There are many reasons parents are choosing to create capsule wardrobes, a slimmed-down wardrobe with a variety of versatile, mix-and-match items, for their children, especially babies. For starters, babies grow fast. It sometimes feels like they’re outgrowing clothes by the week! Having a curated, pared down wardrobe ensures parents spend less money overtime on their baby’s clothes.
Another big seller is the sheer simplicity. Not only does a capsule wardrobe take up less space and helps keep closets clutter-free, it also makes choosing outfits a breeze — something every parent will appreciate. (Bonus: Less clothes means fewer items to wash, fold and put up!) But a capsule wardrobe isn’t just good for simplicity — it can also be more environmentally friendly. If you’re buying fewer clothing items, you can invest more in quality, eco-friendly clothing, like those from Little Planet® and Purelysoft™.
Are you ready to spend less time shopping, washing, drying, folding and organizing clothes? Here’s how to build your baby’s capsule wardrobe.
Know what to put in your capsule wardrobe
How many items to have in a capsule wardrobe depends on how often you do laundry. If you typically wash clothes once a week, you’ll need about seven outfits, plus a few extras.
Take inventory of what you have
Spend some time in your child’s closet sorting through what fits and what doesn’t. Clear out any clothes your baby has outgrown, anything you don’t like and anything that might be faded, worn or torn. Sort clothes by season and put away any out-of-season clothes so they don’t end up in the mix.
Know what you need
Use the following as a guide for how many items to keep in your capsule wardrobe each season, and adapt it based on your own preferences.
8-10 bodysuits (mix of short-sleeve and long-sleeve)
10-12 Sleep & Play™ and pajamas
5-7 pairs of leggings and pants (swap in shorts for summer months and warm climates)
3-5 outfit sets
2-3 layering pieces like cardigans — or jackets for cold climates
8-10 pairs of socks
2-3 pairs of shoes (our Every Step® First Walker styles are great for early walkers)
Decide on a color palette
Sticking to a color palette increases the versatility of your child’s wardrobe and simplifies shopping. Mix things up by choosing a palette for cool or cold weather clothes and one for warm or hot weather clothes. Start with neutrals and add in a couple accent colors. Clothes with patterns should incorporate at least a few of the colors in your palette. The key is to buy tops and bottoms that are easy to mix and match.
Learn as you go
You probably won’t get it perfect on the first try, but that’s okay! Because babies grow so fast, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for trial and error in building your baby’s capsule wardrobe. Learn from what worked and what didn’t in each capsule and use those lessons as you create the next season’s wardrobe.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the laundry and shopping and trying to get everyone dressed for the day, take a deep breath and dive into the simplicity of capsule wardrobes for your baby. And when you’re done creating a capsule for your little ones, try doing the same in your own closet! Remember: less time spent washing, folding and sorting clothes means you’ll have more time to spend creating precious memories with your kids.
