I met my husband when his son was 3 too. I say you can buy him cute clothes if you want to, I don't think there is anything wrong with that if it's okay w/your boyfriend. To me it's like a gift from you, so nothing wrong with that. Have fun with his son and he'll probably enjoy having new clothes, let him pick them out if you can, he'll enjoy that even more.

I don't see any problem with buying him some cute outfits. I used to do it all of the time when I was dating my husband. He appreciated it because he didn't have a whole lot of clothes for his son.

Have fun with it!!

Dawn

I buy clothes for my step daughter all the time and did this even before we were engaged or living together. Its a great way to bond and when I am taking her to a family function I know she is going to look nice. Lets face it even if a guy has money they don't always know how to pick out clothes.

I remember my first spontaneous clothes-buying experience for my hubby's kids. He wasn't with me, it wasn't really anything they needed to survive, I was just out, saw some cute things on sale and picked them up. The kids were so excited that I brought them a "prize," and my husband just thought I was the greatest thing ever because I'd bought something for his children totally on my own just because. It made them happy, it made him happy and that made ME happy! I didn't ask first, but I'd known my husband for fifteen years at that point (as a friend) and I knew that he'd be okay with it. If you're not sure, then I'd go with Steve on this and ask him if he'd be okay with you picking up little gifts for his son. Be careful how you phrase it, though. I wouldn't say you want to do it because he looks like a rag-a-muffin, I'd say you saw this outfit, thought he'd look darling in it and so you bought it as a gift. He'll probably appreciate it, as long as you don't do it in a way that criticizes your BF as a parent.

But having said all that, don't expect to never see those not-so-great outfits ever again, because they will show up again and once the little boy starts to get a preference for what HE wants to wear, he will come up with some pretty interesting outfits all on his own. It seems like my husband always picks out the worst possible outfits for our daughter to go out in! We'll be going out to lunch or to do some shopping and he'll bring her downstairs in a pair of her brother's hand-me-down camouflage pants and a USMC sweatshirt with a hole in it when she has plenty of darling little girl clothes hanging up in her closet right next to that stuff. Most of the time, I just let it go. He never got to do much picking out of clothing for his other children, because his ex-wife was big on appearances and never let him because she was afraid he'd pick out something that didn't match or whatever. Our girl is starting to get to the age where she wants to pick out her own things (she's four) and last year around Halloween she wore her Cinderella dress over her clothes for a solid month... every single place we went. So if you are embarrassed now, just wait! Nothing like dragging a three foot high Cinderella with a tattered, dirt-stained ball gown through the grocery store!

~ Anne ~

Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: Pull down your pants and slide on the ice! -M*A*S*H (Sidney Freedman to the OR staff on dealing with stress)

Lovers do not finally meet somewhere, they were with each other all along.

Even today, I help dh pick out cloths at the store or I do the shopping alone. When I first met dh, ss was only two. As both of my biokids were older, when shopping I would see the most adorable little outfits, so I would buy them for dh's son. When I gave them to dh I just put it on myself and told him I just couldnt resist as it had been so long since I had gotten to buy for a little one. DH thought it was the sweetest thing. Just tell b.f that you have not really had the chance to buy for a little one and that the outfit or outfits were just so adorable you couldnt resist. I am sure b.f will appreciate it.

You should do it. I can't see any reason BF would be mad, but if you're worried then you can most definately(sp?) ask BF. I have always bought whatever I thought the SS's would like and all my DH ever said before was "What did you get you?" Which was usually nothing so now I am not allowed to buy anybody in the house anything without getting something myself. So I say, go for it!!!

~THE EXERCISE THAT REALLY CHANGES YOUR LIFE IS WALKING DOWN THE AISLE~

SS was 1 when DH and I started dating and I HATED the way (and still do) BM dresses him. I think I have shared before he either has on clothes that are 3 sizes too big and he looks like a little gangsta, or they are 2 sizes too small and have winnie the pooh on the front. So, I have always bought him clothes, and when he is sent to BM's in those clothes they are to be returned,immediatly, even down to the underwear (even those are either too big or too small). I see nothing wrong with buying him clothes. I buy my nieces and nephews clothes, that is a pretty typical "gift" or whatever. I don't think it is over stepping any boundries.

Last time SS was dressed like a gangster DH told SS3 "tell your mommy you wear a size 4 not 14, can you say that" 4 not 14". It was funny. I wonder if he told her?

Daddys Gurl-

Life is as sweet as you sweeten it.

Go for it! Just tell BF that you want to buy SS some clothes, he can keep the clothes at his house. If he asks why ... be honest. Chances are he doesn't realize that his kid dosn't look "cool." I had the same problem with my DH, but ... we don't share custody, so the clothes SS was wearing were the ones his mother packed for him. My DH admitted that SS looked like a rag-a-muffin. Have fun with it. There are times I wish I had an SD or a BD of my own cuz there are such cute clothes out there for girls, but ... I have fun shopping for SS and never come home without something for him. I have found it's also a lot cheeper to get a few outfits here and there, as opposed to going out and doing it all at once. Just don't spend a fortune because they will out grow them in two weeks. Go to consignment shops, the Goodwill, Walmart, Kmart, Target ... no point in spending $50 on a pair of jeans for a kid that he will only be able to wear for 2-3 weeks.

~ Katrina