Parents live vicariously through their children and play dress-up.

One of the joys of being the parent of an infant comes in the form of choosing cute outfits for the baby to wear. Over the years, parents have narrowed this down to an art, finding and choosing the most adorable outfits that they can imagine and making it seem that every day is Halloween for their infants and toddlers. While scary and grotesque outfits rarely show up on a baby even during the actual Halloween holiday, there are plenty of parents that like to dress their sons as baseball players and their daughters as princesses. It’s almost as if the parents start to relive a second childhood through their infants and just want to play dress-up.

And that’s ok. It’s part of being a parent.

The Sailor

“We want you as a new recruit,” sang the Village People at the close of the 1970s in a song so popular that the US Navy thought of making it an official theme until someone finally advised the top brass what it implied. People love ships and sailors, though, and have been dressing their baby boys in naval inspired clothes for nearly a hundred years. The reasons aren’t very clear but it seems that every little boy or grown man comes across pictures of himself as an infant or toddler in a sailor’s suit at one time or another. If he could speak he might say, “Batten down the hatches and swab the poopdeck, matey! And, unless I get a little help bottom-side, poopdeck may take on a whole new meaning!”

The Baseball Player

Every father imagines his son standing atop the mound in Yankee Stadium, three pitches away from a perfect game in the last inning of the last game of the World Series. Even men who never excelled in sports themselves seem to have a burning desire to see their sons go on to be the next big thing in Major League Baseball. It’s the only feasible explanation for the popularity of baby boys’ baseball outfits. These are more common than the sailor suits and can be purchased in run of the mill stores like Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Target. Your boy may not be the next Nolan Ryan or even the next Bob Uecker, but you can dream that he is as you admire him in his little uniform. These come in versions licensed by real Major League ball clubs and generic versions that just share some team colors.

The Princess

Little baby girls don’t escape the dress-up play imposed by their parents, but are outfitted in more traditional items like frilly dresses, white tights, and little patent leather shoes. Their mothers may imagine them to be princesses, prom queens, or debutants, but mostly just do their best to make them beautiful. Since all babies are beautiful and the only thing more beautiful than the average baby is your baby, they don’t have to try too hard.

By Kirsten Hawkins

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Well now, I know that some people can dress their children up, it's like they're playing dolls. However, I think my daughter looks adorable and doesn't need dressed in anything special. Guess everyone has their own views.

While I think dresses are cute I love putting my girls in jeans. They look like such big kids then!

Alex has one or two really nice outfits for family get togethers or special occasions, but he's most comfortable in short sleeved onsies during the day. He sweats so much, it's the only way to keep him cool. I do tend to put an actual outfit on him when we leave the house though, even if it's just matching shorts over the onesie.

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Tigriz
Mom to Alex - 1/21/06

As my little girl has gotten older she insists on wearing dresses and skirts most days. That is just what she likes and what she feels good in. It is funny how they show their little opinions so soon. Kind of scary lol.

My sister has a little girl - almost two - and she has never worn ANYTHING but pastel frilly/lacy/ruffly/girly dresses. Not just a simple sundress or a comfy knit dress, but ruffles, lace, tiny buttons. Bows in her hair, patterned tights and shiny shoes. I can't see how the girl ever plays.

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I feel sorry for that little girl. She can not be comfortable like that. She'll probably grow up to be a total tomboy, LOL. Just kidding. She sounds a bit like a little doll.

I don't know any parent who hasn't occasionally dressed up their child -whether it be for a school funtion, family funtion, etc. I have often felt bad for little kids that are dressed up for show "all the time". Kids should be comfortable - and that's how I always tried to make my son be.

That is true that most kids have to dress up every once in a while. I just feel sorry for those who have to do it every day. Can they really be kids and play like kids if they are dressed all frilly all the time. Kids should be able to be kids.

Yes, I agree that kids should be able to be kids. I used to think I would love dressing my little girl up every day in frilly dresses, but almost right away I realized how much more comfortable she is in other clothes, and my own little childhood fantasies were gone...lol. I just want her to enjoy everything!