Daughter refusing dresses at 2.5

[Anonymous]

Troll post.

[Anonymous]

Not that unusual. They are annoying to play in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the last month or two my 2.5 year old daughter has suddenly become adamant about not wanting to wear dresses.

If she was older, we would have conversation about her feelings and about her identity.

But at 2.5, I'm not sure if this is a normal toddler thing that I can overrule sometimes as a parent. (Is it really any different from toddler girls who want to wear princess dresses all the time?) Or something larger and identity-related that I need to respect.

We have a big event coming up where a dress is appropriate. Is it ok to make her wear one?

Identity?? Good God she's 2.5. Stop.

Appropriate for 2.5 is something she can comfortably be a kid in. She's not a doll you dress up.

[Anonymous]

What's weird is how obsessed you are with 1950s gender roles to the point that you think her clothing choice determines her entire identity. I was a girl that didn't like dresses, hated pink, rejected dolls and only played with action figures, only chose male playmates, and loudly spoke up in classrooms. The fact that you think that girls who live outside the narrow patriarchal boxes forced upon them as soon as they enter the world may not be 'real' girls is something I would examine. Will her identity be questioned by you if she's good at math? If she likes to play sports?

[Anonymous]

I'm a straight adult woman. I didn't like dresses as a younger child because they interfered with my ability to climb anything and everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this isn’t a troll post, nothing is. So obvious.

+1. My 2.5 yr old rejects basically all clothes (only at home thank goodness). Maybe I should speak to him about identifying as a nudist.

Haha had to force my 15 month old into a shirt this morning. At night I allow her to go without but needs a shirt for daycare. Hadn't thought she could be a budding nudist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this isn’t a troll post, nothing is. So obvious.

+1. My 2.5 yr old rejects basically all clothes (only at home thank goodness). Maybe I should speak to him about identifying as a nudist.

This made me laugh out loud. Thanks. I had a neighbor whose kids loved to "streak through the house when she had guests.

[Anonymous]

Normal 2.5 year old behavior. Mine will wear 3 dresses only. So they are on rotation as they are handmedowns and i cant get more. If i put my food down and wrestle her into something else, she rips it off. Its control of their own environment. I just go with it. Had similar experience with my 6 year old and shes much more reasonable now.

[Anonymous]

My 2-3 yr old would refuse dresses, full on fits when she has an otherwise very easy going attitude. She has never worn one since (a teen now). She's not declared herself as trans, but she is gender neutral I'd say. We let her be herself. Plenty of nice things to wear that are not dresses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 2-3 yr old would refuse dresses, full on fits when she has an otherwise very easy going attitude. She has never worn one since (a teen now). She's not declared herself as trans, but she is gender neutral I'd say. We let her be herself. Plenty of nice things to wear that are not dresses.

Man, when I read things like this, I realize how far society needs to go.

What does being trans have to do with not wearing dresses? So yiu even know what being trans MEANS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 2-3 yr old would refuse dresses, full on fits when she has an otherwise very easy going attitude. She has never worn one since (a teen now). She's not declared herself as trans, but she is gender neutral I'd say. We let her be herself. Plenty of nice things to wear that are not dresses.

Man, when I read things like this, I realize how far society needs to go.

What does being trans have to do with not wearing dresses? So yiu even know what being trans MEANS?

Clearly I have not given you my child's whole history. I mentioned it casually because that's where peoples thoughts always go. She doesn't wear dresses, she wears athletic clothes, she must be "trying on" trans. I hear these comments all the time. I agree its BS, but thats not how I meant it in the one sentence on this message board.

[Anonymous]

Um, I'm 51, I rejected dresses as a toddler (Mom says so!) and reject them now. I just don't like them and prefer the comfort of pants/shorts.

No identity issues-not a girly girl but am straight and cisgender and have kids. I recommend you dress her in what she likes (seasonally appropriate) and is clean and fits well. And don't tell her she dresses 'like a boy'. I heard that a lot and I was never trying to be 'like a boy'. I just wanted to be comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not that unusual. They are annoying to play in.

+100

For whatever event, just put her in something cute she can move in. Dresses on a toddler are not a hill to die on.

[Anonymous]

My 5 year old insists on sleeping only in her underwear and spent 80% of the day today in only her underwear. Maybe she’s a nudist. Or she’s just a kid.

[Anonymous]

My DD won’t wear anything that impedes her ability to climb at recess. That is how she selects outfits during the school year. She is certainly not grappling with her gender identity, merely making practically based decisions based upon function.