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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think no one should be buying new clothes for young kids?

280 replies

Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:10

With apps like vinted etc there really is no reason for parents to be buying new clothes for, say, under 8s. They wear them for about 5 minutes before they outgrow them, and there is SO much choice on vinted, even if you care about specific brands and style, you can get anything you want super cheap and in great condition. New clothes for kids is SO wasteful, and fast fashion, especially is massively contributing to the destruction of the planet. Not to mention forced child labour. AIBU to think new clothes for children under a certain age should be banned? (as if that’ll ever happen though). If more specifically children’s second-hand clothing shops started popping up I think it’d really help

OP posts:
VivIsBlonde · 10/05/2025 22:27

Matalan the other week was selling baby dresses for £2, no way would you get second hand stuff that cheap!
i absolutely hate charity shops, I can’t even walk through the door of some due to the smell!!!

UpJacksArseAndRoundTheCorner · 10/05/2025 22:27

Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:23

But it’s really worth that extra £1.10 is it? I’d much rather spend an extra quid not contributing to child slavery

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Primark don't even use child labour anymore so I doubt they're into child slavery?

Mandylovescandy · 10/05/2025 22:26

We have been lucky enough to get second hand stuff passed on from relatives and friends and the school operate a second hand system (have bought some new but mainly first year when I didn't realise I could borrow) so my DC have hardly ever had new clothes (though now I do get new underwear and have always had to get socks as they seem to get used/full of holes so quick). If I had to search charity shops and deal with vinted though I might not bother and find it more convenient to buy new.

Lemonz · 10/05/2025 22:25

4 is actually about the age my children started wearing out their clothes rather than outgrowing them.

Mydoglovescheese · 10/05/2025 22:24

@RoxietreesYou stated that your 4 year old has never had new clothes. Does this include shoes, socks and pants? I wouldn’t buy any of these secondhand for my children!

Original poster
Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:23

Coconutter24 · 10/05/2025 22:20

A shirt can be bought from primark for like £1.50 same for vinted but I have to pay minimum £2.40 postage on vinted plus a buyer fee

But it’s really worth that extra £1.10 is it? I’d much rather spend an extra quid not contributing to child slavery

OP posts:
Lemonz · 10/05/2025 22:23

They really don't last forever. My children do wear a lot of hand me downs and I pass on what makes it out unscathed, but it's very rare that I will get hand me down items for my first child (that have done one ior two cousins) and they'll still be OK once my second child has worn them too. They get extremely tatty. And they've been at that point worn for 4-5 years, not 5 minutes.

Second hand is great. Fourth hand not usually, unless for items that are not every day items, like party shirts or dresses etc.

Upsetbetty · 10/05/2025 22:22

Coconutter24 · 10/05/2025 22:20

A shirt can be bought from primark for like £1.50 same for vinted but I have to pay minimum £2.40 postage on vinted plus a buyer fee

This! It’s a total false economy really, and everyone is out to make money so the prices are ridiculous sometimes. I just buy new…

Original poster
Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:21

MidnightPatrol · 10/05/2025 22:15

Do you have the same view for adults, as I don’t see why the same rules shouldn’t apply

I think it’s slightly different for adults as we can keep something for decades, whereas a young child might grow out of something in 6 months. For adults I think it’s more about limited buying of new clothes, trying to get as much as possible second-hand and making quality, ethical choices and buying things that can be kept for many years. And no fast fashion. I think that would massively help.

OP posts:
UpJacksArseAndRoundTheCorner · 10/05/2025 22:21

Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:17

Why would I have this viewpoint if I bought my child new clothes?! Lol.
My 4 yo has never worn new clothes, apart from gifts from family and friends and underwear. Other than that everything’s second-hand and he’s a pretty stylish little lad

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If secondhand clothing is perfectly good, why does he need new underwear?

steff13 · 10/05/2025 22:21

Why is the MN solution to everything to "ban" it? People should be encouraged to buy second hand clothes as much as possible. But new clothes do still need to exist.

Coconutter24 · 10/05/2025 22:20

A shirt can be bought from primark for like £1.50 same for vinted but I have to pay minimum £2.40 postage on vinted plus a buyer fee

1SillySossij · 10/05/2025 22:20

What about all those people who work in the design, manufacture and distribution of clothing?

Chick981 · 10/05/2025 22:19

I used to buy on Vinted all the time but these days I really don’t find kids clothes much cheaper there!! By the time you’ve paid the buyer fee and postage it’s not any cheaper than getting a few cheap bits from Tesco.

I will always use Vinted if I’m looking for something pricier or specific bits for me, but for the kids most days I just buy new. I know it’s wasteful but I get items in better condition for less effort.

UpJacksArseAndRoundTheCorner · 10/05/2025 22:19

Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:14

Good point. Yes they’d run out one day wouldn’t they. Didn’t think that through completely 🤣. Cut down massively instead of ban would be a better option then!

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So go back to the child clothing ration books they had during the war?

Snorlaxo · 10/05/2025 22:19

Also has your child ever received clothing as a gift?

Sorry you’ve answered that.

Snorlaxo · 10/05/2025 22:17

Do you buy your child new shoes?

Original poster
Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:17

Worryabouteverything · 10/05/2025 22:12

Did you buy new clothes for your child.
Is this a case of do as I say but not what I do.

Why would I have this viewpoint if I bought my child new clothes?! Lol.
My 4 yo has never worn new clothes, apart from gifts from family and friends and underwear. Other than that everything’s second-hand and he’s a pretty stylish little lad

OP posts:
Blackcountrychik83 · 10/05/2025 22:15

Kids clothes get stained and look tatty really quickly so after they’ve been handed down a few times they don’t always look in the best condition. I shop in charity shops a lot and there’s hardly any kids clothes in the charity shops . Some are literally a tiny rail .

MidnightPatrol · 10/05/2025 22:15

Do you have the same view for adults, as I don’t see why the same rules shouldn’t apply

Original poster
Roxietrees · 10/05/2025 22:14

Whenindoubthugitout · 10/05/2025 22:11

So if no one ever ever buys new clothes - where do the ones on vinted come from?

Good point. Yes they’d run out one day wouldn’t they. Didn’t think that through completely 🤣. Cut down massively instead of ban would be a better option then!

OP posts:
YoungSoak · 10/05/2025 22:13

Never is a bit extreme. Sometimes I need something specific so I buy new but I always try to get it second hand first

Changingplace · 10/05/2025 22:13

Octavia64 · 10/05/2025 22:12

What about school uniform?

it can’t all be second hand.

Why can’t school uniform be second hand?

Upsetbetty · 10/05/2025 22:13

No i can’t,I don’t like second hand clothing at all sorry I just can’t, they smell different, they feel different, they are misshapen…even after washing and I feel it’s just a complete waste of money then as they can’t be worn or returned.

Snorlaxo · 10/05/2025 22:13

I would only make my kids wear second hand underwear in an emergency like borrowing from nursery.