Wooden rail for dressing up clothes - am I crazy to consider getting one? Is there a better way?

[IlanaK]

My two boys have a tonne of dressing up clothes. I haven't counted, but i would guess maybe 20 outfits plus accessories. At the moment, they are stored in a wooden toy box all jumbled in together. They do fit in it (just), but it is such a mess that to find anything they want, they pull everything out. They also forget what they have.

So I was wondering about getting one of those wooden clothes rails and haging up all the outfits. They are not too expensive, but I am wondering if I am deluding myself that it will be any tidier.

My boys are 2.5 and 5.5. There is no way the 2 year old will be able to hang anything up. With practise, I could probably teach my 5 yera old to though. I am sure it would all look lovely and neat once i have hung everything up on it, but will it actually be a waste of time as they will just pull it all off again?

Partly I want it tideier, but partly I am thinking they will use them more if they can actually see what they have.

Does anyone else store their dressing up clothes this way? Or is there a better way?

I'd love to do that with DD1,DD2,DS1 and DS2's dressing up clothes. I just don't think i have the space for a rail and haven't seen any anywhere yet.

We store all our clothes this way because we haven't got around to buying wardrobes and don't want to until we've bought a house. They're cheap in Argos, hang on will link

atleast on a rail you can teach them to hang an outfit up when theyve finished with it before getting another,in a box it'll all be out to get at the bottom

They have a hanging rail at my ds's playgroup for the dressing up clothes - but it is not long enough and the clothes are all squished together, also if you do get one make sure the hangers are big enough for the clothes - the ones at playgroup are always falling off.

here you go, a tenner and you can lower them so they're low enough for children, both mine have them in their rooms.

Thanks everyone. I think the one on that link is just too big. I was thinking of one specifically for children. I think I saw one on Urchin for about £35. One with a tray at the bottom would be best for all the swords, hats, etc.

So, what I am not clear on from your answers is would you chose a rail over a box?

We stored our dressing up clothes this way for years: it really helped. They could find what they wanted more easily and without making so much mess, and they played with the dressing up clothes more often. They even occasionally put things away themselves!

Do it!

Update - we went to the Harrods sale this afternoon and just by chance passed the nursery department. The had a Pin Toys wooden rail on sale for just £19.95. I had been about the buy the same one online last night from Urchin for £35. I was very very pleased! Anyway, all the clothes are now hung up on it (there were 15 outfits in the end!) with a box by the side for all the various hats and accessories. I am very pleased with it and the kids are already itching to play with the clothes.