At what age did they stop putting little boys in dresses?
I have some photos of a little boy. He was born in 1914. In a lot of the photos he is wearing a dress. Then he is in short trousers. When was it deemed correct to do this?
My uncle Sam was born in 1912, just two years before your chap, and we have a very fetching picture of him with blonde curls and a frock! So yes, I'd say it was customary.
In Western European countries until about 1920 the youngest boys wore dresses until they were 'breeched' (given their first outfit which included breeches or trousers). This happened at an age between about four and eight years old, varying with different eras and families. A formal ceremony might take place to mark this progress from babyhood to boyhood, and sometimes a first haircut was also included. Up to the end of the 18th century, those parents who could afford it might also give their son a child-sized sword, or at least a toy weapon as a token of the real one he would have as an adult.
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