How to Choose Comfortable Kids’ Clothes: A Parent’s Guide
In relation to clothing for children, fashion should not be the most important factor to consider. The ideal piece of attire to wear would be one that ensures that the child can move about comfortably all through the day. This is the reason why picking comfortable kids clothes is more crucial than picking out the best looking ones.
There are certain minor considerations that can affect the comfort of the child and hence the parents have to pick the clothes carefully considering not only the looks but also the activities of the child and the weather among others. Here is a brief guide on what considerations are to be made when selecting clothes for children.
Importance of Having Comfortable Kids’ Clothes
From a biological point of view, children are naturally very active. The child can be sitting on the chair for one minute and later he can be seen playing with his friends. The clothing which is worn by the children may make them uncomfortable if it is tight or rough.
The importance of comfortable clothing for the kids is that it makes sure that they have freedom of movement and they do not have to adjust themselves in order to be comfortable. What is meant by this is that a comfortable t-shirt fits well on the shoulders and pants must enable knee bends. This becomes very important when the child is in the school because he wears these clothes throughout the day.
1. Select Soft and Breathable Fabric
Fabric is among the factors that parents need to consider while choosing clothes for their children. Soft and breathable fabric is ideal for use in everyday clothes especially during the warm days when the child is engaged in activities.
Ideal fabric should be soft and does not cause irritation in any way. Before buying the specific clothing, ensure that the internal seams on the clothing are soft as well as there are no irritating tags and stitches.
Some of the examples of everyday clothes are as follows:
- Soft cotton T-shirts
- Light cotton shirts
- Breathable dresses
- Cotton pants
- Soft shorts
- Layers depending on weather conditions
There are various types of fabric for various children. While some children like wearing specific fabric, others do not like it because of the fabric.
2. Fit Well
Inappropriate tightness of clothes for children can result in difficulties in moving, but, on the contrary, inappropriate looseness of such clothes will make it hard to wear them. It needs to find some compromise between two.
One always should know exact measures of shoulders, chest, waist, sleeves and legholes before buying particular size. Children should have possibility to move their arms and bend without feeling that the clothes are too tight.
Moreover, one should take into consideration that children of different brands can have different sizes. Never should one rely on an age mentioned on the label. Measure all possible clothes.
Some looseness will be appropriate for clothes of active children for everyday wearing, but it does not mean that the bigger the better.
3. Choose Stretchable Waist Bands
Waist bands can make a big difference when it comes to the comfort of your kids. Elastic that is too tight or buttons that are stiff may make a great-looking dress not-so-comfortable anymore.
Elasticated waistbands can help your kid put on clothes easier and make things flexible during playing and sitting. It is also a good idea to choose adjustable waistbands due to quick growth of children.
If you are buying clothes for young kids, it would be better to choose stretchable waist bands as simple closure systems may increase the level of confidence of your kid. When you are buying clothes, always remember that a good looking outfit should be comfortable.
4. Wear Comfortable Kids’ Clothes That Will Help Them Move Freely
Kid’s clothes need to be designed in such a way that they will help them move freely since kids are not stationary all day long. Clothes that kids wear need to allow them to move freely.
Some of the clothes that will help them move freely include T-shirts, joggers, shorts, leggings and pants. One needs to ensure that they select clothes that won’t restrict their freedom of movement in any way.
It is crucial to remember when selecting suitable clothes that activities the kids will engage in while wearing these clothes. In the case of school uniform, they will be wearing them while playing and sitting down.
During the weekends, they could be running and cycling in the park. Therefore, comfortable kid’s clothes fashion will help the kids to focus on whatever they are doing without having to worry about their clothes.
5. Pay Attention to the Seams, Tags and Other Features
Apart from the materials themselves, there are some aspects of the clothes manufacturing process that may lead to discomfort for your child.
Seams that are not smooth, labels that are annoying to your kid, cuffs, and other details may be disturbing for him/her, especially in case of particularly sensitive skin of your kids. So, when you buy new clothes, make sure to examine them inside to see how they are sewn.
If you know that the tags of certain clothing make your kids irritated, you can remove them from this particular item or consider purchasing clothing without tags at all, but only with labels. It will definitely make the clothing more comfortable.
In case you hear complaints of your child about certain clothing being “itchy” or “scratchy,” you should pay attention to it. Your child won’t tell you what exactly causes this discomfort, but you will benefit from it.
6. Consider Weather Conditions Before Purchasing Anything
The apparel which can suit the summer months might not be appropriate in the winter months and vice versa. In other words, the clothes of the kids should fit the weather conditions and the day plans of children.
During the warmer months, it can become beneficial for parents to purchase light clothes for their children so that they can remain comfortable during the warm weather. During the cooler months, parents can choose to purchase clothes that consist of multiple layers so that they can remove some of their layers if the child starts feeling hot.
It can be a better choice for parents to consider more layers rather than bulky clothes.
7. Be Safe when Dressing Your Child
Safety and comfort go together. There are some things in clothing that are considered to be a danger to kids.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states that there is a danger that children’s upper apparel may have a risk of drawstrings catching on many things, like playground equipment, and even car doors. Their standards indicate that drawstrings located in the hood and neck area in some sizes of children’s outerwear are considered dangerous, and there are safer ways to close the clothes like snaps, buttons, Velcro, and elastic.
Moreover, it is important to make sure that little buttons, decorations, or any other parts are attached safely to the child’s clothing. According to the CPSC guidelines, the sellers are recommended to check for loose buttons, snaps, and ornaments that could be choking hazards in children’s clothes. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Here is a list of things to remember during shopping:
- Don’t use excessive strings and drawstrings
- Making sure that the decorations are firmly attached
- Check the fastening
- The child should move freely while wearing the clothes
- Think about care and safety recommendations
8. Select Sleepwear Wisely
Special consideration is required for sleepwear since children will be wearing it for hours while sleeping.
When looking to buy children’s pajamas or sleepwear, it is essential to review the safety information for your country and the purpose of the product. In the U.S., children’s sleepwear is regulated by specific standards concerning flammability, and CPSC issues safety advisories when products do not meet these standards. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
In addition, it should be known that children’s sleepwear should be flame resistant or tight fitting to minimize the risk of burns. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
The bottom line is clear for parents: it is not advisable to use loose clothing for sleepwear purposes.
9. Choosing the Right Attire Based on the Type of Activity
The type of activity determines what sort of clothing should be worn. There are many issues involved when one goes to school, plays, and socializes within family groups and within the domestic environment.
When one goes to school, one needs to remember that wearing comfortable clothing is paramount. One must wear comfortable clothes and shoes when playing. If there is any special occasion, then one should dress up but in no case forget about being comfortable.
Elegance and comfort cannot go hand-in-hand. One could wear colorful and loose clothing that is comfortable and also elegant.
One could wear elegant clothing that is comfortable too. All one needs to do is ask himself/herself, “What will my child do with these clothes?”
10. Give Some Independence to Your Child
There will be certain things that your child likes or dislikes. By giving some independence to your child in this issue, you might dress him/her up successfully.
What you should do is offer only two or three options, which you consider to be acceptable, and let your child choose one of them. In such a way, your child gets an illusion of independence with the certainty that all the options offered are acceptable for you.
For instance, instead of asking your child “What would you like to wear?”, receiving a great variety of answers, it will be better to offer just two options and make your child choose one of them and be sure that it is the appropriate clothing.
How to Create a Comfortable Wardrobe for Children
It’s not necessary to have dozens of items in order to create an effective wardrobe for children. Choose items which can be easily combined.
Some items for an effective wardrobe may include:
- Cozy T-shirts
- Small shirts/tops
- Trousers/joggers
- Shorts
- Dresses/skirts
- Light jackets
- Comfortable sleepwear
- Outfits for particular occasions
It all depends on the age and way of life of your child. However, the most important part is to choose items that are actually used.
A smaller wardrobe which consists of comfortable and versatile items may be much more effective than a large wardrobe which consists of beautiful outfits but are not used.
Common Errors to Be Made While Shopping for Clothes
The first error in buying clothes is basing the purchase on how the clothes look like. The bright colors, funny designs and patterns will certainly attract you, but this should not be the only criteria you use while shopping.
Another error is buying lots of clothes that are too big for the kid. This may happen because kids grow fast, but oversized clothes will make it uncomfortable for the kid.
Parents should not neglect the complaints about some clothes. If your child does not wear a certain shirt or always pulls at the waistband, this means that the clothes are uncomfortable.
Do not forget about the maintenance of the clothes. Follow the washing instructions to preserve its shape and softness. Comfortable clothes will get worn out if you do not follow the washing instructions.
Conclusion
Selecting proper clothes for children presupposes that you know something about their behavior, actions and games. Comfortable fabrics, waist bands, size and styles of the clothes will make this process simpler.
The safety aspect has to be taken into account when selecting the outerwear and pajamas for your child. At present, the standards of CPSC include the risks associated with some kinds of drawstrings and children’s sleepwear. Thus, it is important to realize that clothes cannot be selected based on the appearance only.
The perfect kids’ clothes have to be comfortable, allow movements and be fashionable at the same time.
FAQs
Fabric softness, proper sizing, flexibility, comfortable waistbands, and smooth seam lines could improve the comfort of children’s clothing.
Breathable fabrics like cotton are ideal for everyday kids wear clothing. Also, the most suitable fabric type would vary depending on the child’s skin sensitivity and environmental conditions.
Loose-fitting children’s clothing may offer more ease in moving but not too loose to cause inconveniences while engaging in activities.
There are some types of drawstrings that can be hazardous because they may lead to entanglement and strangulation in certain situations. According to the CPSC, there should not be any drawstrings at the hoods and neck areas in covered children’s outerwear sizes. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Choose clothes that are flexible and comfortable to wear with soft material and comfortable waistbands.
Tags
