At what age do you start dressing boys in suits (shabbos)?

I always thought it was a bit ridiculous when boys dressed in suits, starting from age 4-5 were actually running around in the lobby or in the backyard of the shul (weather permitting). I don�t want to get into the issue of how early the boys should be expected to sit through davening, but just what age do you think it doesn�t look ridiculous for a boy to wear a suit. (someone gave me a really cute suit for my 5-year old. He does go to shul with my dh on Friday nights, and mostly sits next to him and reads his aleph-beis book)

I think suits looks silly before age 5 (even tho I see suits on 3-4 yr olds all the time) but at age 5 and up, it is totally OK and cute.

I personally do not dress my 5 yr old in a suit, and dont plan to do so for another couple of years, but thats just my personal taste.

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18310

My 6 year old got a suit, and he wore it on Y"T. The rest of the time, it's just not practical. (The jacket is dry clean only!)
I have no intention of replacing it when he outgrows it for a couple of years. If he gets from someone, fine. But I'm not buying it. At 8-9 when they're sitting in shul for a good part of davening, I think it's more accepted. Yes, my son goes to mincha/kaballas shabbos, etc but he's not davening with the tzibbur yet and does not need to look as "grown up".
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Gold Member Joined: Jul 07 2009 Posts: 1728

my son wanted to start wearing a suit at age 4. personally I'm not crazy about it but I let him choose his own clothing (within reason)
when he doesn't wear his suit he likes to wear a white shirt and black pants.

It depends IMO on what the kehila does (in some it is quite early, in others after BM, in others adults are still in jeans).
Depending on the suit, it can indeed look weird on a small boy.

In the shuls around here you see all types from lightly traditional to shtark charedi, all types of eda and hashkafa also, so it doesn't matter so much to me and DH will have free choice Laughing

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Posted: Wed, Nov 02 2011, 12:04 pm Post subject:

age 5, ds really wanted one. I got him one. his brother has zero interest in wearing one.

it depends on the kid also the suit that I have is washable

Silver Member Joined: Sep 26 2010 Posts: 684

Mine were about 4, 5, or 6 when they started. I like the look.

Posted: Wed, Nov 02 2011, 4:38 pm Post subject:

I had suits for my boys for weddings, but now I just got my 6 1/2 yr old a navy suit for shabbos. my 5 yr old has a gray one - more young looking. they wear it with a tie, and they look great. but they dont wear it every shabbos, becuz its dry clean only.
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my 8 yr old keeps asking for a suit and we keep trying to push it off- he will have to wear one for the rest of his adult life, so why now? Besides, my boys lie on the floor playing racing cars, trainset etc, and I think a suit would just get spoilt. Especially as they r usually dry clean only!
So for now my 2 boys-8 and 5, wear jumpers (sweaters) on top of striped shirts.
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Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13202

My older boys were grey pants and navy blazers (with brass buttons yet) till eight or ten. Maybe even older for the older one. Life was simpler then.
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Senior Member Joined: Oct 13 2010 Posts: 203

7 or 8, depending on the kid. In our house it comes with going to Shul and when the child is ready to commit to changing his pants AS SOON as he gets home from Shul, so that it doesnt get ruined in a couple of months. I have passed suits down through 3 children. They really last if you take care of them:
Buy suits with 2 prs of pants
Use them only for Shul and Occasions
Sponge them down after each wear, we send to the cleaners for Pesach and Rosh Hashana only

Posted: Wed, Nov 02 2011, 11:10 pm Post subject:

Honestly, my boys don't own a suit yet. Maybe because I am the casual type and like sweaters. I think at age 5-6 they can get one but it has to fit really well on them.
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Diamond Member Joined: Nov 10 2005 Posts: 3401

I started when they were going to shul consistently (my boys sit in their seats the whole time and on their own, don't want to go until they are able to do that!). Worked out around age 7-8. The suits are machine washable and one of their first suits, I bought in a plain black and got in the same fabric an extra pair of pants.

We do pants and vests until bar mitzvah. That said, my 10 yr old ds was given a suit a couple of years ago that he wore and loved. Now, he only wants pants and vests again. I kind of figured suits were for bar mitzvah and up.
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