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Keeping up with growing little ones can be exhausting. In addition to their needs and every-changing schedule, we have the surprisingly challenging struggle to make sure that they always have clean clothing that fits.

But with a good system you can keep on top of those kids’ clothes with less stress. Here are seven tips on how to manage kids’ clothes for growth spurting little ones:

1-) Keep an “outgrown” basket

The most important thing you can do to keep kids’ clothes manageable is to have an appropriate space for their outgrown clothes, such as a designated basket. When you realize a piece of clothing no longer fits, immediately add it to the basket so you don’t try to use it again. This keeps outgrown clothes neatly together and out of the way.

2-) Decide now where outgrown clothes go

Decide now what you will do with outgrown clothes once that “outgrown” basket (see point one) gets full. Will you store them for future children? Will you consign them? Donate? Come up with a plan and a system so that you’re not stuck with years worth of outgrown clothes to deal with down the line.

3-) Stop worrying about wearing all the clothes

When our Little Grasshopper was first born, I thought he had to wear all the clothes that he had. And so I took the tags off many of his early clothes only to have him wear them once before he outgrew them.

Yea…I eventually got wise to that.

Now, Little Grasshopper wears the clothes that fit him well and that we like. If we have clothes that never have the tags cut off, then we either sell them or donate them to families who can’t afford new clothes for their babies.

It’s a much better system for everyone involved! So if you feel mom guilt over your kids never wearing certain clothing, think about who you can help with that clothing instead!

4-) Buy big (when possible)

Most little ones grow like a weed, and it the blink of an eye they often outgrow their current clothes!

Reduce how often you have to buy new clothes by buying roughly one size big when possible. Shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets can almost always be worn big. Pants are trickier, but choosing pants with elastic waistbands and ankles (such as sweatpants) helps prevent them from falling down or becoming a tripping hazard. You can also find children’s jeans with elastic waistbands, and simply roll up the bottoms if they are too long.

5-) Know how brands fit

Nothing is more frustrating when it comes to kids’ clothes than buying clothing that should fit based on size only to find out when you get home that they are too small. Amiright?

What do most of us do when we come across this issue? We look at the tag and make a mental note of how that brand’s clothes fit our child.

But mentally keeping track of all that gets complicated unless you only buy a few clothing brands. So rather than trying to remember how brands fit, keep a list handy (such as in their closet). Depending on your situation, you may want to keep one general list with general information for each brand such as “runs big” or “runs small.” Alternatively, you may want to get more specific, making a sheet for each child and/or writing what age your child fit in a certain size.

6-) Plan in advance

If you live where the weather changes drastically with the seasons, make sure you have clothes ready in the size(s) you expect your kids to fit when the next season rolls around. So if you’re buying winter clothes for your 3 month old in June, be sure to buy winter clothes in ~9-12 month range. You wouldn’t want those adorable clothes to go to waste because your baby outgrew them before it became cold enough to wear!

7-) Organize dressers

Now that you have a system for managing your childrens’ clothes, you need to make sure their current clothes stay organized. Simple drawer organizers work great to help keep those little clothes manageable, but you can also get creative with boxes and bags to keep those drawers under control!

There you have seven tips on how to manage kids’ clothes for your growth spurting little ones! What have you done to manage your kids’ clothes? Let us know in the comments!

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