If you’ve ever searched for meaningful gifts for your daughter or nieces, you’ve probably noticed a pattern: princesses, unicorns, and a whole lot of pink. Cute, yes — but they don’t always reflect the curiosity, strength, and brilliance we see in our daughters.
Stemmewear was born from that frustration. As a mom shopping for her daughter, I kept seeing science-themed clothes only in the boys’ section.
So late at night, between newborn feeds and nap schedules, I started creating something different: science-themed pyjamas designed just for girls. Designs inspired by trailblazing women in STEM, crafted ethically with organic materials and non-toxic dyes, and made to spark curiosity from day one.
WHY THESE GIFTS MATTER MORE THAN WE REALIZE
THE UNCONSCIOUS MESSAGE IN EVERY DAY TOYS AND OUTFITS
We’d all like to believe we treat little boys and girls the same. But one video shows how quickly — and unintentionally — we send different messages.
In a BBC experiment, adults were introduced to toddlers they didn’t know. One child, Sophie, was dressed in stereotypically “boyish” clothes and presented as a boy. Another, Edward, was dressed in pink and presented as a girl — but both identities were switched.
Here’s what happened:
- When adults believed Sophie was a boy, they offered robots, puzzles, and STEM toys
- When they believed “Edward” was a girl, they automatically reached for pink dolls, plush toys, and stereotypical items
- Every adult in the experiment later admitted they were shocked at their own bias
Most said things like:
“I always thought I was more open-minded than that.”
“I assumed girls needed girl toys.”
“It made me rethink what I choose for my niece or nephew.”
The video ends with the adults realizing how easily gendered messages slip in — even when we think we know better.
That unconscious bias is exactly why representation matters.
What we surround our kids with becomes a quiet but powerful part of their identity.
THE HISTORY OF “PINK FOR GIRLS / BLUE FOR BOYS”
For most of history, babies of all genders wore white — it was practical, easy to bleach, and considered appropriate for everyone.
In the early 1900s, many stores and magazines actually recommended pink for boys and blue for girls. Pink was seen as a strong, decisive color (a lighter version of red), while blue was viewed as soft, dainty, and appropriate for girls.
By the 1940s, retailers began to standardize colors, and they flipped the script: pink was marketed for girls and blue for boys. This shift was driven more by marketing than by any historical or biological reason.
The trend was reinforced in the 1980s when prenatal testing let parents know a baby’s sex before birth, leading to even more gender-targeted products — including the modern pink-for-girls norm we see today.
What this means is: the gender-coding of colours and clothes isn’t inevitable. It was constructed. And it still influences how young children see themselves. That’s why offering something different (science themes, gender-inclusive thinking, real women in STEM) matters.
WHY SCIENCE-THEMED GIFTS FOR GIRLS MATTER
Clothing may seem simple, but it’s one of the first messages a child receives about who they are and what the world sees in them.
Science-themed gifts help:
- normalize curiosity and exploration
- build early confidence
- break down gender stereotypes
- introduce real female scientists
- show girls they belong in STEM
And when the designs are beautiful, soft, and thoughtfully created? Even better.
OUR TOP SCIENCE-INSPIRED GIFTS FOR GIRLS (NEWBORN-TODDLER)
1. Bondar PJs — Inspired by Canada’s First Woman in Space
A soft, organic cotton PJ set celebrating Dr. Roberta Bondar — perfect for little dreamers who point to the moon.
2. Mary Anning Dinosaur PJs — For Girls With the Loudest Roars
Finally, dinosaur clothing made for girls — a favourite for toddlers.
3. Ada Lovelace Robot Set
A sweet, muted robot pattern inspired by one of computing’s earliest pioneers.
AGES WE COVER
Stemmewear offers sizes from newborn to toddler 5, making these perfect gifts for:
- baby showers
- first birthdays
- holiday gifting
- gifts for pregnant employees and clients
- “welcome baby” presents
- nieces, goddaughters, and the little ladies in your life
THOUGHTFUL DETAILS THAT MAKE STEMMEWEAR A PERFECT GIFT FOR BABY AND TODDLERS
- Premium organic cotton + bamboo blends
- Thick, cozy fabric
- Women-led supply chain - from our designers, to our website builder, to our photographers
- Premium gift boxes available
- Free shipping on orders over $75 and gift bundles
- Beautiful neutral colours and Scandinavian-inspired designs
Every purchase also helps fund organizations that provide science programming for girls.
GIVE A GIFT THAT INSPIRES HER FUTURE
If you’re looking for a present that’s both beautiful and meaningful, science-themed clothing is a gift she’ll grow up remembering.
Explore the full collection on our homepage at www.stemmewear.co
and help her see herself in places where girls have always belonged — even when the world forgets to show it.