A new season means a new children’s wardrobe
THE cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 21 has soared by nearly 60% in the UK in 10 years — to €250,000. Dressing them alone costs €13,000. We don’t have a definitive Irish study, but experts agree the figures would be echoed here.
The good news is, post boom, the price of clothes and footwear is down 40% since 2007.
But it’s still a huge expense. And one we can’t avoid — we have to dress our kids.
The big-ticket items will always be winter boots and coats — but if you don’t plan in advance, a summer wardrobe can end up costing a lot too. Light tops and shorts are cheaper so you are likely to indulge in too many impulse buys.
But there are ways to make it easier — and cheaper — to dress your kids for spring/summer.
1. Try to budget for your children’s wardrobes — open a Post Office account and put a little bit away each month from the children’s allowance.
2. Make an inventory of what you have and what you need, this will give you focus and stop impulse buys.
3. Plan ahead of the sales — pick up a winter coat if you can, just go a size up.
4. Be organised with storage if you have more than one child. Keep a bag/box/drawer at the ready to move as they grow out of the clothes. Label them age, boy, girl, season. Make sure they are well sealed.
5. Personalise hand-me-downs with new buttons etc.
6. Share and swap — hand me downs and swap parties are fab, and whatever isn’t taken goes to charity.
7. Prolong the life of clothes, wash at 30 degrees and use softener.
8. When it comes to footwear we all feel the pressure to buy €50 shoes that kids can grow out of in a matter of months. But do we really need to spend that much?
Justin Blake, podiatrist with podiatry.ie says the jury is out — but he points to parts of New Zealand where kids go school barefoot and never have any foot problems, while children here who are kitted out in the priciest boots can have serious problems with their feet.
His advice? Just make sure the shoe, whatever type it is, fits. Check the firmness around the heel — growing feet need a lot of support. Check the flexibility of the sole. Check the length — there should be a about a width of a finger between the tow and the tip of the shoe. Finally check the width. The fit of the shoe counts — not the price.
9. For an Irish summer, layering is key — we can get any type of weather at any time of day. So as well as sandals, have a pair of closed toe pumps for girls and light runners for boys.
Light, three-quarter-length trousers are great for boys. And hoodies are essential.
For girls buy three-quarter- length leggings (they are just €3 in Penneys).
These can be worn with a denim skirt, or even denim shorts on a rainy day with pumps.
And if the sun comes out, you can lose the leggings. Again a hoody is crucial.
And long tops under t-shirts work great too for a changeable season.
10. And finally — always have a light rain coat to hand.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
