Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Be Prepared for Back to School Shopping

Back to School shopping can seem like a marathon of money spending madness without the right preparation. It should be fun to go shopping with the kids and see the latest trends on childrens clothes hangers, and a little extra planning can make it less stressful and more affordable.
Take the time to look through your childrens hangers and drawers to weed out those articles that are worn out or have permanent stains. This simple task will usually free up a good amount of space. Try to get your kids to point out clothes that are too small or maybe they just don't want to wear anymore. This can go in hand-me-down boxes or to a charitable organization. It is never to early to start the idea sharing. The end of the summer is usually a good time to go through all of their clothes (fall, winter, spring, and summer) to get more organized for the coming year. This will also help you know what you need to look for as the season progresses.
Keeping some sort of written log that keeps track of each garment is an extremely organized approach, but if you do not feel like being this detailed, at least write down a few numbers. For example, maybe there are two light jackets, one heavy jacket, and four pull-over sweaters. Having this general figure written down will help you narrow down your shopping needs for cold weather clothes.
Once you have an accurate list of what you kids already have, it will then be simple to make a checklist of what you need to buy when you go shopping. You should consider factors like dress code, climate, activities, and seasonal changes when making this list. If you have just moved from a different climate region or if your child is changing schools, this will be especially important. Try to think of every situation your kids will experience so that you can be prepared and get what they will need in one or two trips. Simply cutting down on shopping time will alleviate a great deal of stress.
Once you have made your back to school wardrobe list, make a run to the stores early on, while the summer sales are still going on. You will be surprised how many things you come across at great prices before the back to school season hits. This is a great time to stock up on short-sleeved T-shirts, underwear, socks, and jeans. These are things kids need in every season. Look for clothes that might work well with fall layering or as winter undergarments. Dresses work great for little girls between seasons.
When back to school clothes hit the racks, try to choose a low traffic day to go shopping, even if you must take a day off of work. You will be glad you did. Removing a little of the crowded chaos factor of back to school shopping is immediately 50% better. There will also be fewer distractions so that you and your kids can concentrate on having fun trying on new clothes. Make sure you talk with you kids about what kinds of things they want before you go and set some guidelines to avoid arguments in dressing room stalls. Everybody remembers how exciting school clothes are, as they well should be. So take the time to get organized and enjoy the time.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens hangers. The right childrens clothes hangers really make the difference in kid's retail or home organization. For more information, please visit www.onlykidshangers.com

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Buying Clothes for Kids?

Have a baby shower coming up? Or maybe it is time to attend a toddler's birthday party. Whatever the occasion, buying clothes and apparel for kids can be quite a challenge if you don't know what to look for. You can't just pick out any cute jumpers you see on childrens clothes hangers. The gift giver needs to consider function, safety, convenience, as well as adorable qualities.
Before you even get started, you will need to know the sizes you are looking for as well as the lifestyle of the parents. It makes sense that the clothes need to appeal to the parents more than the kids, especially at a very young age. Old-fashioned frills and lace might not go over well with that new-age hip couple. When it comes to sizes, remember that babies and small children wear sizes based on their actual weight and height. Going by age alone is bound to get you in trouble. Check out the clothing charts that most children's clothing manufacturers provide to get an idea of the size you are looking for. Most infant sizes are newborn to 24M. Toddlers are usually 2T to 4T, and from there the sizes range from 4 all the way to 16 for girls and 20 for boys.
Once you have got the sizing sorted out, it is time to consider safety. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, or the CPSC, recalls apparel from childrens hangers frequently, due to an unsafe design. This might include small parts that could be swallowed or things that might get caught on the playground. For children nine months and older, federal safety regulation requires that pajamas, or sleepwear, must be either snug-fitting, or flame-resistant. As you browse childrens clothes hangers and racks, check the tags to see what safety precautions are built into the apparel.
New parents are always scrapped for time, so any way that you can make their life a little simpler will definitely be much appreciated. Check out the two-piece outfits so that parents don't have to find something to match, or think about baby clothes that snap at the crotch to make easy access for quick diaper changes. Elastic is always a great way to go to make sure kids can wear your gift for good while, and some clothes have built in adjustments to accommodate growth. Whatever you find, keep it simple by purchasing clothes that are machine washable.
When all of your ducks are in a row, the size, safety, and convenience, then it is time to pick something fun or cute. Almost every gift new parents receive will be cute, but if they don't fit, aren't safe, or create a hassle, it will never be used. Give clothing gifts worth giving by making the kid can actually wear them.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens hangers. The right childrens clothes hangers really make the difference in kid's retail or home organization. For more information, please visit www.onlykidshangers.com

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