Beige moms aren’t harming their children with their muted tastes, experts say

CNN — Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. “I wanted to have just one neutral toy that may blend in with aesthetics, especially if we’re keeping it out for a couple months for the holiday season.” Powell had not anticipated how passionately people would respond to the video, calling her a “beige mom,” and a “sad beige mom.” It’s a term that started trending in 2023 to criticize mothers who decorate their houses and children’s rooms in beige tones and purchase colorless toys and clothing. “So many people saw the sad beige Christmas tree, but they didn’t see the thousands of other colorful toys that are stuffed in cabinets or in my daughter’s room.” The ‘beige mom’ term has been tossed around to describe many parents’ situations, including those who prefer colorless toys, like to dress their babies in neutrals or maintain muted nurseries — and certain celebrities have also been granted the descriptor. … organically.” Colors don’t even matter at first because infants can’t fully see color until a few months of age, so newborns tend to be more attracted to objects that have high contrast, such as black and white or other variations of lighter colors in contrast to darker colors, said Dr. Jennifer Poon, a professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. “I truly think that as kids get older, they do start having their own preferences, and I think it’s super important to include them in that process,” Powell said.