Keeping kids clothes organized

[linguistmama]

My 5 and 2 yo can undo all of my folding work in short order. I'm seriously considering not folding anymore at all. We don't really care about a few wrinkles and I keep their nice dresses hanging up. I put away their extra clothes so that it's a manageable amount even if they have to dig through it all to find what they want. We have a family closet in our hall closet that has shelves, except for hanging clothes. I think I may get some baskets to put their clothes in so it looks better. Anyone else not fold or have other suggestions? I can't be the only one! If we hung everything I'd still be rehanging things constantly like I already do with their hanging dresses.

[Juvysen]

Ha... mine doesn't always make it out of the laundry basket... so why not?

[tessamami]

For DS, 2 I don't fold at all

I think it was on MDC that I got the idea - He has a large, deep drawer. I put pants on one end, then shirts, then I have a little drawer organizer with his socks, in the same drawer.

Shirts don't need to be folded, they aren't that long. If pants won't fit, I do a quick fold in half - he's gonna get dirty, anyway.

DD, 9 - I have a small drawer for her socks, another for her underwear. Pants / skirts / bottoms go in one drawer, tops in another. I fold her tops, but don't stress it with her bottoms, just a quick fold. I mostly put her clothes away, but will get her to help, sometimes. She knows now that if she wants something washed, she has to put it in her laundry basket, then get it to the laundry room

[laurabfig]

I have SO debated just putting each of my kids' names on their own laundry basket and leaving the clean clothes in their room in those baskets for them to get dressed out of. We usually just throw dirty clothes into a heap in the upstairs hallway anyway and take them downstairs on a daily basis, so this could work right? I actually love doing laundry (and hanging it outside when sunny!) but HATE folding clothes and re-distributing them to everyone. Someone please tell me the basket idea could work!

Right now we have no dressers, just hanging fabric shelf things in their closet from Ikea. Each section has folded clothes in it, with the bottom being for PJs. Two bins on the floor of the closet for socks and undies. This actually works pretty well. I like that they can see their clothes, but it does tend to get messy if they pull a whole load out when it gets overstuffed in one of the cubbies.

I think the key to keeping them organized is to really limit how much clothes they have in the first place. This is on my list to do soon...I purge frequently, but it is definitely time!

[linguistmama]

Originally Posted by laurabfig

I actually love doing laundry (and hanging it outside when sunny!) but HATE folding clothes and re-distributing them to everyone. Someone please tell me the basket idea could work!

We don't have dressers either to save space in our small apartment and I like it a lot better. I think the laundry basket idea is great! I'm going to keep my eye out for some cheap ones that will fit on our large closet shelves. I need to go through the dresses and put some away. (I keep extra clothing because we pass clothes down).

[hopefulfaith]

I hate folding clothes, but I like having them organized so that the kids can make choices, etc., and I see what's clean ... so I hang everything except pajamas, underwear, and socks. I bought about 200 kids' hangers and extra racks for the kids' closets. Everything gets hung up. However, I don't *keep* a lot of clothes for the kids -all of their clothes have to fit in the closet, or I start decluttering.