Newborn Novelty Jun 08
You know how people can get pretty edged off (whatever that means) when someone asks them a question such as: "How is he sleeping?" Or, my favorite and I wanted to slap someone when they asked me this when Savannah was like 3 weeks old: "Have you got her on a schedule yet?" Hmm...or: "Is she breastfed or formula fed?" Well, first off, I would say to the first two questions that you should not ask a mom really ever unless you have already overheard the mom say something to the effect of positive sleep habits and/or a positive schedule in the works. To the last: Oh my goodness! What business of that is yours? Just a few things I've learned since becoming a mom. (Before I move on, I think it's fine when you are close friends with the person and ask the first two, even the third, because that person probably actually cares for you and your baby...it's the random ppl that ask that drive me nuts.)
This next newborn issue is not quite as "edgy" as those issues (I don't think at least), but I would really love to hear your thoughts and that is why I ask. Before I ask, I will say that I'm just throwing this out and I know I know...ultimately it's my decision. No, I'm not losing sleep over it and it's really not a big deal. That's why I ask. Okay, for the question:
What is the point of the beloved chosen outfit in which you put on your newborn to bring him/her home?
I'm going to be honest here and let you know that I really don't understand why getting her all dressed up just to go down the elevator, walk a few steps to the car, travel a few minuntes to get home, and then bring her in the house is such a novelty. I do not think it is ridiculous, nor do I think it is pointless. I really just want to know why we do it? Is is Southern tradition? Or just a baby tradition?
Just for the record, I did semi-dress up Savannah in a special cotton gown for her coming home "extravaganza" from the hosptial. Also, for the record, I do have an outfit planned for Aubrey to come home in and even plan to dress Savannah in the same color dress for kicks. I figure it will make for some good pictures. But really, that's the only thing I can think of of why I would want to put Aubrey in something other than a onsie.
Would love your thoughts...
Add your comment
8 Comments
That's a great question! I would guess it's a Southern thing, but I have no facts to back that up. It just sounds Southern to me!
Two more days!!
so i didn't really know that there was an outfit to be picked out for the homecoming until someone gave me one and said, 'this is what he can wear when he goes home!' i hadn't even considered what he would wear on the ride home...of course, that was several months ago. and i may still opt for a blue and white striped nike onesie with matching socks and hat as opposed to something fancier.
i got asked the breastfeeding question just this morning. wasn't too weird because i knew the lady pretty well and she is the wife of an obgyn. still though, it is one of those questions you feel like you have to answer, even if you didn't feel up for sharing. another thing i've experienced that has been a little odd: when someone gave me a ton of formula even when they know i am choosing to breastfeed.
People will always ask you about breastfeeding. I don't know why they do it. Sometimes I think it's people who didn't do it, so they want to know if you are with them...and then it's people who did it for a long long time and they kind of give you a mean look when you say you did it but stopped at 6 months. (at least that's what happened with sarah ann) I'm now entering the stage when people ask me and when I say yes, they look at Thomas like, "Isn't he getting a little too big for that??" So in any situation, I feel like I am being judged on what kind of mother I am.
I didn't put Sarah Ann in a cute outfit to come home. We put her in this old Zutano green striped suit that both of John's nieces wore when they came home from the hospital (8 and 6 years ago). It was not a flattering color AT ALL and when I look back at the pictures, I wish I had put her in something a little more sweet. Thomas did have a nice little gown to wear home and I will probably put something nice on any future babies too. I don't know if it's a southern thing or not, but it's sweet for the pictures.
Laurin - I really enjoy this blog! This post is starting to scare me, though. I wonder if it is a Southern thing to be so nosey about everything. I never once was asked if I was breastfeeding up here in Philadelphia and definitely not asked about the coming home outfit. I think that one is decidedly Southern. Southern traditions seem to have more of a sense of celebrating small things (like everyday hospitality) and big things (like baby coming home) and I think that is neat - even if it can go overboard.
I think when I move back to Memphis I am going to enjoy thinking up very shocking answers for the fun of it. After reading Elizabeth's response - I can't believe someone actually said Thomas was getting too old for breastfeeding. He is still a baby!!!! Oh, I would be highly offended by that one - how old school and antiquated.
I am definitely coming to the conclusion that the homecoming outfit is definitely a Southern thing. And, like Katharine wrote above, I love that Southern traditions do tend to go overboard. It's what makes living in the South so unique!
On the downside of this "overboard"ness is the nosiness which I am sure I am that way too. Being a mom has taught me a bit more about keeping my nose out of situations when appropriate.
To me, the point of the coming home outfit is that it's the first "occasion" in your child's life that you have for dressing him or her up. Plus, like you said, you want the baby to look cute in all the pictures you will take of the big day
oh the southern traditions! they are never ending! while i do have a lot of love for the southern way, it is a little overwhelming having school. i searched for the "perfect" outfit for charlotte to wear home from the hospital and came up empty handed. she ended up with a semi-cute gown that totally swallowed her. i will probably still search for the perfect outfit for future babies too though...maybe it's just wired into us somehow?
as for all the other issues people pry into, i just brace myself for it and answer everything honestly. i know they want to know (they still do), and i am prepared to not care about the opinions of people who are not invested in my life or my child's life. as for those people who are invested, well, no matter what, you are the mommy. mom knows best. good thing to remind yourself of when aubrey is almost here!
Read this with a southern accent:
The reason we dress babies in precious outfits is to set a precedent... so that children will dress as perfectly the rest of their lives as they did on the day they came home from the hospital.
(Except in Elizabeth's case. SA is quite the fashionable southern toddler!)
Leave a Reply