to want DD's winter tights to not shrink and go crispy after 2-3 washes?

[fiveisanawfullybignumber]

Why can't all manufactures use a reasonable %age of elastane in little girls cotton tights? I now find myself scanning the packs like a slimmer does with food.
Some supermarkets and well known mail order companies (and not just the cheaper ones) feel it's ok to only use 3% elastane, said tights now look like they've been frozen and won't defrost. Debenhams Blue Zoo range however have 30%, they wash like a dream but don't come in plain colours and cost about £6 a pair!
OK, rant over, but AIBU to want more elastane, or should I just crawl back into my winter burrow and hibernate with my DD's crispy tights?

[belgo]

This is the problem, you get what you pay for, I know, I've bought tights for dd1 for one pound for three pairs from Asda, and dd2 inherits them after two washes because they are suddenly too small for dd1.

[LastTrainToLapland]

Snap!

I get so frustrated with the stupid tights. I try not to wash them too often but that's hard with a very active 3 year old. Winter tights should last for at least ONE winter, non? Too much to ask for?

[belgo]

well if you're like me and pay one pound for a pack of three then yes it is too much to ask for!

[LastTrainToLapland]

Actually I don't pay 1 quid for a pack. I did do that in dd's first winter, then thought it was a better idea to spend good money on tights. Last winter I tried M&S, Next, H+M, even Zara. I can't afford the top quality range (£6-8 per single pair) but I paid up to £8 for a pack of 2. No joy .

This year I have a mixture of the mid-range tights that I save for special occasions and cheapo Asda tights that I use for nursery, park etc. and which get thrown away after the first or second wash.

[belgo]

what about hand washing them?

[FimbleHobbs]

YANBU

FWIW my tights tips are:

Never buy white or cream
Never tumble dry them
When they shrink (or DD's legs grow), hang them up with large potatoes in the toes to stretch them a bit

[helpYOUiWILL]

glad i have boys........

[MrsBadger]

Gap cabled ones - they cost a fortune but are the only ones that go the distance ime

luckily dd is quite happy in trousers so I usu just buy cheap tights for one-offs eg parties and accept they won't wash.
3 pairs cream Primark will do all impending parties and Christmas day for £1.

[fiveisanawfullybignumber]

Glad it's not just me then. As for hand washing, fraid no time, I've 4 DC's and a 5th due in May, and I work part time.
I wouldn't be quite so miffed if I hadn't found this really good make. But even got some (2 prs for £9 or so) from v well respected childrens mail order company and they are useless as well!
Think I feel an email rant coming on to a few companies.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

Rant away, you may get a refund or some sort of compo from them. It's not just children's tights that are crap. I got a pair of knittted cotton ones from a big supermarket. They cost the equivalent of 20 pounds. I struggled to get the bastards on (being 5'10 and manymany stones) there's a lot of me. The packaging said they'd fit me. Nothing beats walking around with a gusset near your knees for glamour. Needless to say they shrank after the first wash and ended up in the bin.

[Bucharest]

John Lewis here, but in the after Christmas sale.
Asda are OK actually, for bog standard.

[mysteryfairy]

I always buy my DD designer tights for this very reason. I have had success with -
pampolina, catamini, chipie and (although these no longer exist) Oilily.

All cost around £12-£20 full price so I can often be found rooting through the baskets in the sales of the local designer shops for children in order to secure them at 50%+ off.

I think buying cheaper ones is a false economy as you have to buy so many more.

DDs tights do tend to be rather lurid though - all these makes seem to feel they have to do something vivd to justify the pricetag.

[lanismum]

I detest tights for the same reason, and the fact that my girls rip them, dd2 does have a gap pair which are ok, but under dresses/skirts/shorts they wear leggings, warmer, better fit, and a bit more hardwearing....