Is it OK for a 2 yr old to play dress ups and wear fairy costume?

Your husband is the inappropriate one, tbh.

Ahhh! It’s not inappropriate. Does your hubby have any similar memories from their childhood? You could remind them that it is that stage of life where children do such stuff and it’s normal! I can understand why he is freaking out. My husband might have done the same but we talk about everything and he listens. I wear my 10 week old all the colours so that both dad and son are used to it. But again! I get why he is freaking out, talk to him, there is no need to call the nursery or make a scene, because such scenes have bigger impact on kids.

That’s weird. Your husband is being inappropriate, he’s a 2 year old. Dressing up, and imaginative play is perfectly normal.

The votes on this pole make me so happy!
I work in a nursery and we never tell the children what they can and can’t play with based on who they are. And if a parent asked me to tell their child they can’t dress up in what they want to, that wouldn’t be happening. No toys are gender specific!

Of course it’s okay! My little boy has a dolly which he loves! I’d never say he couldn’t play or dress as something - he’s free to be who he wants to be and tbh at this age they’re just exploring! They’ve no idea that ‘tutus and pink are for girls’ x

Agree with those saying it’s your husband’s reaction that’s inappropriate. Totally normal, innocent, imaginative/ role play playful learning going on. Really important stuff you don’t want to chastise or cut short. I’m writing this as an experienced primary school teacher and new mum who can’t wait to see her wee boy try all these things out soon 💜

I bet your husband did all that when he was a kid but he just can’t remember! It’s completely normal for boys to want to dress up and it’d be so sad to stop him and make him think he was doing something wrong.

Totally normal, any child can wear any costume they want!
Your husband is the one that needs educating here, his behaviour is what could lead to issues making your son feel uncomfortable once he’s old enough to understand daddy doesn’t like it so I can’t like it.

Inappropriate - your child should be allowed to wear what ever he likes when ever he likes if anything promote it xx

Your husband being inappropriate. Over reacting. At that age they don't know anything or any better.

This is totally appropriate for that age, and honestly even if he was older I wouldn't see a problem with it. Anyone should be able to wear and play with whatever they want regardless of gender. If anything I'd say your husband's reaction is inappropriate and may even be rooted in some deeper issues that may need to be addressed if similar issues continue to happen.

At 2 I guess children don’t differentiate between “girls” and “boys” clothes .. they just wear what they think seems fun! X

Agree with other comments.

To add, I have this vague background memory of boys being called “a fairy” to taunt them for being gay. I wonder if there’s some history with your husband, consciously or unconsciously that sees him being protective of his child being “a fairy”.

Tell your husband to grow up let your child have an imagination

Let’s raise better men that can talk about their feelings and not feel threatened when their little boy wants to dress up or play with a baby doll at 2. Let the kid be a kid. That would be so sad if he couldn’t play with something like that and had to watch other kids. He will not understand.

Your husband needs to lighten up. It's only a tutu. Boys are curious, just like girls are.

I myself was a tom-boy as a child and only played with toy cars and lego and hated wearing dresses. I had no concept of male or female. It didn't affect me in any way. It seems like it's more acceptable for a girl to be a tom boy but not the other way round for a boy.

I totally agree with this. When I was pregnant I talked to my fiance about not wanting to force gender roles on my baby, mainly speaking about toys and clothes and such. He had totally agreed until I mentioned that it included letting my son (if I had one, we didn't know the gender yet) have a dress/tutu/whatever if he saw it at the store and wanted it. This made him flip his agreement and he then wanted to stick to gendered clothes and toys, but I told my family to ignore him and get whatever clothes they think bubba would be cute in, regardless of what gender they're "meant for". My daughter is now almost 5 months and thankfully most of my family is respectful of my decision and actually try to avoid buying too many stereotypically "girl clothes" so we can keep more variety in what she wears.

He’s being ridiculous. As a former nursery nurse, the majority of the boys loved the dressing up box! Elsa seemed to be a particular favourite at the time. It’s imaginative play and great for their development, plus it’s fun! Who doesn’t love colourful sparkly things? There are no negatives from it, only positives and it has no bearing on gender or sexuality later down the line.

@Salem yeah, there is such stigma attached with boys playing with 'girl' toys/clothes. IMO, the more you stop it as a parent, the more the child will be curious and rebel against the decision. It's all innocent and does no harm, it's all part of learning and development.

It’s normal especially if he’s surrounded by majority girls. We would dress my lil brother up in dresses and stuff his bra 😂. He’s straighter than straight lol. The kids don’t have sense of gender to him he’s just playing.

Force your husband to wear the tutu. Show him wearing a pink tutu doesn’t turn you gay LMFQOO

I guess im the only one who wouldn’t want my boy in girls clothes lol

Hit the wrong one by accident! Absolutely not inappropriate!

My 5 year old wears his girl best friends elsa and Anna dresses but doesn't think he needs a sex change.
It's part of playing and learning, tell your husband to grow up. Or even ask his parent if they have any pics of his dressing up if possible 🤣 x

For that age definitely appropriate. They see other kids play in it and want to join in, it’s the parents who has the issue with it more and they force it on the kids who don’t know any difference with it being they are just dressing up

Thumb slipped and voted wrong. Totally appropriate :) especially at this age.

Thanks to everyone who voted and commented it's been so interesting to read what you think about it. Looks like the general consensus is that it's APPROPRIATE! I would LOVE to hear from the 14% who voted 'inappropriate' to hear what the real reason is you think the way you do.

Your husband is being sexist!

It's just a costume. 🥴 well done you mumma for sticking up for your baby!

For those saying it is “inappropriate “ I argue that it is extremely INAPPROPRIATE for you to sexualize a CHILD and to believe they are foreshadowing homosexuality as if they think sexually. That perspective is abusive and disgusting. Let children be children and stop projecting your weird sexualizstions onto CHILDREN

It wouldn’t matter what age he is, and who decides pink is for girls and blue is for boys? That’s immature.

What’s your husbands view on non-straight people in general?

as an early years worker children can CHOOSE to dress up however they like. We don’t PUT them in the clothes, they do it themselves. No-one is forcing these children into dressing up clothes like you’re implying 🙄

@Katrina a 2 year old will typically need help with that outfit. Meaning someone did Put it on them.

My two almost 3 year old can put fancy dress on herself, she likes to be Elsa then buzz lightyear, then mirabel, then bob the builder 🤣 that’s hardly inappropriate, it’s an extreme assumption

would you have the same problem if a little girl wanted to dress up and be a builder?

And yes, maybe someone did help them to put the dress on, if a little boy came up to you all excited because he found a princess dress that he really wanted to wear, would you not help him to put it on? That’s incredible sad, think how that child would then feel.

@Chelsea you though (and please correct me if I'm wrong cuz I'm hoping I misread what yu wrote) you truly say even if they Parents tell you not to you would still go against their wishes and do it anyway??

just wondering. You say you won't help a little boy dress in a princess costume and won't go against a parents wishes, but what if one day a boy asks for help getting in a princess costume, you tell him no, he gets upset and tells his parents, and they tell you to let him wear whatever he wants. Would you still tell him he can't wear the dress?

@Salem No way. Why would i do that? Thats not my kid. Not my choice.That's the parents choice. I'd put it on him if that's wat they want and are cool with for him for sure. That's not my child. Same way I won't do it without knowing if that's wat they want or not. Most parents at my Daycare are not and would never be cool with that so yo just assume they are and dress people's kids as the opposite sex is something I wouldn't do. If they want me to however that is completely different and out of my hands as a Childcare provider parents wishes are what we go by. Not our own personal opinions.

It's actually the woman is @ Who said even if the parents said they didn't like it she would go against their wishes and do it. That's wat I think is crazy. Someone says something for their kid and you'd purposely oppose your own stuff on them is shameful and COMPLETELY overstepping.

My son goes to school where I work. He's 1. Hearing that honestly made me reinforce that he couldnt go to a different Daycare without me.

I will say that I also agree allowing a child to wear things despite the parents specifically saying not to is definitely overstepping boundaries but I've seen way too many people (mainly those who looked after my little brother) go against the parents wishes of allowing a child to wear/play with what they want just because it didn't align with their beliefs.

I would never force a child to wear something and I am not opposing my own ideas on a child, however if they came to me and asked me to help put a dressing up COSTUME on for them then I’m going to help them. If the parent expresses that they don’t want their child wearing the dress then of course I can encourage them to explore the other costumes, but a child knows what they want and I’m not going to upset them and put a stop to their play.

@Salem that is Horrible. I truly hate the system of Childcare right now. There are too many people who haven't been properly vetted entering and not having a real passion for teaching children. They come in not caring about the kids or the parents wishes. Abuse is rising. Neglect is rising. Boundaries are constantly being crossed. The system right now is messed up.

I'm sorry your family went through that 🙁 it happened with my little sister and little brother too.

@Chelsea they teach Redirection when you get your CDA. That is imposing your own feelings on the matter and over stepping a boundary Because the Parents specifically said Not to. Saying something like that is very bold. That you would still go against the parents just because the child isn't happy about the rule their parents made. Especially when the kids we are talking about are toddlers to preschool and redirecting is always something taught to do for any situation like this and others where a child might throw a tantrum

unfortunately that's the truth which is why I plan to avoid daycare/nursery for my daughter despite my fiance wanting to put her in daycare as soon as possible. If I'm being completely honest I want to homeschool my daughter for this reason among many others