9-year-old Won't Wear Jeans

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old girl hates jeans too. She truly always has. She wears leggings (I make her wear a shirt covering her butt) and shorts, yes shorts, in fall and winter.
By the way, I can't stand jeans either. I'm 38 and won't wear them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She can make her whole 9 year old life in skirts and leggings and sweatpants. And they make pull on leggings that look like jeans. She's 9!!! She will change by the time she's 12.

Or she won't, and that's okay, too.

I think it's important for people to be appropriately dressed for the venue they are in. In our culture, a female who doesn't like zippered pants can live her entire life without them and never be inappropriately dressed. This is a complete nonissue.

Harder for a boy who feels this way.

[Anonymous]

I HATED JEANS GROWING UP! It is so nice today that kids can get away with leggings and cute tops. Let it go. There is no need to make this a battle.

[Anonymous]

(AND I STILL HATE JEANS), but wear them because they are cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I fully admit this is an incredibly stupid issue, but it's where we are.

My 9-year-old daughter won't wear jeans, or any pants or skirts with a fly. She says they don't feel comfortable. We've tried different brands, sizes, cuts, etc. -- she won't even put them on. Right now she's sobbing because I asked her whether she might want some for school this year.

Ordinarily, I try to respect her right to dress herself and make her own choices. But the fact is, nobody makes attractive pull-on pants for tween girls, and she can't live her whole life in leggings and sweatpants. We got by with dresses when she was small, but none of her friends wear dresses now and so she doesn't want to either. And she had a major growth spurt, so we are looking at basically replacing most of her wardrobe.

I don't want this to turn into a power struggle. I know I will lose and it's not worth it. But is there some way I can Jedi mind trick her into wanting to wear a pair of freaking jeans?

You are correct that she "she can't live her whole life in leggings and sweatpants", but she can live her 9th year in them. She will outgrow everything by this time next year, and by then who knows what she will want to wear. I would just let it go.

[Anonymous]

Please don't force it. I hated all pants growing up (jeans and corduroys) because I couldn't stand the sound and feeling they made when I moved my legs. I still hate jeans.

Hanna Andersson makes adorable leggings and tunics. How about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Options:
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/girls-pants-jeans/32730-nav/girls-navy-tiny-bud-jersey-lined-printed-pants

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/girls-pants-jeans/32723-pnk/girls-vintage-pink-cord-leggings

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/girls-pants-jeans/32725-mdn/girls-mid-vintage-heart-patch-pants -- note these are pull on jeans!

I was going to say Boden has some good options. Not sure if these work for OP's DD but they have some good options.

[Anonymous]

Omg. My son will or wear them either. I actually feel better knowing we are not alone. I feel like I failed by not making him wear them at a younger age. He is 10.

[Anonymous]

Leggings with tunics work if she's not into dresses.

My DD goes through phases. Only dresses, no dresses, jeans are great, only leggings, only sporty clothes (underarmour), back to only dresses again.

My only rule is no leggings with a short t-shirt.

[Anonymous]

I agree, just get her a bunch of leggings, dresses, tunics and elastic waist skirts.

[Anonymous]

Also agree with pp on no leggings with short shirts- leggings are NOT PANTS!

[Anonymous]

My dd11 would not wear jeans either. We switched to leggings and sweatpants and some yoga pants with a few dresses and leggings underneath. Went through this for 4th and 5th grade. It's fine. but I think that this upcoming year she is willing to wear some jeans. I've heard from other moms that they don't like jeans so just make the best of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I fully admit this is an incredibly stupid issue, but it's where we are.

My 9-year-old daughter won't wear jeans, or any pants or skirts with a fly. She says they don't feel comfortable. We've tried different brands, sizes, cuts, etc. -- she won't even put them on. Right now she's sobbing because I asked her whether she might want some for school this year.

Ordinarily, I try to respect her right to dress herself and make her own choices. But the fact is, nobody makes attractive pull-on pants for tween girls, and she can't live her whole life in leggings and sweatpants. We got by with dresses when she was small, but none of her friends wear dresses now and so she doesn't want to either. And she had a major growth spurt, so we are looking at basically replacing most of her wardrobe.

I don't want this to turn into a power struggle. I know I will lose and it's not worth it. But is there some way I can Jedi mind trick her into wanting to wear a pair of freaking jeans?

Why not? My 9yo daughter hates jeans, too, and lives in leggings (not really sweatpants). She says jeans are really uncomfortable. NBD. She's happy and comfortable in her leggings.

Yup. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wearing sweatpants or leggings year round. As long as she understands that she needs to wear dressier stuff for dressier occasions.

[Anonymous]

Justice has stretch jegging type pants in different colors. My dd hates waistbands too.

[Anonymous]

My son (and a few others that know) hate to hear "button" pants. That includes jeans, khaki's and dress pants. He lives in elastic waist band clothes- athletic wear is our friend. I don't and won't fight him on this issue b/c I hate them too."

+1. My 10 y.o. DS has not worn "button pants" since he was 2. Not worth the battle - I have plenty of other things to worry about with this one.