Issue 25: A treasure trove of kids' clothing secrets
Shopping these days, our new event series, and skin-friendly bubbles
Last week, we shared a link to Samantha Darby’s excellent essay on the labor of managing kids’ clothing, and from the click-through rate, I’m guessing that resonated with many of you. I thought maybe I’d unload the part of my brain that manages the dozens of kids’ clothing sales emails in my inbox at any given moment. I hope this saves you some time.
Here’s how I think about shopping for my one-year-old and three-year-old these days, with a few guiding principles:
Secondhand and/or used clothing whenever I can, except for the obvious exceptions (training underwear for one). We also trade loads of hand-me-downs with family and friends.
Natural fabrics when possible, with flexibility for sunwear, swimsuits, outerwear, and that little bit of stretch in socks.
If my kids are wearing comfortable, clean, and weather-appropriate clothes, that’s a win. Sometimes (often?) that means my preschooler wears his pajama top to school and I don’t fight it.
As we’re publishing this in a time of Great Uncertainty, I’ve really appreciated fashion buyer Jennifer Cook’s perspective on tariffs and shopping small brands. She works in women’s retail, but so much of it applies to children’s clothing too.
Secondhand sources
Berkshire Baby in Great Barrington is worth crossing state lines. I’ve found Smalls Merino sets, Lovevery puzzles, Boden pinafores, and Reima rain suits here, all in great condition.
Parachute Kids reliably has the most fun selection with so many incredible prints and vintage designs. I’ve only shopped from them online but someday I’ll make it to their Brooklyn shop. Same with Owl Tree Kids.
More and more brands are bringing the resale market in-house like Hanna Andersson’s Hanna-Me-Downs, re(Nui) from Nui Organics, Patagonia Worn Wear, and rewear by Tea Collection. Love this development!
Poshmark’s saved search feature is helpful for specific brand/item/size combinations. I have ongoing “Hatley rain jacket” and “Roller Rabbit pajamas” saved searches in both kids’ sizes. Poshmark is also a treasure trove of vintage LL Bean and Misha & Puff sweaters. Noihsaf is also fun for browsing, Mercari is good too, but I mostly just miss Kidizen.
I love a clothing swap so much that I convinced Genevieve, Ashley, and the folks at The Spark of Hudson to host one with me this Sunday. We’ll have adult clothes along with all the kids’ stuff. Hope to see you there!
Local favorites
Mmoody for upcycled pants made in the Hudson Valley. Keep an eye out for restocks.
Rebus for owner Ivy’s window displays and sale bin treasures. I covet the Mini Rodini dog crossbody bag.
Like-Minded Objects for their mash-up pants made from vintage shirtsleeves
Basics
Burt’s Bees Baby for super-soft pajamas in unexpected prints (NB: they run long)
Young Days for easy, comfy pants and shorts
Primary for bright colors and stripes
Hanna Andersson for their very hardy double-knee sweatpants. HA will send you emails until the cows come home, but know that their Summer Sale and Black Friday Sale are the ones worth checking out
Carter’s Little Planet for most anything in their summery cotton gauze
First Peak for adventure-friendly clothes with UPF protection
Squid Socks for baby socks that really do stay on
Ten Little for hard-wearing shoes with a real attention to detail. Their shoeboxes double as size guides while the insole design helps toddlers differentiate between left and right.
Fun
Milk Teeth for animal prints that could still read as neutrals
Koko Momo for LA-made bottoms that morph from pants to shorts
Mugwort Mugwort for finds that you could pretend you thrifted
Pigeon Said Please for food-forward prints and to support a Canadian brand
Mochi Kids for cheery and charming graphic tees
All Small for a sweatshirt with a built-in belt bag
Winter Water Factory for a print library that covers all the top kid interests (and regular 40% off sales). The leggings aren’t as colorfast as the rest of their offering - skip those.
Seasonal
SwimZip for sunsuits and rashguards that spare us from sunscreen-related meltdowns
Mama Owl for their wool sale once winter’s over. Hurry!
Chasing Windmills for merino long- and short-johns that last two consecutive winters (or summers) of wear
$$$
Willkie’s for Peter Pan collars and ditsy florals
Garbo and Friends for sweet plaids and knits
Danrie for an old-fashioned, smocked-romper sensibility
Oso & Me for their versatile Bowie pants and anything in their plush-but-airy Float Jersey knit
Marketplaces
Maisonette for many of the brands I’ve listed above, all in one place. Their cart abandonment promos are great and often go up to 20% off if you’re patient.
Smallable for the dream European department store experience. Order and then serve your kid goûter, fika, or hagelslag.
The miscellaneous items that make it easier
These storage bins help me keep all the off-season, too small, or too big clothes straight. I also have a friend who saves diaper boxes for the corresponding size of clothes. Sustainable and time-saving!
I use these drawer dividers to keep all the bibs and tiny socks organized.
It took me far too long to realize that if I had clothing stamps and labels made with just our last name, I could use them for both kids.
Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater spray is as good as you’ve heard. It’s given many a white onesie a second life in our house.
-Maddie
Circle Up
After our women’s circle last month, we heard you loud and clear: more of that, please. We’re thrilled to announce a new six-month-long Women's Circle Series with Becca Piastrelli in Ghent, NY.
From spring to autumn, we'll gather on Sunday mornings to remind ourselves that we were never meant to do this alone. In this nurturing space, you're invited to come exactly as you are (even if that means you barely slept the night before) and circle up with us. Throughout the series, you'll have the space to connect with yourself and with each other.
Location: Ghent, NY (address will be provided after signup)
Dates: May 18, June 22, July 20, August 24, September 14, and October 12
Time: 9am - 12pm
Cost: $380 for the series, with a split payment plan available
To keep this series cozy and intimate, signups will be capped at 10 participants. If you’re unable to make it to a particular date or two but are drawn to join, we think the series is still worth the commitment. Join us!
What We’re Reading
[Ashley] - I’m back from France and experiencing that feeling of dissonance as you re-enter your everyday from the arrested reality of vacation abroad. I’m trying to hold onto the curiosity and appreciation for other ways of thinking, living, existing. In an attempt to stay a little outside of my bubble, I’m starting Rough Translation, a NPR podcast that explores how the same topics are talked about differently around the world. On my weekly Amtrak trip to the city, I’m cueing up an old but appropriate episode, “Mom in Translation”.
[Genevieve] - While a recommendation of Dr. Seuss is not groundbreaking, the Classic Case of Dr. Seuss 20-book set has had exceptional staying power in our home this year. Some favorites have been the B-sides, such as Ten Apples Up On Top and The Sneetches and Other Stories.
[Maddie] - Our friend and fellow Columbia County parent Caitie Hilverman has started a newsletter, All My Dead & Living Things. A data scientist by training and a Hudson native, Caitie weaves her experiences together in her most recent post on the housing crisis in Hudson. It’s easy right now to focus on the national political scene, and Caitie grounds us in our local community with thoughtful ways to invest in its future.
Our Picks
[Ashley] - My daughter was with my blessing of a mother-in-law while we were away. A check engine light sent her to a dealership in Pittsfield, so she made an adventure of it. Apparently, the Children’s Library at the Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield’s public library) is amazing?! They had Teddy’s Pizza for lunch, and Aubrey’s heart and stomach were full. Though I love our very own Hudson library, sometimes an adventure across state lines keeps a rainy Saturday exciting.
[Genevieve] - If your child – or inner child – loves bubbles as much as mine does, you may appreciate the Spike Skin-Happy Botanical Bubbles made with coconut oil and gentle on sensitive skin. Plus the bubble blower creates a giant cloud of magical tiny bubbles with one easy lungful. We’ve already ordered a refill of the bubble soap (insider tip: I found the bubble kit at Hawthorne Valley Farm Store for less than the price listed online).
[Maddie] - These are the two no-recipe recipes that have been saving our family dinners recently. Watching my 10-month-old wield a chicken drumstick like she’s at a Ren Faire will make me laugh every time.
Yogurt chicken: Marinate chicken pieces in a generous scoop of yogurt, olive oil, s&p, and your choice of seasoning (garlic powder, lemon zest, coriander, smoked paprika, whatever). Bake at 375° and then blast under the broiler on high for a couple minutes.1
Black beans: Peel and roughly chop an onion, a carrot, and a couple garlic cloves. Rinse 2 cups or so of dried beans (no soaking required) and add to a pot along with the vegetables and garlic. Cover with water, salt with abandon, and simmer for 1.5-2 hours, topping up the water and checking for tenderness when you remember.
Working Together
In this particularly consumerism-heavy issue, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend Goods Unite Us, an app (iOS, Android) that shares data on corporate political donations to help inform our choices as consumers.
We’re signing up for the Moms Next Door project, a six-month pilot with virtual workshops and toolkits aimed to equip parents for taking action in their communities.
In the Neighborhood
We live in the Mid-Hudson Valley and we’re keeping tabs on these (mostly family-friendly) events near us. If there’s another event you’d like us to share, please send it our way!
Mondays - Wiggles and Words (for 0-6 months) at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Mondays - Songs & Stories at Ulster Public Library, Ulster
Mondays and Fridays - Tunes and Tales at the Red Hook Library, Red Hook
Tuesdays - Storytime with Robbie at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Wednesdays - Runs with Return Run Club, Hudson
Thursdays - Music & Movement Storytime at the Hudson Area Library, Hudson
Thursdays - Haema pop-up at Return Brewing, Hudson
Fridays - Preschool Story Time at Ulster Public Library, Ulster
Saturdays until late April - Hudson Indoor Winter Market, Hudson
Saturdays until June - Children’s Workshops (5+) at Art Omi, Ghent
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Daily Until Sunday, April 13 - Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, Various
Friday, April 11 - Sunday, April 13 - Easter Egg Hunt at the Waterfront, Kingston
Saturday, April 12 - Lava Yoga in the Return Taproom, Hudson
Saturday, April 12 - Clothing Swap and Stitch at Maison Après, Kingston
Saturday, April 12 - Spring Egg Hunt at Forsyth Park, Kingston
Saturday, April 12 - Public Sail Adventures at Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston
Saturday, April 12 - Giulio Cesare rehearsal viewing at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Saturday, April 12 - Story & Craft with Stephanie Seales at Starr Library, Rhinebeck
Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13 - Quinnie's Passover Seder, Hudson
Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13 - Spring Party at Play Haven, Kingston
Sunday, April 13 - 🌼 Spring Swap with The Soft Spot and The Spark of Hudson 🌼, Hudson
Sunday, April 13 - Earth Fest at The Ashokan Center, Olivebridge
Sunday, April 13 - Easter Egg Hunt at Del’s Roadside, Rhinebeck
Sunday, April 13 - Easter Egg Hunt with the Fire Department, Red Hook
Sunday, April 13 - Indigenous History Walk with Wild Hudson Valley, Saugerties
Sunday, April 13 - SpringFest Street Fair, Nyack
Saturday, April 19 - Hop ‘Til We Drop Egg Hunt Party, Great Barrington
Saturday, April 19 - Easter Celebration at Arrowood Farms, Accord
Saturday, April 19 - Easter Egg Hunt at Del’s Roadside, Rhinebeck
Saturday, April 19 - Nationwide protests (we’ll share more details as we have them)
Sunday, April 20 - Egg Hunt at Stissing House, Pine Plains
Thursday, April 24 - Saturday, April 26 - Ever After Consignment Sale, Chatham
Saturday, April 26 - Blossom & Bloom - UHPP benefit dinner at Foreland, Catskill * ^
Saturday, April 26 - Independent Bookstore Day celebration at Oblong Books, Rhinebeck and Millerton
Saturday, April 26 - Ash Bark Basket Making Workshop, Hudson ^
Saturday, April 26 - Dutchess County Libraries Science Fair, Hopewell Junction
Saturday, April 26 - Mini-Horse Mania at FASNY, Hudson
Sunday, April 27 - Psychedelics in Perspective at Spark of Hudson, Hudson ^
Sunday, April 27 - Earth Day Celebration, Rhinebeck
Saturday, May 3 - Riverkeeper Sweep cleanup, Rhinecliff
Starting May 7 - Baby/Toddler & Me Yoga Series with A Tree Told Me, Chatham *
Saturday, May 10 - Sunday, May 11 - Basilica Farm & Flea Market, Hudson
Saturday, May 10 - Spring into Newburgh, Newburgh
Sunday, May 11 - Family Printmaking at Storm King, New Cornwall
Thursday, May 22 - Community Clean-Up with Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, Hudson
Friday, May 30 - Happiness in the Spotlight screening at Hudson Hall, Hudson
Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1 - Field + Supply Spring MRKT, Kingston
Saturday, May 31 - Kinderhook Makers Market, Kinderhook
Friday, June 20 - Sunday, June 22 - Mountain Jam Festival, Highmount
^ = for adults
* = will likely sell out, so book soon
If you marinate thin-sliced, boneless chicken breast, you can also bread the pieces with panko & almond flour for delicious, low-fuss chicken tenders. Flip about halfway through, and skip the broiling.
I miss Kidizen so much
I'm so excited you're hosting a clothing swap! I'm coming, and I'm bringing the good stuff. See you Sunday!