Baby Clothes - Hints and Tips
Baby clothes are really expensive, and because your
child grows so fast in the first couple of years, these
clothes are going to have a very short life. To maximise
the wear we need to look at how we take care of them,
how we can get wear from them, for longer and how we
might save money, if we buy the right things initially.
Buying
The first thing to remember when buying children’s
clothing is, they must be comfortable to wear, easy to
put on and above all else, washable. Buy clothes with
elasticated waistbands and trousers or skirts with
shoulder straps. This makes letting down or adjusting
easier.
Buy socks without shaped heels they can then grow with
your child. Try to stick to one or two colors and brands
– this way you will always have a replacement if you
lose one. Put extra buttons on dungaree, skirt or dress
straps – This way you can lengthen them as your child
grows.
Always try to buy natural fibres, rather than man made
.The man made fibres don’t breathe as well as natural
fibres and this can cause your child to get too hot,
especially in summer. Maximizing Wear Sleep suit getting
too short? – For comfort cut off the feet and you will
get another month s wear, at least.
Add another tier to a tiered skirt, by using identical
or contrasting material.
Trousers or jeans that have become too short, or worn at
the knees – can be cut down and made into shorts for the
summer.
Make summer pyjamas by cutting off the arms and legs of
a pair of winter pyjamas.
Don’t throw away an expensive jacket if your child has
out grown it – remove the sleeves and turn it into a
smart waistcoat for your child.
When you’ve let down a pair of jeans or dungarees, you
can normally see a white line where the fabric has been
creased. Make it less noticeable by blending it into the
fabric by running a dark blue crayon along the line. A
fountain pen or indelible marker also works.
Care Washing Tips
One tip that seems obvious but is often ignored – the
manufacturers washing instructions that you will find in
the garment labels. Manufacturers of fabric spend vast
amounts of money to find out what are the best washing
conditions for their goods. So always try and wash as
instructed, it does help clothes last longer.
Use a fabric protector to spray collars, cuffs and knees
of garments, any spills will form into beads and can be
easily wiped clean.
Get grimy soiled socks clean by soaking them in a water
and washing soda solution before washing. White cotton
socks can be revitalised by boiling them in water with a
slice of lemon.
Instead of bleach add vinegar to the water as an
alternative.
Sneakers can be kept looking new by spraying them with
starch before wearing them for the first time – this
will stop dirt from getting embedded. A soap filled
scouring pad is great for sneakers or any fabric shoes.
Rub white shoes with a raw potato cut in half, or
alcohol, before cleaning. Keep them white by spraying
with hairspray – This prevents the polish from coming
off and keeps them looking new.
