toddler girl summer wardrobe?

[NicaG]

I am having a hard time figuring out girls' clothing (I have an older ds). Could anyone share with me how many shirts, shorts, dresses, skirts, sleeveless tops, capri pants, short leggings, etc. etc. are in your dd's summer wardrobe? I keep seeing cute stuff (like sundresses) but I don't know how practical these things are. Thanks!

[mommariffic]

I love sundresses for DD - whether we are at the park/gardening/splashing in the mud they are just free flowing for her, and easy to get on/off/clean.

Right now we have:
4-9 sundresses
2-3 pairs of shirts
5-6 tee shirts/tank tops

And some Croc type shoes, sneakers, and flip flops.

[merryns.mom]

my dd is in daycare, so she needs lots of clothes cheap enough that i won't care if they come home ruined. and she has to have 2 extra outfits at school.
we have
8 sundresses for school
10 shorts/shirt outfits
4 or 5 nice outfits for weekend
3-4 dresses for church/summer parties.

but half of that stuff is in 2t and she is just now fitting in 24months, and can still wear 18month pants

kmart has had awesome prices on really cute stuff. yesterday i bought 3 outfits for $6 apiece and then 2 shirts and shorts for $2 apiece

[lisavark]

Target also has some good deals (not quite as cheap as Kmart ): $4 for shirt or short, so $8/outfit. I have about five or six shirt/shorts combos and at least five sundresses...not really sure. Last summer I bought nothing but sundresses at a consignment sale and LOVED them; wore them all summer and fall with babylegs. She can still fit into a lot of those, too. We also have one pair of crocs, one pair of boots, and one pair of sandals that barely still fits...need to get more sandals.

[lnitti]

hmm, I rarely put my kids in sundresses - but I would love to!

I don't understand the logistics of dresses on young girls. I just don't see how they are practical for play

Wouldn't they get dirt into their underwear when playing on a playground? Going down the slide, it seems they would be sitting on it almost like they were just wearing undies with no other clothing between them and the slide. Wouldn't it cause wedgies? Is it really appropriate to be climbing in a dress - everyone would see up your dress. I would like my kids to have some sense of modesty.

How would they ride a bike without the dress being in the way and also being modest?

Also, I've always worried about them holding their dress up to potty and not having it fall into the toilet. My 6 year old is ok with that, but she didn't start wearing dresses until a bit older. I'd love for my 2 year old to wear them, but don't think she could keep it out of the toilet.

[mommariffic]

Most of the dresses we have come with little bloomers to go over the underpants, and I have some bloomers I've made for her so those prevent wedgies or like, butt/slide contact I guess? And if anyone looks up your skirt I mean, they see bloomers? But I don't think anyone would look up a 2 year olds skirt. And I've never personally had a problem with dirt in the underpants or anything for DD or myself [I'm a huge dress wear-er and I'm always sitting on the floor..]

And for modesty, well I let her run/swim naked if she wants so I guess that doesn't occur to me because she's only 2.

Originally Posted by lnitti

hmm, I rarely put my kids in sundresses - but I would love to!

I don't understand the logistics of dresses on young girls. I just don't see how they are practical for play

Wouldn't they get dirt into their underwear when playing on a playground? Going down the slide, it seems they would be sitting on it almost like they were just wearing undies with no other clothing between them and the slide. Wouldn't it cause wedgies? Is it really appropriate to be climbing in a dress - everyone would see up your dress. I would like my kids to have some sense of modesty.

How would they ride a bike without the dress being in the way and also being modest?

Also, I've always worried about them holding their dress up to potty and not having it fall into the toilet. My 6 year old is ok with that, but she didn't start wearing dresses until a bit older. I'd love for my 2 year old to wear them, but don't think she could keep it out of the toilet.

[lnitti]

Originally Posted by mommariffic

Most of the dresses we have come with little bloomers to go over the underpants, and I have some bloomers I've made for her so those prevent wedgies or like, butt/slide contact I guess? And if anyone looks up your skirt I mean, they see bloomers? But I don't think anyone would look up a 2 year olds skirt. And I've never personally had a problem with dirt in the underpants or anything for DD or myself [I'm a huge dress wear-er and I'm always sitting on the floor..]

And for modesty, well I let her run/swim naked if she wants so I guess that doesn't occur to me because she's only 2.

If it was just my 2 year old, I wouldn't be concerned about modesty, but I also have a 6 year old who we just recently started addressing modesty (i.e. she can no longer change her clothes in front of boys and men whereas previously there was no issue doing so).

None of our dresses have bloomers for either girl. Although, i have seen smaller sizes of clothing that sometimes have them.

They both have a couple of skorts/scooters that have built in shorts, but that isn't the same as the sundresses.

[corrieoseal]

I agree that I LOVE sundresses...BUT they simply are not practical for my 23 month old DD who spends lots of time climbing all over the playground. She gets annoyed with them and they eventually end up bunched up over her head during a fit of toddler frustration. I have found that shorts aren't great either because the slides and other equipment get super hot by midday and she burns her legs. So DD's summer wardrobe looks like this:

3-4 bathing suits (we live in a beach town)
4 pairs light jersey knit capris
6-8 coordinating short sleeve tops (tees and tanks)
2 pairs shorts (jean and khaki so they match everything)
2 play dresses (used mostly as beach cover ups)
2 skorts
1-2 long-sleeved hoodies
2 sunhats
1 pair canvas sneakers for the playground
1 pair sandals
1-2 pairs water shoes
and...
1 completely impractical splurge dress that was just too cute to pass up that I'm sure she'll wear for something important

[gbailey]

* 1-2 pair of water shoes
* two pairs of sneakers (i get them from payless because they are comfortable, inexpensive and her feet grow fast)
* one pair of well made white sandals and one pair of brown ones)
* 10-12 shirts (short sleeved and tank tops)
* 3 pair of cotton twill pants or capris
* about 6 pairs of shorts
* 4 sundresses
I don't know if this will help but the Target Circo brand has a lot of summer essentials for girls that are really inexpensive. A lot of them are on clearance now so you can get a pair of shorts for $2.80 (less if you don't live in NY) and cute dresses for cheap too. Children's Place also has mega sales going on right now. I found DD a pair of shorts for $4.99

[Katico]

My name is Beth and I am a shopaholic.

I keep adding to DD's summer wardrobe. It's a problem

She's only 12 months but SUPER active (started walking at 9 mo) so her summer wardrobe is all about comfort and cuteness

I am focusing on dresses actually, I have been sewing them for her (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67442269@N00/4469682261/) To me they are comfortable and cool, they are pretty but I'm not worried about dirt, they're washable! And with leggings or bloomers she should be good for the playground, garden, etc! And without leggings, awesome for EC/potty learning!

So,
sundresses, mostly cotton and loose, a couple jersey, most with cap or short sleeves: probably 10 total
leggings/capris: 5 pairs in colours to match dresses (navy, purple, pink, etc)
t-shirts and sleeveless tops: 5 or 6
pants: 5 or 6 pairs
shorts - 1 pair of brown jersey
2 light sweaters in pale blue and peach, match most everything
1 swimsuit
Shoes: One pair white sandals, one pair striped sneakers, one pair robeez for indoors on chilly days, a couple of cheap pairs of sneakers for muddy garden work
2 sunhats and a pair of sunglasses

Outerwear: raincoat, light knit hooded coat and a couple of hoodies

It is so much fun to dress a little girl!!

[justKate]

Originally Posted by lnitti

hmm, I rarely put my kids in sundresses - but I would love to!

I don't understand the logistics of dresses on young girls. I just don't see how they are practical for play

Wouldn't they get dirt into their underwear when playing on a playground? Going down the slide, it seems they would be sitting on it almost like they were just wearing undies with no other clothing between them and the slide. Wouldn't it cause wedgies? Is it really appropriate to be climbing in a dress - everyone would see up your dress. I would like my kids to have some sense of modesty.

How would they ride a bike without the dress being in the way and also being modest?

I hear ya in some ways. I don't really like to see DD (15 mos.) running around with her dress over her head and her diaper hanging out, at least in public. Maybe if she was CD'd it wouldn't bother me so much. Target makes great leggings for babies--like $4 maybe? I got 3 pairs (pink, yellow, white) and DD wears those under her dresses (if she wears dresses). Keeps the diaper from hanging out and keeps the knees from being scratched up.

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by Katico

My name is Beth and I am a shopaholic.

I keep adding to DD's summer wardrobe. It's a problem

She's only 12 months but SUPER active (started walking at 9 mo) so her summer wardrobe is all about comfort and cuteness

I am focusing on dresses actually, I have been sewing them for her (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67442269@N00/4469682261/) To me they are comfortable and cool, they are pretty but I'm not worried about dirt, they're washable! And with leggings or bloomers she should be good for the playground, garden, etc! And without leggings, awesome for EC/potty learning!

So,
sundresses, mostly cotton and loose, a couple jersey, most with cap or short sleeves: probably 10 total
leggings/capris: 5 pairs in colours to match dresses (navy, purple, pink, etc)
t-shirts and sleeveless tops: 5 or 6
pants: 5 or 6 pairs
shorts - 1 pair of brown jersey
2 light sweaters in pale blue and peach, match most everything
1 swimsuit
Shoes: One pair white sandals, one pair striped sneakers, one pair robeez for indoors on chilly days, a couple of cheap pairs of sneakers for muddy garden work
2 sunhats and a pair of sunglasses

Outerwear: raincoat, light knit hooded coat and a couple of hoodies

It is so much fun to dress a little girl!!

Adorable! I love the floral dress in the picture. Great style mama.

[Emmery'sMom]

My DD's summer wardrobe is mainly summer dresses- we live in AZ and it's too hot for anything else and too hot to play outside for long, so dresses are perfect for my 15mth old DD.
I bought as many 24 months as I could find- yes she's in 24mth/2T- because 24mth come with the little undies (2T and up does not).
I also bought capri leggings from pediped for her to wear on cooler days or with the dresses that have no undies.
Also the dresses will fit her longer than the shorts and T's- she's already growing out of everything but the dresses and it's barely the beginning of summer.

We have:

20ish summer dresses
4 capri leggings
6 pairs of shorts
2 capri pants
8 shirts
3 pairs of sandals