Alison’s Guide to Baby Socks

Alison’s Guide to baby socks

They fall off ALL the time.

And then they grow fast you almost can’t tell between the newborn size and the 9month size as they come through the laundry.

Then about older siblings? Can you tell 3T socks from 12 months?? 

Then they start walking on hard floors and slipping! Those babies need grippies on their socks. 

How to keep up and keep sane?? 

I’m here for you! I have 3 tips for managing baby socks. 

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1. Buy all white socks

I got this from my friend, Tara at House Peace. She runs a whole business on making your home and its things woork FOR you, not against you. “Your kids have enough fun stuff, socks don’t need to be one of them” isn’t she right?! yes, socks can be fun. But do they NEED to be fun?? Not in my book. 

Here’s the reason: when one sock is lost, you can match it with any other sock in the drawer. This is especially useful as they get older and get holes in them! But if you get those fun taco socks… it will only ever match its pair. 

2. Buy socks with the size/age printed on the bottom IN GRIPPIES

(you know, the stick lettering that keeps them from slipping. what do you call it?!) 

 When my dudes were small Old Navy had them a bulk packs – all white, ankle crew or lace edge, all with the size on the bottom in grips. They went away for a while by as of a Google search Jan 2023, they’re online!)

Children’s place also has multipack all white socks, but as of this writing they’re are no grips with the size on them. (But I have seen them in single pairs in store at some point)

Ok this is great for one kid. What about for siblings in different sizes?

I’ve got you, sister.

3. Alternate colors with every size

When there’s siblings in the mix, and more than 1, buy one set of socks for each kid and assign that size a color. Ie you have all 12m socks in white, get big brother all grey socks in 2T. Assigned colors should be different from the adjacent sizes.

Maybe this is easier with boys but I still maintain socks do not need to be fun – including all pink for girls! 

For my four boys we alternated colors by birth order white for the oldest, black, grey, white again for the youngest. Grips or no grips I could definitely tell the difference between the biggest and littlest socks. When the oldest needed new socks again, I would get grey.

Then, as you pass them down the system stays the same, you just purchase the correct alternative color for the oldest child.*

*This works VERY well until they have opinions about comfort and style. Then everything goes out the window and its madness. I still maintain all one color/brand per kid and not duplicating colors or brands. Currently in our house my oldest has black ankle socks from Hurley. My second oldest loves tube socks, my third has white ankle socks, and the youngest black ankle socks. 

Bonus!

4. Wash & dry socks in a lingerie bag.

You know those bags that keep delicates from getting tangled up in the washer? Keep two: one on the hamper as you’re dressing and undressing baby. Then throw that sucker in the wash on laundry day and they’ll forever say together. Keep one on each hamper and have a rotation.