him poorly and seem uncomfortable. I don't want him to be uncomfortable when he's running around and playing.

LadyXaverian · February 2013

Does this thinking apply in the summer, too? Do kids have to be wearing denim or khaki shorts? Are elastic waist knit shorts side-eye worthy, too, or is it only an issue with full length pants?

snowybride08 · February 2013

I would never wear sweatpants out in public, but I think it's different for kids. That being said, I always think the kids who wear sweat pants to the HS I work at look really sloppy and I think it looks bad. I wouldn't feel the same way about a 7 year old, though. If your DH cares so much, he should do the dressing.

evelyntaylor · February 2013

We live in a really cold climate so DS wears sweatpants often. He goes to a home day care and I have seen other kiddos wearing sweatpants too. But honestly, the culture around here is so laid back. That is not a big deal at all.

mben1119 · February 2013

Ds is a toddler, but he's in sweats, fleece, or knit pants 97 percent of the time. They're easier for diaper changes, easier for him to move in, and who really cares. Ftr, I wear yoga pants to Walmart or the grocery store on the weekends. I'm not getting changed to run to the store.

LuckyDad · February 2013

I wear sweatpants in public.

Yoga pants are also just snug sweatpants. So all those ladies wearing yoga pants? They're walking around in sweats.

Jen&Len · February 2013

We've sent DS in his sweatpants. They're warmer than his jeans and since his pants always come home with dirt/paint stains, I would rather he get those on his sweats.

teacherjulie · February 2013

My daughter wears fleece or yoga/leggings everyday. She owns jeans but not traditional khakis as she prefers the softer pant. I would judge no child in sweats

missmuffin87 · February 2013

WTF? Jeans aren't comfortable, especially in a car seat, or at DC where a kid is expected to nap. If we are going on a long car ride (more than 30mins) I won't put DD in jeans.

She wears yoga pants or skirts/dresses with leggings if we are going anywhere where she might be playing. For the playground I put her in jeans because they are less likely to rip or stain.

I don't think jeans look particularly better than leggings or yoga pants, it really depends on how you put together the outfit and how well the clothes fit. I think sweatpants are the yoga pants/leggings equivilant for boys so I don't think twice about boys wearing them. There's no reason kids should be as comfortable as possible when they are just playing.

NotSharknado · February 2013

As long as you don't call them jogging suits, you're good.

LoveActually4 · February 2013

JET29:
Well my kid is only 2 but he wears sweatpants or fleece pants every day that he goes to day care. I purposefully avoid sending him there in jeans because I don't think he would be as comfortable.nbsp;

This.

colliebabe · February 2013

SarahL77:
It is so strange to me that people actually give a 2nd thought to others wearing sweats in public and assume it must "mean something".

This exactly. I rarely notice what other people are wearing, unless it is something way out of the ordinary.

DD is still pretty small, so she wears outfits that have sweats as the pants part...think Carter's, but they are not always from Carter's. If she wants to wear sweats when she's 7, more power to her.

Mrs.V · February 2013

DH and I never let the boys wear sweatpants outside of the house. We consider that lounging apparel for at home. Neither of us would wear sweat pants outside of the house either, I think its important to dress well during the day.

missyishere · February 2013

shanado:
As long as you don't call them jogging suits, you're good.

Or poop slash birth your baby in them.

catycate · February 2013

DS is only 2, but he wears sweats all the time. He calls them his comfies. I werar yoga pants, which are lounge wear, but really like sweaty pants at all, LD. At least in my yoga pants you can see some of my shape.

chardonnay24 · February 2013

I personally don't put my kid in sweats or fleece pants ever, whether or not we are going in public, but I certainly don't judge other parents for it.

He always wears jeans or cords with a sweater, button down, or t-shirt. It's a personal preference, I don't care for the look of casual/sporty clothes and he doesn't indicate to me that he's uncomfortable or has a preference. The only time he goes out in comfy clothes are when we are headed to the doctor when he is sick - he wears pajamas.

ETA: I don't wear sweat pants ever, and I only wear yoga pants when I'm doing yoga and work out clothes when I'm working out.

[Deleted User] · February 2013

I didn't realize this was a judge worthy thing...my dd is only 3 months but yeah she wears little fleece or cotton pants. Then again, I wear yoga pants occasionally to run errands on the weekend, so I'm already going to hell!

RondackHiker · February 2013

Why the heck is this a side eye worthy thing?

So what if there are options that "look better"? Why does it matter what someone else wears in public? Do you judge if people where a tshirt instead of a sweater? That's likely not as attractive. Or wear a ponytail instead of styling their hair? That's not as attractive.

I really am surprised that soft pants are so terrible in public. DS must get side eyed a lot. He even wears soft shorts in the summer. I figure they're cooler and more comfy.

OP, I wouldn't think twice about a seven year old in sweat pants. I certainly wouldn't assume he had "issues" or "problems". If he went to a formal event in sweats? That I might judge. But otherwise, why do people care?

I'm really surprised at the number of people who judge kids and adults on their clothing.

JessiRaye · February 2013

RondackHiker:
Why the heck is this a side eye worthy thing?

So what if there are options that "look better"? Why does it matter what someone else wears in public? Do you judge if people where a tshirt instead of a sweater? That's likely not as attractive. Or wear a ponytail instead of styling their hair? That's not as attractive.

I really am surprised that soft pants are so terrible in public. DS must get side eyed a lot. He even wears soft shorts in the summer. I figure they're cooler and more comfy.

OP, I wouldn't think twice about a seven year old in sweat pants. I certainly wouldn't assume he had "issues" or "problems". If he went to a formal event in sweats? That I might judge. But otherwise, why do people care?

I'm really surprised at the number of people who judge kids and adults on their clothing.

This.

My mind is blown reading some of these responses. My 7 year old picks out his own clothes and prefers to wear jeans. But, on PE days, I encourage him to wear athletic pants or sweats. I think his little GAP sweats are so cute! My 4 year old has skin issues so cottony pants or lined jeans are best for him. And my baby, who just turned 2, looks adorable in everything! I'm rolling my eyes at some of these responses.

RondackHiker · February 2013

I'm coming back to say the assumption that soft pants means sensory, potty training, or development issues really bothers me. One, so what if the kid does have special needs? That's not for some stranger to judge. Two, that's a really big stretch.

I saw lots of kids in sweats this week. And I did see one kid I thought had special needs. He was seven or eight, wearing ear buds, sitting in a grocery cart, and rocking and stimming strongly while shielding his eyes from the light overhead. But he was in khakis and polos, so I could be wrong.

This whole thing feels so eye roll worthy.

But hey, I'm wearing hoody and a ponytail to work, so judge away.

Icarusalsoflew · February 2013

Geez. Everyone covered it but team NBD and I would never judge someone for being in sweatpants in public.

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