3-4 Years Kids Clothes Checklist: What Every Parent Needs

3-4 Years Kids Clothes Checklist: What Every Parent Needs

The preschool year is a crucial one for your little one to practice their skills for school readiness. You’d be surprised by how many of those are liked to clothing!

It’s still likely you’ll be spending a lot of time out and about exploring with your child and you may now have ditched the pram in favour of walking/ bike or scooter. Having the correct outdoor gear can mean the difference between a happy trip and a cold and grumpy little person. When looking at sizes for this age it’s important to remember that 4 years alone (rather than 3-4 years) means ‘up to’ 4.

Children at this age can be particular about what they wear, renting allows you to keep up with their current favourite themes and colours. 

Layer up for those long (or short!) walks out

If you haven’t already started potty training, now will be the time in preparation for school. Choosing clothes that your child can easily take on and off themselves can make all the difference. This may be a phase to limit dungarees and long dresses, in favour of joggers or leggings. Croc style shoes are an excellent option to send to preschool when potty training, as they can be quickly rinsed and dried. No-one likes to be presented with soggy shoes that need drying for the next day.

As a mum of two, and founder of a baby clothes business, I’ve learned a few things about dressing babies and young children. Here's my 3-4 years toddler clothes checklist and some tips to make it all less daunting. 

If you’re looking for an easy and sustainable way to dress your toddler, renting kids clothes from Borro can be a lifesaver - especially when you’re not sure what will actually work for your little one.

Quick 3-4 Years Toddler Clothes Checklist

    • 5-8 tops (a mix of long and short sleeve depending on the season)
    • 3 sets of pyjamas
    • 8-12 bottoms (lots of spares to send to nursery for potty training)
    • 3 cardigans or jumpers (zip ups and cardis are great for nursery. Look out for jumpers with poppers or buttons at the neck)
    • Pants (lots!)
    • 1-2 hats (a warmer one for outdoors if it’s cold, or a sunhat)
    • 1 coat or jacket (to suit the season)
    • 1 snowsuit/ puddlesuit/ waterproof trousers (snowsuit if winter, puddlesuit for the rest of the year. You may prefer waterproof trousers, particularly when potty training)
    • 2 sleeping bags (1.5 tog in summer, 2.5 tog in winter – if you haven’t moved on to a duvet)
    • Shoes and wellies (Croc type shoes are great to send to nursery during potty training, as they can be quickly rinsed and dried. Little feet are developing so getting them measured will get the the best fit)
    • Socks (ones with grippy pads are great for hard slippy indoor floors)
    • Mittens (for outdoors if it’s cold)
    • Swimwear (look out for UV protection and swim hats) 

      See our recommended 2-3 years kids wardrobe for everything you need.

    See our complete guide to 2-3 year toddler clothes

    At this age your toddler is exploring the world through play, so you will find their wardrobe needs to keep up with their mess (along with the washing). Start off with the minimum and you can always buy/Borro more if you feel you need to. See our recommended 3-4 years preschool wardrobe for everything you need.

    Preschool clothes

    If your child is spending time are preschool or with a childminder, they’ll be doing lots of lovely activities that involve getting messy or dirty (a plus that you don’t need to clean up afterwards!) It is likely however that their clothes will not be kept as clean as you may be able to achieve at home. Sending your child in items you don’t mind getting dirty and shoes that go on easily will help you and them on their nursery days. Many parents find it easier to have dedicated nursery items - a hat and wellies that stay in their bag for example.

    3-4 years getting messy
    Be prepared for your little one to get very messy at nursery!

    What other parents overlook 

    Now is the time to promote their 'school readiness'. Keys skills include using the bathroom independently, and getting in and out of outdoor gear. Preschool will teach children many of these skills to support their transition. You can help by making clothing choices that allow them to getting dressed and undressed by themselves, and by practicing at home. It's also a wonderful boost to their self esteem! Rip tape shoes and high quality zips or poppers on coats can make all the difference for their little hands. 'The Coat Flip' method is a great way for them to put on their coat independently.

    3-4 years warm layers
    Kids often refuse to wear their coat so a warm fleece can be a good compromise!


    What Borro parents rented for 3-4 years

    Top 5 most popular product types

    Top 5 most rented products

    1.      Sweatshirt

    1. Choo choo sweatshirt

    2.       Zip up sweatshirt

    2. Rainbow heart zippy

    3.       Long sleeved top

    3. Skateboard long sleeved top

    4.       Zip up hoodie

    4. Dino fleece hoodie

    5.       Joggers

    5. Knee patch joggers - green

     

    Average Borro order for 3-4 years = 7 items

     

    Why Renting Kids Clothes Makes Sense

    As a mum, I know how quickly kids outgrow their clothes. Renting clothes from Borro offers so many benefits:

    • Sustainable: Reduce waste and choose a more eco-friendly option for your child from the beginning.
    • Cost-effective: No need to spend a fortune on clothes your child will only wear a handful of times.
    • Convenient: Save time searching for clothes you like from different shops or on Vinted, plus no hassle of dealing with outgrown clothes – just send everything back for free!

    Final Thoughts

    Putting together a preschool wardrobe doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on the essentials—like t shirts, joggers, leggings and layers—and considering options like renting from Borro, you’ll be well-prepared.

    Remember, every child is different, so don’t stress if you find yourself needing more (or less) than what’s on this checklist. With Borro it’s easy to rent more, or just return things and stop paying. 

    Explore sustainable and practical kids clothes rentals at Borro.

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    Receive Credit For Your Unwanted Clothes

    Tired of the endless cycle of kids outgrowing their clothes and wondering what to do with them? Our Sort Out Sack is your easy way to clear space and earn credit!

    Receive £5 Borro credit guaranteed for every full bag we receive. PLUS £5 Borro credit for every organic item in excellent condition

    Get Credit For Clothes

    Questions?

    Why Borro clothes?

    Renting means less waste, more wardrobe flexibility and no more piles of outgrown clothes. It’s a smarter, more sustainable way to dress your little ones.

    With Borro, you get high-quality kidswear without the commitment, just what you need, when you need it. Helping you save time, save money, and save the planet.

    What about stains?

    Don't panic! Let us worry about the stains. Stain insurance is included. Obviously it's best to prevent stains if you can, or treat them as soon as possible. But we will never charge you.

    If the garment can't be saved, it will be upcycled or recycled. Nothing ever goes to landfill, and we'll never charge you.

    Subscription & exchanges

    Subscription

    All the clothes are individually priced and there's no minimum amount or set subscription - we're flexible!

    Rent as many/few things as you like and you'll see at checkout what your monthly subscription will be. (If you want us to pick out a coordinated bundle of 10 items for you, it's £29/month).

    Exchanges

    We know little ones grow as fast as the weather changes! You don't need to return your previous order to order new clothes, so simply send back items whenever you no longer have a need for them, and add any new items to your subscription, by adding them to your basket and checking out.

    Delivery & returns

    Delivery

    Your order will be packed and dispatched the next working day. Delivery takes 2-3 working days.

    Returns

    Pop them inside the bag/box they came in, attach the free pre-paid returns label, then drop off at your nearest Evri ParcelShop.

    We only include one pre-paid returns label per order, so if you choose to send just some of an order back and the rest later, you will need to pay for the postage of the second return. 

    Once we've received your items we will amend your subscription so you only pay for what you've got.

    We recommend returning items 4-5 days before your subscription renews in order to allow enough time for delivery and processing to avoid your next monthly payment going out. If you're a few days late, you can always cancel online (use the link in the order confirmation email). As long as we receive the clothes within the next few days, that's fine.

    Sustainability

    At Borro we maximise the use of each item of clothing by providing a service that ensures it's well maintained, repaired and enjoyed by as many families as possible.

    So if a garment is used by 6 different users, the global warming potential is 49% less, with a CO2e (kg) per user of 1.18, instead of 2.29.

    All Frequently Asked Questions