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Church clothing for toddler

Curious if someone would take issue with a 3 year old girl.
Cannot remember seeing how toddlers were dressed but we are leaving in a couple of days and for me long pants are fine, for my wife her skirts/dresses go below the knee and can wear a scarf to cover shoulders if exposed no problem.
But I noticed packing for our daughter all of her dresses fall at or above the knee.
Even her most fancy "Sunday Dresses", think that is just how they make them for 3 year olds, plus she is really tall for her age (99% height)
Her shoulders we can cover easily with a scarf or drape and she will not mind since her mama will be doing the same so the knees are my concern.

We can make her wear pants, we did pack some and leggings but she may not always co-operate and there will be some hot days, she prefers to wear a dress most days. Churches are a main attraction for us and plan on visiting many of them in multiple regions.
Even if not kicked out, is this considered normal since she is so young or disrespectful?
Even if we can get away with it I don't want to seem disrespectful to the culture and we are Catholic.

Have been to Italy a couple of times before but never with a child so never looked to see how other children were dressed.

Posted by
1773 posts

No one cares for toddlers' dresses. Church are concerned with ladies, young and old, wearing - how could we phrase it? - "distracting" dresses. And and concerned about people dressed in beach attire. Toddlers are assumed to be naturally innocent.

Posted by
1832 posts

Glad to hear that thank you, I assumed it was likely OK but is very reassuring to hear so.
We would not have her look un-presentable of course.

Posted by
16752 posts

I don't think you'll have any problem at all with her dresses. As far as I recall, the rules did not apply as strictly (or at all) to wee people.

So, "Let the little children come to me..." :O)

Posted by
11613 posts

You will have no problem with your daughter's attire, she will be welcomed. A few weeks ago I saw a few families with young children's not churches in shorts or sundresses, nobody blinked.