What I want to know is, why? I see babies in the town every day, and they are invariably dressed in pink or blue. I even saw a pink baby wearing pink clothes travelling in a pink pram*. It's almost as though the parents need reminding whether they have a boy or a girl.
I dressed my own babies in either colour (not so much pink. I'm not a fan of pink). I didn't need to colour code them. I knew who/what they were. (Both sexes looked great in navy; it matches babies' eyes.) Grown men and women don't go around in pink or blue; why do it for babies?
Where do you stand on pink/blue? And does it really matter (no. I'll answer that one myself).
*What if they have a boy next time? New pram?
When we were little, our parents didn't have much money, and often things were passed around in the family and circle of friends. So whenever my oldest female cousin had a new dress, I knew it was going to become mine sooner or later (if it lasted long enough). I was born in 1968, so our childhood saw the colourful and practical children's clothes of the 1970s; dungarees, jeans, t-shirts.
ReplyDeleteOur Mum and Grandma made some items for us; I distinctly remember a very colourful crocheted skirt made out of leftover yarns.
When we were babies, there was rarely any bright pink, but soft pastels and whites did feature a lot, judging from the old photos.
I was often mistaken for a boy for my short hair and rambunctious nature.
Meike, when I was a child, I loved being taken for a boy! (Nor any more, though.)
DeleteI only had boys, so no pink here! I can remember a couple of things they wore...green dungarees and turquoise baby grow thingy ! I expect they had a fair amount of blue!
ReplyDeleteOh, the turquoise babygro! My eldest had one, and immediately s**t all over it. I was mortified.
DeleteInteresting post, Frances. I drew the line at anything other than an occasional pink or blue outfit for my girl and boy. Guess it's a tradition thing - or was even when I was a young mother. Probably more to let other people know what you had since babies often look the same with no hair!
ReplyDeleteApparently if you dress them the other way around, people treat them quite differently. I wish I'd thought of trying it!
DeleteHow dare parents assume their issue's gender. You will be locked away for suggesting that there are genders in the not too distant future.
ReplyDeleteOh tempora, oh mores...you're probably right, Adrian.
Delete"Grown men and women don't go around in pink or blue; why do it for babies?" I wear blue most of the time (well only my socks, underwear, shirts, coats, gilets to name but a few). I do have a pink shirt (and other coloured shirts too). I always buy neutral colours for friends' babies.
ReplyDeletePoint taken, Graham. But what I meant was that you don't see men and women in all blue or pink. And you never see baby boys in pink shirts!
DeleteToday I was wearing, blue jeans, socks, boxer shorts (spotted as it happens but basically blue), blue shirt and blue sleeveless jacket and a blue waterproof jacket (when it rained). My handkerchief was blue and white. That's pretty much all blue.
DeleteAh. My hat's not blue. You're correct. I do have blue suede brogues too but I was wearing more conventional brown leather ones today.
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