AWESOME FACT: When it comes to taking care of Annabel, Heather and I are pretty much on the same page about everything.
NOT SO AWESOME FACT: I say “pretty much” because there is one area we do not see eye to eye – clothing.
That’s right… clothes.
Baby clothes.
To me (and most guys) clothes could be subtitled: the stuff we wear to keep warm. To Heather (and many women) a better subtitle would be: OMG clothes are the greatest thing ever I want to marry them!!!
Okay, so maybe the second subtitle is a little over the top, but sometimes things get so wacky around our home that it feels pretty darn accurate. So with no further adieu, here are Heather and my top five baby clothes related run-ins:
ROUND ONE – SHOES
When Annabel and I are out and about together Heather loves for me to text her a photo of our little cutie. Inevitably Heather will almost always text back: “Where are her shoes?!” This is because Heather thinks that non-onesy clad babies should wear shoes in public at all times. Now I get that shoes are important for adults (and in fact no shoes often means no service), but for babies shoes seem more like an unnecessary accessory, especially when they don’t even walk yet! Heather and I have debated this issue far more than any sane couple ever should.
ROUND TWO – PAJAMAS
On the weekend Heather will sometimes head out to take care of errands while I watch Annie. This often leads to Heather returning and dismissively asking, “She’s still in her pajamas?” Okay, so maybe wearing pajamas at three in the afternoon is a sign of depression, but is it really such a big deal if we didn’t leave the house? And also shouldn’t Heather have been more concerned that I was in my pajamas at three in the afternoon?
ROUND THREE – SHIRTS
Another time Heather and I tangle over clothes is when I dress Annie in the same shirt she wore the day before. This, to Heather, is a no-no and tantamount to my committing the crime of dressing our baby in dirty clothes. In my mind, however, if the shirt is still clean, it is fine (after all babies don’t stink up a shirt with sweat like adults do). One of my key arguments of defense on this issue is that I don’t understand why it is okay to dress Annie in her jeans a couple days in a row, but not her shirts.
ROUND FOUR – STAINS
Heather loves it when I bond with Annie by feeding her, but she isn’t crazy about the way Annie looks afterward. In Heather’s eyes I should be much more militant in making sure Annie stays clean while eating. I get this, and I will admit that I don’t always remember to put a bib on Annie or to push up her sleeves, but isn’t the whole point of a washing machine to wash clothes that get dirty? Also, from a personal standpoint, I always find a well soiled shirt a sign that I just had a great meal. Annie, I’m sure, feels the same way.
ROUND FIVE – HAIR
Heather loves Annie’s hair, especially as it grows in more and more. As a result Heather is constantly putting hats, barrettes, and head bands on Annie, and Annie HATES them. No matter how many times Annie makes a pained face and tears the hat, barrette, or head band off her head, however, Heather always tries to put another one on her the next day. Am I wrong to tell Heather that this head wear torture needs to stop?
Okay, party peeps, there were five rounds…who was right in three or more rounds and thus proved themselves the victor in our ongoing clothes debate? Bring peace to our home by declaring yourself Team Heather or Team Mike!
Heather’s rebuttal can be found here.
Kate @ UpsideBackwards says:
ooooh, no, I’m not taking sides in this one! Suffice to say, we have had many of the same conversations in our house, but sometimes our positions are reversed.
Elizabeth says:
Sorry Mike, but it’s Team Heather all the way!!!
I so identify with this post – maybe not the hair one since we have a boy, but otherwise it’s bang on what we’ve gone through in our house on many occasions!!
Although now our little guy is deciding for himself what he wants to wear and sometimes that means layering 3 of his favourite t-shirts and refusing to take them off for days, even if they do get dirty…Just yesterday I was reminding him of all the cute outfits he has, trying to urge him to not obsess over wearing a Toy Story pajama top out in public for days on end…It must be a guy thing
RS says:
Heather sounds like so much like me. I was obsessed too with appropriate clothes for my son. Does the shirt match the exact shade of those jeans? Is he going out without shoes? I also spent half my paycheck on buying atrociously expensive baby clothes that my son would outgrow in no time. Today my son is 4 and I’ve learned my lesson. He does not care two hoots what he wears. Nobody cares about what little kids wear because they look cute in ANYTHING. I could take him out in the same outfit every single day and nobody would really notice. The only person noticing these things was me. Now I’ve stopped obsessing and we are both happier. So “Team Mike” on this one.
Lauren says:
I am playing for both teams! 1, 3, 4 = Heather; 2, 5 = Mike
Karyn says:
Team Mike! (sorry, Heather.).
Kirsty says:
My daughters are quite a bit older (just 9 and almost 7) and I don’t remember all the details of when they were babies, but I DO know for sure that
a) neither even owned a pair of shoes till they were about 15 months old;
b) both frequently wore pyjamas not only all day, but very often outside;
c) I HATED putting them in anything two-piece – it all rides up and bunches up and GAAAAAHHHH. Hence the pyjamas-all-day-even-outside thing. I loved anything all-in-one!
d) I am kind of with Heather on the keeping clean thing – pureed vegetable just doesn’t seem to come out, no matter how you wash it, so I was a real dictator about bibs and stuff. And in summer, both girls basically ate more or less naked (much easier).
e) When my girls were Annie’s age, the hair accessory thing was a pretty moot point as neither had anywhere near enough hair (bald as eggs for ages!). Once they were old enough, their own preferences took over (and “peer pressure”) so we did go down the barrettes/pigtails route, but as I said, it was their choice.
I guess in the end I actually remember quite a lot – and I seem to be Team Mike on just about all but one point…
Kirsten says:
Not saying who’s right or wrong since everyone has their own opinion… but as a teacher of small children, I want to just mention a couple of things:
Unless it is absolutely FREEZING, avoid shoes as much as possible until Annie is at least in kindergarten. Shoes, especially in toddlers just learning to walk, tend to stunt the development of the muscles and bones in the feet and can lead to painful problems later in life.
And as for mess, Annie’s pretty much at an age where she can start to feed herself. Give her stuff of different consistencies and textures and let her mess. It develops confidence, avoids later food issues, and helps with brain development as she feels and tastes new things.
Have fun guys.
Kate says:
Eek I’m mostly Team Mike on this one.
My daughter is 11 months and whenever we went out this winter she was sat in her pram inside her cosytoe and so I didnt feel the need for shoes that would inevitably be kicked off anyway. Only now she is out of her cosytoe do I put shoes on her. But if we’re running a quick errand meaning she won’t leave the car, we dont bother.
As for the pyjamas, I dont dress Robyn if the days agenda is staying indoors and not expecting visitors. She’s only going to get dirty from feeding herself and we have to take our laundry to the laundrettes so extra washing is never encouraged.
Admittedly Robyn is never in yesterdays clothes, mainly because they’re dirty. And as for the hair, my kid is currently pretty bald in comparision to Annie. But I’m siding with Heather here because Annie looks adorable with her hair styled.
karen says:
Mike & Heather,
Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars – never a truer statement.
However,
Shoes – shoes dont taste as good as feet, fact. (Mike)
Pjs – me and my 7 yrs old still have pj Saturdays, they are fun and lazy and warm and cuddly. (Mike)
Shirts – I’m appalled at both of you! Clean clothes, top to bottom every day! (Draw)
Stains – Mike washing machines are not THAT good with mushy carrot stains, Heather she’s enjoying her food! (Draw)
Hair – I hate having my hair messed with, so does my daughter, so I ‘m with Annie on this. (Mike)
Sorry Heather I in Mike’s camp!
Lynn from For Love or Funny says:
1,2,5 = Mike
3,4 = Heather
MS says:
I’m with Lynn on the standings here. Unless Mike does the majority of Annie’s laundry, in which case, 4 would swing his way. The parent that does A’s laundry gets to pick the stain issue.
Sorry Heather!
J from Ireland says:
Ok I know Team Mike makes alot of sense but I am going with Team Heather, its all about looking cute. The hair torture thing has me in stiches laughing because many times I have done this to my baby daughters!!
Mijke says:
1. I’m not a big shoe-fan. I wear them when I go outside, and so do our 3 yr old twins. But not in summer. In summer all three of us go barefoot. Our 11 month old doesn’t walk yet, so no shoes needed. Inside? I’m a socks-only person. The twins? They are bare-foot people all the way… (point for Mike)
2. We all get dressed before we go downstairs. But not because of any principles. Just because I’m too lazy to drag all the kids back upstairs to get dressed when it’s time to go somewhere. Putting shoes and coats on the twins is already a 15 minute struggle (per child). I’d hate to still have to dress them first, too. We’d never get outside anymore… (point for Heather)
3. If they still look and smell clean, they can go another day. Or two. (point for Mike)
4. I don’t care how messy they get: as long as they EAT! If I know we’ll be eating something messy, I’ll just make sure they’re not wearing anything I don’t want to get stained. (point for Mike)
5. Our daughter doesn’t want to wear ponytails in general. And the few times when she does, her twin brother wants to wear them too. And gets upset if I try to explain to him that his hair is too short. If she doesn’t want them, she doesn’t need to wear any. And if he DOES, I put them in and let him find out for himself that they fall out before he even gets downstairs. Their hair. Their choice. Unless we are having pictures taken or are going to a wedding or other special event. Then they just have to suck it up! (draw)
I guess I’m with team Mike on this one…
Betsy says:
Team Mike. I…pretty much did all that with my kid.
Audra says:
I’m with Team Heather on Shirts and Stains, but I have to agree with Mike on Shoes, Pajamas and Hair.
My little M who just turned three on Tuesday LOVES to be barefoot when we are at home. When we are out, she has to wear shoes because she CAN walk…but if she couldn’t I wouldn’t see a problem with going shoeless.
I’ll be honest, on the days when she doesn’t have school, I send her to her Grammy’s for the day in her sleeper when she requests it. It’s winter in Ohio and it makes her feel cozy. Plus, I know they aren’t going to leave the house. We will put on a fresh new sleeper after bath at night.
Finally, HAIR. I LOVE to put my little girl’s hair in pig tails, but when she takes them out it is a sign that she needs a nap and I go with that. It is her sign to me that she is done being “on” and needs to get comfy. Plus, her hair is a short little blonde bob and I ADORE her bedhead look when she wakes up. Baby bedhead is one of my favorite things.
Patrice says:
No question. Heather wins. In a knockout.
ShelliOz says:
Team Heather!!
Julie says:
Team Mike because of shoes, stains, and hair! I am so very much with heather on clean shirts and pjs though.
Lisa says:
Sorry, Mike. I totally related to Heather on this one. But I think my husband would agree with you 100% on all of it!
Holley says:
Close one.
1. Team Mike. My daughter did not were shoes for a long time. We had a pair of the leather slip-on shoes ($12 at Target) that we used primarily in the winter when rushing her to and from the car. Our first family photo has her in little booties–so cute.
2. Team Mike all the way. The kids an I often declare “Pajama Day” on the weekend because sometimes it is just so cozy to play games and cuddle all day in jammies. This means the grown-ups can stay in jammies too.
3. Team Heather. Primarily because in addition to the cleanliness thing, she needs to show off all her cute clothes before she outgrows them. However, Team Mike gets points because the jeans should change too.
4. Team Heather. Some stains do not come out, and you don’t want to unintentionally reduce her wardrobe of cute clothes.
5. Tough one. Hair torture is bad, but Annie’s hair is so cute, I can understand the compulsive need to play with barrettes, berets, whatever.
I think it’s too close to call.
AJ says:
Mike 4 Heather 1. Team Mike! (baby food stains are awful to get out, put onthe bib)
Lee Cockrum says:
I’m on team Mike. I am a pediatric physical therapist, so I think kids need their feet free to explore and develop good musculature. Just not a girly girl, so no big deal on the hair stuff. The rest are not a big deal to me either!
Mary c says:
I’m going with team Heather! The only round I would agree with you on is the shoes.
Elisa says:
Team Mike this time! Sorry Heather
Truth be told though, I think you’re *both* terrific parents.
Alexandra :) says:
Team Annabel!
Julia says:
Let’s see —
Heather gets rounds 3, 4
Mike gets rounds 1, 2, 5
Ha, what a funny post!
Meghan says:
Sorry Mike, I have three girls. I am whole-heartedly on Heather’s side on this one. My husband does not understand either…it is what it is. Don’t waste your energy fighting it…the force of estrogen is something to be reckoned with!
Sarah says:
I’m going to with Heather on most of these., especially shoes and hair. If you don’t start getting them used to having to wear shoes before they leave the house and get used to having their hair done daily, when you try to start it later you will have a fight on your hands. It takes long enough to get kids ready without fighting about the routine things.
I’ll give Mike the bib thing though b/c I hated bibs. They were a huge pain in the you know what and they were never big enough. I chose to either deal with the stains at laundry time or simply just feed the kid only in their diaper and plop them in the tub immeadiately after.
Heather says:
Team Mike, 5 for 5.
AmazingGreis says:
Mike, you know I love you, right? Because I really do, but…
It looks like I’m Team Heather. I agree with shoes, shirts and stains.
I’m neutral on the hair because if the barrette/hat/headband aren’t staying on then why even bother, but it’s so darn cute that you just have to keep trying!
I’m 100% behind you with pajamas…if I’m not leaving the house why dirty a whole outfit?
Nellie says:
As a mom to a 3 1/2 year old girl I must say you both have very real and valid points but sorry Mike, TEAM HEATHER! all the way.
You two are fantastic parents in every way but when it comes to dressing a child in clothes and accessories, the Mommy is always right!
Randi says:
Round 1 goes to Mike: Shoes? Not necessary. Socks or some foot covering? yes.
Round 2 goes to Mike: PJ’s on a weekend? YES PLEASE! As long as you’re not going anywhere and they’re not really soiled!
Round 3 goes to Heather: Babies don’t often get things on their jeans. They DO, however, drool all over shirts!
Round 4 goes to Heather: Lemme guess, she does the laundry, right?!
Round 5 goes to Mike: Baby hair stuff is FUN – but when they’re just ripping it out all the time and hate it you’re doing it more for YOU than for THEM. The time will come when she’ll LOVE having her hair done (says the mom of a 6 yr old hair and fashion fanatic)
Kim Q says:
Okay, let’s go round by round here…
Round 1- Team Mike. Babies don’t need shoes until the time they are walking, and are actually allowed to get out of the stroller to do so, i.e., a 15 month old toddler does not need shoes if she is going to be pushed around in a shopping cart at a grocery store without any opportunity to walk herself.
Round 2- Team Heather. If the baby wears distinctly different pajamas and clothes, then clothes should be put on in the morning.
Round 3- Nobody. A baby should have fresh clothes each day, including jeans. :o)
Round 4- Team Heather. Some food stains are HARD to get out, which is why bibs were invented!
Round 5- Team Mike. Enough said.
Overall, this means you either need to go for a tie-breaker round or be happy with a tie.
Anjie says:
I’m fully Team Heather on this one!
Hamlets mistress says:
Team Mike. With you on the head gear, eating and pajamas.
Kristina says:
Although it is fun too put shoes on little kids, they just don’t need them. Save the money for something fun for you! In terms of clothes, girls are so fun to dress and there are so many cute options, I say go nuts with the cute clothes and try to keep ’em clean. (Buy used when you can, you can sometimes find real classics, sometimes homemade items). Hair? If Annie fights it you should stop. Trust me, my girl has loads of thick, wavy hair and I wanted to play with it all day… but if she doesn’t like it? I felt I needed to stop until she wanted me to do stuff with it. She still doesn’t let me too much and she’s 6. It hurts to see all that hair and not be able to play with it. But it’s her head, not mine.
Tammy says:
I’m with you on the pj’s but only if they are the fuzzy footy pjs since I love to see babies in those things 24/7. I doubt Annies are fuzzy footies are since you live in sunny LA. So, I guess it’s Heather 5 – Mike 0. Now if you had a boy, … nah, I’d still side with Heather. Sorry! But, you are a very entertaining writer so I give you points for that….does that help?
Girly-girls unite!
vickie says:
although i am guilty of the whole pajamas-at-3pm thing from time-to-time, gotta go with heather –
my kid has a stupid amount of cute clothes & shoes & barrettes & whatnot – she might as well wear them!
jen says:
Team Mike and pajamas win everytime!!!!
Lisa says:
Oh, I hate to take sides but I have to go with Heather on this one. I’ll give you the shoes one. My daughter rarely wore shoes until she could walk. The rest however, I’m with Heather, sorry Mike.
bhsumom says:
Totally Heather…I miss those days of being able to dress my kids! (They are now 22, 20 and 17)
Melanie says:
I’m definitely team Heather here. I’m even weird about not only not wearing the same shirt two days in a row, you certainly can’t put the same shirt on them twice in the same week (even fresh out of the dryer), and I always try to make sure that (especially as babies) my kid’s are wearing something different when they see someone than they wore the time before. So, if I have a very favorite outfit, before I put it on them I think, “Wait, s/he wasn’t wearing this last time we visited Grandma, was s/he?”
The only one I’ll give you is the PJs… and I only came to that point through experience. When my oldest was a baby, she was dressed pretty much every day. My son, however, was in PJs unless something required me to actually dress his fussy butt. I’d put clean ones on him… but it was pretty much sleepers all the time (in my defense he was a December baby and it’s cold here in Ohio… plus boy clothes aren’t nearly as fun as girl clothes).
Plus, I think that getting kids used to shoes means they don’t pull them off as often when they get to the point where they have to wear them. Maybe coincidental, but I was a lot more crazy about the shoe thing with my first born and I never had to find tossed shoes in the car and put them back on upon arrival. My son, on the other hand….
cindy w says:
I’m kind of surprised at myself for this, but I think I’m mostly Team Mike on this one. Mainly because I tend to gravitate toward the lazier side of parenting. I prefer to call it the Path of Least Resistance. Or maybe just picking your battles for the big things (like how to get the kid to sleep through the night OMG).
The one where I have to agree with Heather is about food stains. I go all OCD-crazy about not letting my kid make a mess at mealtime. We don’t have a dog, so anything that ends up on the floor? I have to get down there & clean it up myself. And I’m also the chief laundry-washer around here, so… yeah. I prefer mealtimes to be as tidy as they can be with a little kid. (Which is still a solid “not very” on the tidiness scale.) But a lot of baby food leaves really nasty permanent stains, so I definitely have to give that one to Heather.
Gwen says:
#1: Mike. My kids never wear shoes before they walk outside. Hell, often not even then.
#2: I’m for pj’s late in the day on weekends, but on weekdays I try to dress the kids…well, by noon anyway.
#3: Shirts do get dirtier than jeans. But I don’t reuse either one for the baby.
#4: It drives me nuts when their clothes get stained, but mostly I just strip their clothes off. I hate bibs.
#5: Mike. I do love barrettes and stuff, but not if the babies are tearing them off.
Emily says:
I’m with Mike on the hair, shoes, and pajamas. I’m most definitely on Team Heather when it comes to stains, though. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get baby stains out of clothes? I do whatever I can to keep food off the kids’ shirts.
Allison says:
1- I would say shoes are important, but since you live in CA, not so much. (Draw)
2- Sometimes I’m still in my PJ’s at 3 in the afternoon, not that that’s a good thing. (Mike)
3- I’m torn. I rewear clothing if it doesn’t smell or has no stains, but I don’t have kids yet. I didn’t know they could make it all day and keep a clean shirt. But it guess that’s ok. (Draw)
4- I’m with Heather here. Some stains don’t wash out. And I’m naturally a neat and orderly person. (Heather)
5- I understand Heather wants to convert Annie to liking bows, but at some point you have to give up. Maybe in a couple of years. I can’t honestly say what I would do. (Draw/Mike)
Caroline says:
Why be a baby if you can’t go barefoot and wear your pajamas all the time?
Baby toes are just so darned edible I never had the heart to put shoes or socks on them until they were walking. We lived in South Florida when my kids were babes, so this was perfectly doable. The only justification I can see for covering up those little nibblers is if it’s cold outside. Otherwise, feet are just part of exploration for babies, and they must put them in their mouths for our entertainment at a minimum.
I had bald babies, and always wished I could have adorned their heads with pretty bows and whatnot, but I probably would have given up after a while if they weren’t received well. Can’t say for sure though. They’re just so cute with a ribbon on them!
I think mine is a vote for Team Mike. Sorry to say it…
Jamie says:
I’m Team Heather on round 3, 4, and 5. I’m team Mike on Rounds 1 and 2. My husband would be Team Mike except for Round 1 when he would be Team Heather.
So…Mike would win here, but by a slim margin.
Andrea says:
Team Heather, rounds 1-5.
1. My daughter has more pairs of shoes than I do (and she’s only 10 months old).
2 PJs need to come off by 9 in the morning. I don’t understand the parents who bring their babies to day care in PJs. WTH?!
3. There are too many cute clothes to wear so wearing the same shirt two days in a row is just wasteful.
4. Stains are sometimes unavoidable, but I will do everything in my power to avoid them. I even strip my daughter down for meal times.
5. I just ordered a $16 hair bow off of Esty and my daughter has NO hair. Enough said.
Sarah R says:
I have to side with you!!
Shoes: babies don’t need them until they can walk, and in fact, putting shoes on before then can cause issues with the way the feet grow. The only acceptable shoes for pre-walkers are the soft-soled ones.
Shirts: if it’s not dirty, why not let her wear it again? Babies don’t have B.O. and they don’t get sweaty unless they’re running around outside. I don’t see the harm in being smart and not washing things unless they are dirty.
Hats/ribbons/etc: yeah, my daughter doesn’t even like to wear a hood, so I can’t see these things being worth the time to attempt to put them in!
Pajamas on babies: they’re called “sleep and play” suits for a reason. No harm in wearing them throughout the day. They keep the feet warm too and are easy to put on if they have the zipper.
One more I’d like to add: SOCKS. My daughter will NOT keep them on so I’ve pretty much given up on these in the house. If we go somewhere, I put them on her and then keep her hands away from her feet and strap her in her carseat so she can’t take them off. Otherwise, I don’t care about the socks. My 3-year old likes them now because they keep his feet warm, so I figure there’s plenty of time to “train” my daughter.
Debbie says:
Team Mike!
elizabeth belt says:
well as for getting dirty while eating, just tell heather it gives her a chance to put a “new” shirt on Annie multiple wardrobe changes in a day!
Jen says:
Background… I’m a woman with a 5 yo girl and a 5 mo old boy…
Round One–Team Mike. My daughter never wore shoes until she started walking.
Round Two–Not sure. I left my daughter in PJ’s a lot, but I always change my son first thing in the morning. Not sure why I differ child to child on this one. I guess I was Team Mike, but now I’m Team Heather.
Round Three–Neither. I’m a little weird about changing both shirts and pants every morning for my kids, but oddly not for me.
Round Four–Team Heather. I’m a bit militant in keeping clothes clean. I’m going to have to bend a bit since I have a son now!
Round Five–Team Mike. Annie will probably love doing her hair when she’s older, but don’t torture the poor girl now!
I love you guys!
Gail says:
OK, I was totally going to say that I was with Heather on this one, and then I re-read it, and I realize I am totally on Team Mike! I strongly believe in socks in public, but if they aren’t walking, shoes are just for looks. And I love the fact that my 6 month old wears her PJs all day, less for me to wash. The only thing…stains. Ugh. I hate them.
Sara says:
I completely agree with Mike here.
1) My daughter almost never wore shoes until she was about 14 months old (i.e. when she learned to walk). And she stays barefoot/in socks when we’re home.
2) I work from home. My daughter stays with me most days. Um, yeah, we’re in our pajamas more than we’re in regular clothes, to the point where I own more pjs than real clothes. Yesterday, she didn’t change out of her pjs until 8 PM-ish when I gave her a bath. And then she got into a new clean pair after that.
3) We reuse shirts, pants, ANYTHING that stayed relatively clean. Though, considering how often she’s in pajamas, no wonder her clothes stay clean and get reused.
4) My daughter only wears bibs when there’s sauce or soup involved. I forget to put it on her most other times. And I almost never remember to roll up sleeves. I’ve actually found that prewashing with some normal liquid hand soap and letting it soak in your bathroom sink (sometimes overnight) gets almost all stains out. Seriously. Pasta sauce is the worst, but everything else seems to come out with just a little soap and soak.
5) Hair accessories only go on for holidays and for formal pictures that require payment to a professional photographer. They stay in the drawer at all other times.
Yeah, I am so on Team Mike here.
susanmig says:
i’m going to go with team mike on this one.
unless annie’s feet need to be kept extra warm, i say let her go shoeless. much easier to walk and you’ll save tons of $$$ too!
the PJ thing? really, who hasn’t spent the day (or more?) in their PJ’s? not a big deal….and a laundry saver too!
the same shirt 2 days in a row. again, a laundry saver and i’m sure if annie is anything like my kids were the shirt won’t make it through the day w/out having to be changed for a fresh one. no biggie, unless you are going to a big event where annie will be seen by the same people as the day before.
stains: easy solution. take off annie’s tops altogether! and, please, let her start to feed herself…so much fun for her! yes it’s super messy, but it’ll free up time for you & heather and give annie a sense of accomplishment at the same time.
hair: heather and annie will always battle about the hair. let them have at it and stay out of it if you know what’s good for you! someday annie will play beauty shop w/your hair. let her. be a good diva-daddy.
Melanie says:
I am giving you the shoes, pajamas and hair. So you would win, but I am pretty sure you left out a man’s inability to put MATCHING clothes on a baby so I am evening the score 3-3. Also, Heather’s persistence with the hair things will pay off eventually and Annie will get accustomed to being a diva. She’s still in Diva training, you see. So where the hair is your point now, it will later be Heather’s. So Final score: Heather 4, Mike 2.
C Los says:
Team Heather
I am a big fan of being clean throughout the day.
PattyB says:
Team Mike all the way! Sometimes the BEST days are the days spent in your pajamas. As I work over an hour away from home and have to dress professionally, I don’t get to wear pajamas all day very often, even on the weekends as we have 3 daughters currently living at home that have various activities on the weekends.
Jennifer says:
So for me 1 and 2 go to Mike, 3 definitely to Heather, but 4 and 5 are uncharted territory. My kids walk now so they wear shoes, but before, it was common for them to not be wearing shoes. We live in FL, a similar climate to California. Pajamas are my daily attire, if I don’t go anywhere I don’t see any sense in getting dressed just to dirty more clothes on top of the usual laundry. I agree with 3, something worn is considered dirty to me, although jeans also apply to this rule. 4- we feed our kids in a diaper to avoid stains, they hated bibs. If we’re out.. I deal with it and we go with things that would be easy to clean up, dinner time which occurs right before bath time is the time to be adventurous with food and letting them feed themselves. Finally, 5… I have boys. They didn’t like hats and even though I would have like to force them, I eventually gave up. Heather probably should win this one out of determination.
I guess you guys are tied.
Gale @ Ten Dollar Thoughts says:
It’s a tie. Mike, I’m with you on shoes and shirts. But I’m with Heather on pajamas and stains. My son is 2 yrs and 3 mos and still hasn’t had a haircut (because he has very little hair, not because we’re raising a hippie) so I don’t have an opinion on that one.
Heidi says:
Wow. I am team Mike all the way! And I’m a chick! And a mom! In fact my daughter was born on the same day as Annie.
I always forget about bibs, and often don’t wipe the food goober off her face right away. In fact the other day my husband got exasperated, grabbed a wet towel and wiped the baby’s face and I was like “whoa! she looks so much better!”.
Rebecca says:
We started putting shoes on my kids when they were about 6 months old. So I agree with Heather on this one.
I say the PJ’s depend on the kid. If the kid is a bear to change and fight clothing changes with every fiber of her being, then change only when necessary. Otherwise, change before 10am.
New outfit daily. Period. (unless the kid is a bear to change…then only change when absolutely necessary)
About the stains……just wait till she’s feeding herself. Mike, you are preparing the whole family for what is to come…and trust me, You getting her messy is just the tip of the iceberg
About the hair? Heather gives up too easily. She only tries to put one back in the next day? I’d fight that one every single second of every single day. If Annie takes the hair accessory out, put it in immediately and give her a sucker. Distraction works wonders. Leave bow alone …baby gets sucker.
Team Heather all the way!!!
Gillian says:
ROUND ONE – Mike. I’m with you, man. Shoes on babies are an expense, and hassle, I can’t afford.
ROUND TWO – Team Heather. Kids grow out of their clothes so fast – you gotta dress them in the clothes so you get to enjoy them!
ROUND THREE – Again with Heather. Kids don’t sweat, but they do drool, pick up gross dog bones, etc. Their shirts are ALWAYS dirty, no matter what they look like to the naked eye.
ROUND FOUR – Man, I gotta side with Heather here, too. Not so much because of the food mess, but because the washing machine can only do so much with food stains, and then you end up with a bunch of ruined clothes. Gotta do the bib, man. You gotta do the bib.
ROUND FIVE – OK, Mike, I’ll give you this one. My niece wears a bow the size of her head every day – and it has to match her outfit – and the amount of money, time, and energy spent procuring these matching bows, selecting the bows, putting the bows in the hair, and then fighting the child to keep the bow in the hair – it’s just too much.
So, 3 points Heather, 2 points Mike. Sorry! You lose!
Jennifer says:
Team Mike on Rounds 1-2-5.
My girl did not start wearing hair accessories on her own until she was almost 4. She wants to look pretty.
Love the post.
Brook says:
Sorry, gotta agree with Heather. She is right on 4 out of 5 of them. I, however, don’t see a problem with a baby staying in their jammies if you are not going any where.
Heather says:
OK LISTEN MIKE.
1. If you don’t put shoes on a kid, it is ASKING for an old busy body lady to come up to you and go “where are that child’s SHOES?” I hate getting judged by blue hairs.
2. Pajamas are for night time. She has so many play clothes! And if she gets food on her pajamas, I have to do laundry. I hate that.
3. Which brings me to this. Laundry doesn’t get everything out. And I am not a laundry fairy! I try to do laundry as little as possible so as to conserve water. Why do you hate the environment, Mike?
4. Bibs. Bibs. Bibs. You are trying to kill me.
5. Annie does not hate hair things! I put barrettes and pony tails in her hair because otherwise her hair is getting in her eyes and making her miserable. She hands me the comb. You are just jealous because she has more hair than you.
susanmig says:
whoa! i didn’t know mike hated the environment! that just puts a whole different spin on this whole conversation!!
and, i was beginning to wonder about the hair thing too…..mike had that horrible experience at the barber shop and now he’s “worried” about annie’s hair accessories getting out of hand???
hmmm, i think i might have to switch my allegiances to you heather! yep, i’m going w/team heather….except for the stains. i still say take off the shirt all together.
Glenda says:
Team Heather all the way. Girly girl all the way! 1)Shoes a girls must have accessory. She will get used to them lol. 2) PJ’s… get out of them. Even if you’re not going out, she will be dressed in case you gotta go out!? I dressed my kids every day even if we didn’t go out. PJ’s was a big no-no and I hate when I see kids out in their PJ’s 3) Don’t repeat the clean shirt the very next day! hahaha. It’s okay to repeat shirt / jeans if cleaned but not the very next day 4) Use a bib always. Stains are hard to get out (unless you’re doing the laundry or replacing such clothing) 5) She will get used to the hats, bows/ barrettes, headbands and they are the cutest accessory. Being a girly girl is all about the accessories MIKE! lol
Tina says:
1 – Dad
2 – Mom
3 – Mom
4 – Mom
5 – Dad
Jen says:
Team Heather!!!
Carrie says:
My husband isn’t allowed to dress our daughter. He can dress our son, but his opinion on what makes an appropriate outfit for a little girl is just so far off of mine that he’s been banned. Which he’s okay with, because girl clothes have so many buttons and bows and he has trouble figuring out the front and the back for many of the outfits.
lara says:
i’m w/ heather on most points. i’m not a girly girl, and my kiddos still don’t have enough hair to do much with.
yesterday i came home to find my husband getting our 3 year old ready to build a snowman.
-she had no pants on under her snowpants
-she was not wearing a jacket
-she had on mis-matched mittens (one “snow/waterproof” for the wrong hand and one “knit/cute”)
gotta love him for trying, but i’m glad i showed up when i did!
Christina says:
1. Def agree with Mike. A baby wearing shoes is more about the adults who want to “oooooh” and “awwww” over cuteness.
2. Mike again but I hope they are clean pajamas (clean=no stink or stains).
3. I’m more with Heather. I guess some shirts don’t really get dirty (hard to believe on a toddler, though) but does she have to wear them 2 days in a row? You can just hang/fold the shirt back up and she can wear it again next week or something. I only say this because you guys photog and blog her life so much. The little thing may look back at photos years later and wonder what happened! Also it’s just kind of a common courtesy. I sometimes can wear shirts (and def. jeans) twice but I won’t wear them twice in a row. So do unto the baby as you would yourself, I guess (but not the same for shoes… baby foot growth is a factor and my own shoes are chosen 70% for comfort, 30% for looks… so there!).
4. I’m with Heather. Not cool. Don’t stop her from exploring and learning but put a bib on the babe!
5. Def with Mike, only if Annie really hates it. If she doesn’t hate it, it certainly won’t hurt for her to have an extra ounce of cuteness (it gets everyone cooing and cuddling her, plus she’ll look back at the pics and smile… but probably still while rolling her eyes, depending on what age she is at the time).
meoskop says:
Round One – Team MIKE
Round Two – Team MIKE
Round Three – Team ANNIE (put it all in the hamper)
Round Four – Team HEATHER
Round Five – Team MIKE
My kids voted – Team Mike FTW. Especially on Round Five. I’ve got one daughter that loves hair accessories and one who hates them. The one that hates them says “That’s just mean” the one who loves them says “Wait till she likes them”
Amber says:
Team Heather all the way. I have the EXACT same opinions when it comes to all that stuff. BUT, I’m female and well, females are (obviously) very different from you males. Even though Mike, your arguments make sense (to a guy) I’m just not built that way.
Team Heather all the way!
(except MAYBE the shoes – she is a wee bit young to stress over that – but I do love me some cute baby shoes from time to time =)
Mike, I still think you totally ROCK as father. Yep yep.
lpb says:
First off, love you guys – you’re the first blog I check every morning!
I’m split (sorry) – am rooting for Team Spohr!
1) Mike wins on shoes – while they make an outfit “complete” and I had the same obsession with my children, technically they’re not required when child does not walk.
2) Split – staying in ones pajamas all day totally rocks but is generally frowned upon as a regular occurrence. It gives the impression of being non-productive and slovenly. Compromise? Annie probably has so many fantastic clothing items to wear and a very limited time in which to wear them so getting dressed daily would ensure she rocks all her outfits for the currrent size she’s at.
3) Heather wins on shirts – even without visible sweat, we all have our own “perfume”. Also, tops simply have greater exposure to stuff than bottoms (though with pets and other floor debris this point could be argued). Tops should be changed at least daily (or more frequently as neeeded to maintain a clean appearance – which is a segue to #4).
4) Heather wins on bibs – every effort should be maintained to keep Annie clean and free from all debris. At all times Mike.
5) Mike wins on accessories – not required though awfully cute and do complete an outfit. They can also be a visual cue to others that she is a girl as some portion of the population will reference “he” or “him” in the absence of girly accoutrements .
Lisa says:
TEAM ANNIE! Just give her a few more months and she will begin declaring to the both of you what she will wear in no uncertain terms. And if you try to dress her differently (like maybe so she can match or be seasonally appropriate) she will just take those offensive clothes off and run around naked.
It is coming…
neeroc says:
Team Mike. This might not mean much considering my daughter went to school in a Santa dress today (red velvet dress with white furry trim – and a hat to match) but here are my votes:
Rd1 – Shoes – Mike. Non-walking babies don’t need em, they’re just a pain to keep picking up when she kicks them off. Exception – winter in Canada – they call the authorities if you try that.
Rd2 – PJs – Mike. weekends are meant for pajamas. If I had a pair of footie pjs I’d wear them all weekend too!
Rd3 – shirts – gotta give this one to Heather. BUT, only because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to tell one day from another in pictures.
Rd4 – stains – Mike. Much easier to change the shirt at the end of the meal (and hey maybe make Heather happy re: Rd3) than fuss with the keeping clean while eating. And a creative mess is a perfect photo op.
Rd5 – Hair – Mike. This is a case of picking your battles and starting early. Hair isn’t worth it, and as an extra bonus, if she doesn’t get the fussing now, she might be more inclined to try it later, but if she hates it now, you’ve turned her off for life *g*.
You guys are just too cute.
Heidi T says:
Round 1 – Mike – I don’t put shoes on babies until they walk
Round 2 – Heather – Clothes still get dirty and everyone should change their clothes twice a day
Round 3 – Heather – Food spills, she drools – new shirt every day
Round 4 – Heather all the way – Some stains don’t come out and then you have ruined the clothes
Round 5 – Heather all the way – You have to get her used to hair things now even though she doesn’t like them
Amber T says:
You may make very valid comments in your defense but as a mommy who FIRMLY supports that the bigger the bow, the better the mommy, I side with HEATHER!
mom, again says:
I’ll give Mike the shoe thing, but only for infant little tiny and not yet mobile children. As soon as there is the slightest chance of them being on the ground instead of in someone’s arms, there should be shoes on their feet. So, 3 or 4 months tops. Which means most likely, most of those times Heather questioned her daughter’s shoeless state? Mike was incorrect.
For all other sartorial issues, Heather is correct.
Also, I note A’s hair is about long enough for short, stubby adorable pigtail braids.
Melissa Blaydes says:
Ummmmm…. Totally team Heather! She is SO. MY. PEOPLE!
In fact I think my husband and I had this exact conversation last Saturday!
Sandra says:
Heather wins. It’s a woman/mom thing. Just go with it Mike.
Becky says:
I’m with Mike on the majority.
But then, no one ever said I was particularly feminine.
Kellie says:
I’m Team Mike all the way on this one!
SHOES – My boys didn’t get shoes till they walked, and in the summer don’t wear them at all, even outside.
PAJAMAS – why wear “outside” clothes if you’re staying inside? And nothing’s sweeter than a jammied baby
SHIRTS (and pants) – should be worn till dirty!
STAINS – part of learning is getting messy. That’s what they made Oxy Clean for
HAIR – crazy baby hair is adorable. I didn’t try to tame my kids’ hair till they were 2 1/2.
Rita from the Chicago says:
#1 – Team Mike – no need for shoes until they start walking
#2 – Team Heather – I say the same thing to my husband about our 6 month old…though it’s not logical, I don’t like when he’s still in his jammies at 3pm.
#3 – Team Mike – as long as they’re not dirty (or stained…see #4) a shirt can be wore again.
#4 – Team Heather – Mike, put a bib on the girl and be more careful.
#5 – Team Mike – don’t torture the poor girl!
You guys are adorable. Happy Tuesday to you both.
Rachel says:
SHOES – they are needed, they just are (heather)
PAJAMAS – as long as you are still in the house, and sometimes if you arent, baby pjs are just the best (mike)
SHIRTS (and pants) – baby clothes get gross and they are so freaking cute that there is no reason to wear them more than 1 day in a row.
STAINS – HEATHER. no need to be crusted in baby food. gross. you can still enjoy a meal without wearing it (heather)
HAIR – love the little clips, not a fan of headbands bigger than babies heads. (heather)
Kate says:
I am sorry Heather – but I too have to go Team Mike on this one. Baby shoes? Big fat waste of money. Yes cute – but not necessity.
Jammies? My kid goes out in them all the time. Ooops! Shirts can be recycled – no pit stains yet. Bibs? Useful – but my kid HAAAAAAATED them and pulled them off and guess what – the shirts came clean in the laundry anyway. That one may be a tie though – cause if you keep the shirt clean with a bib then the shirt can be worn again the next day. Wait, now I am confused who wins that one. Anyhoo lastly – if the sweet pea doesn’t like hair accessories, the sweet pea doesn’t need hair accessories. She is lovely with hair au natural! DING DING DING – Mike wins!
Jen says:
I was starting to get really scared because I was totally with you on the first two, had we agreed on three I would have never admitted it. Alas, Heather wins as I side with her on 3-5. TEAM HEATHER! heh.
Molly says:
Oh, Mike…you are soooooo the losing team…
Heather WINS on ALL COUNTS.
1. SHOES are AWESOME. They are cute, they complete the outfit, and they keep old people from asking about shoes. (Refer back to this at hat time!)
2.Clothing is so cute…we buy our girls all of these gorgeous clothes so that they can WEAR them. Do you know how fast babies grow? You need to get them into those shirts ASAP before they are outgrown!
3. Again, so many clothes…no repeats until you have to…
4. Bibs. No one likes laundry and no one likes a shirt you can never use again because baby carrots are ground into it!
5. This is my favorite. Hair accessories are just as important as the shoes…my daughter JUST finally got enough hair to pull it into teeny tiny pigtails with the mini korker bows…she DID pull them out, but now she doesn’t! Keep working on it! Before the piggies, we did bows. Bows on headbands are adorable. Don’t you love when you are out and people ooooh and ahhh over your adorable girl?! Twice as many compliments with a bow vs. without.
Heather so wins…
Kymmi says:
Round 1 Shoes: Mike. Shoes are for walkers, but I’m all for Robeez or something similar because socks just don’t stay on. Hmm, maybe that’s a tie?
Round 2 Pajamas: Mike. Pajamas on babies is just plain cute. There’s nothing better than footie pjs. When my daughter was in daycare, the director sniffed at her pjs that I dropped her off in and I’ve been pissed off about it ever since.
Round 3 Shirts: Heather. You can’t wear the same shirt two days in a row!
Round 4 Stains: Heather. Use the bib, know the bib, love the bib. I loved bibsters for easy clean up when I was out. You can’t keep all stains off, but you can try!
Round 5 Hair: Mike. Sorry, Heather. I went through the same thing – I wanted so badly to play with my daughter’s hair, but she wasn’t having it. Maddening.
I think Mike wins by a nose, although the shoe thing is a toss on which side I fall on.
Kristen says:
Team Mike!!!!!
Busymomma66 says:
Shoes, I go with Mike, she’s not walking, so no biggie. Her shoe budget when she’s a teen will make you rue these days.
Pajamas, If I could stay in my pajamas all day, I would be one happy girl! so Mike it is.
Shirts, if it’s clean, and it means less laundry, I go with Mike.
Stains, I definitely side with Heather. Baby food and formula all stain the crap out of clothes.
Hair, love all that stuff, but hey if she’s not happy with it, why torture the child in the name of beauty. She’ll just torture you back with it when she’s a preteen with Cleopatra eyes and skirts cut up to there.
Bil Simser says:
#1 – If she can’t walk shoes are just an unnecessary uncomfortable waste of money. I don’t care how freaking awesome the shoes look they’re wrong. Might as well outfit her with a backpack and hiking boots while your at it if you really want her to have something on her feet.
#2 – Sometimes V is in her pjamas all day. Heck, if I could wear pjs all day I would. Work sometimes frowns on these things, but hanging out at home in your jammies is da bomb!
#3 – This is dicey. We tend to put V in a new shirt everyday but she’s pretty messy. I think if the shirt is pristine there shouldn’t be any reason why she can’t wear it two days in a row. Although for others reading, please avoid dressing your 2yo in a stained wife beater shirt. There’s just something really really wrong about that.
#4 – Okay, I have to side with Heather on this one. Keep the kid clean (or at least try to). If there are some nasty ones like chocolate, coffee, or wine then it should be sprayed and a new shirt sought. Bibs are fine but they don’t always catch everything (V used to just rip hers off sometimes if she was in the mood).
#5 – Deadlock. Let the kid do what she wants but yeah, if the hair is getting in the way there should be some adult supervision to insert hair restricting device. Or just cut it all off. Maybe that’s simpler.
Snarky Mommy says:
Re: the wearing of the same shirt and stains — if she wears the shirt when she eats, doesn’t it get dirty, therefor precluding the ability to wear it again?
My kids are insanely messy eaters and my 14-month-old refuses to wear a bib. This results in a lot of laundry.
Also, my husband leaves them in their PJs and it drives me insane. And lastly, I have found barrette non-compliance to be like vegetable eating, you have to expose them to the new hairstyle up to 15 times before they will accept it!
I am going to have to declare for Team Heather!
Pamela Gold (lotsOspermies) says:
I’ll keep it simple, I side with Mike all the way here….
Keli says:
As a mother of 3 and grandmother of 5….I so have to agree with Mike on everything but the pajamas. I just think everyone should be dressed within an hour of getting out of bed. It is just a good habit to instill in our children. Sorry Heather!
Miss says:
Shoes – Mike. Just because my son didn’t wear shoes for pretty much the first year of his life. They were a pain in the ass to put on his fat feet so I didn’t bother. HOWEVER, Annie is starting to walk so you’ll be losing this argument soon anyways.
PJs – Mike. Why? Because I didn’t get dressed yesterday. I DID shower but only put on a cleanER pair of PJs once I got out. Unless you’re taking her out of the house, you’re just saving yourself one less thing to wash unless she totally trashes what she’s wearing. WHICH, if Mike IS feeding her without bibs, she’s going to need a clothing change anyways right?
Shirts – Heather. Shirts are totally different than twice worn jeans.
Stains – Heather. This goes back to the PJ argument. Mike, you would have WAY more credibility on twice worn shirts and PJs all day if you put a bib on her.
Hair – Heather. All girls know that you can make messy bed head hair look better with accessories. Plus, she’s a little girl. They just look EVEN MORE CUTE.
Megan@TrueDaughter says:
Well, I have been a mother for 20 years. I started out totally Heather, and over the years, have morphed into Mike, with the exception of the bib thing.
Should I be perturbed that it is 3 in the afternoon and I am still in my pj’s? On a weekday?
Elle says:
Round one – shoes: Heather. (Unless she has socks on. She AT LEAST needs socks.)
Round two – pajamas: Mike. Pajamas = adorable and comfortable. What’s the problem?
Round three – shirts: Mike. Since they’re clean, they may be repeated.
Round four – stains: Heather. Stains ruin clothes; baby clothes are too cute to ruin.
Round five – hair: Tie, but edge goes to Mike. Little girls should occasionally wear cutesy hair accessories, but not if it’s torture!
Winner: Mike by a nose! Sorry, Heather.
adrienne says:
Sorry heather, but the only one I don’t agree with Mike on is #4…
Amelia says:
It’s 2 to 3 in Heather’s favor for me. Before Genevieve started walking, she would kick off her shoes and we’d lose them, so she didn’t wear shoes in public. I’m pretty indifferent about her wearing pjs at 3, although I have to add, even when we don’t go anywhere I put G in clothes before lunch, after breakfast. Shirts, I don’t have a concrete reason why, especially if it’s not dirty looking, but no shirts 2 days in a row. Stains are a PAIN if not treated immediatly, and sometimes just don’t come out. So I’m all for cleanliness while eating. And the hair, G hates her hair up, but her bangs get into her eyes, which makes her rub them, which eventually leads to scratching and or stuff in her eyes. So up it must go. A sometimes minutely battle that I will eventually win!!
Alison says:
I’m with Heather on all but five – and I’m half and half on that one. I have a little boy and never did the whole hair decorations thing (but I did go out to almost my waist in the ocean to save a favourite hat). If she doesn’t like it, my sympathies are with her but I suspect I’d do the same thing. So 4.5 to Heather and the rest to Mike.
Kimmy says:
Team Heather!
SkyMerMommy says:
Ok… So I have to agree with Mike on the Shoes! I don’t believe in shoes for infants and infact Doctors say not to put shoes on pre-walking babies! Also get the PJ thing… sometimes we stay in our jammies until 3:00 too when we are at home! But the rest, I go with Heather on!!! I don’t do stains, I can’t stand to put my kids in the same clothes they wore the day before and I definatly tortured my daughter with hair bows and my Husband hated it too!!!! MOM wins this one in my book! Sorry, Mike! :o)
Susan says:
I have to go with Team Heather on all five issues.
1. Shoes – Annie is so close to walking and she should be getting used to the feeling of the shoes.
2. Jammies at 3? Not unless she is depressed about being unemployed (that’s my excuse).
3. Mike, you gave up the option of the laundry sniff test when you got married.
4. As a previou poster stated….know the bib…..use the bib…love the bib.
5. It’s a girl thing.
Jami B. says:
I stopped allowing my husband to pick out our little girls clothes when I met up with them at a restaurant and found her wearing a light pink PJ tshirt, hot pink jogging pants, white lacy/poofy/ruffly socks and black patent leather church shoes.
The fact that you even have a CLUE about dressing a baby is a plus for me!!
farfalla says:
I, a woman, am on Team Mike here. WTF is the point of shoes for people who CAN’T WALK? Especially when the damn things cost practically a million dollars per pair. For something that isn’t use for anything except getting lost. Never understood this.
Also my baby will probably own nothing BUT pajamas. The baby doesn’t care what it’s wearing.
And finally, food is meant to be enjoyed! I agree with Heather re: bibs, common sense. But a mess isn’t that big a deal.
So. Team Mike!
amanda says:
team mike. definitely.
michelle says:
Team Heather, 100%.
Probably because we have quite similar issues going on in our house. My husband is the one who gets up with our 6 month old in the morning, dresses her and gives her breakfast. At least 5 days a week the first words out of my mouth are “Did she dress herself?”
This morning – white socks with rainbows, red pants with white polka dots, and a minnie mouse shirt with peach, yellow, and green stripes. Heck no! Change that kid!
Susan says:
OMG – this made me laugh. How the hell do you coordinate polka dots, rainbows and stripes? You have your hands full!
amanda says:
Sorry, Team Heather here. All of these arguments sound VERY familiar to me.
Amber says:
Gotta go half and half, depending on the day! With four girls four and under…well, sometimes it’s just an all out pajama day and sometimes we forget the bibs at meal times and sometimes I’m just too tired to hike upstairs and get clean clothes for the day, so yesterday’s clothes it is! =)
Amanda M. says:
I shall declare winners for you.
Round 1: Heather. Though not for fashion so much as I’ve always been told that babies should wear shoes at least semi-regularly so it’s not hell to get them to wear them when they actually do need them.
Round 2: Mike. Pajamas are awesome. End of statement.
Round 3: Heather. I don’t really know why. Jeans can be re-worn, but not tops!
Round 4: Heather. She had me at “stains.” STAINS, Mike.
Round 5: Mike. Though mostly because I felt bad that Heather was winning by so much.
Heather still wins though.
Rian says:
Gotta go for Team Mike.
My kid didn’t wear shoes until he was walking, even though he owned many adorable pairs, it just seemed pointless.
Kai is 2 and there are some days he stays in his PJ’s all day long. What’s the point of dirtying another pair of clothes when we aren’t even leaving the house?
Erin says:
Shoes…team Mike. At least until she starts walking.
Pajamas…team Mike. At almost 30 I still do that as much as possible.
Shirts…team Heather. Although if it was only worn for a short time and Annie didn’t spill on it, then MAYBE it’s okay.
Spills…team Heather. I’m all for letting the kids feed themselves, but put a bib on her…or strip her to her diaper!
Hair…I’m split on this one. If she really doesn’t like the bows, I wouldn’t force it, but if it’s in her eyes, ponytails are great.
Overall verdict…slight edge to team Mike.
Emily says:
I am Team Heather all the way!!!
After babies turn one, shoes are necessary.. its just what needs to be done..PJ’s after 11am is pushing it… Wearing the same shirt two days in a row is uncessary because we all know Annie has TONS of clothes! The only thing I have to say about the hair is that if she NEEDS the barret or headband to keep the hair out of her face, then it has to be done!
Holly says:
I’m with Mike on this one, all the way…well, except for the bibs/laundry issue. There’s no reason in the world to increase the laundry load unless YOU’RE the one doing said laundry! (Even then, I’m with Heather: be nice to the environment.)
But it must be pointed out that by wearing the same clothes on more than one day (if not dirty) is also reducing laundry.
Judy says:
Of course Heather is right. Because she’s a girl Annie needs matching OUTFITS with accessories! Mike can be in charge of wardrobe for their son- but there are cute OUTFITS for baby boys too!
Brenda Vicario says:
Sorry Mike, but I’m with Heather on everything except Round 2…though Round 1 is negotiable:)
anita says:
Shoes – you win. Especially in So.Cal. My baby was always shoeless in Orange County – no need for them! Let those toes breathe!
PJ’s – Hmm. Tough one. Unless she soaked through the diaper it’s probably cool to stay in the PJ’s till you have to leave. Cuts down on the laundry.
Shirt – Heather wins this one. It’s not just the clean factor – you’ve probably got drawers full of cute stuff that needs to be shown off.
Stains – Heather. Roll the shirt up and put the bib on to prevent.
Hair – Heather wins again. She’ll never get used to them if she doesn’t keep trying. It’s much easier to fight this battle with a one year old than a five year old. Trust me on that one. Gotta break her will on that one now!
missy says:
Team Mike.
Amy S. says:
LMAO!
Team Heather!
*loves* to you Mike:)
Kayla says:
Sorry Mike, but I’m definitely team Heather on four out of five of these. :p
The only one I can agree with you is on the PJ’s. So long as you’re not going out, staying in her PJ’s now and then is definitely not a big deal.
But other than that. . .can’t agree with ya buddy, sorry! To me, any baby older than a newborn needs to be wearing shoes if they’re out (a baby with bare feet or just socks drives me nuts. NUTS. It just looks sooo lazy to me!)
The shirts I agree with you that shirts don’t necessarily need to be washed after one use barring any stains obviously, but I agree with Heather in the ‘not twice in a row’. Wearing the same shirt on Tuesday that you did on Monday is just a fashion no no!
Ditto Heather on the stains. Clothes are just easier to wash with no stains.
And definitely Heather with the hats. The love a mother has for putting hats/bows/flower headbands on her daughter is just indescribable – it makes sense that she would need to keep trying and trying!
Donna says:
Have to swing Mike’s way on this. I have 3 daughters, 1 son.
We all prefer bare feet, clothes & babies were made to be washed, hair is just there to keep your head warm, as long as it’s out of your eyes there’s no problems
Sorry Heather …
Krystal says:
Round 1 – Mike – Shoes
Unless they’re walking and need to wear shoes, it’s easier to leave them off rather than picking them up 400 times while out and about. Or if it’s cold, of course, but I’m thinking the weather is pretty fine in L.A. for bare feets.
Round 2 – Mike – Pajamas
That’s what weekends are for, hanging around in pjs all day with daddy. No issues there.
Round 3 – Heather – Shirt
My 20 month old has never made it to the end of the day with her shirt clean and intact, so Annie is a superstar! I wash everything after one wearing, even jeans.
Round 4 – Mike – Stains
Babies and toddlers make a terrible mess when they eat, especially when they’re learning to feed themselves. I find that rolling the sleeves and using a bib don’t help enough to prevent stains. Stains get around the bib, and undoubtably a sleeve will drag in the food whether it’s pulled up or not. Let ’em go crazy and enjoy their food and change them afterwards. If it bothers you to stain/dirty the clothes, take them off before the meal. I used to freak out about stains, but now I realize that toddlers grow out of their clothes really fast and not to worry too much about it.
Round 5 – Mike – Hair
This is a never ending battle with my daughter too. She has long beautiful hair, but whenever I put a hair pretty in it, she rips it out and throws it. I simply can’t keep anything in her hair. Instead I keep her hair trimmed and out of her eyes for now. Someday she will want pretties in her hair and I’m fairly patient.
Marie says:
The first four go to Team Heather. I totally agree. Shoes, clean shirt, pajamas off and dressed by at least noon and please, please put on bibs. None of my kids used bibs on their kids and it practically drove me nuts. But I am a mother, (and a grandmother) fathers are a little more laid back.
Last one goes to Team Mike, as children do not enjoy hair bows, headbands, barrettes, or other such torture devices. They hurt basically. And they are bothersome.
But you are both wonderful parents!!!!!!!!!
Hugs from MN
Marie
m says:
I am with you on this one, Mike!
– Shoes are totally unnecessary until the child starts walking. They look ridiculous and cheap (they’re always a cheap imitation of the adult versions, with a cheesy sole, etc.)
Plus, they’re probably uncomfortable. Why make your poor child’s feet look stupid –and– uncomfortable for no practical reason?!?!?
– You *should* remember to put a bib on her (How do you forget that!??! *LOL*) , but even –with– a bib, most kids *still* get dirty! As you said, that’s what the washing machine is for. No biggie . Change her!
– Pajamas are fine, as long as they’re A) clean and she’s hanging out in the house. Why get dressed if you’re not going anywhere???
– Baby hair clips, headbands, hats, etc. look RIDICULOUS on a baby. (Sorry, Heather) They look awful. And they’re unpleasant! They just look stupid. In my opinion, baby hair accessories are in the same class as newborns with pierced ears. Just looks ridiculous.
My only point of disagreement is on Round Three. I would never dress my child in the same shirt (OR PANTS!) two days in a row.
There isn’t a practical reason for this; it’s more of a social reason. If people see a child dressed in the same clothing 2 days in a row, they’re apt to think one of two things…
A – You’re neglectful. You can’t be bothered to put her in a fresh set of clothing (and they probably assume she slept in these clothes too!)
B – You’re too poor to afford clothing for your child.
I totally take your side on this one!
-M
lilcg says:
team mike on shoes and pjs. team heather on clean shirts and stains. Split on hair. I didn’t start putting shoes on my daughter until she started walking. we often hang out in pjs all day if we aren’t going anyplace (drives the grandparents CRAZY). when it comes to hair, we don’t do clips or bows or those silly elastic bands, but as soon as it got long enough I started putting her hair in pigtails. it looks cute and stays out of her eyes. when I look at baby/toddler pictures of me and compare them with my daughter we look a lot of like except for the hair–my mom always kept mine short. the pigtails really make a difference when it comes to cuteness.
Tara says:
I’m with you all the way, Mike! What’s really funny is other than the hair thing (we have a boy–so there’s different hair issues), is that my husband is pretty much like Heather! I stay home with our son, so I have daytime and nighttime pajamas for myself.
Sara Waltz says:
Shoes = Mike . . . there’s nothing cuter than baby feet so enjoy them while you have them.
Pajama’s = Heather . . . I agree lounging can be fun, but not all day. At some point you just need to get the day going. On a similar topic – I hate when babies don’t wear swim wear; a swim diaper does not cut it.
Shirts = Heather . . . You absolutely can wear the same jeans twice (no one would notice). You absoltuely cannot wear the same shirt twice (people will notice).
Stains = Heather . . . I don’t want to inspect every article of clothing for stains before I wash them. Just avoid the stains where possible.
Hair = Mike . . . It’s just not worth it.
laura says:
I hate to say it, but I’m with you on this. I’m on the third kid and I’m pretty much relaxed now. Do i want my 8 month old to wear shoes, yes I do, but to places like church, or going out “out”. I don’t put them on him for errands, etc. He can’t walk and his feet aren’t touching anything.
Shirts, Im with heather.They do wear jeans over but not shirts. (but my kids spill
Spots, again, I’m pretty much with you unless it’s something special or all white. (which you aren’t aloud to wear around the house here lol)
As for clothes, my kids have house clothes and out clothes. Nothing fancy. And yes, I am a stay at home mom and my kids stay in PJ’s until I change them, normally after breakfast. What’s the point. Sometimes on the weekend, they are in them until it’s time to put them in clean ones for bed after their bath.
Mommy says:
I have to start by saying two things:
1. Rules are TOTALLY different for dressing baby boys. Girl stuff is so much cuter and you have soooo many more choices, accessories, etc. so there is waaaay more pressure for Annie to be dressed to the nine’s every day. People just don’t expect as much with boys. Us mommies of boys do not have to deal with tights, bows, barrettes, etc. You are so lucky!
2. Rules are also different for days spent totally at home vs. when you take baby out in public or when company is coming over. When no one will see baby, you can slack off a little!
Ok, here goes:
ROUND ONE – SHOES
Baby shoes could not be cuter! However, I have read (and been told by the pediatrician) that baby’s feet develop best when they are barefoot, especially at Annie’s age when they are learning to walk. Dr. did ok pedipeds, and they make super cute shoes, so we get those for our boys. My rule is: shoes in public, or when baby will be cold or his/her feet need protection (like at the park). Otherwise, barefoot it is (at home). And of course, when baby does where shoes, they must match the outfit. Sorry Mike!
ROUND TWO – PAJAMAS
IF you are not going anywhere and no one is coming over and no pictures will be taken for Christmas cards or anything, AND if it is only once in a while, pajamas are fine. Not every day- because those baby clothes do not fit for very long and you need to get some use out of them while you can. Plus, you have a GIRL, and her clothes are soooo cute! You need to show them off!!!!!
ROUND THREE – SHIRTS
I think both shirts and jeans need to clean and fresh, every day. Not just because of stains, but because of baby’s sensitive skin. The more the clothes are washed, the softer they are. Plus who can resist the smell of Dreft? YUM.
ROUND FOUR – STAINS
Bibs are a must!!! Some baby food stains are IMPOSSIBLE to get out (carrots, sweet potatoes, prunes, etc.) and you can’t ruin all those cute clothes. PLUS, you guys will most likely have more babies and don’t you want to re-use those clothes (or, if you are done, hand them down to friends’ babies)? They can’t be stained!! Plus, if you don’t get her used to wearing a bib now, good luck when she is two and things are REALLY messy .
ROUND FIVE – HAIR
This is a tough call for me. I would have a hard time resisting those yummy curls and would want to accessorize them too. I’ve never had a girl, so I don’t know what the right answer is. I always do our sons’ hair, even if they resist, but it involves a quick comb and maybe some gel~ nothing they can pull out. If she truly does hate it, and pulls it out anyway, maybe you could just skip it. Then again, maybe a hair accessory just long enough for a photo is ok. This is just too tough to call.
Soooo… my final verdict is
Shoes: Tie
Jammies: You are both right
Shirts: You are both wrong
Stains: Heather
Hair:??
Wasn’t I such a big help???! Good luck guys!!
If it is any consolation, my hubby and I have similar discussions~ he can’t understand why our kids must match (their outfits, not eachother- although sometimes that is cute too!) or why they can’t just wear their diapers all day long. I know he would be with Mike on every single one of these issues!! I also think he dresses our sons in weird clothes sometimes just so I won’t ask him to get them ready and will just do it myself!!!
Amy says:
TEAM HEATHER!!
SHOES SHOES SHOES!!! Even if they are silly and pointless when a kid can’t walk, they will one day be necessary and good luck getting them to wear shoes after never having had to! Pajamas all day once in awhile is ok… every day? Not so much? Again, I don’t want my one year old to fight me when I want to dress her!
Stains is something Heather may have to give up when Annie decides its time to feed herself… until then I would totally do my best to keep her clean! Slobbery gross food all over the place is gagifying.
Jeans two days in a row, yes fine. Shirts? Mike, you JUST said you let her get messy while eating… come on!!!!!
As for accessories, I am not big on them either. Mainly because my one year old won’t keep them on (or in)… but when she gets called a boy, every day for weeks after I am all about the accessories…I HATE when she gets mistaken for a boy!!
Me says:
Four words –
Happy wife, happy life.
Me says:
Four words – Happy wife, happy life.
Me says:
I hate it when I post twice due to impatience. Makes me feel like a moron.
Jennifer says:
Team Mike!
1. I love baby feet. My daughter didn’t wear shoes until she was a year old…my son, who’s six months, doesn’t even own a pair. I’m super excited that it’s nearly summer as my kids will never wear socks!
2. Pajamas – really, they are comfortable – and if you aren’t going out, who will know?!
3. Shirts – It’s really *not* worth the meltdown my daughter would have over wearing a shirt two days in a row. Usually I let her do this on the weekends and bribe her during the week, but if it’s looking like WWIII might break out, so not worth it…
4. Stains – I don’t use a bib with my six month old. If he makes a mess, we change. I only have a few items that have actually stained and couldn’t be washed out. But, he grows out of his clothes every month or two..not an issue!
5. Hair – I’m just now regularly brushing my 3 y/o daughter’s hair. Again, one of those “not worth the tantrum” things…
Erica says:
Team Heather here! I have to say I like you both BUT I am woman and a Mama to twin girls SO yeah Mike, Team Heather all.the.way.
PS-My husband and I have the SAME battles.