that blue for boys and pink for girls was an advertising thing (Hallmark?) made up by a PR firm in the 1920s, I think?
Of course in the 19th century and earlier there were not little boys and little girls, only "babies". That's why, even into the 1920s, both sexes of babies wore dresses...until they are like 6 or 8. Here's one from the 1870's (but the tradition goes back centuries)
Girls usually have their hair parted in the middle and boys on the left... that's how you tell the difference. These are "children" are just "children" (and of course it's easier to change a cloth diaper under a dress instead of pants). In the 19th century, boys get to wear short pants at about 6 or 8.
There were also no "teenagers". At 14 boys get to wear long pants and girls get to wear long skirts.... and are expected to act like adults from then on. I know in the South (but maybe everywhere) on like a plantation, unmarried boys of 14 or over had to move out of the big house into the "Bachelor House" until they were married.
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