In Fashion, Reviews / Sponsored

Growing Boys and Clothes

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

I love having boys. They are enormous fun and like to run, jump, climb (fall), skid and generally just enjoy boyish fun. This is what boys do however finding clothes that look good, fit well and can survive the type of pressure that boys put on them isn’t as easy as it sounds.

The problem I have had in the past is that firstly, they are growing so quickly! Kieran is now a lanky 7 year old with a tiny waist and long legs. Taylor is 2.5yrs old and still tall for his age, stockier on top but again with a narrow waist. Finding kid’s clothes that fit properly, wash well and looks nice has been a bit of a battle at times to be honest.

My first mistake was to buy dirt cheap. I figure cheap and cheerful for rough and tumble and repeated washing would wear ok and when they were done it wouldn’t be a big deal to throw them away and start again. I underestimated the number of holes through knees and how shapeless items became very quickly when going for bargain basement prices.

Buying top branded clothing for kids this age doesn’t appeal to me either. While they might look great I’ve learned from bitter experience that my kids can annihilate such clothing ridiculously quickly which irks somewhat when I’ve paid over the odds to ensure a good fit etc.

Don’t get me wrong, the boys aren’t really little ruffians but they play hard, they paint, colour in, stick and enjoy a wide range of activities that boys (and girls) love which result in mess.

My solution to finding clothes that fit well (both of mine need adjustable waists and slim leg for a start, Kieran is super-skinny but long in the body too which is fun for tops and t-shirts), look great and last more than five minutes is to buy what I call mid-brand clothing.

Mid-brand to me is affordable yet doesn’t compromise on quality; K and Co are an example of a place that sells mid-range and are someone who I’ve ordered from before.

Balancing quality, style and budget isn’t as easy as it sounds but after some trial and error I have found a few stores online and off which tick all of the boxes.

Now I’ve sorted my clothing issues more or less I need to get to the next item on my list…. How to protect cream carpets from boys (and husbands!).

Not the easiest kids to clothe at times!
Not the easiest kids to clothe at times!

 

 

In Reviews / Sponsored

Be Prepared – Stocking Up The Medicine Cupboard

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

You don’t have to have been a Brownie or a Scout to get into the habit of being prepared, especially when you have kids! I’ve found through bitter experience that you will always need a certain gel, cream or medicine at 5pm on a Sunday when the chemists and all of the supermarkets have closed. I don’t keep a mini pharmacy in my cupboard but do always ensure that I have general and seasonal must-haves in.

Using an Online Chemist  makes it easy to search and buy (often cheaper than in high street pharmacies) the things that you need or are likely to need. With two boys who *touch wood* do tend to avoid sickness fairly well I have still been caught out in the past so now keep staples in stock.

Warmer Months

  • Calpol or an own brand alternative. I’ve found this invaluable to be honest.
  • Cough and cold remedies. Not just for the boys either, a cold is a cold but sometime some Flu Plus for us or some Vicks for the boys is needed to get through a particularly nasty snotty stage.

Summer

  • Sun care (high factor for us!).
  • Bite relief (“things” love to feed on me especially!).
  • Travel sweets (T seems to have developed a bit of car sickness!).

All Year Round

  • Piriton. Taylor has very sensitive skin and is allergic to certain antibiotics amongst other things. Nothing major however we always keep this in just in case as it helped a lot when he had the allergic reaction to penicillin and looked like he has measles.
  • Calpol / Nurofen for kids –  we only use these if we need to but when the thermometer starts beeping at us, we need to.
  • All things first aid, we have boys after all and they love to run, jump and climb…. and fall.
  • Panadol – for us, I like the blue ones (extra?) and can’t take other painkillers so these are worth having in.
  • Magic Cream – (aloe vera gel), this soothes bumps and bruises and works nearly as well as Mummy and Daddy kisses on small boy hurts.

Being able to buy these things online means nothing is forgotten, it comes direct to your door and you always have what you need in. The Online Prescription idea appeals to me too, I might just check this out as some point as I have a regular prescription every month.

My question for you all today is…  What is your medicine cupboard must have?

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*This post has been written in collaboration with the mentioned business yet is true to my own thoughts, feelings and experiences.

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