There is a new parenting aesthetic sweeping the nation, and is anyone even surprised that it comes from the internet? --Cb Omand, 8th grade

There is a new parenting aesthetic sweeping the nation, and is anyone even surprised that it comes from the internet? What is a sad beige mom? A beige mom is a parent who has decided to decorate their household, including their child, in only neutral colors such as shades of beige and white. It is an aesthetic trend that has taken over the minds of mainly Millennial and older Gen-Z parents. This trend may sound normal, but some parents have taken it to an extreme.
Originally, the beige mom trend stemmed from another parenting fad, crunchy moms, who feed and dress their children in only clean and organic materials. Natural toys and natural clothes are usually beige or neutral tones because they aren't painted or dyed. Think wooden blocks and linen clothing.
The difference here is, that it has stopped being about the health of their kids for the beige moms, and more about their aesthetics.
Many people on the internet have begun referring to these parents as sad beige moms. This term stemmed from the thought that beige is connected to dull and boring things so decorating their home in only that color palette would make them or their family sad. On the other hand, there are people who connect colors like beige, gray, and white to feelings of calm and relaxation, things that adults, especially parents, may need.
“Sad beige appeals to parents, especially expectant or new parents who are anxious about how a new child will disrupt the serene aesthetic of their homes — and their lives,” says Huffpost. You can find many videos of self-proclaimed beige moms taking bright and colorful toys that their child has received and painting them into more neutral colors so they don't clash with the aesthetics of their home.
As mentioned previously, the trend stemmed from social media. Many influencers who showcase their kids online have turned into neutral-loving parents, and it really boils down to the fact that people want to be liked.
“For those moms with a large following, the beige trap can be strong. It’s easier to take good pictures when everything matches and there aren’t a lot of knick-knacks around,” says the parent culture blog, allmomdoes. Now people see all of these parents on the internet dressing their babies in tan and beige and living such a glamorous lifestyle, that they end up wanting to do that, too, because maybe it will make them more organized. But the thing is, these people posting their beige lives online have very meticulously chosen what you get to see, which is the carefully curated clean side of their lives.
Beige, for many people, is a sad and dull color and just because a child can't speak words to tell their parents that they don't want to see beige all the time doesn't mean that the adult should keep decorating in only beige. Young children do not have great vision so they need high contrast things to keep them interested, which is why many kids' toys are made in bright colors and cartoons are created with similar color palettes.
“Babies like high contrast because their vision is just generally poorer, the world is a lot blurrier, so it’s a reliable thing that they can pick out of the fog,” developmental color scientist Alice Skelton told Wired.
While lack of color in a child’s life is not detrimental to their development, it’s still a kind of sad life. There are many situations where a child receives a gift from a family member or friend that is the traditional bright colors of children's toys, and the parents goes on the internet to film themselves spray painting their child’s toys. This is where it can get dangerous, especially for young kids. If the wrong paint is used, the child could get sick because babies put everything in their mouths.
To each their own, but many advise that before dressing your child all in one color, or shades of the same one, to do research to make sure that it is safe and that the child will be happy and healthy growing up.
Originally, the beige mom trend stemmed from another parenting fad, crunchy moms, who feed and dress their children in only clean and organic materials. Natural toys and natural clothes are usually beige or neutral tones because they aren't painted or dyed. Think wooden blocks and linen clothing.
The difference here is, that it has stopped being about the health of their kids for the beige moms, and more about their aesthetics.
Many people on the internet have begun referring to these parents as sad beige moms. This term stemmed from the thought that beige is connected to dull and boring things so decorating their home in only that color palette would make them or their family sad. On the other hand, there are people who connect colors like beige, gray, and white to feelings of calm and relaxation, things that adults, especially parents, may need.
“Sad beige appeals to parents, especially expectant or new parents who are anxious about how a new child will disrupt the serene aesthetic of their homes — and their lives,” says Huffpost. You can find many videos of self-proclaimed beige moms taking bright and colorful toys that their child has received and painting them into more neutral colors so they don't clash with the aesthetics of their home.
As mentioned previously, the trend stemmed from social media. Many influencers who showcase their kids online have turned into neutral-loving parents, and it really boils down to the fact that people want to be liked.
“For those moms with a large following, the beige trap can be strong. It’s easier to take good pictures when everything matches and there aren’t a lot of knick-knacks around,” says the parent culture blog, allmomdoes. Now people see all of these parents on the internet dressing their babies in tan and beige and living such a glamorous lifestyle, that they end up wanting to do that, too, because maybe it will make them more organized. But the thing is, these people posting their beige lives online have very meticulously chosen what you get to see, which is the carefully curated clean side of their lives.
Beige, for many people, is a sad and dull color and just because a child can't speak words to tell their parents that they don't want to see beige all the time doesn't mean that the adult should keep decorating in only beige. Young children do not have great vision so they need high contrast things to keep them interested, which is why many kids' toys are made in bright colors and cartoons are created with similar color palettes.
“Babies like high contrast because their vision is just generally poorer, the world is a lot blurrier, so it’s a reliable thing that they can pick out of the fog,” developmental color scientist Alice Skelton told Wired.
While lack of color in a child’s life is not detrimental to their development, it’s still a kind of sad life. There are many situations where a child receives a gift from a family member or friend that is the traditional bright colors of children's toys, and the parents goes on the internet to film themselves spray painting their child’s toys. This is where it can get dangerous, especially for young kids. If the wrong paint is used, the child could get sick because babies put everything in their mouths.
To each their own, but many advise that before dressing your child all in one color, or shades of the same one, to do research to make sure that it is safe and that the child will be happy and healthy growing up.