Baby clothes

Couldn't decide whether to put this in the News section or over here. In the end I put it here as I think it will be mainly of interest to parents. This article made me so mad I actually emailed the Observer about it.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1431171,00.html

My baby ain't no gangsta and this mama jolly well won't be dressing him up to look like one.

Amen to that.  Why would I want my lovely toddler to look like some wannabe gangsta teenager?  I'm sure I'll get enough of that in ten years.  In the meantime, I'll continue dressing him like the little boy he is.

She makes the point that women dress their children in these clothes as a way to not grow up themselves, as a rebellion against society, because they are living out their frustrations of their new status,

Could it be... just maybe?... that women dress their children in the manner they like best? That they dress their children in things they think are cute and wonderful? That is going to be a different thing for everyone. Cait, you wouldn't put your boy in one of those babygros, Liz you would... but neither one of you is right or wrong (unless you ask the article author!) - it is a matter of taste for crying out loud.

Also she says these "alternative" clothes encourage a "show off" attitude towards their babies clothes.

Yeah - because no one EVER does that with Mothercare or Next stuff, right?   



My opinion: the author can not find anything else to write about. She doesn't like the clothes.... so what? I never liked putting Philip in pastel overalls but that doesn't make me a repressed mother who has lost her soul, does it?

Again with the 

That is going to be a different thing for everyone. Cait, you wouldn't put your boy in one of those babygros, Liz you would... but neither one of you is right or wrong (unless you ask the article author!) - it is a matter of taste for crying out loud.

Well that's just it isn't it? It IS a matter of personal taste and preference and  I don't see what is wrong with dressing your baby/child to your own taste ... she's saying your child isn't an extension of youself but in a way (s)he is and if YOU don't choose their clothes, who will?! We have plenty of baby clothes with teddy bear/car/fire engine motifs but we also have a few of the "alternatives." Mostly I try and buy stuff that is fairly plain and in colours other than the traditional baby blue. I also like to have a few items you don't see on every other kid ... same as I don't like to wear exactly the same clothes as every other woman myself.  Does it make me a bad parent for putting a strawberry hat on my little boy or a red baby gro with a black glittery skull and crossbones? I don't think so.

Well Im in the middle here. I really hate the baby clothes with fuzzy bears and lambs on them. However I also hate the surfer dude/rapper style that they are showing for babies of Jacks age. I did buy my 3 year old a red skull hoodie with "Kid Vicious" written on it but I doubt I would go worse than that.
I remember when Jordan was born ten years ago and everywhere you looked you would see baby T shirts and bibs with "spit happens" on them. I didnt go for it.
With Jack growing like a weed I am always on the lookout for new clothes for him but I cant seem to find anything I like. Winnie the Pooh and all that other Disney stuff makes me gag and all the cutsie teddy bear stuff just doesnt seem to suit Jack. Right now Im trying to find just plain colored things with no designs or logos. I found a few things at Big W but now theyre out of business.

Great letter, Liz.   

Well, it's written that babies are today's ultimate fashion accessory  .

Great letter, Liz.

Where? I have yesterday and today's paper!

there's a group of letters in the review section.    in a little box.

It's on p4 of the Review. I didn't see it either, I was still on the Bjork article! Thanks Mindy!

Bjork schmork.  I skipped that article.  I don't know why but I can't stand her!