Toddler Clothing 101

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Toddler clothing can be fun and adorable! It definitely has to be functional, too, though, because climbing is too difficult when the skinny jeans are too tight 😛 I had no idea there were so many tricks to building a functional and cute toddler wardrobe! With our son, I had no idea what I was doing, but I’ve learned some valuable lessons via trial and error. Here are the best 8 tricks I learned!

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1.Gender neutral

I learned this lesson WAY too late, but be mindful of purchasing as many gender neutral toddler clothing items as you can, if you plan to have more children in the future. (This is important for toddler clothing and infant clothing, as well.) Not only will it save you loads of money, it’s super fun to have memories and photos of your children in the same outfits ☺ Also, gender-neutral colors are especially wise for winter gear and other big-ticket items!

2. Onesies

When your toddler is old enough to walk around, onesies prove to be an annoying barrier to diaper checking! They were very handy for controlling blowout situations for a baby, but thank goodness that’s now a rare occurrence. However, in the case that your toddler starts taking his or her diaper off themselves at inopportune times, snapping a onesie OVER not only the diaper, but the pants slows them down quite a bit 😀

3. Outfits

Do NOT buy shirts and pants randomly, but create outfits out of toddler clothing items! I found that if I bought items I liked that didn’t necessarily go together, I ended up with a hodgepodge of toddler clothing and no cute outfits for him to wear. When I put laundry away I hang outfits together on a hanger so it’s easy to grab and go and I’m not trying to put something together on the fly in the morning. This also prevents ending up with tops and bottoms that don’t match as laundry day draws near 😉 (Gymboree has the CUTEST sets and they fit longer than any other brand we’ve tried!)

4. Season

It’s important to be mindful of the season and size when purchasing toddler clothing. This should go without saying, but sometimes it’s tempting to just buy the next size up when it’s on sale, but that “deal” may actually be a pair of shorts that is never worn in December.

5. Fit

Not all brands are sized the same for toddler clothing. You’ll learn through a bit of trial and error and as your tot’s body grows and changes. My son has always had narrow hips, so some brands that make wider clothing never fit right.

6. Socks

I like plain socks so I don’t feel obligated to try to make them match. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Yes, there are many cute ones out there, but that’s too complicated for my life.

7. Used items

Used toddler clothing is a fantastic way to save a few dollars! I recommend garage sales or consignment stores, like Once Upon a Child. All of the above rules still apply for getting value from your purchases. In addition, be sure to scour each item for holes, broken buttons/zippers, pilled or stained materials. Try not to fall into the trap of buying something that you don’t really like, just because it’s cheap.

8. Flex fit

I’ve fallen in love with “flex fit” jeans for our kids! There’s an adjustable waistband on the inside that allows for a great fit at a multitude of different sizes. The legs are a bit long, but I simply vary the cuff to what’s appropriate for the current height and we’ve got the perfect fit!

Toddler clothing can be fun AND practical! With these 8 tips you’re sure to create the perfect wardrobe for your little!

What are your best revelations about toddler clothing?