Springtime in Rhode Island: How to Handle Your Child’s Wardrobe

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winter coats and shoes Providence Moms Blog

It’s FINALLY springtime in Rhode Island!

Time to switch over the kids’ wardrobe to spring jackets, capris or shorts, and short sleeve shirts! Bright pastel colors and even a little frill capped sleeve sundresses if you have them!

Then you can put away the mittens, scarves, hats and snow boots, until…

 The temperature drops 20 degrees, and you DO really need those puffy coats for morning school run. But beware: by pick up, those coats will have been shed with the warm-up of “fake spring” and forgotten at school. The following morning will be another cold one. Good thing we live in New England and have winter so long we have at least two puffy coats!

Fast forward three more days and you may leave the house wearing rain boots, a tutu skirt, and a double polar fleece with sunglasses and a beanie (“just in case”). You will need indefinite access to your summer, winter, fall, AND spring wardrobes for the kids during this and every seasonal transition so when I say “switch over,” I really mean throw your current laundry routine into overdrive.

Currently, we are living off of our sofa where all laundry “lives” until the transition is completed. The cedar chest is flung open, all closets are in bedlam and the totes in the basement are next! We all know that living in New England requires too many options to protect our little ones from the unpredictable elements, so here are my five tips from my past seven years of experience of living the “switch over”:

 Resistance is futile!

Don’t try and get by with the “spring is for spring” wardrobe rule; everyone will be wet cold and miserable (although adorably cute) in the process!

Over-Prepare

If you HAVE to have that spring outfit, bring extra layers for the cold and for comfort. Make sure you bring an extra empty bag for layers that need to be shed.

Let Them Choose

Kids tend to not mind changing multiple times a day if it is something they choose. Just like with food, let them choose and they are more likely to comply.

Give It Up

Some of the best advice I got was from a fellow mom of four who told me: “only buy short sleeves, then layer with sweaters in the winter.” Donating all those extra long sleeve shirts freed up space in the kids’ dresser for sure!

Clue Everyone In

Nothing irks me more than when I have weeded out the fleece-footed pajamas to go into storage for our short spring/summer than seeing Dad has helped and dressed them for bed in those very same pajamas. If there must be piles during the transition, let other caregivers know what is off limits to cut down on the shuffling game.

In closing, take it easy on yourself. New England weather is tough, especially when dressing a little one. Keep it all out, try and keep it clean, and donate what doesn’t work for you! See you in summer when we will do it again!

 
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Shay
Shaylene was born and raised in Providence RI (although her family moved around a bit) and usually just shouting out "Shay!" will get you what you need. She loves to serve her community one caregiver at a time, whether it be through breastfeeding support, babywearing education, play dates, online chats, or just a coffee run! Shay has what she needs to fill her cup and LOVES to serve from her abundance! Volunteering is her personal passion, and her job as a medical professional means that her worlds often collide in a glorious fashion; no matter where she goes there are happy people all around her. An independent mother of 2, you can usually find Shay with her two (royal) daughters she has affectionately dubbed the Duchess and Lady of her home. Together, they work hard so they can play harder on the weekends! Welcome to her world... she hopes Providence Mom readers are ready to enjoy the ride!