To only buy new clothes for one of my children?

[AngryChair]

I have 2 boys aged 11 and 13 and it seems that my youngest is always getting his brothers cast offs. I know this is quite normal in a family but I'm kinda thinking it seems unfair that the eldest always has brand new clothes bought for him whilst DS2 is stuck with last years wardrobe.

The thing is DS2 wrecks his clothes all the time, I bought him a brand new pair of jeans (that were in the sale) and within 3 weeks they had a hole near the ankle and paint all over them. Most of his tops are stained too.

I always buy him brand new school clothes and brand new underwear but is it unfair that the rest of his clothes tend to come from his brother? I suspect this will change as he gets older but for the time being - am I being unfair?

(example - I'm just going through the next sale and am ordering 2 pairs of new jeans for DS1 - I'm not ordering any for DS2 as he's just been given a few pairs of his brothers old jeans. That sounds awful doesn't it?)

I have a friend with non-identical twins (3.5) who are so different in size that one gets his brother's hand-me-downs. I pass on all DS's good quality stuff to them, and her DS1 gets at least 6-12 months wear out of each thing before her DS2 inherits them. She feels this is a huge bonus as twins can otherwise be a huge expense in clothes etc!

I have 3 girls and mostly I buy new for the biggest, who is 9, then the clothes go on to the oldest who's 11, then to the 7yo. So dd2 gets most of the new things, but dd3 gets so many clothes, from both sisters and from cousin, that she is not deprived, she has enough clothes for a differrent wardrobe every day of the year.

I reckon that if they don't mind I will wait til it matters, and then when they are teenagers with more expensive tastes I'll pay for new things for all of them.

im the opposite! ds1 is 9 so doesnt grow much, dd is 2 and ds2 is 10 months so the little ones grow and need new clothes whereas ds1 doesnt.. my mum keeps giving him my brothers castoffs tho which is reall annoying as my brother is 14 and ive not got the room for them

I think if he doesn't mind then it is fine... my poor mother was a 3rd child and was teased a bit at school for wearing her brother's grey school sock hand me downs :( She hated the fact that everyone bought her new clothes two sizes too big as christmas gifts and for birthdays, especially so her older sister could wear them first, even though it was HER gift.

I would imagine that in a couple of years time it might be harder and he will start to object and perhaps what certain styles, etc.

But if the cast offs are in good condition then I can't see the problem, not for every day wear.

For special occassions and for underwear - I'd say buy new if you can.

If he doesn't care, then I don't see a problem. It sounds as if he isn't very interested in clothes. If he was bothered about it, I'm sure he'd soon let you know!

Is your DS happy to wear his DB's hand me downs?