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Main Page Site Index Getting Pregnant Pregnancy Parenting Pregnancy and Parenting Journals Fertility Nutrition Pregnant Moms Morning Sickness Women's Health Child Health	Baby Clothes - Hints and Tips - By J.K. Beith Baby clothes are really expensive, and because your child grows so fast in the first couple of years, these clothes are going to have a very short life. To maximise the wear we need to look at how we take care of them, how we can get wear from them, for longer and how we might save money, if we buy the right things initially. Buying The first thing to remember when buying children's clothing is, they must be comfortable to wear, easy to put on and above all else, washable. Buy clothes with elasticated waistbands and trousers or skirts with shoulder straps. This makes letting down or adjusting easier. Buy socks without shaped heels they can then grow with your child. Try to stick to one or two colors and brands – this way you will always have a replacement if you lose one. Put extra buttons on dungaree, skirt or dress straps – This way you can lengthen them as your child grows. Always try to buy natural fibres, rather than man made .The man made fibres don't breathe as well as natural fibres and this can cause your child to get too hot, especially in summer. Maximizing Wear Sleep suit getting too short? – For comfort cut off the feet and you will get another month s wear, at least. Add another tier to a tiered skirt, by using identical or contrasting material. Trousers or jeans that have become too short, or worn at the knees – can be cut down and made into shorts for the summer. Make summer pyjamas by cutting off the arms and legs of a pair of winter pyjamas. Don't throw away an expensive jacket if your child has out grown it – remove the sleeves and turn it into a smart waistcoat for your child. When you've let down a pair of jeans or dungarees, you can normally see a white line where the fabric has been creased. Make it less noticeable by blending it into the fabric by running a dark blue crayon along the line. A fountain pen or indelible marker also works. Care Washing Tips One tip that seems obvious but is often ignored – the manufacturers washing instructions that you will find in the garment labels. Manufacturers of fabric spend vast amounts of money to find out what are the best washing conditions for their goods. So always try and wash as instructed, it does help clothes last longer. Use a fabric protector to spray collars, cuffs and knees of garments, any spills will form into beads and can be easily wiped clean. Get grimy soiled socks clean by soaking them in a water and washing soda solution before washing. White cotton socks can be revitalised by boiling them in water with a slice of lemon. Instead of bleach add vinegar to the water as an alternative. Sneakers can be kept looking new by spraying them with starch before wearing them for the first time – this will stop dirt from getting embedded. A soap filled scouring pad is great for sneakers or any fabric shoes. Rub white shoes with a raw potato cut in half, or alcohol, before cleaning. Keep them white by spraying with hairspray – This prevents the polish from coming off and keeps them looking new. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John tries to combine his role as a SAHD with work as a freelance writer. Home is a small village in West Yorkshire England, where he lives happily with his wife and two young daughters. (Georgia who is nearly 3yrs and Olivia aged 16 months.) His articles have appeared in online publications in countries ranging from India to the USA. He is a member of The Association of Freelance Writers. If you have any comments on this article or would like further information please feel free to contact him atjaybee@writeme.co.uk.