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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your advice on children's clothes purchasing?

58 replies

judybloomno5 · 08/01/2017 00:09

Do you have any tips that stop you spending too much money? I'm slowing packing up DD1s 2-3 year old clothes as they've started to get a bit short in the leg as she's leggy and I've got a ridiculous amount- shameful really. Thankfully I have a DD2 who will benefit from them.

Do you have any tips? Which brands are the best at staying in one piece etc?

OP posts:
MommaGee · 08/01/2017 01:56

Can you wrote down how much of each thing your child needs so x no of t-shirts, skirts etc so you have something to shop against then do one out one in? Exceptions for special occasions?

If its cost rather than quality, mum2mum sales, charity shoos etc?

wonderingsoul · 08/01/2017 02:55

Just to keep track of their wardrobe..

They only need like 4 day to day trousers/skirts 6 tops.

2 special outfits

Bit i admit if i had girls theyd prob have more clothes then needed

I also feel gulit that ds2 gets ds1 hand me downs. Theres 3 years between them but ds2 is v tall so fits them v well but then infeel guilty he only gets second hand so i buy him new stuff which leads me to buying ds1 new stuff as its only fair in their veiw .. its a never ending circle

DailyFail1 · 08/01/2017 03:29

I keep dd's too-short dresses for tops, and too short-leggings/jeans/trousers for lounging around the house. I basically don't give up anything until it becomes too tight around the waist.

cheeseandcrackers · 08/01/2017 03:38

I love Sainsbury's children's clothes. Quality is good and very good value when they have 25% off everything.

As PP said, make sure she has max 6 everyday tops then don't buy any more until she's grown out of them.

Justme3 · 08/01/2017 06:44

Buy second hand on selling sites. Saves a fortune

Kittykatmacbill · 08/01/2017 07:00

eBay or charity shops?

Next or bodem in the sale, they will last through both children.

I generally think that lidl does the best supermarket kids clothes in terms of wear and construction.

Ask for specific things as presents in grandma wants to buy a present coats or shoes, maybe?

Mouse510 · 08/01/2017 07:08

I'm currently PG with first DC and a friend told me the best advice she got from was to base a child's wardrobe on having 6 outfits per age. Anything else that is gifted can be returned and use the money/credit for their winter coat/boots/shoes etc.

Shockers · 08/01/2017 07:18

I mostly bought Boden (but always in the sale) because my two were very active and hard on their clothes. I also found the boys clothes to be more colourful from there than in most other places. Occasionally, I'd pick up bits in the M&S sale too. TK Maxx was good for hoodies.

ConvincingLiar · 08/01/2017 07:19

I think routinely returning clothes given as a gift is rude unless you're absolutely on the breadline. Fair enough return duplicates or things that don't fit, but to return everything seems a bit ungrateful. Also a bit mean that your child's gifts get converted to shoes/coat which are a parents' responsibility to provide. If there isn't the budget for luxuries then of course it's different.

Note3 · 08/01/2017 07:27

I have three DDs. I have to store clothes spanning 4 or 5 age ranges so I've had to be quite cut and dry. I have decided to only keep either things I love or things that are practical. Also only things that match as I used to end up with them having loads of clothes they never wore as it didn't match anything else they had.

I find sainsbury, M&S, next and boots good for fit and durability. Oh and a lot of George. I buy most clothes from eBay now and just the odd thing new and that's the same for me and my children as I just don't have the funds at the mo to buy all new plus there's a lot of decent second hand stuff out there.

I have recently sat and organised my storage and have marked in a book where things are, what I've got and put things in separate bags and tubs according to ages. I now know exactly what I have and where so I don't keep over buying.

Catsize · 08/01/2017 07:30

I buy stuff in the sales at Frugi, Boden etc, often years ahead of their ages. I end up with way too much, but attempt to justify it on the basis if initial low cost and resale value. Children's clothes are my absolute weakness. If you can buy ahead but be more disciplined than me, it is a good thing to do.

lauryloo · 08/01/2017 07:33

I buy in the next sale or or when Sainsbury's have 25% off

Have bought all dd's clothes for next winter already

I sell them on again when finished and use the funds to buy more

luckylucky24 · 08/01/2017 07:37

I buy from sainsburys when they have 25% off. DS has around 3/4 nursery outfits and then 4/5 mix and match smart casual for days he is at home.
He often gets bought some clothes for xmas from relatives which make up some of his home "smarter" clothing.

DD has enough clothes that we don't have to buy her anything until she turns about 2/3. We were gifted bags and bags of stuff when we adopted her plus she came with 40 dresses!

Sugarandsalt · 08/01/2017 07:38

My DD is at nursery and needs a lot more clothes than suggested here! Never comes home in the same things she went in wearing.

We get gifted a lot of clothes that I don't particularly like so then she spends a lot of time wearing them as I feel I can't buy her things when she has lots already. It's frustrating.

Artandco · 08/01/2017 07:47

I only buy enough to last a week.

For us that's roughly:
X7 of each pairs pants, socks and vests
X7-10 tops in mixture of tshirts, long tshirts, and casual shirts
X3-4 jumpers or cardigans
X5-7 trousers or shorts
X2 pjs

That's about it I think. All fits in two drawers of an average chest of drawer with dividers in so stuff doesn't get muddled up. Amounts differ slightly according to season ie at the moment ds1 has about 5 pairs of trousers and no shorts as outgrew, will buy a couple in summer. Ds2 already has 3 pair shorts in draw as they were ds1 old ones from last year (1 year gap between them so close clothing sizes)

cariadlet · 08/01/2017 07:48

When dd was a baby and toddler almost all her clothes were hand-me downs, from charity shops or birthday/Christmas gifts. The only things I bought new were shoes and underwear.

When they're little children grow out of things so quickly that I don't think it's worth buying new. I used to pop into charity shops and buy things that I liked even if they were too big. I had bags sorted by age (things I'd bought or clothes that I'd been given that were too big) up in the loft.

Every few months I'd sort out the clothes that were too small and get the next bag of new clothes from the loft. Once dd was old enough to show an interest in clothes she used to love opening the bag with me and seeing what was inside.

ConvincingLiar · 08/01/2017 07:56

I agree that for supermarkets Sainsbury's are good and so are Morrisons.

SoulLove · 08/01/2017 08:04

Morrisons (nutmeg) are really lovely and surprisingly good quality! I think Sainsbury have 25% off around Feb half term so could be worth looking then.

I like H and M as well- seem to have discounts online fairly often

ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay · 08/01/2017 08:05

Tu at Sainsbury's is brilliant. Wash well and don't show any signs of age. If you bulk buy when they do their 25% off specials you can save a fortune.

I don't recommend Debenhams or Next. Both bobble, fade etc far too soon for the price.

JoyfulAndTriumphant · 08/01/2017 08:09

We use supermarkets for toddler clothes, as well as Primark and H&M. She has some nicer stuff from Next etc but at nursery her stuff gets trashed so no point spending a fortune.

My favourites are Tu at Sainsbury's and Nutmeg at Morrisons.

JoyfulAndTriumphant · 08/01/2017 08:10

Matalan is another good one.

SnugglySnerd · 08/01/2017 08:12

DD is almost 3. She has a lot of clothes at the moment but that's partly because of potty training, I stocked up on cheap pants and leggings. As she gets a bit older I imagine she'll need less.
Most is from Sainsbury's/Asda or Next.

BikeRunSki · 08/01/2017 08:13

H&M kids clothes are great, particularly to ranges for babies and up to 8s. Bright, durable, very good prices. Outdoor wear especially so. The organic cotton tops and skiing jackets are great. They often have 3 for 2 on the cotton basics - you can mix sizes in your 3 things. Sign up for emails and you will be bombarded with discount codes, although the efficiency of their delivery is a bit hit and miss

Equimum · 08/01/2017 08:16

I have two boys, but the eldest in particular, is incredibly messy! He also goes to a forest school nursery and can get through three pairs of trousers in a full day there. The six items rules would never work here, but I've just adapted it to work. I buy roughly 5 nicer pairs of trousers and 6-7 long and short sleeved tops that are his 'wear-in-public' bits. I've just restocked and managed to get three pairs of trousers in the GAP sale for £2, plus I bought three jumpers for him on their £10 knitwear promotion in Decemeber. For being round the house and nursery, I then buy a five pack of M&S joggers and some cheap multipack Ts from Sainsbury's, when they have 25% off.

I'd definitely suggests regularly checking for your favourite brands on eBay. In the past, I have bought brand new Jojo trousers for less than £5, and often buy from Bowden outlet.

Equimum · 08/01/2017 08:17

Boden, not Bowden!