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Outfits for toddlers/preschoolers make their debut this
season with a preppy look for boys and everything pink
for girls Toy Tips searched for styles and designs that
fit well, wash well, and wear well. All of the selections
in our guide were worn by children and needed to pass
our standards of the triple wash/wear test.
All clothes were laundered in the Whirlpool Duet washer
and dryer (for Toy Tips review, click
here) Because children tend to get lots of
dirt, grass stains and mud on their clothes, for our
research, we used WISK Sport liquid detergent for washing.
We found the detergent did remove grass and stains and
it left a nice scent without discoloring or fading.
($4.99 for an 80 ounce bottle) Wisk.com offers stain-removing
tips should parents need assistance with a tough stain.
We tested close to 50 kids’ shirts, pants, shorts,
dresses, shoes, overalls and skirts and below is our
list of TTT (Toy Tips tested and trusted styles) for
the spring season.
Boys: The trendy preppy look is in!
For the complete outfit, we paired the Land’s End
Polo in Red ($14.50) and Land’s End Khaki Pants
($25) (sears.com)
with Sebago Riverside shoes ($50) (sebago.com).
Sebago shoes are well-made leather shoes that come in
a variety of styles. We found them to fit comfortably
and match casual, dressy and sporty outfits. The Land’s
End clothes washed well and dirt stains in the pants
were easily removed.
Boys like lots of pockets in their shorts and pants.
We found that the more pockets there were, the happier
a child was to discover them! The best styles we found
were from Lee Jeans (leejeans.com)
The Lee Pipes Shredder Short ($25) in khaki has front,
leg and back pockets. The Lee Pipes Utility Zip Off
Jean ($21) in dark stone features zip off legs to adjust
for warm and cool weather conditions. Both feature the
Sure-2-Fit Technology, which offers a hidden adjustable
waistband for a growing boy. We paired both with a Covington
royal plaid short sleeve cotton shirt ($12) (sears.com)
and a pair of TEVA Inversion sandals in Planet Navy
($40) (teva.com).
Round House bib-overalls ($15-$18) (round-house.com)
fit generously and the material is strong for rough
play in the grass and dirt. They washed well keeping
their shape and style. Features include adjustable suspenders
and rust-resistant hardware. They are available in 4
different patterns. This company has traditionally made
workwear in America for over 100 years and these children’s
bibs are part of their playwear line. We paired these
with a Jungle Moc. ($30) from merrell.com.
These shoes are easy to slip a little foot into. The
NUBUCK leather material can brush clean and matches
jeans and khaki pants. This shoe features a sticky rubber
bottom for traction.
The CWD Kids Catalog (cwdkids.com)
features a pair of short john pajamas ($24 or 2/ $38)
that have short sleeves and short bottoms. Made of 100%
cotton, this light sleepwear is designed with fire trucks.
We found these to fit true to size and snugly for safety
reasons
Girls: The trend is all about the color pink, stripes
and flowers
Hanna
Andersson uses cotton fabric, which is especially
soft to the touch. There were many styles from this
manufacturer that we reviewed and we found that
after washing, the colors retained their bold and
bright appearance. The playdress ($34) with matching
shorts ($18) in bright pink and tangelo stripes
(hannaandersson.com)
can be either an indoor or outdoor play outfit and
features eye-popping colors.
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Lee
Jeans Capri (peony) ($20) is a pink pant with zigzag
embroidered flowers on the front of the bottom left
leg and the back of the bottom right. (sears.com)
Paired with a David Kirks Sunny Patch 100% cotton striped
cardigan sweater ($11.99) that features a hidden snap
front (target.com)
and a Covington flower blue tee ($8) (sears.com),
the look is colorful and very pink! We matched this
outfit with a Dora The Explorer Pink and White Sport
Sling ($14.99) from (payless.com)
We paired a Mayfair Kids pink and white checked dress
($15) (sears.com)
with Payless Strawberry Shortcakes shoes ($14.99) (payless.com)
that feature arch support cushioning and extra toe room
durability for walking comfort. This outfit is cool
for warmer days.
For a dressier look, the pink floral bubble ($44) from
the CWD Kids Catalog (cwdkids.com)
is a short leg linen/rayon outfit that is perfected
with a summer hat.
Shoes:
On our search for durable, comfortable and appropriately
fitting shoes, we found Payless (payless.com)
to have the trendiest styles with licensed characters
includes Strawberry Shortcake, Dora The Explorer, Bob
The Builder and Spiderman (June). All shoes were tested
for correct fit, comfort and durability and most feature
the SmartFit™ technology which is engineered for
proper arch support, advanced heel-to-toe cushioning,
enhanced durability, flexibility, and extra toe room
for growing feet.
Quest Products Puzzle Toes: ($ 12.97) (questproductsinc.com)
These new shoes teach a child left from right and are
designed with a blue dinosaur for boys and a purple
dinosaur for girls so children can easily identify which
shoe belongs on which foot based on the design of the
dinosaur. They do not have strings and feature Velcro
closure straps.
Shoes that grow with a child: New Inchworm shoes ($40-$60)
(inchwormshoe.com).
Using Ifit Technology, once a parent pushes a release
button on the heel of the shoe, the shoe expands from
the middle and locks in place. The shoe will adjust
by half sizes and can adjust up to one full size. This
can be a money saver for parents as a child can wear
this shoe for 2-3 sizes.
Bobux shoes: Imported from New Zealand, these soft washable
leather uppers have a suede leather sole. Ideal for
early walkers, this is the ONLY shoe we found that a
toddler can not easily pull off! The elastic ankle technology
keeps the foot in place. Toes are not restricted and
the material allows the foot to breathe keeping little
feet comfortable. Sizes are available from newborn to
4X. There are a variety of styles and designs. For our
research we tested the USA Star and Navy Train ($27.95)
(bobuxusa.com)
which can be machine washed and air-dryed Safety
Clothing:
Play is Safe (playitsafe.com)
is a line of reflective clothing for outdoor wear to
provide passing traffic and pedestrians with a bright
visual that children are present. The colors are fluorescent
and we especially liked this for children who play outside
in their yards at sundown and for families who take
evening walks. Choose from tees ($8.99), and shoelaces
($1.99).
Petit Patapon (petitpatapon.com)
provides clothing with built in UV protection and pieces
that are lighted scented with Citronella as a mosquito
repellent. There are many cute styles for both boys
and girls that are offered in a range of different prices.
Swim Wetsuit: CWD Kids Catalog (cwdkids.com)
features a royal swim wet suit that has 99% UV protection.
($24) Made of nylon and spandex, the fabric is breathable.
We paired this suit with royal TEVA Psyclone Ultramarine
sandals ($25) (teva.com)
The sandal is made with zinc technology to prevent the
growth of odor causing bacteria and fungus, protecting
a child’s feet,
Floating Swimwear: These swimsuits ($44.95) feature
built in flotation devices keeping a child’s body
upright for buoyancy. Available in various designs for
both boys and girls, these provide an extra safety precaution
while a child is in the water. Adults must be present
while a child swims. These suits need to be hand washed
in cold water. (floatingswimwear.com)
Remember, kids grow fast. When purchasing clothes, keep
in mind how many times your child will wear an outfit
when you consider the price. Reduced price merchandise
on name-brand manufacturers including OshKosh and Hanna
Andersson can be found at 20- 65% less at www.PremiumOutlets.com.
This site is not an online shopping site but will direct
shoppers to physical outlet shopping centers throughout
the Uinited States!
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