Dressing our kids like adults now???

[maxiesmom]

I saw something really disturbing a few months ago in the abercrombie store for children, they had a display of sweatpants along with a poster of a young girl's butt in the pants and a something along the lines of "pants that make your butt look good" or something like that. I remember at the time being so shocked that they would have something like that in a children's store. I also work at a school and the way some of these children dress really shock me, I had a first grader come in with high-heeled sandals, short shorts and a tube top...really mom and dad?!?!?! It's so sad that these companies are basically forcing children to grow up way faster than they need to.

Don't blame the stores. Blame the parents that buy that stuff for their kids. If it didn't sell, the stores wouldn't keep having it in stock.

 

[badblackpug]

I feel your pain! Try finding a bra for an 11 year old that is not padded!! I even went to the little girls section and all of the "training" bra types are padded! Why does a little girl need a padded bra? Let them be little as long as they can! They have plenty of time to wear the grown up stuff when they are older!

I have a well endowed 13 year old. I buy her bras from Victoria's Secret. You probably have to order them online but I buy the unlined cotton full coverage bra. The material is substantial enough that there is no "show through."

 

[Donaldswife]

I saw something really disturbing a few months ago in the abercrombie store for children, they had a display of sweatpants along with a poster of a young girl's butt in the pants and a something along the lines of "pants that make your butt look good" or something like that. I remember at the time being so shocked that they would have something like that in a children's store. I also work at a school and the way some of these children dress really shock me, I had a first grader come in with high-heeled sandals, short shorts and a tube top...really mom and dad?!?!?! It's so sad that these companies are basically forcing children to grow up way faster than they need to.

It is not the company's fault, as you say earlier in the post the blame belongs with parents. Clothing manufacturers are in the business to make money, they would not make it if they were not making money. Parents are buying up these clothes and sending their kids to school in it, not the manufacturer! If people stopped buying the product it would disappear from the shelves pretty quickly.

 

[LilyWDW]

Don't blame the stores. Blame the parents that buy that stuff for their kids. If it didn't sell, the stores wouldn't keep having it in stock.

If people didn't buy it, stores wouldn't keep it in stock. Obviously, these items are in demand and being sold. As such, the stores are LISTENING to their consumers. Stores don't make and release product lines for the heck of it... they do a lot of consumer research and look at a lot of information before making these decisions.

 

[princessmom29]

I saw something really disturbing a few months ago in the abercrombie store for children, they had a display of sweatpants along with a poster of a young girl's butt in the pants and a something along the lines of "pants that make your butt look good" or something like that. I remember at the time being so shocked that they would have something like that in a children's store. I also work at a school and the way some of these children dress really shock me, I had a first grader come in with high-heeled sandals, short shorts and a tube top...really mom and dad?!?!?! It's so sad that these companies are basically forcing children to grow up way faster than they need to.

And this is why schools need uniforms!!!! All schools here both public and private have a uniform policy, largely due to incidents like this.

 

[spacemountainmom]

And this is why schools need uniforms!!!! All schools here both public and private have a uniform policy, largely due to incidents like this.

I wish! I work in a middle school and see way too much booty and cleavage....every single day. There are dress codes, but the administration doesn't seem to care enough to enforce them.

Then again, the dress codes are hysterical. In grade school and middle school, tank tops are forbidden. In high school....anything goes. My dd couldn't wear a tank top to school when she was in 2nd grade, but can let it all hang out as a 10th grader.

Amen to the poster who said parents should stop dressing like teens. I don't shop at the same stores my teenage daughter does, even if I still had the body for it. Adults can dress age appropriate and not look frumpy.

 

[woodkins]

I saw something really disturbing a few months ago in the abercrombie store for children, they had a display of sweatpants along with a poster of a young girl's butt in the pants and a something along the lines of "pants that make your butt look good" or something like that. I remember at the time being so shocked that they would have something like that in a children's store. I also work at a school and the way some of these children dress really shock me, I had a first grader come in with high-heeled sandals, short shorts and a tube top...really mom and dad?!?!?! It's so sad that these companies are basically forcing children to grow up way faster than they need to.

The name of the Abercrombie sweatpants are "The Cute Butt Sweatpants". I personally find the abercrombie clothes cute for my 8yr old dd.

 

[QVCshopper]

Its the same over here too My dd is 6 but wears age 8 clothes as she is soooo tall. She loves all the younger kids clothes, loads of bright colours and pretty tops and dresses, but these don't fit her. As soon as you move to her size everything is dark coloured and skin tight and looks like its to be worn while out clubbing.

She's my little girl and she wants to be a little girl but finding clothes and shoes for her is a nightmare.

I have a very tall 6 year old as well. You're going to have to shop at Gymboree, LL Bean, Lands End, and Hanna Anderson. They have younger looking clothes up to at least a 12; my DD is 4'4", and can wear up to a size 10. It's nuts what's out there, so that's why I frequent these brands.

 

[kmedina]

I am not fortunate enough to have a daughter, but I do not even like to wear heels myself. A friend said I was given boys, since I am not girly. I just like to be comfortable, and I cannot imagine having a five year old endure heels. Poor kids who wear those things. They are going through unncessary pain far too young.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am not fortunate enough to have a daughter, but I do not even like to wear heels myself. A friend said I was given boys, since I am not girly. I just like to be comfortable, and I cannot imagine having a five year old endure heels. Poor kids who wear those things. They are going through unncessary pain far too young.

I have a niece who would have loved to wear them that young. Some girls just get a big does of the girly gene and love to dress up.

 

[holden]

I haven't read the whole thread, but Mini Boden is also a great place to get age appropriate clothes.

I haven't had too much trouble getting stuff for my girls yet (ages 8 & 4). We shop Mini Boden, Hanna Andersson, LL Bean, etc.

 

[disfan07]

I work at a preschool and our 3, 4 and 5 year olds are all dressed like little kids. The older kids who are there for after school care are dressed their age as well.

My cousin is 13 and her mom has never had problems finding her age appropriate clothes. Yes she wears tank tops, shorts, etc but she looks 13.

I dont know where you guys live or where you guys are shopping but I have definitely not noticed the issues that you guys are talking about where I work.

 

[Colleen27]

I am not fortunate enough to have a daughter, but I do not even like to wear heels myself. A friend said I was given boys, since I am not girly. I just like to be comfortable, and I cannot imagine having a five year old endure heels. Poor kids who wear those things. They are going through unncessary pain far too young.

Heels aren't painful for all adult women so I'd assume the same to be true for girls. My 9yo DD would have lived in heels at 3-4-5-6 when she was in her princess phase. She was just that into the girly-girl thing. My problem with heels for kids, on everyday footwear like sandals, boots, and casual shoes, is that it limits how a child can play. That's much too young to be sending the message that fashion is more important than being able to run, jump, and climb.

I let my girly-girl enjoy her heels in her pretend play/dress up chest and when picking out one-time-wear holiday shoes, but insisted on practical, comfortable styles for daily wear.

 

[delmar411]

I have a very tall 6 year old as well. You're going to have to shop at Gymboree, LL Bean, Lands End, and Hanna Anderson. They have younger looking clothes up to at least a 12; my DD is 4'4", and can wear up to a size 10. It's nuts what's out there, so that's why I frequent these brands.

What size do you buy in Hanna Anderson? YDD is 54" so I guess that's 4'6" but she is skinny enough to wear sz 5. I want to get her some of the play dresses but can't quite figure out measurements w/o trying them on her.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

OMG! This has been my pet peeve since my now 14 year old was about 5!!! The crap you see in some stores is ridiculous! I refuse to dress my children like miniture adults. Of course, I'm also so sad that my last child has outgrown smocked clothes. I love living in the south where beautiful children's clothes are appreciated - usually It's like an art form - a dying art form.

And yes, I unfortunately have to agree with the the pp who said if the parents didn't buy it, the stores wouldn't sell it. But, I, for one, am not buying it!!! I'm boycotting Justice for one. There stuff runs so, so small. Last summer my girls talked me into going in there to look for some shorts. I had to buy my 8 year old, who was wearing a size 8 at the time, a size 12 pair of shorts to get the fit right - up 2 sizes up just to get a correct fit is ridiculous! Most of the stuff in there is just plain trashy and WAY overpriced and the quality is low too.

I do most of my two younger girl's clothes shopping through catalogs and internet now. These are my favorite sites:

www.kellyskids.com
www.chezami.com
www.cwdkids.com
www.castlesandcrowns.com
www.hannahanderson.com

I also have some favorite custom sewers on Ebay I like to use. Also, I do get some cute stuff at Target and Walmart, but if you see something cute and age appropriate you have to grab it up when you see it, because it won't usually be there if you are planning on coming back later. And I actually found some cute, age appropriate, things at Penny's the other day.

 

[princessmom29]

OMG! This has been my pet peeve since my now 14 year old was about 5!!! The crap you see in some stores is ridiculous! I refuse to dress my children like miniture adults. Of course, I'm also so sad that my last child has outgrown smocked clothes. I love living in the south where beautiful children's clothes are appreciated - usually It's like an art form - a dying art form.

And yes, I unfortunately have to agree with the the pp who said if the parents didn't buy it, the stores wouldn't sell it. But, I, for one, am not buying it!!! I'm boycotting Justice for one. There stuff runs so, so small. Last summer my girls talked me into going in there to look for some shorts. I had to buy my 8 year old, who was wearing a size 8 at the time, a size 12 pair of shorts to get the fit right - up 2 sizes up just to get a correct fit is ridiculous! Most of the stuff in there is just plain trashy and WAY overpriced and the quality is low too.

I do most of my two younger girl's clothes shopping through catalogs and internet now. These are my favorite sites:

www.kellyskids.com
www.chezami.com
www.cwdkids.com
www.castlesandcrowns.com
www.hannahanderson.com

I also have some favorite custom sewers on Ebay I like to use. Also, I do get some cute stuff at Target and Walmart, but if you see something cute and age appropriate you have to grab it up when you see it, because it won't usually be there if you are planning on coming back later. And I actually found some cute, age appropriate, things at Penny's the other day.

The problem I find with Kelly's kids, Hannah,ect. the is the cost. I am NOT paying those kinds of prices for children's clothes. They are more than twice what they shoud cost. Why can't we have reasonable children's clothes that fit well and look like they belong on children??

 

[DISvirgin1]

I feel your pain! Try finding a bra for an 11 year old that is not padded!! I even went to the little girls section and all of the "training" bra types are padded! Why does a little girl need a padded bra? Let them be little as long as they can! They have plenty of time to wear the grown up stuff when they are older!

I don't mind the padding, but the UNDERWIRE kills me. I think underwire bras are torture devices and can't wear them without getting sharp stabbing pains in my upper rib. I don't know why most 10 year olds would need underwire.
(admittedly I know this not because of my kids, who are too young to need them, but because of my small bra size I have to shop in Juniors )

 

[PrincessTiffany]

The problem I find with Kelly's kids, Hannah,ect. the is the cost. I am NOT paying those kinds of prices for children's clothes. They are more than twice what they shoud cost. Why can't we have reasonable children's clothes that fit well and look like they belong on children??

Well, you are right, some of those brands can be a bit pricey, but I look at it this way, I have three girls and I have literally been able to pass down pieces from Kelly's Kids, Chez Ami, etc. through all three girls and if you buy at the end of the season, everything is half off. Also, they hold a nice resale value. My husband thinks it is hillarious that I know the resale value on all the kids clothing, but I do. I resell almost all of their clothes either through Ebay or through a local consignment sale. I have actually made more money than I paid for some of the smocked outfits that I have resold on Ebay. While most of the things I buy Target, Walmart, Penny's, etc., I just usually donate, because they aren't going to have much resale value. I know my system doesn't work for everyone, but it works for us.

 

[princessmom29]

Well, you are right, some of those brands can be a bit pricey, but I look at it this way, I have three girls and I have literally been able to pass down pieces from Kelly's Kids, Chez Ami, etc. through all three girls and if you buy at the end of the season, everything is half off. Also, they hold a nice resale value. My husband thinks it is hillarious that I know the resale value on all the kids clothing, but I do. I resell almost all of their clothes either through Ebay or through a local consignment sale. I have actually made more money than I paid for some of the smocked outfits that I have resold on Ebay. While most of the things I buy Target, Walmart, Penny's, etc., I just usually donate, because they aren't going to have much resale value. I know my system doesn't work for everyone, but it works for us.

It is great that it works for you! I only have the one DD, so I cannot resuse stuff, and the consignment market here doesn't yield nearly that kind of money by the time they take thier cut. I haven't looked at reselling on ebay, but with a full time job I don't think it is feasable for me. It just seems like and awful lot of work to dress one child!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

It is great that it works for you! I only have the one DD, so I cannot resuse stuff, and the consignment market here doesn't yield nearly that kind of money by the time they take thier cut. I haven't looked at reselling on ebay, but with a full time job I don't think it is feasable for me. It just seems like and awful lot of work to dress one child!

Selling on Ebay is really easy and not that time consuming. Another thing I did last season, was post an album of the kid's clothes on my Facebook page and tagged anyone I thought would be interested and told them to tag any of their friends that would be interested. I sold most of their fall items this way and didn't have to do Ebay or the consignment sale this past fall.