Sure, there are some pretty big issues facing our country and the world today, but let’s not diminish this quandary shared to us by a Life of Dad user who understandably would prefer to remain anonymous:
“I am a huge sports fan. I would like to dress my child in my favorite team’s attire now and then. My in-laws are big fans of my team’s rivals. They bought clothes for the baby with ‘their team’s logo.’ I feel completely disrespected that they did this. I refuse to let my baby wear those clothes. My wife tells me it’s no big deal. How do I handle this without being the bad guy?”
Gulp. Luckily, we’ve got nearly a million moms and dads to pose questions just like this to and you guys never disappoint! Here are just some of the nearly 1000 responses to this compelling sports apparel drama.
Ryan Ohlsen: I dress my son and daughter in Bulldogs and Liverpool FC gear all the time. I’ve told several friends and family that were going to give me rival gear that it was fine. Nappies are expensive and I have no problem letting them do their business in a man United shirt. If you’re looking for wrist bands that you can customize with your favorite sports team, you may visit sites like https://www.swagify.com/custom-wristbands.
Benny Singhsson: Dads get it mate. Don’t let baby wear them by your side. But when mum takes baby to your inlaws let baby’s grandparents see baby in their colours. It keeps the peace. But yeah as a dad I totally get it but seeing others smile around your baby should be number 1.
Robert Larkin: I’m lucky my in laws aren’t in to football. And my parents support my teams.
Mike Haight: My parents, in-laws, siblings, and even wife, all like one team, and I am a fan of their rival. We flipped a coin before my kids were even born to determine which team they will root for (at least until they can choose for themselves). Until that time no one is allowed to dress them in any sports clothing other than the team I support, since I won the coin toss. My family and in-laws both tried to go around those rules, but I stood up to them and my wife (reluctantly) backed me up.
Daniel Anthony: I would not allow my child be in a rival kit. He is man utd all the way.. however being Irish, I was born in Dublin and my partner from Offaly so i wouldnt mind too much about him wearing either off those. His godmother actually bought him a half & half jersey…
Brandi Witherspoon: Dad gets to pick. If it’s something you feel strongly about your wife should respect that and so should your in laws. Who cares if they get their feelings hurt a little , they had kids to raise up in their teams name and now it’s your turn.
Heath Mauger: The in laws need to respect your wishes. My Dad and I support rival teams and he keeps saying he’s going to buy my daughter his team’s stuff. I tell him “somebody on ebay will love that”. My daughter my teams. End of discussion
Monica Mills: Don’t put those clothes on your baby! I have the same situation. I’m a diehard Baltimore ravens fan, my in-laws are diehard Steelers fans. my mother-in-law would give me hand-me-downs from her daughters for my daughter and some of those things were Steelers items. I’d hand them right back to her
Michael Lynn: I was born and raised a Cleveland Browns fan and that how I choose to raise my children! If they choose to like another team when they older so be it but in my house it’s brown and orange! Friends and family were told that my babies will not where anything that has the steelers on it!!!! Or Michigan!! Don’t really care what others think because this is my house.
Joshua Pickard: The best part of a rivalry is the back and forth with opposing fans.
My son’s grandpa got him a Raiders bib, so I took a picture of him after he had gotten puréed peas all over it…I sent it saying the boy had made his choice.
Rachel Millar: Neither me or my hubby are sports fans but a relative bought our baby son a football team pair of pj’s that would be a rival of the teams that my in laws would support. We only dressed him in them when he was going to see that relative to make him happy.
This sports clothing on a baby issue got really heated on our Facebook page. What’s your take? Share your story with us on Life of Dad!
Photo of Life of Dad user Robert Larkin and his son in matching Arsenal kits previously shared on our Facebook page.