Moms Seeking Advice on 3 1/2 Year Old Boy Who Hates to Wear Different Clothes

I agree with one of the other posts, about letting him pick out a "nice shirt." My son is also 3 1/2 and I always have to give him choices when picking out his clothes or we will fight about it. It seems at this age, they are learning that they have their own voice and want to make their own decisions. Guide his decision if it is not an appropriate shirt, maybe give 2 suggestions and he can pick which one, and let him know that it has to be nice for the wedding, but that he gets to make the decision as long as it's appropriate. This usually works for my son, and if he sees Dad wearing a "nice shirt", it usually helps.

Our son is 3.5 and actually begged us for a tie so he could look like Daddy does when he goes to work. We found a cheap one at Children's Place along with a shirt he loves to wear.

Could you play if off that way? That he gets to look like Daddy for the day? Our son is pretty picky with his clothes, too, and we have to press some days and give in others to keep balance.

Maybe you can bargain with him that for the time he wears what you want him to, he gets to pick something of his wishes and wear that the rest of the day? In this case, I think we'd have to resort to bribery in our house to prevent a meltdown.

I second the bribery! LOL Sympathize with him that you know it's not super comfy, but let him know how handsome and grown up he looks. Maybe pull up some wedding party pictures online and let him see pictures of other kids his age all dressed up for weddings. And then, I would tell him that if he can be a super big boy for Daddy and get dressed like a champ that Mommy will be SO SO proud and will take him "...insert favorite place here" or he can finally go get that "...insert beloved new toy here...." that he's been wanting!!! LOL Good Luck!!!!! (I have a 3 1/2yr old son, too)

Jackie,

Go to the stor e with your son and allow him to pick out a shirt for the wedding to allow him ot be part of the event. Tell him it has to be a "nice shirt", but remember he is 3.5 yrs old, if he has to where a nice polo shirt, that is fine too. No one expects him in a suit. Also hte more you fight with him now about dressing, the worse he will be later, if he wants to wear a shirt which is not the best every day, who cares, the shirt police??? Relax and enjoy raising your son.

Bribery......have your husband dress him & take him to the store after he is dressed to pick out a toy to take to the wedding

aww this reminds me of my 2nd son when he was about that age....he always hated "new " things...i had to hide his old shoes etc in order for him to put on the newstuff.....he just had this quirk about "new"things...for halloween ,...he wouldnt touch his woody costume because it was new and different.....lol
and so yes it was a fight and i had to trick him into the new and or different stuff...but he grew out of it.....either hide his shirts(lol) or distract him while getting dressed......theres no answer to how to make this day go smooth...just use your imagination and think of what you can distract him with when its time to get dressed..have a good time and hope all turns well.....

LOL! You should see me with my son when I try to get him dressed - he wants to wear his spiderman costume instead of his regular clothes!! Sheesh- I would have to put the costume underneath his uniform for school- But what I would do is compromise with him- have him wear his favorite shirt underneath (hoping it's not red or green!!!) And definitely use that wow you're gonna look just like daddy and have him be your date instead of your husband! Make it like a game! Good Luck!

LOLs on the shirt police!
I would give him a choice of two polo shirts and let him wear his favorite t-shirt underneath it. After the wedding he can take off the "fancy" shirt and party in his T. My brother got married a couple of years ago and the only way my kids wore their little suits was by showing them the other "big boys" who were wearing theirs.

t shirt under dress shirt? dress shirt choice?
bribe him w/candy. LOL