Letting Kids Choose What They Wear

A few months ago, Rachel Fournier found herself doing daily battle with a princess. She wanted her 3-year-old daughter to wear durable, casual clothes, but Isabel was only interested in her closet's sparkliest dresses. "The last time I chose her outfit, she cried the entire way to day care," says the Traverse City, Michigan, mom. "As soon as I picked her up in the afternoon, she stripped in the car and refused to put her clothes back on. I ended up buckling her in that way."

If your child has suddenly become very vocal about her wardrobe, congratulations: It's a sign that she's growing up. "Preschoolers are also at a stage where they're trying to assert their independence and test limits," says Alanna Levine, M.D., a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Getting dressed provides an opportunity to put both things into practice." That doesn't mean every morning has to be a showdown, however.

Provide Choices

Most 3- to 4-year-olds are wannabe dictators, grasping for control wherever they can. So whenever possible, let 'em have it. "Give your child lots of little choices about things that don't matter to you," suggests Jim Fay, coauthor ofLove and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting From Birth to Six Years. For example, ask, "Would you rather wear your blue sweater or your red one?" Having a say will make him less likely to dig in his heels.

Allow for Taste

Do you hate wool? Can't stand too-tight tank tops? It's likely your kid will have her own likes and dislikes too. Within reason, try to be flexible about her preferences. "It's okay to avoid things that bug your child," says Parents advisor Ari Brown, M.D., author of Toddler 411. "It shows that you respect her opinion." There may be an easy fix to some of her pet peeves: You can turn socks with irritating seams inside out and cut off annoying shirt tags. (If her sensitivities seem more extreme, talk to your doctor.) And if she wants to wear dresses every day -- well, why not? If you're worried about her being cold, you can always layer warm leggings or a T-shirt underneath.

Take Time to Practice

By age 3, most children can handle the basics of getting dressed, such as pulling on underwear, elastic-waist pants, and a sweatshirt. (Trickier tasks, like threading a zipper or doing buttons, may come later.) In fact, most kids like to do these things. "It makes them feel confident and competent," says Dr. Levine. So even if it's slow going, let your kid dress herself as often as you can, especially on those weekend mornings when there's no need to rush. "The more you can give her the power to dress herself, the less of a struggle it will be," says Dr. Levine.

Make It a Race

Of course, preschoolers don't feel the same urgency to get out the door that you do in the morning. They'd rather play with Legos or watch Go, Diego, Go! than get dressed. With that in mind, turn dressing into a game. Say, "I'll close my eyes and see how long it takes you to put on your shirt and pants." Or set a timer for ten minutes and reward your kid with a sticker if he gets downstairs before the buzzer goes off. You can also give him a poker chip for each good performance and allow him to trade them in for a treat when he has five chips.

Plan Ahead

Kids this age love looking at photos of themselves. Use this to your advantage by making a step-by-step picture guide of your child's morning activities. It could show her waking up, getting dressed, brushing her teeth, and eating breakfast. Hang it in her room, where she can follow it each day. "Then the routine chart becomes the boss instead of you," says Jane Nelsen, Ed.D., coauthor of Positive Discipline for Preschoolers. If you have her choose her outfit the night before, you can head off one huge time-sucking morning meltdown maker: the harried search for a favorite shirt -- that's then found at the bottom of the hamper.

Let Him Chill

Ah, the winter-coat struggle. Your child isn't cold inside, so why the heck would he want to put on that bulky, sweaty jacket and cover his perfectly warm-enough outfit? But he will feel different when he gets outside. Unless it's truly freezing, don't sweat the situation, says Dr. Levine. Just carry his coat and let him go out as is. "If he's chilly, he's going to ask you for it," Dr. Levine says. "Then next time, you can gently remind him of how cold he was." Chances are, your child will welcome the coat and gloves long before his fingers go numb.

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Children's Place Coupon $10 OFF: How to Pick a Toddler Girl Dress

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Party Dresses

When your little girl enters the toddler phase around her first birthday you may want to get her a very special dress for her first birthday party. Keep in mind that these dresses are impractical and you will probably only keep them dressed in the party dress long enough to take a few special photos. You may consider hiring a dress for this purpose or alternatively persuade a doting grandmother to buy her a special dress for this occasion. Either way bear in mind that these dresses are not cheap and your little girl is unlikely to wear the dress more than a few minutes at her party.

Toddler Girl Photo-Shoots

Toddler Girl Photo-shoot

Toddler Girl Dresses for Photo Shoots

If you are considering having a photo-shoot of your little toddler girl taken you will need to choose the dresses wisely. If you are doing the photo shoot yourself choose dresses that match background drops that you have available.

You may want to take your little girl to a professional child photographer who has clothing for toddler girls. This will save you a lot of time and effort as their clothing is usually color-coordinated with their backgrounds.

Dresses for Everyday Wear

Choosing Toddler Girl Dresses for Everyday Wear

Most of the dresses that you will buy for your little toddler girl will be for everyday wear. They should be functional and preferably be practical colors. Toddler girl dresses should not be too long or too wide as they will tend to trip and fall over the skirts of the dresses. As they enter the phase of dressing themselves look for dresses that they will be able to put on themselves. Jersey knit bodices are a good idea as these are usually button-free. Choose fabrics that are machine washable as their clothing needs to be able to take a lot of wash and wear. Durable cotton dresses are ideal for the summer months. If your toddler is still very young look for dresses that do not have tags at the neck as these can be a source of irritation.

Dresses for little girls are ideal during the potty training stage as this makes it easy for your little girl to help herself with the potty routine. Once again make sure that the dress is not too long - long dresses may get soiled during the potty episode as little girls have not all learned the skill of lifting their dresses and using the potty at the same time.

If you choose a dress with straps make sure that they cross at the back or straps that are joined together as little toddler girl's shoulders are still too round to hold up the straps. Besides looking untidy straps that slip off can cause a safety hazard as your little girl's arms can get entangled while busy climbing onto a chair and she may lose her balance.

During winter choose dresses that can be worn over sweaters. Layering is not only highly fashionable it is also very practical and will ensure that you get maximum use of the dresses. Denim sleeveless dresses are ideal as they match any long-sleeved t-shirt that you wish to put on underneath.

Dresses For More Seasons

If it is the beginning of spring or autumn choose dresses that can be co-ordinated with toddler girl yoga pants in the colder of the two seasons.

One important thing to remember is not to buy your little girl's clothing too big. The dress will not fit comfortably and will hinder your child's play and freedom of movement. If you are looking for long-sleeved dresses make sure that the design allows for sufficient arm movement. Raglan sleeve construction is ideal or set-in sleeves with deep sleeves. For everyday wear avoid very wide sleeves as these will get in the way when she is out playing.

The bottom line is that all toddler girl's clothing should be practical, functional and easy to get on and off.

How to Choose Glasses for Kids

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As many as 1 in 20 preschoolers wears glasses. If you've got a little four-eyes, use our guide to finding the best pair for her peepers:
Choose a flattering frame. Pick a squarish one for your round-faced cherub, a round shape for your angular angel. And shoot small: Oversize glasses can make a kid look bug-eyed.

Be flexible. You may think plastic styles are cuter (bright colors, fun shapes), and they're fine. If you can't get a good fit, though, metal's easy to adjust, says Dana Cohen, a pediatric optician in Medford, MA. Look for flexible titanium and spring hinges, which bend without breaking as easily.

Focus on the bridge. A too-tight nose pad will pinch and prevent the glasses from sitting close enough to your child's eyes. When it's too wide, the frames slip and slide. You'll know it's right when there's very little space between your child's cheek and the lower rim of the frames.

Ear this. For a child under 3, go for a silicone-covered, wraparound earpiece. For a baby, consider a soft strap that fits around the back of the head (otherwise, good luck keeping them on!).

Opt for safety. Polycarbonate lenses are the most impact-resistant. An antireflective coating will pad the price tag but usually results in sharper vision by letting more light hit the retina.

Read all about it. If your kid's resisting wearing her specs, pick up Luna and the Big Blur, by Shirley Day ($9.95), about a little girl who ditches her glasses and then does silly things like putting ketchup on her ice cream. It'll make the benefits crystal clear!

5 tips on choosing athletic shoes for kids

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To pick the right footwear for your physical activity, the first thing you should keep in mind is the type of foot you have. Try doing the “wet test” by placing your foot in a tub of water and then leaving the imprint on a brown piece of paper. If you can see the entire sole of your foot then you have little or no arch, which means you have flat feet and probably an overpronated gait. 

If you can only see the ball of your foot and your heel with a thin line between them you have high arches, which means you likely underpronate when you walk. If you have a normal curve between the heel and ball you have a neutral arch. People who overpronate need a shoe with a lot of support and a motion-control feature. Athletes who underpronate need a pair that has plenty of cushioning and a soft midsole. If you have neutral arches you just need a pair that offers stability with both cushioning and support.
Choosing the right pair of sports shoes for your kids feet can have a significant impact on not just on your child’s comfort and performance but can potentially reduce their risk of developing injury.


When making a choice about what the right sports shoe is for your child there are many factors to consider. Aside from the most obvious things such as getting the right size and the all important colour selection, other elements that should be considered include:

Room for Growth - Always allow 1-1.5cm at the end of kids shoes to allow for those sudden growth spurts and check regularly to make sure they haven’t outgrown their current shoes.
Width - Feet come in different shapes and sizes and fortunately so do shoes. It's important to make sure that your child’s shoes are fitted not just for length but also the width of their foot.
Structure - The basic things to check with regard to structure are: A firm heel counter - If you squeeze the back of the heel of the shoe it shouldn’t collapse inwards. Flex Point - The shoe should naturally bend first at the ball of the foot

Fastening System - Depending on the age of your child a firm fastening system such as dual velcro straps or laces is important to hold the foot securely inside the shoe.
Arch Support - Depending on whether your child has flat or or high arched feet they may benefit from additional inserts to provide more specific support for their foot.

Next time your child needs new sports shoes think about these 5 key points and you should be well on the way to choosing the right shoe.

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Buying shoes for your child that fit properly is extremely important.  Unfortunately, a recent study found that a majority of kids wear shoes that are too small, which put them at risk for developing serious foot deformities, such as bunions.
If the shoe fits

Dr. Carol Frey, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UCLA and Chief of Foot and Ankle Surgery at West Coast Sports Performance in Manhattan Beach, California, says parents should remember the following when shopping for their children's shoes:
Shop at the end of the day: Shop when your child's feet are at their largest (either at the end of the day, or after a run or sporting event).
Measure both feet, standing up: Measure your child's feet when they are standing up bearing their full weight. Measure both feet in case they vary in size. Choose the shoes that fit the larger foot.
Measure and fit with sports-specific socks. Your child should be wearing the specific sock that he will ultimately wear with the shoes. Note: This is a reversal of the normal fitting process in most athletic shoe stores, where socks are purchased as an "add-on" after shoes have been fitted. Ones that are padded, such as Thorlo socks,* are ideal, especially for wearing with cleated shoes.
Allow for wiggle room: There should be a half-inch from the end of the longest toe to the end of the shoe so that your child is able to wiggle all of her toes. Don't press with your thumb on the greater toe to estimate fit because it activates a reflex that causes your child to curl the bigger toe, giving the wrong impression that there is enough space. In an ideal world, the length of the shoe should exceed the actual length of your child's foot by at least 10 millimeters to ensure that enough space is provided for the greater and lesser toes.
Lace the shoes properly: For maximum support, use the top eyelet on the shoe and run the laces through twice for a snugger fit. Don't tie the laces too tightly, as that can cause injury to nerves and tendons on the top of the foot.
Check for snug heels: If the heels don't fit snuggly, they will pull up out of the shoe (pistoning) and your child will be more likely to get blisters.
Have you child walk in the shoes: Allow your child some time to walk around the store in the shoes and ask them how the shoes feel. When she takes them off, check her feet for any red spots or areas of irritation. Inspect the inside of the shoe for any extra material, glue or irregular stitching, which may cause chafing.
Expect immediate comfort: Most importantly, the shoes should be comfortable right away. Shoes shouldn't need to be "broken in" to feel right.
Remember: younger children may not be able to tell you how a shoe fits and feels. They may simply say something hurts, with few details. It is important to ask, since they may not offer the information. In some cases, the pain may be the result of something as small as some extra fabric inside or socks bunching up. In very young children, whose feet tend to be thicker across the top, shoes may appear to fit because the toes have room, but still be too tight through the bridge of the foot or cause your child's toes to be scrunched up inside.
Selecting the right shoe also means picking the right kind of shoe:
The best materials: Leather, suede and canvas are the most durable and breathable materials for athletic shoes. Synthetic materials don't allow the foot to "breathe" and may even contribute to skin diseases and foot odor.
Choose the proper shoe for a particular sport: Shoes are designed specifically based on the demands of that sport. For instance, running shoes are designed for forward movement and have extra cushioning, while tennis shoes are meant to support side-to-side motion
Selecting cleats

Cleats can cause problems in young players, especially ages 9-13, when there are not enough cleats on the heel. This can lead to excess pressure and heel pain. Look for shoes with multiple cleats on the heel to help alleviate this problem. In order to reduce knee and ankle injuries, it may help to choose shoes with shorter cleats on them, no more than a half inch long for younger players.
If the shoe doesn't fit

Poor fitting shoes can cause a number of problems, explains Dr. Frey. The increased pressure may lead to:
Blisters
Curling or clawing of the toes
Bunions
Corns
Calluses
Pinched nerves
Ingrown toenails.
Besides causing pain and discomfort that can affect athletic performance, the wrong size shoes can result in foot problems and cause further injuries down the road.
If your child has foot pain that persists 12 hours after she takes off her shoes, you should see a doctor in case there is a potentially more serious problem.
Orthotics: popular but unnecessary?

While orthotics (shoe inserts prescribed by orthopedists or podiatrists) are the latest rage, Dr. Frey feels that in most casesthey are unnecessary. Given the quality design of most shoes today, and assuming you buy the proper shoe for your child and get a correct fit, you don't need to spend money for orthotics.
Children who are likely to benefit the most from orthotics, says Dr. Frey, are those who:
Over-pronate (their feet tip in)
Have flat feet (Note, however, that a new study has raised serious questions about whether orthotics are necessary for flat feet or that they will help athletic performance).
Have shin splints, or
Are experiencing arch pain or strain
For children needing extra ankle support, look for shoes with good heel stability. "People with high arches tend to have more ankle sprains/rolls, and need a stable shoe like a high top or high profile shoe," explains Dr. Frey.
For additional information visit The Institute for Preventive Foot Health (IPFH) is a non-profit private foundation committed to raising awareness about the importance of caring for the feet through education, research and the identification of methods demonstrated by clinical research to prevent, treat and manage painful conditions and diseases affecting the feet, mobility, functional status and quality of life.

Children's Place coupon code: Cute and Easy Girls’ Short Patterns

Summer is approaching, or at least I hope it is. And with summer comes short clothes. I have a girly-girl (she doesn’t get that from her mother, I assure you), and she loves to wear skirts and dresses. The problem is, she’s a very (very) active girly-girl and they stop making skirts with underthings attached around 4T.

Sometimes you can find them in bigger sizes, but it takes super sleuth skills. Often I solve the problem with some little bike shorts or leggings underneath. This, however, means being able to find said pair of shorts or leggings, and laundry isn’t my strong suit.

So here I have dug up some skort patterns from around the web. I hope to give a few of them a try for my acrobatic girl so she can flip and twirl all summer long, while keeping her undies, well, under.

Free Skort Tutorials

I love finding patterns for free. There are some amazing seamstresses out there who love to bless people with their creations. The one drawback to tutorials is that they are often one size and offer direction, not necessarily instruction. I say that I only pretend like I know how to sew, and often times I do just fine with a tutorial.

All of these patterns call for knit fabric. This means it stretches, and it also will not fray. For some tutorials you’ll see the designer didn’t hem the bottom, and this is because knit fabrics will typically just curl up, they won’t fray. Some people find they like using a serger for projects like these.

Also keep in mind that when you’re sewing with knit fabrics you have to watch your thread tension or you’ll pucker or stretch out the fabric. If you haven’t sewn with knits before, just go slowly at first. And hey, if it isn’t prefect, she’ll have outgrown it by next season anyway!

Rainbow Circle Skort from The TipToe Fairy

Fabric dimensions are given for a size 2T/3T, but the pattern could be upscaled for a bigger child. The only drawback I see to this pattern is that you need a lot of fabric. You’re essentially cutting circles of fabric to make tiers, which takes up more fabric, and you’re using several colors (hence the “rainbow”. If you have a lot of knit fabric around, this is an absolutely adorable tutorial. You also need to draft your own shorts pattern.

Fabric Requirements: 1/2 yd of 6 colors of knit fabric, thread, non-roll elastic
Draft own pattern
Summer Skirt Tutorial from Creative Spaces

For this pattern you must also draft your own pattern pieces, but the designer gives you detailed, step by step instructions on how to do so. It’s a cute pattern, and looks like it would come together very quickly. Especially if you save your pattern after it’s drafted and you use those pattern pieces on others. You could do a lot to “jazz” it up as well.

Materials: 1/2 yard knit fabric, thread, non-roll elastic
Draft own pattern

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How to Choose Perfect Sleepwear for Your Kids?

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In order to choose the right sleepwear for kids, you have to know their bodies. Also, you must take into consideration their sleeping habits, comforts and preferences. Sleepwear comes in a range of prices and it is necessary to budget for it as well.  Here are some tips that will help you choose the perfect sleepwear for your kids.

The Size

Any garment should fit well, but that is the most important criterion while choosing sleepwear.  Size of clothes for kids tends to vary according to manufacturer, so there is no one-size that fits all kids of the same age. Every brand does not follow the same size chart.  In order to get the best size, take your child’s measurements. Measure the arms, length, waist and chest.  If you are buying sleepwear for winter, it is a good idea to take the measurement of the feet as well. Measurements are important because if you buy something too long or loose, your child will trip and fall or may not be comfortable wearing it. While shopping online, using specific measurements can be of great help, as you cannot physically look at the sleepwear. 

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Sleepwear Styles

There are many types of sleepwear to choose from. The style you choose will depend on your child’s sleeping patterns, age and comfort. For toddlers and babies, blanket sleepwear is more suitable, especially during winters. They provide excellent insulation during the cold nights. You also can use pajamas and t-shirts as an inner layer for the blanket sleepwear. Among this kind of sleepwear, footed and un-footed sleepwear is available.

For kids, who are on their feet most of the time, footed sleepwear is not suitable because they may slip and fall. Kids, who are running and playing, will not usually like head-to-toe sleepwear. For such kids you can use socks instead during winters. You can ensure that their feet are warm and clean at the same time. 

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Pajama Styles

Pajamas are a versatile option because they can be worn by most children of any age and during any weather. They also are the most comfortable type of sleepwear. For different seasons, you can buy different types of pajama sets made from different fabrics. Cotton pajamas are ideal for summer, while woolen blends are best for winter. 

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Nightgowns

For girls, nightgowns are comfortable. But if your little angel moves around a lot while sleeping then these may not be suitable. To decide whether to buy a nightgown, observe your child while sleeping. Nightgowns are ideal for girls who are 14 years and above.

Forget nightclothes with strings, as they are a hazard. Your child could choke during the night if the string gets wrapped round their neck. 

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The Material

The material of sleepwear plays an important role. A lot of children are allergic to certain kinds of fabric. Most sleepwear is made out of cotton and synthetic mixed materials. Sometimes, you also can pick up sleepwear made from fleece. Remember, the material you choose should be fire safe as well. Avoid choosing materials like satin and silk for younger children.  The best material and safest bet would be to go for cotton blends. This is the same material that t-shirts are made out of.