When teaching gymnastics in college and grad school, nothing made me internally groan more than when I taught Mommy & Me classes and mom and little girl would show up in MATCHING giant hairbows. Sure sign they'd be the most high-maintenance duo in the class.

Anonymous wrote:I hate big bows, glitter, sequins, rainbows, etc. But guess, what, my daughter loves all of that. So rather than make a mountain out of a mole hill I let her express herself and wear the kinds of things that make her happy. And now that she's 7 she's growing out of all these things. It's just not that big of a deal.

I also don't judge the kids in the grocery store in their Pajamas, or wearing rain boots on a sunny day, or their super hero cape. Kids are just going to be kids and I might laugh to myself thinking the parent just wanted to get out of the house with out making the clothes their hill to die on that day. Some of you need to unclench.

+1000

My daughter went through a bow phase. Then a sparkly headband phase. Then a "no ruffles" phase. Then "no zippers or buttons" phase. My son definitely wore his cape everywhere. And its PJs all day these days. Whatever. I wouldn't choose a Jojo Sewa-style bow, but the smaller-but-still-noticeable were cute. Bows and headbands on babies are dumb - they just don't keep them on. Also, pierced ears for babies. That's total nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:Y'all realize this thread is 7 years old, right?

Apparently not much has changed in 7 years and people still feel very strongly about it.

Y'all realize this thread is 7 years old, right?

I hate big bows, glitter, sequins, rainbows, etc. But guess, what, my daughter loves all of that. So rather than make a mountain out of a mole hill I let her express herself and wear the kinds of things that make her happy. And now that she's 7 she's growing out of all these things. It's just not that big of a deal.

I also don't judge the kids in the grocery store in their Pajamas, or wearing rain boots on a sunny day, or their super hero cape. Kids are just going to be kids and I might laugh to myself thinking the parent just wanted to get out of the house with out making the clothes their hill to die on that day. Some of you need to unclench.

Big bows is either Southern or Midwestern trashy (the moms that put their young daughter in cheerleading).

Hair ribbons are preppy

Me reading this thread: [nodding] yeah, big bows are DUMB

Also me, after my toddler tries on an enormous bow headband in a store that matches her eye color exactly: All the bows for my baby! You are the cutest!

Yes, reader, I am a 40 year old tomboy who never wears makeup and can't stand anything pink or frilly, but my daughter is in possession of a vast collection of hair bows and headbands. In my defense, it was her choice! But holy shit she looks cute in them. I know, I know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God, I also hate these. I feel like they're seen most often on tiny babies because GOD FORBID it not be immediately apparent that your baby is a GIRL!

I hate them on babies because there are zero babies on the planet that like sh*t on their heads like that. At no point is it okay to make your baby/child uncomfortable for the sake of cutesy gender roles. Older kids bother me less because they either like them (whether they're conditioned to like them is another story) or I can imagine mom going through a bribing negotiation process to get the kid to wear it. If the kid is old enough to fight back and mom wants to die on that hill, then power to her. But save the poor innocent babies, for the love of God.

This. I've never met a baby who liked those little headband/bow things. Whenever I see a photo of a baby with one, I wonder how many tenths of a second after the photo was taken that the headband came off.

I do think sometimes parents are just caving to pressure though. I had people get upset with me when my daughter was a baby because they didn't feel I dressed her in girly enough clothes. Like basically, if it wasn't pink or purple and covered in bows or glitter, it did not sufficiently communicate "She's a girl!!!!!" to people. I didn't care at all and happily told people to mind their own business, but I think some parents might just get tired of the pressure and start dressing their girls in girly clothes just to avoid the questions about it. It probably depends on your family though. My husband and I are both from small towns, and I think our families (and in particular, our mothers) have very rigid and traditional ideas about gender.