Ser out a barbie doll and a GI Joe doll and see what happens.

Troll.

Get a romper / jumpsuit. She'll be adorable at the event.

She’s a toddler. Clothing is not identity.

Her “feelings and identity” are that she is a kid who doesn’t like dresses. Sheesh. There are plenty of nice-clothes outfits that aren’t dresses. Use your Google machine.

I went through the no dress phase in preschool and still turned out to be a girly girl who was into makeup, jewelry and fashion by middle school. Don’t make a big deal of it or make any assumptions. It could just be that she finds pants more comfortable.

Anonymous wrote:I hope this is a troll post.

Otherwise I can’t think of why a 2.5 year old would ever be required to wear a dress. If it’s for a wedding or something, bribe her. I wouldn’t even call it a bribe, just compensation.

Also obviously put shorts under it.

I hope this is a troll post.

Otherwise I can’t think of why a 2.5 year old would ever be required to wear a dress. If it’s for a wedding or something, bribe her. I wouldn’t even call it a bribe, just compensation.

There is no event that you are attending for which the only appropriate outfit for a 2.5 y/o girl is a dress, so you can put your mind at ease. Let her wear what she wants within reason— you don’t need to buy her a new wardrobe but don’t force dresses, at 2.5 no one will notice if she’s in pajamas.

Obviously trans

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.

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

Identity issues are unlikely at the age where the biggest thing for 2.5 year olds is trying to exert some independence and autonomy.

Whatever the event is, I am sure there is an appropriate non-dress option for your child.

I wouldn't force it. In this case, I would bribe if it were that important to you, but no two year old needs to be compelled into wearing a dress.

And no, for the people who come in and say you need to be in control...I say, choose your battles.

You think it's an identity issue because she doesn't want to wear a dress?!? WTF. Maybe she just doesn't like dresses.

Also, if you fight this battle, prepare for many more on lots of little things. Toddlers like to show their independence and if you don't cave on little things like clothes you are in for a loooooooooooong road.

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?