The Sunday News
Rutendo Chidawanyika
AFTER the article on how to dress up during your pregnancy it makes sense to do a follow up on how to dress your new bundle of joy right? When the baby arrives it becomes all about them. Mommies sacrifice their fashion game so that their little tots can look super cute and adorable.
One of the most exciting things about having a baby is getting to dress him or her in adorable clothing. Depending on your taste, it can be difficult to find the things that you’re looking for. We all tend to have this image in our heads of what our child will look, dress and act like, so when we can’t find clothing that matches that picture it can be a little frustrating.
Comfort: Some people like to be comfortable, but that doesn’t mean they should lounge in their home clothes around all day. While it’s nice to dress for leisure every once in a while, dressing comfortably and cute can mean throwing on a pair of leggings and a sweater for a little girl or sweatpants and a hoodie for a boy. Do take note that it’s not always practical to get your baby dressed up and that some days are just for hanging out in chilling clothes, but that doesn’t have to mean pyjamas. Comfy leggings and a simple, cozy sweatshirt dress are still easy, but more pulled together.
Accessories: Who says accessories are only for grown-ups? Obviously it takes a bit more thought and effort to find tiny accessories, but it can instantly change the whole look of an outfit and people always love to ooh and ahh over mini accessories. Bow headbands, sailor knot headbands, turbans and elastic headbands are all available in baby shops. If you have a little boy, you can accessorise him by throwing on bow-ties, hats and scarves
Personality: When picking a wardrobe for your bundle of joy, try to choose items that will complement his or her personality. Even as infants, children have personalities that sometimes only their parents know. There are children who are quiet as newborns and others who are loud and scream a lot. As your child ages, they’ll start to develop their own sense of style. At this point, you should start to let them choose their own clothing. Believe it or not, your son or daughter will develop a sense of independence around age two, and he or she will want to pick out their own clothes when shopping. This will be a big moment for you and them, as you’ll notice they really are growing up into a big kid.
Print on print: Mixing and matching is easier with boys than girls because there are so many options. Boys tend to have a few more colour options to work with than girls and still maintain a “masculine” look. If you want to help your little man look fashionable, be sure to add dimension to his outfit with a colorful jumpsuit, a neutral vest and a button-down shirt. Pattern mixing is fun for babies too! My suggestion is to keep it simple and play with patterns in the same colour family. It’s a fun and unexpected way to add some fun to your baby’s wardrobe.
Be creative: Don’t be afraid to use clothing in different ways. Sometimes you’ll find an adorable shirt at the store only to realise they don’t have the size that fits well. If you have a girl, get a shirt that’s big enough to work as a dress. That way, you’ll get to see her wear it for a few months. And if it stays in good condition long enough, she can wear it as a shirt when she’s a toddler. Sometimes they don’t make things in baby sizes so you have to come up with creative solutions.
When it comes to buying jeans and tops for your little one always go for bigger sizes in slim cuts. Tank tops can easily become sundresses for now and tops later if you buy them in larger sizes and the same goes for jeans — wear them cuffed now, regular once she’s a bit bigger and if the waist is stretchy – as shorts later! Just like adults, it’s good to dress your baby for their body type.
With babies, function overshadows fashion, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find clothes that serve both purposes. Cute little bandana bibs are equally good at soaking up teething drool, but look more like a fun scarf than a bib and are infinitely cuter. Often times the girl’s section at stores is filled with nothing pink ruffles and glitter which isn’t everyone’s taste, so regularly venture into the boy’s section for some fresh fashion options. Cardigans, stripes and simple neutrals abound in the boy’s section and you probably won’t find as many baby girls wearing the same outfits.
You are welcome!
Email: [email protected]
