Why can't I buy pink Dora toddler's bag, box, bottle for my nephew!?

Hi, mimpi! When my kids were little, they both had toys that are considered to be for the opposite gender. My daughter got remote controlled cars, little play tool sets, etc., and my son got dolls, and such. Now, that is not to say that my daughter didn't have dolls, and my son didn't have remote controlled cars. It's just when, especially at Christmas time, I bought them something, the other one got the same kind of toy, along with the normal gender "appropriate" toys.

it is definitely a common practice that boys get certain thing and girl get other things. I remember when my son was little he wanted his sisters dolls and my husband was uneasy about letting him play with them. I dont think theres anything wrong with it if a boy wants something girly we shouldnt stop it.

Hi Mimipi, Hoping I can log in to respond as from email and for some rason hasn't been allowing:( I have two older daighters 23 and 18 and a young son of 5 and he was always into PINK as his sisters were, absolutely nothing wrong in it, he even had a pink and yellow bike so what he was comfortable with it, he seems to have out grown it a bit but whenever asked by BLUE BOY friends he would answer 'the girls got me into pink@ LOL Huggles Ellie:D

The only person's opinion that matters is your nephew's. If he's happy with his gifts, then they are the right gifts Even the toughest little bruisers in nursery/reception classes like to play with the Barbies & teasets, just as the very 'girly' little girls enjoy playing with cars etc. I say,let children enjoy being children instead of getting bogged down in gender stereotyping.

That is what I always wanted to know. I got the stupid doll and my boy cousins always got the trucks I wanted the trucks. NO your a girl. Well, now that I'm older and even younger in my 20's guess who had to do the work on HER car. Me not a man. I think it is just fine. I hung my dolls. So they did get me a truck and a wagon. So yes it is fine. But do him one favor don't take any pictures and show his friends later in life he mite get picked on. Your friend onlydia YOU ROCK

its the stereotype it doesnt mean anything as long as he isnt bullied for it though he is 3 so i really doubt that

Nothing really wrong with that. It's more in our minds I'd agree. There's something in it he's taken a liking to. Maybe his sister had one and that's why he want's it or he has taken a fancy towards the doll because of the way the whole thing has been presented and merchandised. It's a good thing you decided to buy him the accessories and i'm sure you would see the sparkle in the eyes. I remember my cousin's son too who had a similar liking for a doll. Only thing at the age of 5, the doll was in a differernt shape after he was experimenting on pulling it apart and even giving it a haircut.

I don't see nothing wrong with it neither, he is just three. My 4 yr old grandson will sometimes play with a doll, he plays the daddy not the mommy. Another grandson wanted a Ken doll and clothes for his birtday, no one would buy it for him. this grandma did, he loved it. Boys mostly do play with cars and "boy" toys, girls like the girly stuff, but when they are little, they are just toys, they like to play with all of them. When the boys get older, don't we want them to be loving caring fathers. There is nothing wrong with men taking care of the baby or doing housework. I am sure that soon the little guy will grow out of playing with Dora, but for now...I say he should be allowed.

I have two sons....and I've never stopped from buying them any so-called 'girlie' stuff. But I make sure that it doesn't dominate all the things they have. My older son who is 9 doesn't really bother and wouldn't mind a pink shirt or anything pink. His favourite colour is red...so pink is just a different shade (so he says). REcently, I got a new set of bedsheets for him....they were striped in different colours...I didn't bother to check the pillow cover when I bought the sheet because I liked the bedsheet and was sure he would like it too. When we got home, I saw that the pillow cover was that of 'Barbie'. I suggested gifting the whole set or a the pillow cover to one of his friends...but he refused and said he didn't mind the 'girlie' pillow...and we still have it. MY younger one has very boyish choices...so it's easier there...he refused to wear a pair of socks that had a picture of 'Kitty'...he said it's for 'girls'...and he's just 3!!! But he's not too bothered about the colour pink or violet.

Personally I blame global warming..... I don't see any issues with feminine toys for a toddler or vice versa really. They're toys for Heaven's sake! If he wanted to wear dresses and make-up, then that's a different matter entirely! At 3 years old, gender affiliations aren't even on his little mental radar when it comes to toys, so why should anyone be concerned? He like what he likes for now and he'll be bored with it quickly anyway, so I say let him at it!

Hi Mimpi! Your idea sounds great and certainly your 3 years old niece would be much elated to get a toddler's bag and other accessories. You should buy it for her. I think girls are like dolls, therefore, they love dolls.........LOL!

I hope if she has a girl you will buy her cars and gadgets, too! I was lucky that my older siblings were boys, because I got their hand-me down toys--and clothes. I never had any store-bought girl's clothes until first grade, but in addition to the shirts and trousers my brothers outgrew, I had some hand-sewn things that my mum made out of feedbags. In those days, the livestock food came in pretty bags intended to be recycled as yard goods. And mum crocheted lace edges on everything she made for me to wear because she wanted a girly girl. Hah!

I agree with you Mimpi.There are always set standards that boys like cars,bikes and balls and girls like fancy dolls etc.Even i did the same,when i was about to go to the doctor for my cesearian section,i went to the market to buy a towel and i deliberately bought the blue towel because blue represents boy and i delieverd a boy thereafter . I do not think that it is a matter of concern if a boy likes girlish stuff and vice versa.After all it is a matter of liking and choice.We cannot tag our children to like or dislike things.

Stereotyping is about as old as time itself... "Pink for girls" probably can be related back to why women originally used to paint their lips red... a symbolism of their gender that differentiates the men from women. As to why it's "blue for boys" I don't know. Truth be known... years have passed, times have changed. I have certain suggestions of where people can put their stereotypes, but that's just me. I just entirely refuse to acknowledge someone else trying to stuff another person through their own cookie cutter mold.

kudus for you for going against the tide!!even i too think boys should be given pink stuff,(boys also should have the homely,hard working nature as us girls).you are right in saying its all in the mind!

Hmm, I think that should still be alright. You did say that you're nephew loves Dora so he might appreciate Dora of all kinds whether it be pink or not.^_^ People might not do this because they think that pink is rather effeminate and there is a possibility that the growing toddler would be more attracted to pink and other girly stuff more which would lead to possible gender preference. Its a long stretch but it does happen. Your nephew is still too young, in my opinion, to retain such notions that he will just look at it as Dora his favorite character rather than a girly pink bag. Though Im not sure about this since kids do say the darnedest things so you never know. Anyway, Im sure your nephew would love the gift.^_^

My friend bought her son a kitchen set and a doll much to her husband’s disgust. That was five years ago; the boy is well adjusted and plays just as well with boys or girls toys. I would buy a child whatever it is that makes him or her happy. A toy is not going to confuse a child’s identity. The beauty of kids is that they love what they love without any judgement or labelling.

You know, until I had both a daughter and a son, I thought that it was all taught that children of different genders perferred different toys. When my daughter was little she had dolls and cars and blocks and stuffed animals. She always gravitated to the dolls and stuffed animals over the cars and blocks. Now, with my son we've done the same things mostly because we want our kids to be comfortable with non-traditional gender roles, but he gravitates toward the cars and trains and blocks over the dolls and stuffed animals. That said, I don't see what is wrong with buying your nephew a Dora set, he might find a lot of enjoyment out of it, especially if he is a Dora fan. But, you may also find that he doesn't play with it as much as you expected him to.

From birth, there is a distinct gender division established for both boys and girls. They are practically forced to exclusively enjoy what their specific gender allows, and any attempt at experimenting is frowned upon. I particularly find it wrong when baby dolls and kitchen sets are thrust upon girls who aren't too keen on playing with such toys, as though they are being groomed into obedient house-wives from childhood.

Kids are kids and I dont think they should be subjected to the prejudices of society. Some people think that if you give a little boy pink stuff, girl toys or dolls, he probably might have gender issues when he grows up. I think, they're kids and they have yet to become their own person so why deprive them of something just because society dictates it. Your nephew likes Dora. I think it's no big deal. It was nice of you to do that for him :-)