When a woman finds out that she is about to become a mom, there are so many wonderful and exciting moments that she starts looking forward to. Motherhood is full of new moments, memories and challenges, but when we focus on the “fun” parts of parenting, it can make even the toughest days seem worth it. Something that moms dream about is dressing up their child. They spend hours, and a lot of money, at children’s clothing stores. They are picking out the perfect outfits, and a lot of moms will say that her children end up being better dressed than she is. This will continue for the first few years of her child’s life.
However, just like everything with parenting, moments pass and things come to an end. Mom knows that the day will come when her child wants to dress themselves and pick out their own clothes. They want to show their individuality and creativity, or they may just not like the clothes that mom picks out for them anymore. This can be hard for mom to let go, but it can be important that mom knows what to look out for when her child is trying to tell her it is time.
Is There An Age?
If mom is looking for a specific age where she should stop dressing her children, she may be disappointed that there really isn’t one. Every child is different, and they are going to evolve on their own time and at their own pace. However, we can look at other parents and see what the trend seems to be about letting children pick their own clothes.
According to Made For Mums, they surveyed over 1,400 parents and asked them what age they let their children choose their own clothes. It turns out that 15% of parents let their child choose their own clothes at 5 years old. 11% let them at 6, and 12% let them at 8 years old.
Can They Physically Do It?
One of the most important things to think about when letting your child make the choice about what they want to wear is if they are actually capable of getting dressed themselves. According to Parents, this can be a good guiding point when it comes to if your child is ready to choose their own clothes. They state that most children understand the basic concepts of getting dressed by the time they are 3 years old, however, be wary because it may take them a while.
What they can do is pick their own clothes under supervision. In an attempt to speed up the process, mom can get them to pick out their own outfits the night before so that all they have to do in the morning is get dressed. Practice makes perfect, so let them do it when you have the time for them to go as slow as they need to when getting ready.
When They Can Express Their Opinion
Mom will know as soon as her child is ready because they are able to form their own opinion, and they are not afraid to share it with you. According to Building Boys, children who often express their own opinion will likely have an opinion about the clothes they wear, and this may be a great time to let them explore their individuality.
Letting a child pick out their own clothes has a lot of benefits, including knowing that they will actually wear the clothes, instead of thinking what you bought them was too “baby-ish.” Mom may still have to be firm on outdoor wear when they say they don’t need a jacket.
Sources: Building Boys, Parents, Made For Mums