Appropriate “dress up” clothes for a toddler | PSF

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Thursday, after a quick “hey can we come film/interview you” phone call, I found myself in the bathroom slapping some make up on and figuring out what i was going to say.

There was a lot of buzz about a Toddlers and Tiaras participant that was dressed as Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.  Not the classy Julia in the brown and white dress, or the fabulous red dress at the opera; no, the mini-skirt, white shirt, thigh high boots Julia Roberts.  On a three year old.

Wowzers.  You can check out the Fox piece about this Tiara wearing Toddler (and see me briefly) if you haven’t heard about it.  Granted, I wouldn’t consider myself part of a “firestorm.”

But, come on.  If our kids are going to play “dress up” let’s have them do some age appropriate dressing up.

This?  This is what an {almost} three year old should be wearing to play around and dress up in and be silly in (along with the SuperMan, Storm Trooper, BatMan and gazillion other outfits she played in this night).  Not hooker boots, wigs, outfits, makeup, fake teeth and lashes.

giraffe natalie

Let’s let our kids be kids.  No sexualizing, no making them act like adults, dress like adults or wear clothes like adult.

Kids…silly costumes…having fun!

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30 Comments

  1. I agree with you. What really irks me (besides what the mom did in the first place) was how flippant she was in explaining herself afterwards. Basically she said that the little girl had no idea what she was representing, so it was harmless. How is exposing your child to this type of dressing and condoning it harmless? Whether or not she realizes how her mother dressed her, she’s getting the message that its acceptable. Sooner or later that message of acceptability is going to translate to how she dresses outside a pageant. And she just blew her whole role as a parent, IMO. The MOM is the one who knows better, the MOM is supposed to protect, direct and guide her daughter by making these decisions for her until the kid can choose for herself. Not dress her daughter up and parade her around in something riske (but apparently harmelss) for a laugh!
    EPIC FAIL Ms Dickey!

    1. Total epic fail! Fun? Fun? Yeah, I’m sure she’ll think it’s fun at 13 when her friends make fun of her!

  2. Tamara B. says:

    I watched the Toddlers and Tiaras one time and it gave me the creeps I can only imagine what a pedophile thinks sitting there watching it! I agree lets kids be kids and just have fun 🙂

    1. Oh, yeah! We don’t even have cable, so I had to go online and find the clip:)

  3. Oh, yes. That’s fun kids’ dress up stuff for sure! I used to have one just like it (in fact, my youngest kept trying to wear it long after he’d grown out of it).

  4. So true, so true. I agree 100% with this post. Lets let our kids be kids.

    1. Why would somebody want their kids to act/dress older than they are?

  5. Great post – and congrats on the interview! You are absolutely right: we need to let our kids be kids. Parents seem to have no boundaries anymore, and it’s sad. I don’t watch Toddlers & Tiaras because I think it’s ridiculous, but I’m all about your point in this post! 🙂

    1. Oh, I don’t watch it, either. We don’t even have cable (I had to look it up online when they called about the interview!)

      It’s really sad. The next day, I saw her on Good Morning America. Can we say publicity stunt.

  6. I completely agree! Why can’t kids just be kids? Craziness.

    Cute pic. 🙂

    1. It’s really disturbing to me. And, then I watched some high school kids walk to the bus stop this morning. Yikes! Way too short dresses! And super high heels!

  7. I just saw that episode last night, and the sad thing is that she actually won the highest title of the evening. What a horrible message to send.

    I much prefer your Izzy’s giraffe!

    1. I don’t have cable, so I couldn’t watch the whole thing…but I heard she won. Disturbing!

      (And, would you believe that’s N, my almost 3 year old?)

  8. It made me sick when I saw that… what’s wrong with some people. Come on!

    1. Honestly, I can’t believe TLC aired it..but hey, look at the (negative) publicity they are all getting.

  9. Melinda-LooKWhatMomFound..and Dad too! says:

    this mother was wrong for going with the entire costume. But honestly she probably did it to get a reaction, to get the publicity, to get the attention. I’m sure she was the talk of the town the day of the pageant and it made an impact on her child’s performance and scoring. She sent a horrible message to her own little girl.

    1. Oh, she succeeded, didn’t she? So sad to use your kids like that. Kids aren’t pawns in your game!

  10. Amen. Childhood is different from adulthood and so many people remember that. Well said and I love the giraffe costume

    1. I think you meant so many people “forget” that, right? But, then again, many people will remember that she did this, and I’m pretty sure she’ll still know about it at 13!

  11. grandma Pat says:

    Cute giraffe. Where were you trying on the costumes?

  12. I agree. Kids grow up too fast as it is. And who wants pervs ogling their children? Not me.

  13. I own a preschool, and we do not have any julia roberts or dolly parton outfits in our dress up trunks. Gotta be honest, no giraffes either. We have to fix this! Adorable family! I will be a follower from now…And I mean Seriously. I am grabbing your button, I would love for you to check out my site and follow. Super cool site:) Like really.

    1. Yes, please fix the giraffe issue…the others, though, well, only if you want to lose your clients!

      Thanks for following along.

  14. Sandra Taylor says:

    My favorite toddler costume is the fairy and the princess one. It look so cute and appropriate for kids.

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