My 4 year old daughter agrues and crys about what she is going to wear EVERYDAY!! Why is this an issue? Any one have the same problem?

Michelle - posted on 03/30/2009

First off, stop buying her clothes!  Why buy her more if she isn't going to wear it? 

Secondly, in the fight over what she will wear you have two choices.  You can either let her wear the outfits that she likes every day (and that wouldn't be wrong), or you can be firm and insist she wear something else.  It's up to whether you think this is just an issue of her showing some independence or it's defiance, but whatever you do -- DO NOT tell her no and then let her wear it anyway!!

If you choose to push the issue, here is a suggestion.  Put her favorite outfits away somewhere, and tell her that she can only wear them on Saturday (or whichever day works for you.)  If you feel she needs an explanation you can tell her that wearing her favorite clothes too often will wear them out, and then you will have to throw them away.  Then enforce it!  Every day remind her that she may wear her favorite outfit on Saturday, and until then she must choose something else.  (And I'd let her choose anything reasonable to wear.)  Do not give in!  If you are consistent then after a few Saturdays of getting to wear what she likes she will probably become easier to deal with.

I can't stress this enough.  If you don't feel you can be strong and make her go along with this plan, then don't.  It would be better to let her wear the same thing every day until it falls apart than to teach her that you don't mean it when you say no.

Bryony - posted on 03/28/2009

It's the same at our house. I rarely buy her clothes anymore unless she is shopping with me, lol. Sigh. I used to love to dress her as a baby, too. I've gotten to the point that I now know better than to fully stock her closet. We keep about 4-5 pairs of pants now. I do laundry almost every day with 3 kids 5 and under anyhow!

Revel - posted on 03/28/2009

Thanks the magizine thing is a good idea. But the major problem is she alway wants to wear the same 2 pant and 3 shirts. Her closet is FULL. When I bring things home from the store I always have her try it on before I take the tags off to make sure she likes it and that she'll wear it, most of the time its yes and then when it comes time to wear it, its....I hate that, I dont want that.....Thanks for the advice. This to shall pass RIGHT? :)  It was nice when they were little and could put anything on them!!!!

Bryony - posted on 03/28/2009

I have the exact same issue. My daughter always picks her own clothes now, and as long as she is dressed appropriatly for the occassion (no skirts to play at the gym, no shorts in the snow) I don't really think it needs to be an issue. If we are going somewhere that I want her to look especially nice I will coach her a little on what matches. Sometimes I show her catalogue pictures to prove something looks nice. My daughter is 5 1/2 now, and has had a definite opinion about her clothing since she was 1 1/2, lol... Really, what's the harm?

Revel - posted on 03/26/2009

I do do that!!! But not sure why its not working anymore:(  I have tried putting the outfit out at night so we dont have a melt down in am, but then its like she wants to switch once its time to get dressed. Thanks again

Crystal - posted on 03/26/2009

no i dont have this issue with my guys. every night i put out there clothes that they will wear in the morning and they are fine with it.

maybe you could give your daughter a choice between 2 outfits, then let her choose. that way she will feel like she is making the choice and might not fight with you  about it.

hope that helped a bit