How Much Clothing Is Too Much?

Updated on August 13, 2012
K.S. asks from Ann Arbor, MI
16 answers

I have a sinking feeling that I buy too many clothes for my daughter, so I'll ask you mamas. How many outfits do you have for a single season for your daughter? Mine's six at the moment, and I wash clothes only once a week.

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So What Happened?

Whoops, yes someone guessed correctly--my dd is 6 years old. She has much more than 6 outfits. More on the lines of ten pairs of pants, 8 pairs of shorts, 4 sun dresses, some skirts and at least 15 shirts. I'm just trying to figure out where to cut corners, and I think this is the area, but I like buying her clothes. If she changes 2x a day, it's just about right. They are purchased resale or on clearance a year in advance, but still I have too much. Let's just say that I've never HAD to wash clothes because there is always something to wear.

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

we have 6 or 7 outfits that can be mixed and matched, we try and have 4 good jeans or shorts, 3 play jeans or shorts, 4 or 5 play shirts, 6 or 7 GOOD shirts, meaning they are only worn when going places. a pair of good shoes, a pair of play shoes aka cheapie pair from target or payless..

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

I try to aim for 8 mix and match. I tend to need more in the summer (I think we may have 10 now) because we play outside a bunch and clothes get dirtier/need to be changed more often. In the colder months one/ day is fine. Both DH and I work full time so laundry is only once a week!
Also two pairs of shoes(one nicer and one sporty).

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T.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

geez.... after reading the responses, makes me feel like my kids own a clothing store or something! I have a 4 yo son and 19 month daughter. My son must have about 15 jeans/pants, 20 some odd shorts, probably 30 each of short sleeve and long sleeve. My daughter, oh boy, maybe 8 or more skirts/tutus, 5 dresses tons of shirts, leggings, etc... (you get the idea). Mind you, I didn't buy all the clothes. They have aunts that like to shop for them and me, I buy stuff a year ahead of time. So I bought a bunch of summer things on clearance for next year. And I try to make sure I can mix and match things to make multiple outfits out of the same things. I never pay full price for things so I get a lot for my money. I do like to play dress up with my kids though... easier with my daughter than my son. Our house is (too) full of clothes for everyone.

2 moms found this helpful

K.C.

answers from Washington DC on

If 6 is too many, I have WAAAAAAYYYYYY too many, 'cause our 19 mo LO has more than 6 sets of pjs .... Let alone other clothes.

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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

my kids had more when they were younger, but it was all hand me downs, gifts or yardsale finds. If you went out and spent $50 each on 6 new outfits I would say you are bonkers or very fortunate.

Now that they are in school, I try to have 5 t shirts or 5 long sleeve tops
and 3 jeans, and a few leggins, kakhi's or windpants, plus we attend church so each kid has at least 2-3 dressy outfits for sundays per season.

wondering if there is more to the story? what makes you think 6 is too much? If it's money or space you can certainly get by with less.

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

i usually try to have at least 5 pairs of pants or shorts. usually he ends up with closer to 8 or 10 shirts to choose from. but then he goes through bottoms so quick (there go the knees!!) i end up buying 1/2 way through winter again....

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S.P.

answers from New York on

I don't think you have too many clothes if she wears through them in a week. I was doing 2x/week for a while, and we're definitely down to 1x/week this summer - and we have a lot of stuff she doesn't wear. As in, almost anything that still fit from last year. Now, if it isn't a "twirly dress" it is out. So she has 5 of essentially the same dress in different colors & sizes (they were $8 each, and totally worth the lack of fighting). She grew at least an inch this summer, so the three that were mid-calf now are knee length, and I ran out and bought 2 in a larger size! She also has some other skirts/tops that she'll deign to wear, and my mom went crazy and bought her two or three dresses that she's not allowed to wear to school or the playground. I love having to wash only once a week, and am just writing off the shorts that languish in our drawers. Fresh hand me downs for the next generation.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Why are you making it sound like this is a bad thing! Enjoy!

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K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

I used to do this. I decided she has 14 outfits max and two dressy dresses.

Shoes are our next thing. Two pairs of tennis shoes, 1 pair of dress boots, one pair of flats, and two pairs of pool shoes.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

You're doing better than me. Mom just gave us more fall/winter pants for DD and now she has about 10 pairs, no lie. She doesn't need that many, but they'll get used. Keep a pair at preschool, for example. DD also has some sweaters, tshirts, long sleeved shirts, tights and a few dresses to get us through the winter (she needs dressy clothes for church). At a younger age, they often go through more than one change per day (spilled food, potty accident) so more is OK. I would not consider 6 outfits to be excessive.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Not sure if you mean your d is six or six outfits. My d is 4 1/2. She changes at least 2 times a day. She gets so dirty and spills things all the time. I have 8 pairs of long pants, 10 pairs of shorts/skorts/everyday skirts for her. A lot of t-shirts. She has 3 jackets just in case one gets dirty. Based on my experience with my older kids, I prefer to have 2 coats so I can wash one and let it dry while they wear the other. They also have a ton of socks. I am buying school clothes for the older kids and I will buy enough so they have 6 or 7 pairs of pants, 6 or 7 shirts. 2 pair gym shoes, at least a pair of casual and a pair of flats for the girls. One of my girls would prefer to have a different pair of shoes each day. You'd think they would wear fewer clothes as they get older.....
BTW, my husband has at least 20 pr of jeans and 15 or more pair of shoes--and he says he doesn't have enough.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

We only have 2 seasons here... Fall & spring.

For the whole year my son has;
apx
6 pants
4 shorts
10 short sleeve
5 long sleeve
4 PJs
4 pairs of shoes (sandals, skateshoes, converse, slippers)

Plus sports stuff, and a nice suit

He's 10 now... This has been pretty standard since 4 until now. (2&undrr he'd need new clothes sometime 3x-4x per DAY... And 3 was a transition year.

So to ME 24 or more sets of clothes sounds like a lot (6x4)... Since we do less than half as many... But different families = different needs.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

You seem fine.
Don't worry about it.

My kids, have TONS of clothes. Mostly from their very generous Aunty.
My son, has like 30 t-shirts. Every time Aunty sees something cute, she will buy it. But my son wears it, and it is all well used.
Same for my daughter. Lots of outfits, from Aunty.
But she wears it.
And I just routinely pull out the outgrown clothes, and put it in a donation bag. So it does not accumulate.

Aunty even got my kids "summer clothes." I mean, in Hawaii... everyday is like summer. There is no need for "summer clothes." But well, Aunty enjoys buying them outfits. So be it. At least my kids do wear it and it is not wasted.

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

my daughter has entirely too many clothes, and it's because my mom and grandma love garage sale shopping. I barely buy her anything new. She could probably go a month without wearing the same shirt, a week for shorts, 2 weeks for pants or skirts.

L.P.

answers from Tyler on

Just wait until she is older and you are buying designer jeans, boots and a different dress to be worn ONCE for a dance :) I LOVE giving my girls the best we can afford, but I try very hard to instill a level of appreciation for what they have. It is easy to raise a girl to feel entitled to the cutest clothes and the newest fashions. It is a really difficult lesson to teach them that thest things cost $ and need to be appreciated. Don't start allowing her to equate how much you love her with how much you spend on her.

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

Six for a season isn't much.All my closets are full of shirts from one end to the other for each of the kids rooms my closet is just as full..Their dressers top is socks and undies then play shirts then play shorts,then jeans.You don't even wanna see my garage sale pile I donated bags and bags full 3 times already took out what I can use for baby as she gets older and selling the rest

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