How many clothes do kids really need??
First things first. There is no magic number for kids’ clothes. It’s a personal category and you should do what works for YOU.
When you find your perfect number…you’ll know.
LUCKILY - when trying to figure out how many clothes are right for your kiddos, there are some super easy factors to consider.
Here are my Top 4 Factors, in no particular order:
(*keep scrolling to find out what my number is! 🖤)
1. Amount of Space
Do you live in a two bedroom apartment with your spouse + two kids who share a closet?
Or do you live with your 6 year old son in a 5 bedroom farm house with endless closet space?
Either way - that’s going to determine how much you can keep.
*Important Note: Bigger isn’t always better! If you are in the small space and feel like you are missing out, pleeeeease don’t. I have organized homes of every shape and size and more space isn’t always a good thing! Having less space often makes it easier to manage inventory and forces you to decide what’s most important. Which in turn, leaves more time for all the other magical parts of life 🌈
Being realistic about what you’re working with and focusing on the positives will make this journey soooo much easier! Rather than being resentful for having to fit everything in three drawers, just keep that in mind next time you’re in the sale section of Target. If you don’t have room for it, leave it at the store. And your money in your pocket :) Win, win!
And a note for larger spaces (just as important) - you don’t need to fill all the spaces !!! In fact, I encourage empty spaces. We have become so accustomed to filling allllll the spaces. But a little bit of empty (especially for kids) can do amazing things for creativity and calm ✨
2. Laundry Routine
Next factor: how often do you wash clothes??
If you do a load a day then you can technically get away with fewer clothes (that’s great news!).
But if you go to the laundromat and you know that you realistically only go every other Friday, then you’re going to need enough to last 2 weeks.
Again, this isn’t a better/worse situation. Just a practical way of deciding what is ideal for your fam. In this phase of life.
While you’re at it, this might also be a good time to review your laundry routine and potentially switch it up.
If you are struggling with endless piles of laundry, there is a REALLY good chance that you have too many clothes. And too many laundry hampers!!
If you would rather eat glass than do laundry then get rid of some clothes - having less clothing will instantly make laundry WAY less overwhelming.
Also - remember that folding is optional! If file folding teeny tiny toddler pyjamas makes your heart flutter with pure joy, then keep it up. But if that sounds like your version of torture then skip it! When you have the right amount of clothes, designated spots for everything and the correct size of space for each category, then toss those t-shirts in and never fold again!
If you want to know about our veryyyy simple laundry routine, you can check it out here.
3. Time
How much time do you have and/or want to dedicate to managing kids’ clothes?
In my opinion, this is probably the most important factor. So if you forget all the rest, remember this one!
If you are on maternity leave with your first child and love spending your days rotating newborn outfits and folding tiny onesies while sipping herbal tea, then soak in that stage. And don’t apologize for it!
On the other hand, if you are about to go back to work full-time after your third maternity leave, time for folding and laundry might be a little tight. Or a LOT tight!
Reducing your children’s wardrobes is one fo the QUICKEST and EASIEST ways to save time. Give it a shot!
4. Fashionista Level
Do you live for fashion and have been dreaming about matching outfits for your future kids since you were 16 years old?!
Then LIVE. IT. UP.
Or could you care less about clothes and normally end up dressing your toddler in the same grey sweatpants 5 days a week?
If so, then maybe doing a huge clothing declutter would be the PERFECT way to free up your closet - and calendar - for more of what makes you happy.
Or maybe you are somewhere in between.
Wherever you are at, be honest with yourself.
Just don’t waste time sorting, storing, shuffling and washing kids’ clothes that don’t make you (OR your 2 year old) happy.
And definitely stick to your clothing budget! No amount of cuteness is worth going into debt for ;)
For those of you who love numbers…
Our Numbers
Here is a breakdown of what I have for each of our kids:
Bottoms, 7-10 pair
Tops, 7-10 (in the winter this is a mix of sweatshirts and t-shirts)
Socks & Underwear, 10-12 each
PJ’s, 2-3 pair
2 Bathing Suits
1 raincoat
1 spring/fall coat
1 winter jacket + snow pants
1 pair of outdoor running shoes
1 pair of rain boots
1 pair of indoor running shoes (they live at school)
These numbers vary by season but this is generally what we have on hand at any time.
And yes Annie-Rose has dresses (I categorize them under “tops”).
If you’re looking for extra motivation, I made a video about kids’ clothes that you can check out right here.
And here are the factors behind our numbers...
2 kids (4 & 6 years old)
average size house (each kid has their own dresser)
2 full-time working parents
laundry once a week (rule of thumb is that we should almost run out of clothes by laundry day)
I get almost no enjoyment out of buying kids’ clothes
*Off-season or items that don’t fit yet live in their “Grow Into” tote that I keep in the basement.
If you are overwhelmed by kids’ clothes and want to start decluttering, don’t get bogged down in the details, just START. It might take a few tries to get the right balance.
If you are stuck, check out some of my favourite decluttering tips right here.
I believe (deep down in my soul) that having fewer clothes will make life easier and WAY more full of all the good stuff, but I also want you to find a balance that feels perfect for YOUR family.
So instead of pushing for less, I want you to push for what suits you. And your family. At this exact moment in time.
The beauty of life is that you can do whatever the H-E-double hockey sticks you want.
Just make sure it’s moving you towards a happier, healthier you.
Mary Ann K.p.s. As always, if you are looking for support to get organized, book a consultation and/or check out our services to see how we can help xo
