Choosing a Kids' Wardrobe: A Parent's Checklist

Think about the next few years, not just today

Children's clothes get bigger and their belongings change quickly — baby clothes give way to school uniforms, books and sports kit. Choose a wardrobe you can reconfigure: cube-style units let you swap hanging space, shelves and drawers as needs change.

Let your child reach it

Low, open shelves and doors that are easy to open help children put away their own clothes and toys — a small daily habit that saves parents a lot of tidying. Keep everyday items on the lower levels and seasonal or spare items up top.

Foldable plastic vs wooden

Foldable plastic wardrobes are light, wipe clean easily, resist damp, and assemble without tools — practical for rented homes and for families who move. Bright printed doors make them popular with children.

Wooden wardrobes are heavier and longer-lasting, but cost more, are hard to move, and are less forgiving of spills and crayons. Many families start with a foldable unit and switch to wood when children are older.

Safety checklist

• Stand it on a level floor and keep heavy items on the bottom shelves.
• Teach children not to climb on the shelves or hang on the doors.
• For tall units, consider securing the top to the wall.
• Check for smooth edges and doors that close without pinching fingers.
• Keep it away from windows and heaters.

How many cubes do you need?

A rough guide: a 6-cube unit suits a toddler's clothes or a toy-and-book cupboard; 12 cubes cover a school-age child's everyday clothes; 16 cubes or more work for sharing between siblings or storing clothes and footwear together.

Keeping it tidy

• Label cubes with pictures for younger children: socks, T-shirts, toys.
• Do a quick clear-out each school term and pass on outgrown clothes.
• Wipe plastic panels with a damp cloth and mild soap.