Starting them young

**Brandane** · 21st May 09, 03:02 AM

My grandson is a week old today and he is already penciled in for his first appearance in a kilt this October at my youngest daughters wedding.

Does anyone have any experience in fitting a kilt on what will be a 5 month old baby?

Any advice will be greatly welcomed.

**JSFMACLJR** · 21st May 09, 03:52 AM

My advice would be, don't. Infants just don't look right in the kilt; they look more like dressed up dolls. Take it from a father of two sons: at least wait until he can walk. My mother wouldn't let me wear a kilt until I was out of diapers, and that is what we did with our sons.

**ForresterModern** · 21st May 09, 04:18 AM

Granted I am no expert on kilt wearing or tradition, but I bought an infant kilt off ebay after finding out I was expecting (with my wife) our son, born 15 months ago. He was kilted at 2 weeks of age in his stroller at an Arizona Highland games, again at another at 2 months of age, as well as several times at age 3-4 months when he accompanied his kilted father and unkilted mother to Scotland for 10 days. I wrote a review of the kilt on this forum just a few weeks ago:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/m...ight=infant%27

He recieved rave reviews for his style, class and sense of heritage (yeah, right, at 4 months of age), and still wears it when we go out to kilt nights and highland games now at 15 months.

Yes it can get a bit cheesy at times, but hey, it is your kid and you dress them up for the occasion----at that age they don't choose their own clothes anyway, and frankly he loves wearing it and seeing others in kilts now that he is more aware. I have lots of pictures of him kilted at various ages if you would like to see some. I personally don't think you can start them too early, as long as you are not forcing it upon an older child who is socially capable of choosing and chooses not to wear the kilt for whatever reason.

**JolyStNicholas** · 21st May 09, 04:22 AM

I agree with the above 100%. It's your child and your decision. The pictures and memories will be priceless. The wee one won't be that way very long!

**KFCarter** · 21st May 09, 04:37 AM

Sure seems like a kilt could save a step or two at diaper changing time! Also, I would think you'd be able to make a kilt "fit" longer than most other infant garments that are outgrown far faster than they're outworn.

**ForresterModern** · 21st May 09, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by KFCarter

Sure seems like a kilt could save a step or two at diaper changing time! Also, I would think you'd be able to make a kilt "fit" longer than most other infant garments that are outgrown far faster than they're outworn.

KFcarter you are so right. My son "Carter" has worn the same kilt for more than a year and will probably continue to do so for another 4-6 months. As it was velcro waisted it was easier to fit to him as he grew. I admit length was a bit of an issue when he was really young but we just "Urkled" it a bit (pulled it up a tad higher than normal) and let the extra length dangle----he was not walking or standing then so it mattered not if the kilt hit him right at the kneecap or not (sometimes you had to look hard to find his knee caps in those chubby legs). Now at 15 months it fits him absolutely perfectly, as can be seen from the above review.

And yes, except for managing the extra fabric from the pleats it does make diaper changing easier. We actually just remove the kilt to change him then rekilt him when finished---with teh velcro it is easy.

**KFCarter** · 21st May 09, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

I admit length was a bit of an issue when he was really young but we just "Urkled" it a bit

That paints a great picture!

I wish I had thought of kilts for mine when they were little...but I'm definitely going to share these posts with my daughter. I'd love to see my grandkids kilted!!

**pauljsharp** · 21st May 09, 09:59 PM

This is my son in a baby kilt. Not sure what brand or make it is but it is a Royal Stewart Tartan of course, and should fit him for a while to come. He is about 11 months in the photo and is now about 18 and it is still working for him.

**Phogfan86** · 21st May 09, 10:07 PM

I bought a Sportkilt for a great-nephew when he was born because (1) it was very affordable and (2) I figured the velcro would give parents easy access when it came to diaper changing.

Then again, I'm not sure the lad ever wore it. His mom thinks I'm the child's crazy uncle who needs to be avoided. Methinks she needs to remove the pointy stick from where it's stuck at.

PS: By the way, nice obligatory pleat shot of the kiddo!

**Brandane** · 22nd May 09, 02:18 AM

Guys as the advice seems to be mostly positive I will pass this on to my son and his wife who are planning to kit him out. Paul and Forrester thanks for supplying advice and great pics of the kids. It will be nice to have 3 generations of klilties on show. Many thanks to all. Rob.