Mum slammed over her kids sleepwear choices

Australian mother of six slammed for admitting she sometimes puts her kids to bed in their clothes to save time in the morning.

Actress and writer Madeleine West told the Daily Mail last year, “Pajamas are optional for me. I figured if they’re in clean clothes and getting into a clean bed, they’re fine.”

Not everyone was impressed with her revelation.

One particular commenter said, “She makes them wear next day’s clothes to bed? Wow, how efficient! Also have them eat next day’s breakfast and lunch along with yesterday’s dinner and you will save heaps of time. At least she’s not putting her kids in the washing machine to sort out dirty clothes and ‘dirty’ children at the same time — that would be organised! Let’s just hope this didn’t give her any ideas.”

Madeleine told, The Daily Telegraph, “I do not send my babes out into the world in the same clothes day after day, unwashed and unloved, despite what many may assert from the safety of their electronic devices.”

“But sadly, by tearing down rather than supporting our peers on the crazy rollercoaster that is parenthood, we shutdown all discussion, and cut off honest dialogue, as people will not share their stories for fear of being judged.”

She adds, “I do not have anything to apologise for. I am a mum, no better or worse than any other mum, struggling to get by and do right by her kids regardless of what the world throws at her. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I fully embrace that. Opinions are like bottoms, everyone has one, but some opinions, like bums, are best not trotted out in public.

Some opinions come not from a place of belief and integrity, but from a place of anger, fear, and plain old cruelty.”

And the best thing Madeleine could possibly advise parents….

“Never be afraid to ask for help: for every Judge Judy, there are 10 Loving Lucys and Compassionate Camerons out there ready and willing to lend a hand.”

“Parenting is riddled with trials and tribulations, but if you can smile, remembering these little folk were, are, and will always be your babies, inextricably tied to you by blood, love, and all the pitter, splatter, and clatter in between, then you are a good parent.”

“We are not, and never will be, perfect, but in our children’s eyes we are the most perfectly imperfect parents they could ever wish for. Our little ones wouldn’t have us any other way, and at the end of the day, that is all that matters.”

While we don’t always agree with other parents little quirks and choices. We certainly should never call them out on it, if it’s not causing harm to anyone, then bite your tongue!

I know my boys have gone to bed in their clothes before. Generally because they have fallen asleep before bed, or are too exhausted for what ever reason to get change. It is no big deal. There is no point arguing with an overtired child.

Safety is always the first thought of course. No tops with drawstring etc. Safe sleeping guidelines.

And if this hack helps some family that is crazily juggling a million things every morning – then that has to be a good thing, right?

Share your comments below.

Image via Getty Images

20 Comments

- - mom247592 said
  - 17 Oct 2017
    12:37 am
Clean, comfy clothes or pyjamas – who are we to criticise another family’s choices. Everyone has something in their lives that another family could criticise.

- - mom94125 said
  - 16 Oct 2017
    5:02 pm
we have onesies but the kids will just chuck on what they want and go to bed. i don’t care what you think. i will dress them up nice if we have to go somewhere but other than that, i’m saving washing, water and money. my kids are taken care of in every way and are happy. It is just more un-necessary laundry that the world doesn’t need to waste resources on. Also using pj’s for more than one night is disgusting especially if your kids go to the toilet while wearing them and then get into bed….ew!

- - Ellen said
  - 08 May 2017
    7:47 am
LOl, my son at a certain stage did secretly his school uniform under his pj’s so he didn’t have to change in the morning 😀

- - mom81879 said
  - 17 Apr 2017
    12:47 pm
I do realise as parents we are severely time deprived at times. But really?! I think this is a bit lazy, pjs are pjs for a reason

- - mom93821 said
  - 26 Mar 2017
    9:05 am
I do like PJ’s and nightwear as they are just so comfy to sleep in, but each to their own. The comment in the article by the commentator was so unpleasant and passive aggressive, really do not like those sort of unkind and passive aggressive comments. Madeline seems tough and resilient and I do love her responses to those critiquing her parenting skills.

- - ella12 said
  - 21 Mar 2017
    2:43 pm
Keep on doing what you are doing Madeleine, your kids are your business.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 15 Mar 2017
    3:13 pm
Seriously? What could this possibly hurt? So long as the kids are still getting a fresh change of clothes each night than what does it matter? I have a hard enough time getting 2 kids ready in the morning and getting to work, couldn’t imagine dealing with 6! I think people just need to mind their own business and stop being so judgemental!

- - twinningmum said
  - 15 Mar 2017
    10:56 am
I think a lot of people would be lying if they said they haven’t done this. I’m done this a number of times with my 1.5 year olds. Being stuck with one car at the moment, I often have to take hubby to work at the crack of dawn. Depending on our plans for the day, sometimes that doesn’t leave us much time to get back, get ready, have breakfast before heading to what we are going to, so those days I dress them in what I am happy for them to wear the next day when I put them to bed. I’m just mindful over safety differences between day clothes and sleepwear so I always keep that in mind when choosing the outfits andnit will usually be a onesie or a shirt and shorts that have no drawstrings etc

- - rovermum said
  - 15 Mar 2017
    10:49 am
Really? Who cares what your child wears to bed? Seriously, some people have too much time on their hands. Your child can wear whatever they want to bed. Really!

- - Ellen said
  - 15 Mar 2017
    2:30 am
Aw Madeleine, there are just people who like to waste their time having a dig at other…ignore them and don’t let them disturb you or rob you from your inner peace. Most important is that our kids are safe, well taken care for and loved on.

- - tessie said
  - 14 Mar 2017
    2:44 pm
Everyone parents in their way. If it works for them then so be it. I’m sure the kids don’t go out dirty. Thank you Madeline for sharing with us.

- - mom91049 said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    10:14 pm
The sad thing about this situation is the holier than thou attitude of other mums. She LOVES her children, they are not neglected, honestly I think those bashing her need to get a life.

- - jools41 said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    8:13 pm
Can’t say I would do this myself (but hey there is time! 🙂 ) although mine have gone to bed in what they have worn for the day – but as she said – each to their own, none of us are perfect & what works for one…

- - cherz said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    7:34 pm
Personally I find PJ’s and nighties comfy to sleep in, I do not find clothes comfy to sleep in. And for this reason NO I would not put my children to bed in clothes. And am wondering if she has actually gone to bed wearing her clothes.

- - mom101628 said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    5:05 pm
Do whatever works for you. If she hadn’t shared this, who would have known?

- - june11 said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    5:05 pm
How many Mums get 6 kids ready for school in the morning with no help? Maybe they are hard to wake up in the morning and would mean them getting an hour or even more earlier. The kids obviously go to bed in clean clothes. Presumably they don’t get hot and sweaty overnight.
The top comment is just nasty and sarcastic.
During weekends my kids have been put to bed in their clothes they have worn during the day when they have fallen asleep. I just take their shoes and socks off. I don’t want to wake them, have them distressed, then have to re-settle them when they could have had that 1/2 to 1 hour sleep which has been wasted. The ones that aren’t going to school it doesn’t matter during the week either. They can be bathed during the day.

- - nealsq said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    4:53 pm
If I can get 7 kids ready and in the car at a certain time in the morning she should be able to as well

- - rachel1970 said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    4:44 pm
seriously, what’s the big deal-no different than having a pajama day except it’s reversed. I don’t see the problem with this although I don’t do it.

- - jools said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    4:24 pm
My kids sometimes wear there clothes to bed. I don’t see the issue. They sometimes stay in their pyjamas all day if staying home. If the kids are clean, healthy, happy and loved who cares what they wear to bed.

- - mom112217 said
  - 13 Mar 2017
    2:11 pm
I don’t agree with her method, it is lazy!