Conference moira::parenting

   We don't have any skirts for our girls, but they do have a number of
   dresses.  Some are fancier, and some are not so fancy.  The really
   fancy ones are usually reserved for "dress up", as you put it.  The
   others are for any time.  My oldest is 3.5 yrs old, and she's quite
   the little monkey - climbing, digging, running, etc.   The dresses
   don't seem to slow her down much, and some days she choses to wear
   them (she picks her own clothes to wear, more or less), so we know she
   likes dresses.
   
   I don't know much about how clothes wear, but I'd expect that its more
   a function of the fabric and the construction than the actual article.
   That is, I'd be surprised to hear that demin pants were more sturdy
   than a demin skirt, all other things being equal.  But I would expect
   that demin would probably hold up better than, say, a cotton-poly
   blend.
   
   With socks and tights - its usually a function of the weather than
   anything else.  If its cool, tights are an option, and if its too hot,
   sometimes even socks are optional.  
   
   As far as keeping some outfits for "sunday best", thats up to you - it
   wouldn't be a bad idea, but I wouldn't automatically rule out wearing
   some skirts or dresses during "normal" days as well.
   
   - Tom
   

    At 18 months, my daughter became a clothes horse.  After several months
    of forcing her into shorts, we've given in and let her wear dresses. 
    She goes out bare legged in warm weather and the diaper protects her
    bottom.  She wears socks and sneakers.
    
    With the cooler weather, I'll put her in tights or leggings.  They
    might get messed up, but they are inexpensive at the discount store. 
    She'll wear snow pants when the temperature really drops.
    
    I've bought her inexpensive cotton knit dresses for summer and corduroy
    jumpers with turtleneck shirts for the fall.  They also sell 2-piece
    fleece short dress-legging outfits, but my daughter would get too hot
    in them, I think.
    
    So far, her dresses haven't gotten any more messed up than her shorts
    did.  The diaper takes most of the abuse.  She slides down the hill
    (dirt and sticks) and plays in the sand.
    
    I keep one or two nice outfits for dress up.
    
    L

    My daughters (5 3/4 and 3 3/4) would both wear dresses every day if I
    let them.  Last week, the younger one, Paige, was home sick.  When we
    went to pick up Caileigh at the babysitter's, Paige was absolutely 
    FURIOUS when she saw that Caileigh (who is in kindergarten) had a dress
    on when she was wearing shorts.
    
    They do have "for best" dresses, but if it's a dress or skirt I let
    them wear to school, they I don't expect them to be any more careful 
    than they are in dresses.  As a previous response indicated, they 
    wear pretty much the same as pants.  My only reservation is that I 
    don't want their movement restricted when playing.  I find that
    teachers and other parents sometimes expect them to be more careful
    to keep their dresses clean.  As they get older, modesty becomes
    more of an issue, but skorts, culottes, or skirt/legging combos are
    a good compromise.
    
    -Tracy
    

    My daughter has several "nice" outfits that I let her wear on the
    weekend and when we go out someplace special during the week.  These
    outfits never see daycare, since her clothes get trashed there with
    paint, grime from the playground, and other fun stuff.
    
    I think it's her job to play, so I don't mind her daycare clothes
    getting junky.
    
    I don't generally put her in a skirt or dress for daycare.  Without
    tights I'd be afraid that there would be so much sand in her diaper
    that her skin would get irritated.
    
    I'm sure at some point she will begin to ask for skirts and dresses. 
    I'll probably let her.  But right now she seems to understand that some
    clothes are saved for the weekend and she asks for those clothes only
    on those days.  She's 2 yrs. 4 months.
    
    judy

My daughter has a dress.  She hasn't ever worn it, but she has one.

Shorts and pants seem to be better for young girls, in my opinion.  Skirts seem
to get in the way of climbing and going down the slide, etc.

My husband and I occasionally talk about dressing her like a girl, but we never
do anything about it.  Someday, we probably will.  She's almost 2 now and 
doesn't seem to care.

(I should confess that I'm a pretty androgynous woman.  I don't care much about
fashion, and prefer to wear jeans and sweaters.  I wear dresses to work maybe
half the time, and they are casual and comfortable.)


Pat

Rasika is 4 yrs old and has liked only dresses and skirts since she was 
a little more than 2.  It took me a while to figure out why she disliked
shorts and pants. They were not comfortable. She has always been tall and 
skinny (95th percentile for height and 25th for weight.)  If the pants/shorts
fit her well at the waist, they would tug her at the crotch; if I bought longer
ones (longer between the waistband the crotch), they would be loose around the
waist. In winter, she wears thermal pants underneath cableknit tights.
During snowy winter days (quite a lot of them in here in Michigan), she
wears snowpants with adjustable straps that hang from her shoulder. 

Her clothing does not seem to hamper her activities, although it sometimes 
makes her underwear more visible than shorts would have. I started to tell her
about modesty - (your underwear should not show) and she asked me why people
wore bikinis!! 

By the way, because of the way she is built, one-piece outfits whose length 
cannot be adjusted (onesies, snowsuits, sleepers and pajamas that cover feet 
etc.) have been out of the question since she was about 9 months old. 

My 2 year old (Bhavika) is relatively shorter (75th percentile), but will
wear only what her older sister wears!! Also because most of her clothes are
hand-me-downs from Rasika. 

Pam
    

    My daughter just turned 2 and wears dresses/skirts/pants
    interchangeably. I also am very concerned about her being able to run,
    jump, climb, and play without being encumbered by a dress.  What I have
    found is that for her, it really makes little difference.
    
    What I have managed to do is to get the message across to family and my
    nanny (where the dresses have been coming from) that we like dresses 
    and skirts that are for play - like denim, cotton, knits, etc.  
    No ruffles please!  Fortunately, as she gets older we get fewer dresses
    as gifts, so I can buy one or two that I like!
    
    Her dresses go right in the wash just like shorts, and we don't treat
    them any differently.
    
    When she gets older we may make some changes, but I would rather see
    her comfortable in a dress so that when it is appropriate to get
    "dressed up"  it isn't a foreign concept. I also like seeing her in a
    comfortable dress.  She's cute. (And from a Mom who used to play
    baseball and climb trees!)
    
    Mary                       
    
    

For the pants that are too short in the crotch.  To get a good fit, measure
the distance from your child's waist (in the back) to the middle of the crotch.
Then have them bend over and touch their toes and do the same thing (the 2nd
number will be longer).  Take the average of the two.  The resulting number is
the length that the pants you buy should have from waist to crotch.

I also had a long thin one (Dirk).  I used to open up the crotch in his pants
and sew in an extra lozenge shaped piece for comfort.  I used denim on jeans.
when they were little I sometimes used contrasting fabric of the same type
(i.e. green corduroy with red stiching would get red corduroy inset, etc.)
If the fabric was appropriate, I sometimes uses a stretch fabric.

In is usual in Europe that babies all wear "underpants" (called a "slip" here).
These are often terry or plain cotton panties that they wear over their
diapers.  This way, when they slide, the diaper doesn't get ripped to shreds.
Moms who like to dress up _little_ girls buy ones with rows of ruffles on the
derriere.  It is very common to see little girls, even babies, dressed in
dresses here.  I wish I'd had a little girl to dress up in these pretty things.
But now I have a granddaughter which is almost as good. :-)

Cheryl

    Hey, Pat (was it .5?) -- I don't think you're androgynous, I think
    you have a lot of common sense! :-)  
    
    OK, so I guess I'll use Holly's little skirts for "dress-up,"
    whatever that may be.
    
    For those who like a "dressy" look but also want their daughters
    to have the freedom of pants, there are fancy "coverall" type
    clothes in dressy fabrics, with ruffles, lacy trim, etc., etc.
    holly has three, one in a darling tartan that doesn't fit anymore
    (sob!), one in a beautiful floral, and one in plain pink with eyelet
    trim.  Snap crotches, too.  So -- a dressy look that pleases the
    grownups, comfort for the little miss, and convenience for the
    lucky soul who gets to change the diapers.  I think this is the
    best solution for dress-up clothes.  Wish my MIL would get the hint...

This is what I'm using on cooler days.  I got her a pair of grey sweat
pants.  They aren't binding or bulky, don't conflict with the
all-important ;-) color scheme (pink, natch) and give her some
extra warmth.

I asked my Mom to keep an eye out for cotton-blend tights.
Her cheapo nylon tights are getting runs and holes.

L

    
     Re: 
     <<< Note 321.8 by TANNAY::BETTELS "Cheryl, Eur. Ext. Res. Prg., DTN 821-4022" >>>
                       -< A hint from someone who sews >-

     >>> For the pants that are too short in the crotch.  To get a good fit,    
     >>> measure .......
    
    Thanks for the tip Cheryl, I really appreciate it.  Sewing is one of
    those things I am terrible at; and am in awe of those who are good at
    it. !!
    
    >>> I also had a long thin one (Dirk).  I used to open up the crotch in his
    >>> pants and sew in an extra lozenge shaped piece for comfort.  I used
    >>> denim on jeans.
    
    What is a lozenge shaped piece? 
    
    Pam 

    I took it to mean something like:
    	/\
       /  \
      |    |
      |    |
       \  /
        \/
    
    Leslie

>    I took it to mean something like:
>    	 /\
>       /  \
>      |    |
>      |    |
>       \  /
>        \/
>    
>    Leslie


Right! the two points go into the leg seams and the widest part is where the
front crotch seam joins the back crotch seam.

Another hint for those of you struggling with regular panty hose when you're
pregnant: Take an old pair of panty hose and cut two "V"s from the reinforced
panty (keeping the elastic attached at the top of the V).  Take a good pair of
pnty hose and slice them open for the length of the V on the two sides but a 
bit towards the front.  Sew the two Vs into the slits.  With a little care,
the two pair I made lasted me throughout the entire pregnancy and were more
comfortable than any made to order ones I could buy.

Cheryl