How To Manage Kids Clothes Seasonally

Learn some tips and tricks that can help you manage kids clothes seasonally to keep their dresser drawers and closets organized!

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Do you dread the change of seasons when you have to go through your kids clothes and figure out what doesn’t fit and what you need to buy? This can be a real cumbersome task, especially when you have multiple children. Over the years, I’ve developed a system that has helped me manage kids clothes seasonally, and one that makes switching their clothes over for a new season so much easier and more manageable. Below I’ll outline the whole process and some tips to help you out!

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HOW TO MANAGE KIDS CLOTHES SEASONALLY

Sort and Assess your Children’s Current Clothes

• Remove all the clothes from the dresser or closet.
• Go through each piece of clothing and check for holes, stains, excess wear and tear.
• Create four piles: donate, pass on to younger sibling, save for next season, keep in drawer/closet. You may also have a recycle pile as well if you have pieces that are torn or really worn.
• Return all clothes in the keep pile to the drawers or closet and set the other clothes aside.
• Repeat this for each child or continue with the same child to make it less chaotic.

Sort and Assess Clothes in the Save for Next Season Bin

I keep a bin for each of my children in their closet that has clothes that I have saved for the next season(s). I find this the easiest way to keep unnecessary clothes out of their dresser and closet.

• Remove all clothes from the next season bin.
• Assess which clothes are appropriate for and will fit in the upcoming season, then add them to your child’s dresser or closet.
• Remove any clothes that will no longer fit your child and either set them aside for a younger sibling or add them to the donate pile.
• Add clothes from the save for next season pile that was removed from the dresser or closet to the bin, then put the next season bin away.

Sort and Assess Youngest Child’s Clothes

When sorting through your youngest child’s clothes, the process is much the same, but there’s the question of whether or not you will have more children. If you plan on having more children, then you may want to save your youngest child’s clothes. If you aren’t planning on having more children or don’t feel the need to save clothes, then you can donate any clothes that don’t fit them!

Take Inventory of your Children’s Clothes

• Once you’ve removed outgrown clothes from your kids’ wardrobe, added in any saved clothing or hand-me-downs, take inventory of what’s left so you can decide what your child needs.
• Create a list for each child’s clothing needs.
• Decide what clothes you need to buy immediately and what you can get in the future when there’s sales.

TIPS TO MANAGE KIDS CLOTHES SEASONALLY

Remove Clothes Throughout the Season

Don’t leave this task to do all in one day. I’ve found the best approach is to remove clothing from my kids’ wardrobe as I notice it not fitting. I want my kids to be as comfortable as they can be, so if I notice that a clothing item is getting a bit too tight or too short, I remove it and make a decision on what to do with that piece of clothing.

Use a Whiteboard in the Laundry Room

Especially when my kids were babies and going through clothes much quicker, I found the easiest way to manage their clothes was to use a mini white board I kept on my dryer. Once I put the piece of clothing in the wash that was too small or out of season, I’d write it on a mini whiteboard. Once the clothing was dry, I could place it in the appropriate place: donate pile, save for next season, save for future child.

Plan a Day Bi-Annually To Organize Kids Clothes

If you’re having a hard time removing clothes throughout the season, then plan a day twice a year to take 45 minutes or an hour and really sort through and organize everyone’s clothes.

• Try to be caught up with laundry, that way you have a total picture of what your child has left.
• If you have a bin full of hand-me-downs for one or more of your children, take inventory of it and see what you have. Check for stains, holes, or any wear and tear that you might’ve missed when you stored it.
• If the clothing is still good to go, wash it (sometimes the clothes smell like plastic) and then you’re ready to add it to your child’s wardrobe.

TIPS FOR STORING HAND-ME-DOWNS

If you’ve decided to keep clothing items for a future child or a younger sibling that may not need the clothing for some time, you’ll need to properly store them.

• Make sure the clothes are clean and completely dry.
• To make it faster and easier throughout the year, use a crate or box in your children’s closet or a designated spot that’s up and out of the way. Throw clothes you want to save for the future in the box.
• Once the box is full, fold all the clothes and place them in a plastic storage bin that has a lid.
• Store the plastic bin in a cool, dry place so they are ready to use in the future!

TIPS FOR BUYING CLOTHES

• Organize your children’s clothing a month or two before the change of season so that you can grab things as I see them or as sales arise.
• Check out places like thrift stores and consignment shops first because you may be surprised what you can find.
• My favorite place to purchase my kids clothing is Target because of their Cat & Jack brand. That clothing also comes with a one year guarantee and you can return any clothing within that year (with a receipt) and get a full refund! I also love Carter’s/Oshkosh B’Gosh, even though they are pricier, and Old Navy.

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