Hellobee Boards

Does she care about clothes? I'd tell her you're going to stop buying "special" clothes until she can treat them nicely. If it really became a problem, I'd even possibly go so far as to take her favorite/nicest items out of rotation - buy some very bland (solid color/no design, even black/white/grey) tees/leggings she wouldn't like very much if you need to - until she stops yanking on them. It's likely a nervous/bored habit that needs to be broken at this point.

I'm with you on the annoyance - mistreatment of clothes, toys, etc. - even though they technically "belong" to LO - annoys the heck out of me. I take time finding things I think my girls would like, looking for deals, etc., and can't stand destructive behavior.

My oldest DD destroyed a couple of things with paint/banana (don't ask) messing around with friends at school. I made a point of sending some truly hideous backup clothes for her, and stopped letting her wear her favorites to school for a little bit. She got the message

Maybe she needs something else to fidget/play with? You could get her a colorful chew bead/silicon necklace for her to play with, chew on, twist up, etc. and maybe she could fidget with that instead of her clothes.

@Bao: I have a Chewbeads branded one that my kids used to like to play with when I was baby wearing.

http://www.chewbeads.com/Juniorbeads_jewelry_for_kids_s/80.htm

i honestly just stopped buying nice things. otherwise, i was too frustrated. my in laws buy her nicer clothes and they get trashed the first time she puts them on. seriously, stains, etc.

Your last sentence is why we have "nice clothes" and "play clothes" ... most of her clothes are $3-$8 separates that I buy from Target, Old Navy and consignment. I have very low expectations for my 3 year old to be able to understand how to keep herself and her clothes clean.

@Bao: not much help but both my kids did all of those things - no idea why - I nagged- haha - they continued to do it - one day they just stopped