Parenting hides many surprising challenges. Have you ever thought that buying children’s clothes could be a complicated issue before you became a parent? From an early age, when you mostly have to think about the sizes and fabric quality, to their teenage years when they start to express their own desires, you will be in charge of it. Of course
let’s not forget about the financial aspect of the story as well. Still, if you plan ahead and stay organized, all the dilemmas and uncertainties that you have will be just a small part of a fun and enjoyable experience.
Your kids will quickly grow up and pick their own clothes
You have to think about many different things when choosing clothes for your children. And those things will change as the years pass by. Naturally, it is not the same when buying clothes and dealing with baby products and dressing a full-grown teenager. Still, you will have full autonomy in decision-making only for a couple of years, as many kids start articulating their desires as early as kindergarten age. First, they will begin by expressing wishes regarding colors, then they will take an interest in design, and finally, brands. As you will be there to finance it all, you will have the final word. And it would help if you tried to make a balance between not spending too much money and not standing in the way of your kid’s happiness.
Buying clothes for babies and toddlers
It seems like nothing is more complicated than buying clothes for newborns and toddlers. Of course, one of the reasons why this is so complicated lies in the fact that you just became a parent, and you do not have a clue about dressing a newborn. Luckily, you will not feel this way for very long. And soon, you will be stacking up bodysuits, rompers, and sleepers in your newborn’s wardrobe like you have been doing this your whole life.
Getting the right size
Naturally, the first and most important thing when buying children’s clothes, especially for babies and toddlers, is to get the right size. Kids at this age grow very quickly, and the things they wear today will not fit the next month. Therefore, planning ahead is crucial in this stage, especially when purchasing more than a few clothing pieces.
You need to make sure that your baby is warm
Another thing that is very important at an early age is warmth. Babies and toddlers have weaker circulation in their extremities, so their hands and feet tend to get cold much easier than with grownups. Our advice is to disregard your sense of warmth and dress your little ones just a little bit better than yourself.
Baby clothes need to be practical
Baby clothes have to be practical as well. Since you will be the one who is taking their clothes on and off a few times a day, you need pieces of clothing that are easy to handle. For example, when you are changing a diaper, removing a bodysuit that fastens on the back can be tricky. Keep that in mind when you are choosing clothes for very small kids.
Pay attention to quality
An essential thing that you have to think about is fabric quality and overall safety. Small kids are very sensitive, especially in the first month or two. So you need to think of the quality not only when you are buying clothes but when dealing with baby products in general. You need to make sure that those materials are safe and that there are no toxic substances either in the fabric itself or in the colors. Next, make sure that the fabric is soft, pleasant, and that it will not irritate your baby’s or toddler’s skin. Your goal is to buy tees your little one will enjoy wearing. Finally, make sure that there are no loose or dangerous parts, like long drawstrings or something similar
Buying clothes for kindergarten age kids
As your kids grow older, they will start getting their own sense of clothing and will begin to express some desires. Naturally, you will still have to think about getting the proper size as they are still growing quickly. If you are buying a t-shirt at the end of the summer, for example, consider getting a slightly larger size so that your kid can wear it next year as well. Of course, you are still keeping in mind the quality and safety, but now you also have to start thinking about the look. Luckily, your kids will already be ready to say whether they like something or not at this age. So the best trick for buying kids’ clothes is to pick several pieces that fit into your price range and satisfy your quality standards and ask your kid to decide. That way, everyone goes home satisfied.
Buying clothes for teenagers
Naturally, as your kids grow older, they will choose their clothes on their own most of the time. At this age, sponsoring their desires will be your primary issue. On the other hand, other children in their surroundings usually influence their desires. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, wearing a particular type of clothing is the only way to fit in. Of course, you want your kid to feel included and have friends, but try to maintain their requirements at a manageable level, and you will be fine.
Final thoughts on buying children’s clothes
As you can see, there are many challenges that you have to face when buying children’s clothes. But if you are methodical, careful, and plan ahead, finding perfect pieces should not be an issue.
Author’s bio
Marc Rois a father of two, photographer, designer, and writer at babyswag.com. He enjoys taking photos of his kids and writing about family life