Babies and children grow so fast that ensuring they have enough of the right-sized clothes can feel like a never-ending task. Where you once had a drawer full of clothes that fit them, you now have a jumble of too small clothes mixed in with those that still fit and before you know it, nothing fits! Just think of the added mental load that rummaging around trying to find something that fits leads to every morning. But all is not lost! The solution is an oh-so-simple 3 step system that will take you no time to setup but will save you many headaches!
Step 1: Good Storage
Good storage can make all the difference. You want to make it easy to see exactly what you’ve got and what’s missing and the crucial part – BEFORE you need it. I’m a big fan of Ikea Kallax units with the Drona boxes which fit perfectly inside as they are so versatile. You don’t need to buy anything fancy though – use what you’ve got but organise it so you know exactly where everything is. You’ll need dedicated spaces for current size clothes, next size up clothes and too small clothes. Within that, split clothing into tops, bottoms, jumpers/cardigans and nightwear. By organising it this way, it’s really easy to see where you are short of something, and it’s also really easy to filter out the “too small” clothes as you go.
Step 2: Regular Rotation
This is key! As soon as the “too small” drawer starts to fill up, or the “right-sized” boxes run low, it’s time for a reshuffle. Move all the “next size up” items into the “current size” drawers so you are freshly stocked up. Then you need to empty out that “too small” drawer and either sell it, donate it, or move it into more permanent storage if you are saving it for future children. If you are keeping it, make sure you clearly label the bag or box so that you can easily start the cycle again next time. Again it doesn’t need to be fancy – we use black bin bags with a piece of paper stuck to the side showing the contents, then it goes in our attic. If you no longer need it then don’t forget the part about getting it out of your house! Next you need to refill the “next size up” boxes so you can see what you have and what you’ll need to buy or borrow in the next couple of months – see Step 3.
Step 3: Batch Buy and Plan Ahead
Once you have your system set up, it’s really easy to see what’s missing. The key here is that you can see it well in advance so you have time to fill in the gaps. That’s one less stress for you to worry about! If it is Christmas or your child’s birthday coming up, you could ask for clothing as their gift – and now that you know exactly what you are low on, you can request exactly the items you need! It’s also worth looking out for bundles if you need quite a few items. Vinted and Facebook Marketplace are great places to buy second-hand kids clothes, usually in great condition and often in bundles. That way you only need to arrange for 1-2 purchases and you’ll be all set – less mental load for you!
And that’s it! Your oh-so-simple, 3-step system for effortlessly managing your child’s clothes. By putting this system in place you will find it easy to know what they have, what they don’t have and importantly, you can save the last minute panic-purchasing when you realise they don’t have anything to wear! Will you give it a go? Let me know in the comments!
