I'm trying to plan what I need for the colder weather for the children before I hit the stores. So I won't over shop like in the past. And so I can get what I need and then stay out of the stores. I have a 3 yr old and a 8 month old. How many outfits do you think?

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

Do you go out everyday? Do they need dressier clothes or can they get away with casual clothes? Is there anything from last season that was a little large that they could wear this season? Is there anything left over from the 3 year old that the 8 month old could wear?

When my dd was younger, I made the mistake of buying matching outfits for her. It never failed that she would end up ruining either the pants or the shirt, and I would have nothing to match the leftover piece with. Needless to say, I don't buy matching outfits for her anymore. I've learned over the years to dress my dd in a uniform -- blue jean shorts and blue jeans for pants, long sleeve and short sleeve shirts for tops. My dd only needs 5-7 pair of blue jeans and blue jean shorts and 7-10 long sleeve and short sleeve shirts to get her through. For cooler weather, I make sure she has a couple of light jackets, a mid-weight jacket, and one heavy coat.

Have fun shopping.

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It seems like 8-9 outfits of casual wear- all mix and match- would be enough for every day wear. Maybe 2-3 for church or dressier occasions? I am also trying to scale back on clothes... it's as learn as you go process for me... I would love to hear from others who have "scaled back" before us!

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

Well depends where you live/how cold and if you go to church or out where you need dressy clothes.
I do buy matching outfits, but I buy one pant and 2 or 3 tops that match it. (I don't ever have a problem with stains, tide gets everything out.) But around 4-5 pairs of pants and 7-8 tops for casual. 2 dressy if you don't go out often. 5 dressy if you go to church every weekend. It would be easier if you stuck with jeans, everything matches jeans! For coats, I get the gymboree 4-1 which can be worn as heavy, medium or light weight. I also tend to buy one light zip up jacket that matches some of her outfits. But I buy Gymboree, so I just buy several outfits and the jacket from two lines and that lasts each season.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt