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Original poster

Am I miserable for wanting to streamline my toddlers outfits due to no longer going anywhere?

34 replies

Legoandloldolls · 03/09/2020 19:51

To start, I'm quite the hoarder. I have too much of everything including clothes for the kids.

I have put lots of dd 6 party dresses on Ebay this week because she has been to party in around 7 months and is incredibly unlikely to in the next 7 months.

She is quite hard work and so.much worse since lockdown so I rarely take her out now. She went for pizza Express on her birthday. But I never take her to the shops, all her clubs have stopped. I only took her out for a cale and a drink for the first time last week. I emptied her wardrobe and draws today as I'm packing away her shorts and getting uniform.out again.

Looking at all her winter things it just seemmtotally pointless to have so many different outfits during a pandemic. I'm tempted to keep five pairs of leggings, 7 tops, some jumpers one dress and donate all the rest.

She wont care as she just wonders about in her pants mostly at home.

Is this miserable? It just feels like pointless clutter this year. We wont be going hardly any where. It's making me feel sad thinking I put it away for winter of things we are no longer going to do.

OP posts:

ellenpartridge · 03/09/2020 20:01

All of this seems quite odd. You can still go out, you still need clothes... I wouldn't see any need to chuck everything out but obviously it's up to you to do what you want.

Squirrelblanket · 03/09/2020 20:03

I think it sounds sensible. I sold a load of my office clothes on eBay as I won't be going in as much (if at all) for the foreseeable future and it just seemed silly keeping them.

Lockdownseperation · 03/09/2020 20:06

I don’t know any toddlers who go to school! How old is she?

Pizza express isn’t toddler friendly. Do you not go to parks, out for a scoot or a bike ride or walk a walk in the woods?

If you are a hoarder I would imagine there are a lot better things to get rid of than your child’s clothes.

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Fatted · 03/09/2020 20:07

I wouldn't say 6YO is a toddler TBH.

I know what you're saying. We don't do much socially these days. No soft play, cinema trips, less days out, less meals out, less visiting family. But we are still out loads! We were doing lots of walking when it was really strict lockdown because thankfully we have lots of places to go locally. Now thinks have opened up, we're doing lots of trips it nature parks, beaches on horrible days when no one goes, the woods etc. I'm really looking forward to an autumn and winter of wrapping up in wellies and scarves and getting mucky.

RedskyAtnight · 03/09/2020 20:09

What you're keeping sounds like an entirely reasonable amount of clothes for a toddler (who will have grown out of them very quickly) to have. Though I'd maybe keep one party dress. I'm not sure the pandemic is anything to do with it.

randomsabreuse · 03/09/2020 20:14

I feel like I should do that with both my DC.

I won't though because I still have potty training to get through and DS is showing signs of complaining about nappies and DD is crazy enough that she's one walk away from going through the knees of her leggings and scrawny enough that shorts last forever, so it is worth having some spares around.

BanditsBum · 03/09/2020 20:14

Yes we are similar I bought DD (4) three pairs of leggings, 3 tshirts and 2 dresses at the start of lockdown and we have basically rotated them for 6 months whereas usually I would have bought her loads because we would have been on holiday, to parties, on various days out etc.

Same for DS (7) few pairs of shorts and tshirts and good to go.

Now coming into autumn they are both in school and nursery uniform most of the time so Im only getting a small amount of autumn winter clothes for them as yes don't foresee many big social things for them just a lot of muddy park visits.

Original poster

Legoandloldolls · 03/09/2020 20:45

She has just gone into year 1 and tiny still in 4-5 moving up to 5-6 so there is no point in keeping things for next year as they wont fit her. So not a toddler but she is toddler sized.

Yes we go outside walking, parks, beaches all the time but that is covered by a pair of leggings each time. I dont need dresses, skirts, Jean's for climbing about in a park. I dont go into nature with her 7 days a week either.

I cant even see her school doing events for the events downplayed this year like a class disco instead of the whole school ( 90 kids) one they normally do. If I kept two dresses it would cover every possible party which I think will be zero anyway.

It's not going to be binned or to waste but you cant keep little kids clothes for years on end as they tend to grow alarmingly at that age.

If there was no pandemic she would have a birthday party at least every month, playdates, school disc, afterschool dance club, going to Christmas markets, half term holiday, eating out, visiting lots of family and friends. Going round the shops etc. Its not going happen this year. Basically she doesnt need skirts and the like etc for a winter of the UK outdoors

OP posts:

MotherWol · 03/09/2020 20:47

YANBU, because kids really don’t need loads of clothes, and it’s much easier and simpler to just pare it back to what they actually use.

Etinox · 03/09/2020 20:50

What you’re suggesting is fine but I’m worried about your tone. You sound so sad.

Original poster

Legoandloldolls · 03/09/2020 21:04

Yes I am sad. But I dont feel any sadder than most in my situation. I think? Possibly not coping as well as most if I'm.honest.

I think I would honestly feel happier seeing things that she needs when opening her wardrobe than the lovely smart things she wont need. Plus i am planning on streamlining my clothes but that's more to lifestyle change as a sahm and I cant go back to work yet as childcare has dried up atm.

Maybe I can look forward to plenty of wardrobe space for dd when the pandemic ends ( clutching at straws there 🤔)

Its normally my favourite time of year. Plus she wont notice or care

OP posts:

emmyhelly · 03/09/2020 21:06

are toddlers not 1-2 year olds?

Peanutbutteryogurt · 03/09/2020 21:15

It's not unreasonable to not have loads of clothes that aren't being worn. However your thread is confusing because she is neither a toddler or toddler sized, even a 4-5 year old is school age, which toddlers are not.

Lockdownseperation · 03/09/2020 21:16

Reception aged children are aged 4 to 5 and year 1 children are aged 5 to 6 so it sounds like her clothes match her age. I would honestly sort out your own things now and then sell her stuff after she has put grown it. If her clothes are in her wardrobe they can’t be taken up to much space.

All nurseries, wrap around and childminders are open as normal around here. Are they not in your area?

I agree with @emmyhelly

0-1 is a baby
1-2 is toddler, as in newly walking and they do that odd but cute penguin walk
3 - 4 preschoolers
Once they start reception they just children.

Etinox · 03/09/2020 21:27

@Legoandloldolls

Yes I am sad. But I dont feel any sadder than most in my situation. I think? Possibly not coping as well as most if I'm.honest.

Maybe I can look forward to plenty of wardrobe space for dd when the pandemic ends ( clutching at straws there 🤔)

Its normally my favourite time of year. Plus she wont notice or care

Perhaps you can buy some funky welly boots/ new coat and concentrate on what you can do with her- Halloween, bonfire night etc.

Ribrabrob · 03/09/2020 21:28

This is all a bit strange op. Have you spoken to anyone? The whole general tone and subject of your thread is just very... odd.

Original poster

Legoandloldolls · 03/09/2020 21:31

She is small for her age as she was deferred summer born so she has justed turned six but wears 4-5.

Ah nursery age is toddler to me. Pre walkers are babies 🤣

The problem with waiting for her to out grow stuff is that if I get rid of her things when the weather improves it just sits in a charity shop being out of season no? Better to get rid now while someone else can make use of it. That's my logic. I dont think I want it just sitting there for the next six months when unfairly sure it's not going to get any use.

I have already put her things that wont fit her for summer into storage boxes so I can get rid of them next April if they dont fit her still, which I'm sure they wont.

I always seem to have mixed sizes hanging about to some degree. So I bought her 5-6 things in last years sales and kept what fitted her last year. Things I though would get used but in reality they wont.

OP posts:

user1493413286 · 03/09/2020 21:32

It makes me happy to have DD in nice clothes and I get enjoyment from buying her nice clothes and by that I don’t mean pretty dresses but just nice leggings and top sets, pretty jumpers, jeans etc. If it doesn’t fit then yes get rid of it but in my opinion don’t get rid of things just to streamline her wardrobe because you feel sad as I suspect you’ll regret it.

Anoisagusaris · 03/09/2020 21:34

She is not a toddler, nor is she in toddler sized clothes.

Most school aged kids only need a couple of good/fancy outfits. Party wear at that age is usually something comfortable for soft play, bouncy castles or other activities. So no harm in downsizing the number of party dresses she has.

Original poster

Legoandloldolls · 03/09/2020 21:43

@Ribrabrob

This is all a bit strange op. Have you spoken to anyone? The whole general tone and subject of your thread is just very... odd.

About what exactly? Not sure I need to worry my gp about musing if its miserable to cut my childs wardrobe down to about 30 items. Its normally well stocked and to give away or sell it just feels, I dont know, a bit mean / bah humbug. But it's just musing out loud. I'm not sure there is a serious MH issue at play but fair enough. Maybe I am having a episode or something?

I already had a massive clothes cull over lockdown. I think it's made me reassess how much the kids need and actually wear. Especially right now with things being shut.

Re childcare. School breakfast and holiday club went bust over lockdown but that's only relevant to me going back to work. I dont need to work so not sure I want to look around for a wrap around childminder as that is my only option ( rural village) any way that's a side ramble. But the same with her holiday club. It folded due to lockdown and shut

OP posts:

Original poster

Legoandloldolls · 03/09/2020 21:54

@user1493413286

Yes your right. Looking at some of her things from last year and thinking "where the hell will she wear that now?" And getting rid of of those things is something I will regret. I enjoyed buying them anyway.

Your right. A prune of some things and not a massive cull is more sensible option. She can always wear the odd party frock while climbing a tree this year.

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 03/09/2020 21:59

No, that's all I dress my toddlers in generally anyway!

They have soft joggers and leggings and maybe a couple of pairs of jeans or cords for colder days. Shorts for summer, long and short sleeved t-shirts and then a few hoodies/jumpers/sweaters.

I still buy clothes I like but I don't have loads of complicated fiddly things to dress them in and I don't have anything which requires a specific occasion to be worn.

I have boys though, maybe it's different with girls? I tend to like girls' t-shirts and leggings too TBH!

BertieBotts · 03/09/2020 22:01

Once about 3 or 4 DS1 had very strong opinions on his clothes so I couldn't really buy anything that didn't fit into these criteria anyway. Maybe DS2 will be the same.

BertieBotts · 03/09/2020 22:02

I find I need a bit more than 5 pairs of trousers - more like 7/8. But mine are still in the messy eating stage (even the 11yo )

BogRollBOGOF · 03/09/2020 22:08

Keep it all while it still fits. Clear out what doesn't fit.

Things are changing. The chances of things like parties is increasing. Maybe not big whole class parties, but likely some smaller gatherings.

I found when DS1 started school that he needed less casual clothes, but then you still need enough for the holidays/ going away.

I haven't worn my work clothes in 4 years, but they are stored neatly in a drawer/ the wardrobe for a time when I will need them (my taste in basics does not date easily) Better to know I have what I need to fall back on and prune/ update as necessary in the future than start again with a panic.

Using "toddler" beyond 3 is rather peculiar terminology. A 6yo in age appropriate clothes is very untoddler-like in so many ways.

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