It’s that time of the year again, friends! School is in full swing now and even though we are still experiencing some warm temperatures, I know that fall will be here before we know it. With three children to clothe, I must have a plan when it comes to transitioning their wardrobe for the cold weather season. I don’t want to wake up and realize that fall weather is here and the kids have nothing to wear!
I’ve shared before how I transition their clothes without loosing my mind, but the first step of the process is figuring out what they actually need.
Without thinking intentionally about what they REALLY need, I will either: 1.) spend too much or 2.) end up with more clothes than they will actually wear. Our clothing budget is limited and we have a small house with awkward storage, so planning for what we really need is always important for us.
I’m a list maker by nature, so my process always starts with a paper and pen. I try to stick to this basic list for each child (my children are 5, 3, and 1), but this is a simply a guide. There is no one-size-fits-all list because each family’s needs are different and weather can vary quite a bit.
The quantities I include can also vary, based on how often you do laundry and how much money you have to spend on clothing for the season. I aim for the higher numbers if we can because our kids can get quite messy!
Everyday
5 casual outfits for play (pieces can be interchangeable)
2-3 nicer casual outfits
Dressy
4 dressy outfits (dresses/skirts for girls, button ups/polos/dress pants/dress shorts for boys)
Sleepwear
5-7 pairs of pajamas
Undergarments
5-7 pairs of underwear
5-7 pairs of socks
leggings (if these aren’t included in your everyday outfits)
heavy tights (for girls)
Shoes
1 pair of tennis shoes
1 pair of dress shoes
Fall/Winter Seasonal Items
lightweight/fleece jacket
winter coat
hats & gloves
Optional:
raincoat
rain/snow boots
snowpants
holiday themed outfits (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc.)
Since you may be in the thick of determining what your kids actually need too, I created a FREE printable that might help with your brainstorming. I listed the main categories that I use to plan my children’s wardrobes. There is room for you to write specific items and quantities in each box as you plan.
Click here to download the FREE Clothing Essentials Printable
I hope you will find it helpful as you begin to transition your children’s wardrobes for those crisper and cooler temperatures.
What are your children’s must have items for fall & winter?
P.S. For more frugal family inspiration delivered to your inbox, subscribe to my email list here.
This is something I know I need to get on top of. Thanks for the tip!
It can be a bit overwhelming to me – that’s why making lists has been a huge help! Hope you are having an awesome day! –Sarah 🙂
This is perfect right now as I am in the process of organizing old clothes to sell and buying for the upcoming season! Having a way to organize on paper will help me spend less! Thank you!
I hope it’s helpful, Michele! Lists are my link to reality. Otherwise, I buy things we already have (or don’t need) and overspend. Enjoy the rest of the weekend! — Sarah 🙂
This list was helpful, but I’m wondering … why 5-7 pairs of pajamas? Our kids usually get by with 2. I can only think you would need 5-7 pairs if you did laundry 1x a week and your child had an accident every night. Thoughts?
I shoot for 5 because of bed wetting and also b/c my kids eat breakfast in pajamas most mornings and can get messy (my kids are 5, 3, and 1). My daughter is almost 6 though and can get away with less at this point. The quantities are definitely flexible but that’s just what we’ve done in recent years. Hope that clarified! Have a great night. — Sarah 🙂
We’ve always lived in very snowy places in the winter so we budge for very good quality snow gear (snowsuits, snowboots and waterproof, snow gloves). Its important where we live because our kids couldn’t even go out o the bus stop for school without it! Its expensive but we can sometimes sell it he next winter on craigslist. Boom line, always make what you need a priority 🙂
I absolutely agree! That’s why it’s impossible to have a set list that will work for every person in every area of the country. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! — Sarah 🙂
Do your children attend weekly events that they need so many dress up outfits?
We go to church each week, so I like to have 4 dressier outfits (usually just khakis and button ups for the boys and a dress for my daughter) that they can rotate throughout the season. Hope that helps clarify! Have a great day! — Sarah 🙂
Great tips on organizing for the upcoming season Sarah! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much for the encouragement! Have an awesome day! — Sarah 🙂