It’s that time of year when I like to take stock of what my kids will need, in terms of clothing, for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. What winter boot sizes will we need this year? Does my child have enough pants that fit? By taking an inventory of their fall and winter clothes now I can take advantage of upcoming sales plus give practical gift ideas for birthdays and holidays to fill the gaps in their wardrobes. By using this Fall/Winter Clothing Checklist I also don’t run the risk of overbuying for my children. Here is my process;

Step 1: Print Out the Fall/Winter Clothing Checklist

First, print out a Fall/Winter Clothing Checklist for each of your children. Having a separate checklist for each child will help you stay organized and you won’t get confused about who needs what clothing items.

Step 2: Take Inventory

Now that you have printed the clothing checklist go through the fall and winter clothing your child already has. I like to focus on one child at a time so I don’t get overwhelmed. Going category by category, ask yourself the following questions;

What is our local weather typically like?

What size will my son/daughter be for fall and winter? (shirts/pants/shoes)

How many ___ should my son/daughter have?

What colors does my son/daughter need more of?

Are there any special events or activities my child will need specific clothing for?

You’ll see that each category has a notes section. For example, this year I wrote: “needs 4T long-sleeve shirts in any color”. For my son I wrote “has one long-sleeve Packer onesie in gold” so if I do want to purchase more Packer clothing for him I know to stick to green shirts.

Remember, you are trying to make outfits out of all the clothing pieces! You want to buy clothes that can be worn with many other items in his/her wardrobe. That’s why looking at the colors of the wardrobe as a whole can be so helpful.

Step 3: Shop

Finally, once you’ve determined what clothes your child will need for fall and winter you can easily shop. Take advantage of sales when they pop up. If you are looking to save even more money, take a look at a local consignment store. I find the greatest stuff (sometimes brand new with tags on) for a fraction of retail price at my local children’s consignment store. I have not purchased a new Halloween costume yet! Winter coats, I’ve gotten great brand names and have never paid more than $10.

I hope you find this Fall/Winter Clothing Checklist helpful when figuring out what your kid will need for the upcoming seasons.

P.S. I have a Fall/Winter Clothing Checklist for YOU too!