Large Family Minimalist Closet (Kid Edition)

     

As the DoulaMamaofMany I am asked how I minimize our family's clothing and not let it take over.  With 8 growing children and a husband that has a uniform for every job, we try to keep things at a minimum.  There was a time when I would save anything and everything passed down between the JClan or from others, but it takes up space.  Not only that, they would have so many of the same thing it felt as though we were being greedy.  So we came up with a system and we decided we should put our FAITH in Christ to supply our needs.  We do not need to keep everything we were given but to try and bless others or sell to pay for the things we do need. So this is what we have done.  Every year we look at our clothing.  I keep a running tab of what we have or need, so when we are given something or we find a sale we don't buy things we already have.

    The following lists are how we decide what is needed, for the JClan.  Sometimes we veer off this and add a piece of clothing here or there, but not usually.  As the JClan gets older they have their own fashion and they do not always like what is handed down.  That is ok.  They learn how to provide for what they do want.  Many times they will decide to sell the item they do not want and then they use that money to help pay for the item they do want.  They are usually given money as a gift here and there and if they really want something special they will purchase their item. But God always gives us a way to provide for the basics and when we do not want or need the extra items given to us or handed down we try to pass them on to another family.  If no family is in need then we give to a charity.

*pictured from left to right JClan 5,4,6,7,3, & 2 2019*

Potty trained children:

     Boys:
          👕 Hang-up Clothes:

*3 church pants, 3 button-up shirts (short for summer, long for winter), 2 nice shorts/slacks (seasonal), 3 jeans, 3 polos (short for summer, long for winter), 3 nice t-shirts (short for summer, long for winter), 1 nice jacket (winter), 1 play jacket (winter), 1-2 pullover sweaters/hoodies (winter), 1 belt (black side/ brown side), 1 pair suspenders (neutral color), 3-5 ties/bow ties; tween/teen boys 2 blazers
         🧺  Fold-up Clothes:

*4 play shirts (season appropriate), 4 play pants (season appropriate), 2 running outfits (season appropriate), 1-2 hoodies (winter), 7 underwear, 3 undershirts, 7 socks, 2 pjs (season appropriate), 2-3 thermals (winter)
          👟 Shoes:

*1 farm boots, 1 church shoes/nice boots, 1 play/work tennis shoes, 1 running shoes, 1 flipflops, 1 pair of slipper, 1 pair of water shoes; tween/teen boys 1 black dress shoes, 1 brown dress shoes
           🧣🧤Accessories:

*1 play beanie, 1 nice beanie, 1 play/farm gloves, 1 nice gloves, 1 scarf, 2 swimsuits w/ SPF shirts, 1 hat (for beach/working outside) (kept in a separate bag with everyone else's)

     Girls:
           👚Hang-up Clothes:

*3 church dresses, 3 blouses (short for summer, long for winter), 2 nice shorts/skirts/slacks (seasonal), 3 jeans, 3 nice t-shirts (short for summer, long for winter), 1 nice jacket (winter), 1 play jacket (winter), 1-2 hoodies (winter), 1-2 cardigans (all year round), 2-3 causal dresses (seasonal); tween/teen girls 2-3 skirt business suits with blazers
          🧺 Fold-up Clothes:

*4 play shirts (seasonal), 4 play pants (seasonal), 2 running outfits (seasonal), 1-2 hoodies (winter), 7 underwear, 5 bras (everyday), 2 sports bras, 3 undershirts (spaghetti strap tanks), 7 socks, 3 tights (winter), 2 hose (summer), 2 pjs (season appropriate), 3 leggings (seasonal for under dresses or under slacks/jeans when really cold)
           🥿Shoes:

*1 farm boots, 1 church shoes/sandals, 1 play/work tennis shoes, 1 running shoes, 1 flipflops, 1 pair of slippers, 1 pair of rain boots, 1 pair  of water shoes; tween/teens 2 business type dress shoes
          🧣🧤👙 Accessories:

*1 play beanie/headband, 1 nice beanie/headband, 1 play/farm gloves, 1 nice gloves,  1 scarf, 2 swimsuits w/ cover-up, 1 hat (beach/working outside) (kept in a separate bag with everyone else's) 

*pictured from left to right JClan 7 & 8 2017*

Babies & Potty Training Children: 

     Babies (birth-18mns):
          👶 Clothes:

*3 church outfits (seasonal), 6 everyday outfits (seasonal), 10 onesies (long sleeve for winter, short sleeve for summer), 2 jeans, 5 pair socks (winter or walkers only), 4 pjs (prefer button-up footies; light cotton for summer, fleece for winter), 1 jacket (winter), 1 pullover/hoodie (winter)
          🧤👙Accessories:
*2 gloves, 2 beanies, 2 SPF body swimsuits (only for 3mn+ in summer), SPF hat (all year round),  (kept in a separate bag with everyone else's)
*6 flannel blankets (up to 10mns), 4 bibs (10mns+) (kept in baskets in the living/dining area)

          🎒 🚙Diaper Bag and Van:
*2 onesies, 1 pair socks, 1 bib, 2 flannel blankets, 1 mama shirt (back-up)
         🥿👟 Shoes:
*1 church, 1 tennis shoes, 1 pair of sandals, 1 pair of water shoes 1 pair of slippers, 1 farm boot (shoes for walkers only)

     Toddlers (18mns-3yo):
           👚👕Hang-up Clothes:

*3 church outfits, 3 nice shirts, 3 t-shirts (seasonal), 2 nice shorts/skirts/slacks (season & boy or girl depends on which), 2 jeans, 1-2 pullovers (boys, winter) or cardigans (girls, all seasons), 1 nice hoodie  (winter), 1 nice jacket (winter), 1 play jacket (winter), 2 casual dresses (girls, seasonal)
           🧺Fold-up Clothes:

*4 play outfits, 1 play hoodie (winter), 4 plastic underwear (outings/nighttime while potty training), 10 underwear (around the house while potty training), 4 pjs (seasonal), 2 undershirts (boy or girl appropriate), 7 socks, 2 tights (girls; winter), 1 hose (girls; summer), 3 leggings (girls; long for winter, shorts for summer; for under dresses or under jeans for really cold days), 2-3 thermals (boys; winter, for under clothes for really cold days)
           🥿👟Shoes:
*1 church/boots/sandals (girl/boy appropriate), 1 pair of water shoes, 1 tennis shoes, 1 pair of slippers, 1 farm boots
           🧣👙🧤Accessories:

*1 nice beanie, 1 play beanie, 1 nice gloves, 1 play gloves, 2 swimsuits w/ SPF shirt(boys)/cover up (girls), 1 hat (beach/outside) (kept in a separate bag with everyone else's)
           🎒🚙Outings Bag and Van:

*1 nice outfit with plastic underwear and socks, 1 bib