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The changing of the seasons can fun and exciting. If you are a mom, it can also mean a lot of work! I especially love gearing up for the warmer seasons because it usually happens right as I’m about to loose my patience with winter. Am I the only one who would be perfectly fine if winter ended right after Christmas?
Despite the fun involved with pulling out different clothes, transitioning your child’s wardrobe can be a daunting process. I’ve worked on this quite a bit lately and feel like I finally have things under control. For a couple of weeks, I felt like I had piles of clothes everywhere and storage bins galore. I get it, I really do!
Like most anything though, having a plan of attack can really help minimize some of the stress. Here is what I’ve found has worked for us over the years. The more children you have to clothe, the more imperative it is to have a strategy for getting started.
1. Determine what your kids really need
What your kids actually need will fluctuate based on the seasons. In order to keep myself organized, I always start with a list for each child. I determine what kinds of items they need (I usually stick to general categories, but I sometimes include specific items too) and then decide how many of each item they need. My list for warm weather clothing can be found here.
2. Check what you already have
If you tend to buy ahead or receive hand-me-downs, then you don’t want to skip this step. Make sure you look through what you already have on hand because you may have more than you remember. You might not need to buy as much as you thought, which is a great problem to have.
3. Decide how to fill the holes
Once you know what you still need, it’s time to plan your shopping. I am a huge proponent of budgeting in general, but specifically for clothing as well. Sometimes we forget to include that when it’s a necessity. Based on how much you have to spend on clothing, you can decide where to start your shopping.
I love to shop seasonal consignment sales in our area, as well as consignment stores and have had great luck, but there are lots of other ways to find used clothing. If you are buying new, there are still a ton of great ways to save money on clothing. Here is a list of my favorite clothing brands.
4. Save a few transition pieces
Transitional seasons like fall and spring can be tricky. Since temps can fluctuate during those seasons, I’ve learned to keep a few transition pieces out. Whether it’s fleeces or jeans for chilly weather in spring or a couple short-sleeved shirts in case there is a warm weather streak in the middle of fall, having just a couple of those items on hand will help get you through those wacky days while also giving you the freedom to put the rest of it away!
5. Keep your stored items nearby
Regardless of what you choose to do with the items you are transitioning out of, it’s really nice to keep them stored somewhere that is easily accessed until you are ready to put all the remaining items away. We usually keep clothes for younger siblings or to sell at a consignment sale the following year, so we store them for a little while. We love these Sterlite storage bins*. I put them right at the edge of our attic space, so that I can get to them easily when I am ready to put the final items away. Space bags* are a great option if storage space is a concern.
Even if you get rid of the clothes each season, I recommend keeping your items stored away until the transition is complete. This ensures you only donate or give them away one time.
6. Just do it
Getting started can often be the hardest part of any project. Look at your calendar and schedule a day or week when you will start the process. It is nice to tackle it in a day or two, but if you can’t devote that much time to the task, then pick a week that works well and work on it a little bit at a time. I would aim to have it finished within 1 week. Who wants to be dealing with it longer than that?
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What tips do you have for keeping your sanity while switching out clothes?
