There is one thing that every toddler parent would probably agree on, and it’s that your little one grows out of their clothing way too quickly. As soon as you’ve got them all ready and kitted out for the next season, they seem to go through another growth spurt. This cycle continues for quite a few years, until you can eventually enjoy a break from buying clothing every other month for your child. When it comes to keeping up with your growing toddler, it feels like you’re constantly chasing your tail, but what if it didn’t have to be that way? There are a handful of ways in which you can save money and get creative with your toddler’s wardrobe, so you can get off the ever-turning hamster wheel of buying clothes for your little one. Here are some ideas to inspire you and make your life a little easier.
Invest in Good Quality Staple Items
The staple items of your toddler’s wardrobe should always be high quality, long lasting and durable, and for many good reasons. First of all, you want their everyday clothing to be able to withstand their active lifestyle and messy playtimes. Good quality staple items such as leggings, jeans, fleeces, shoes and coats will last much longer if you choose trusted brands that aren’t likely to fall apart or wear away easily as they are worn.
Mend and Make-Do
If you’re the type of person who instantly reaches for your laptop and credit card every time a button falls off your child’s coat, it might just be time to break that habit. Mending your toddler’s clothes and making do with what you have is back in fashion, and it’s much more eco-friendly too. You can buy bernette sewing machines online and have a go at adapting old clothes into new and wearable items that your toddler can wear for months and months. Once you have got into the swing of making and mending clothes, you will never look back!
Accept Hand-Me-Downs
There is absolutely nothing wrong with accepting hand-me-downs from friends and family who have children that are slightly older than yours. Second hand clothing is the perfect option if you’re hoping to reduce the amount of money you’re spending on clothing. Reusing clothing is also much friendlier to the planet and it ensures that fast fashion in the children’s clothing sector is kept to a minimum.
Buy Unisex Clothing
If you’re unsure whether you’re going to have more children in the future, you may want to take extra precautions now. Your future self will thank you wholeheartedly if you already have a full wardrobe of good, wearable clothing that is suitable for any child. Of course, there are all sorts of different clothing types you might enjoy buying and your toddler may enjoy wearing, but if you can focus mainly on purchasing unisex clothing you will be able to use it again and again in the future if you need it.
Sign Up To Eco-Friendly Clothing Rentals
There are several new and upcoming companies that actually rent out clothing to parents for their toddlers. It has become clear that this is a service many parents would benefit from as their toddler is constantly growing out of their clothes. It can cost a fortune to completely replace the clothing in your toddler’s wardrobe, so it is definitely worth looking into eco-friendly rentals.
Make Conscious Purchases
Becoming a more conscious consumer is something that everyone is striving to do at the moment. Not only does it protect the planet, but it also ensures you’re living within your means too. Before you make a purchase try to justify it and consider whether it’s a worthwhile purchase for you and your little one. If you’re unsure whether to buy something, it’s probably because you don’t actually need it.
As you can see, there are numerous interesting, creative and unexpected ways in which you can create a long-lasting wardrobe for your toddler. Although it can be very tempting to buy new items constantly, you will quickly start to see how expensive and time consuming it can get. With this in mind, you can take some of the ideas mentioned above and tweak them to create the best possible wardrobe for your growing little one. Whether you’re becoming a more conscious shopper or you’re getting creative with your sewing skills, you will soon find your own way of handling the wardrobe of your toddler as they grow through each phase of their life.