Kids Clothes: Choosing a Wardrobe that Makes Both of You Happy

Has clothing your kids turned into a fashion nightmare? Find a better fit by setting boundaries, then pick your battles wisely. Here’s how:

Karyn Price’s 2-year-old daughter, Sydney, loves her clothes. There’s just one problem. She refuses to wear them. “Every time I turn around she’s taken her clothes off – even her diaper,” says Price. Winter, spring, summer or fall, Sydney wants to run around stark naked. Getting her into a simple shirt and pants – never mind shoes! – is a major ordeal. No wonder Price is ready to pull out her hair.

Few topics are as fraught with emotion for parents as their children’s clothing. From the time toddlers are mobile and have a few words to express themselves, they assert their budding autonomy by indicating what they will and will not wear. Everyone smiles at the adorable 2-year-old wearing a flowered dress over striped pants. But not all clothing issues are so benign.

By the time kids reach adolescence, the subject of clothes can escalate to major debates on belly buttons (to reveal or not to reveal), fit (too tight vs. too baggy, but nothing in between), clothing allowances (since when does a kid’s sweater cost that much?) and more. The daily struggle can wear down even the kindest soul. Parents can’t be blamed for wondering, “Is it too much to ask that my child be comfortably and appropriately attired at a reasonable hour every day?” Well, maybe.

Choose Your Battles Carefully

No matter how old your child is, the best approach to dealing with clothing issues (as with most parenting challenges) is to set clear boundaries and then pick your battles.