Help your little boy to dress himself by making sure his clothes don’t have tricky fastenings.
- Boys are usually slower than girls at learning to use the potty, so it is particularly important to avoid awkward fastenings on your little boy’s pants
- Look for adjustable straps on overalls, or add a button so the straps can be lengthened
- Pants with elastic waists are easiest but, if he has trousers with zippers, show him how to pull the zipper away from him as he closes it to prevent it from catching
- Show your little boy how to sit down to put his feet into his pants legs, then stand up to pull them up
As your child becomes more involved in dressing herself, she will become more conscious of the clothes themselves. Babies are largely unaware of what they are wearing as long as it is comfortable and does not impede their activities, but toddlers gradually begin to notice the colors and type of clothing they put on, and your child may develop preferences. Clothes that seem similar to those worn by mommy or daddy might be especially attractive. The feel of a garment will also be important to her whether, for example, it is soft or itchy, tight or stretchy. If she takes a dislike to a garment, it may be because it doesn’t fit properly and is therefore uncomfortable to wear.
Your child’s concerns should be taken seriously when you are buying her clothing. Once your main requirements, which are practical ones – warmth, durability, washability, and cost – are met, there is no reason why you shouldn’t indulge her; the image of a favorite cartoon character or a particular color may be the deciding factor as far as she is concerned. Allowing her to choose which clothes to wear each day is also important. You may want her to wear long pants on a cold day, but let her choose which pair.
She may develop seemingly irrational likes or dislikes for certain items of clothing – insisting on wearing a particular T-shirt every day, for example, or refusing to wear the hand-knitted pullover that Granny gave her for her birthday. The easiest policy is to go along with these preferences as far as possible, though occasionally bribery, or at least negotiation, may be in order: you could offer a special treat in return for wearing that pullover on the afternoon that Granny comes to dinner.
Choosing fastenings
Until your child has enough dexterity to manage buttons and zippers, you need to choose clothes and shoes with manageable fastenings.
Shoes
Velcro fastenings rather than laces or buckles will allow your child to fasten his own shoes very easily.