Did you know that the average American throws away approximately 81 lb of clothes a year? If that wasn’t shocking enough, around 85% of the textiles are burned or thrown into landfills.
With children rough on clothes and continually growing, the need to purchase more clothing regularly is understandable. However, parents can choose to be more intentional in how they buy clothing for their children. Here are five smart tips to help you save money and practice sustainability when you dress your children
Create a Kid’s Capsule Wardrobe
If you’ve never heard of a capsule wardrobe, the concept is to design a collection of essential articles of clothing. You then enhance the essentials with seasonal pieces like coats and appropriate footwear.
Depending on the age of the child, they’ll need a certain amount of everyday clothing:
- Newborns: Ten Outfits
- 6-18 Months: Eight Outfits
- 18-24 Months: Six Outfits
- 2-4 Years Old: Six Outfits
- 5-7 Years Old: Five Outfits
- 8-12 Years Old: Five Outfits
The ease of the capsule wardrobe for kids and parents is how interchangeable everything is. Kids can easily dress themselves because it all mixes and matches. Additionally, there is no question of “what will I wear?” because there are only so many pieces in which to dress. This is another benefit of the capsule wardrobe and a significant selling point when it comes to sustainability.
Take Inventory
Go into your child’s closet and review the contents. Chances are, you’ll already have most of the essentials in your child’s wardrobe ready to use. Declutter the rest of the clothing and make piles of garments that could be resold, recycled or held onto for younger children. You might also consider keeping a few worn pairs of shirts and pants for outside or messy play.
Consider a Color Family
When considering your child’s new wardrobe, planning it around a color scheme might be wise. A neutral color scheme including white, black, gray and navy for bottoms helps mix and match clothing sets.
Depending on their age, let your child have some input on determining the color scheme of their clothes. Neutral bottoms don’t mean the style can’t be more interesting for clothing tops. Ask your child for their opinion on color and cut when you go shopping.
Clothing With Tops and Bottoms
When buying new clothing for your child’s wardrobe, make a ruleif the top doesn’t match the bottom, we don’t get it. Take it a step further and try purchasing clothing so interchangeable that your kid could grab any shirt and any pair of pants, put them on and walk out their room matching. That’s a wardrobe worth the investment.
Pick Comfortable Clothes
When choosing a brand, you want to ensure your child is comfortable in their clothing. Try to find clothing that fits your child and works well for active play. Material that is 100% cotton is always a good choice because it breathes. It’s also soft and stretchy, making it comfortable and easy to put on.
Prioritize Simplicity and Durability
When shopping for your children, make it easy for yourselfpurchase clothing from one or two stores. This will ensure you know the fit of the apparel and how it holds up. Durability is a factor you’ll want to consider if you wish to pursue a capsule wardrobe.
Additionally, when you shop from just one or two brands, you are more likely to guarantee that you match within your general color familymaking it easy for your everyday wardrobe to become interchangeable pieces.
Ways to Save Money for Your Child’s Wardrobe
When considering the best article of clothing for your child, practice intentionality. Think about how a shirt or pair of shoes will match other essentials within your child’s wardrobe before purchasing. Don’t let cuteness be the primary deciding factor, though it can help influence some of your choices.
Try these other tips to save money when shopping for clothing:
Shop Clearance Sales
The best time to hit stores is during clearance sales. You can usually find dramatic discounts in-between seasons and during the holidays. Make an effort to only shop for your child’s wardrobe during this time, and you’ll save money.
Buy Clothing Second Hand
Shopping consignment stores, websites or second-hand clothing is a fantastic way to cover the cost of your child’s wardrobe. Additionally, buying second-hand clothes is a great way to practice sustainable living. There are various options for children, including Once Upon a Child, Kidizen and Children’s Orchard.
Resell the Items You’re Decluttering
This is a great way to make additional cash to buy your children clothing when they grow out of their current essential gear. Join a Facebook group specializing in local garage sales or list your gently used kids’ clothing on the Facebook Marketplace. You could also try your hand at reselling your clothes to a second-hand shop. Any bit of money will help cover future clothing purchases.
Try Out These Ways to Dress Your Child
Consider creating a capsule wardrobe for your child and see how it saves your family money. Learn to practice a more sustainable way of life by being intentional when you shopbuy gently used clothes from second-hand shops or Facebook Marketplace. Try out any of these five tips to get started today!
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