Mom Challenge – look into your closet; now ask yourself how many of these items have been in your collection for more than 2 years. More than 5? More than 10? (Is that even possible – the answer is yes, actually). If you’re like me, and many parents out there, we prioritize our children’s closets before our own – until that panicked moment when we have nothing to wear, again. Firstly, I’m here to tell you it’s completely NORMAL – our growing children are wearing out their clothing at a faster rate than we are; either through damage or growth, our kids’ wardrobes are ever-evolving.
The dilemma then stands; how do I keep up with my child’s closet, without going on a shopping spree every few months (unless that’s of course what you can do, then kudos to you). There are a few things we can take into consideration when purchasing our children’s clothing to make sure we fill their closets consciously and dress them appropriately.
The method which I opt for is building a basic wardrobe theory, which I’ve mentioned before for adults as well. Your child only requires a few basic clothing categories to go about their day-to-day activities. When it comes to special occasions, you can forget this theory and indulge in the sweetest outfit out there.
Indoor Clothing Essentials
Pants, Skirts
Put together a collection of bottoms; let this include mostly cozy types like sweatpants, joggers, and leggings – this is essentially what your child will wear daily. I get to the laundry once or twice a week, so about 6-7 pairs of these are just what I need. If you’re able to do laundry more often, then you can minimize this number a bit, just enough to get you through the cycles.
Short Sleeve Shirts
Although they most likely won’t be running around in just a t-shirt, these make for good layering pieces. T-shirts replace the infant onesies (or bodysuits, however, you call them, the ones with short sleeves and clasps between the legs). Keeping about 7 handy throughout the week is a standard, as spills happen more often on tops than bottoms. A reminder with the laundry cycle here; adjust your numbers accordingly.
Long Sleeve Shirts
As many do, layering a long sleeve on top of that short sleeve allows for extra warmth and comfort. Just a few will do, as our next layer is the more common top go-to. Although I must say, I’ve learned over the years that a short + long sleeve combo has proven to be more comfortable for a toddler running around the house all day, as opposed to a chunky hoodie or sweatshirt.
Sweatshirt, Hoodie, Sweater
Having said the above, you can’t go wrong with a classic sweatshirt, hoodie or sweater for everyday comfort. The goal for me in this area is to find ones that do not have hoods – not only are they uncomfortable under jackets and coats, but how often do you see a toddler wearing that hood? They almost always seem too big or too small, and kids prefer pulling them off rather than covering their heads. Keeping a handful of hoodies should do the trick.
Socks, Tights
Is it just my washing machine or does yours also eat socks; but just one from each pair? How this happens, I have no idea, but the number of missing socks has increased in our house since having two kids. Finding the right amount of socks to own is never an easy answer; here it’s important to focus on the quality of comfort and size. I also look for socks with grips at the bottom!
Dresses
For the girl moms out there, I know there are two versions to the dress story – some girls love wearing dresses and some won’t even look at a dress. So this one goes for personal preference, but I like to have two to three dresses in my daughter’s closet just in case. I love the H&M classic cut cotton dresses they come out with every season; the price is amazing, the material is soft and stretchy, and there are many designs to pick from. These dresses can easily be worn with leggings for a cute and fun everyday look.
But Wait, There’s One More Secret!
Children grow out of clothing faster than adults grow out of their clothing – why? Because children are growing! Every single day, every week, and not to mention every month. Some moments they grow a few millimetres, some a few centimetres, and some months during a growth spurt you can feel and see the difference.
Knowing that it’s important to purchase clothing purposefully – and a size up, always. Each of the items above, as in most kids’ clothing items can be worn a size or two larger than the child’s current size. Not only will you run these items through the washer/dryer, causing shrinkage, but the child will grow out of items before even wearing them down.
Think about this, when you purchase a long-sleeved shirt a size larger and the sleeves are too long; roll them up. When the pants are too long; roll them up. If a sweater is too loose – no, is that even possible? Roll up the sleeves and keep going. Trust me; in a short while you will no longer have to roll up sleeves and you’ll be thankful that you purchased that larger size.
One of the greatest creations in children’s clothing is the elastic waist size adjustment in some kid’s pants – mainly jeans, trousers, and sometimes thicker leggings. You’ll find these at the sides of the hips and they look like a thick elastic band with a button. These are adjustable bands so you may tighten or loosen the waistband on your child’s pants. For those of us who have tall children with smaller waists, these types of pants are the real solution.
Okay, Where Do I Shop for These Essentials?
Back to Basics baby! If you do your grocery shopping at stores like Superstore or Loblaws I’m sure you’ve also popped into their clothing department. Joe Fresh is one of my favourite places to shop for kids’ clothing – many items are 100% cotton, the prices are good (and the deals even better), and they offer a great “basic” yet fun collection all year round.
H&M is also a hot spot for kids’ basics – especially if you’re looking to build a collection with pieces you can mix and match; even as sizes change. Here, you’ll be able to pick up items like leggings, tank tops, t-shirts, long sleeves, and joggers in multi-packs or even a buy two get one free promo (which I believe runs all year long). In general, though, H&M has a great selection of items for children at really great prices. If you’re a member, you’ll also receive emails each month with some kind of extra discount, like 15% off, for example.
Simplicity and Children Can Fit In The Same Sentence
So it’s settled – there is a way to build a beautifully cursed children’s closet, with a minimal budget, and minimal monthly effort to keep up. I too am guilty of over-purchasing my child simply because everything is so sweet and you want the best for your child, but it’s just not necessary. Less is more, and makes for easier decisions.
