Finding great clothes for your kids seems like it should be a relatively straightforward task. After all, there are so many options out there. However, it is actually considerably more challenging than you might think. Here are some of the considerations you’ll want to make.
Make Washability A Priority
As a busy parent, you have a lot on your hands. You have to cart your children to school, prepare their meals and run their baths. Therefore, washability is a critical consideration. You need clothes that you can just bung in the machine and forget about. You don’t want to spend your Saturday mornings handwashing items and then carefully placing them on the washing line – that’s not a good use of your time.
The best solution is to buy clothes which you can wash in the same setting as everything else. Splitting up washes and trying to separate garments is a hassle and makes your life much more complicated than it needs to be.
Find Clothes That Are Easy To Put On And Take Off
While the idea of your children wearing buttoned shirts every day seems cute, the reality of it can be quite different. Sometimes, kids won’t be able to put on their clothes, so you’ll have to do it for them which, again, takes up your precious time.
Furthermore, children can become distressed when their clothes are too difficult to put on. Sometimes, it can provoke a temper tantrum, tears and all sorts of trouble.
In view of this, look for clothes that are easy to don. Zippers are a great option for older children, as is velcro.
Keep It Safe
Sometimes, manufacturers include toxic compounds in their products which can harm children, so always check the label.
If you are buying custom T-shirts, make sure that the manufacturer specifies that they do not use toxic inks. If you can, choose clothing made of natural materials as these tend to be the safest on the skin.
Avoid Hand-Me-Downs
While hand-me-downs seem like a great idea for keeping the cost of your children’s clothes to a minimum, they bring all kinds of problems. For instance, many are laced with old perfumes and scents which contain chemicals that could adversely affect your child.
If you do accept second hand clothes, be sure to wash them first. Clear out all the detergent, softener and dryer sheet residues.
Buy Clothes That Last
Parents sometimes don’t care all that much about their children’s clothes because they expect them to grow out of them quickly. But that’s the wrong approach. Kids clothes will often last two or three years, meaning that buying quality items is important. If you don’t, then you can find yourself having to spend even more money replacing items that wore out.
Go Organic
If you can, try to make your clothing choices organic. This reduces the impact on the environment and cuts the risk of your children coming into contact with potentially damaging pesticide residues. Producers use around one third of a pound of pesticide per garment they create.
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