Your little girl will try to dress herself now, so choose clothes that she can manage easily.
As your child grows older, she’ll develop the coordination required to dress successfully. You should encourage her in her attempts at dressing or undressing, however slow or awkward – they’re a sign of growing independence and maturity. Learning to manage by herself will improve a child’s coordination and increase her confidence, so be patient with her first clumsy efforts.
Lay out your child’s clothes in such a way that she can maneuver them on easily. For instance, you could drape a cardigan on the back of a chair so that she just has to sit down and slide her arms into the sleeves. Let her do as much as she is capable of, and don’t step in to help unless it’s really necessary, though you will have to deal with most of the fastenings yourself until your child is old enough to manage them.
At 18 months she will already be trying to manage fastenings, and by two and a half she will be able to close a button in a loose buttonhole, and put on her own pants, T-shirt, and sweatshirt. By the age of four she will probably be able to dress or undress herself completely and will have enough dexterity to put her clothes away tidily. There are several things you can do to make getting dressed easier for your child.
Dressing himself
By the age of three your toddler may be able to dress himself completely, though it will take him a long time. Allow him his independence, and don’t step in to help unless you’re really needed.
Room for growth
Loose-fitting clothes with adjustable fastenings are most suitable now that your child is growing fast.
Choose a sturdy leather pair for outdoor wear. Your child’s feet must be unrestricted but held firmly in place and unable to slip out. The toes shouldn’t curl up or hurt when he walks. Never buy secondhand shoes.
When you are buying your child shoes, always go to a reputable store where the staff has been trained to measure and fit children’s shoes. The salesperson should measure the length and the width of your child’s foot before trying any shoes. Once your child tries on a pair of shoes, the salesperson should press the joints of the foot to make sure that it is not restricted in any way, and that the fastenings hold the shoe firmly in place and don’t let your child’s foot slip around. Make sure your child stands up and walks around in the shoes to check that the toe doesn’t pinch and hurt when he’s walking and to double-check that there’s no slipping.
A sturdy, well-made pair of leather shoes is most suitable of general outdoor wear, especially once your child starts running and playing. You should, however, get a pair if rubber boots for wet or muddy conditions. Although leather shoes and sandals are solid and sensible and last well, there is nothing wrong with inexpensive canvas shoes or sneakers as long as you make sure that they fit properly. If your child suddenly becomes less steady on his feet it may be a sign that he is outgrowing his shoes. Well-fitting shoes are essential to ensure that your child has good feet in adult life. Don’t try to save money by buying second-hand shoes; they will have molded to the first owner’s feet.
Choose clothes that leave your little boy room for growth and allow him to move freely.
© 2010 Baby Care
