Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

winter coats would you really spend £100 on a 4 year old?

138 replies

pombears22 · 02/02/2022 12:52

Was talking about this with a mum friend this morning - around us most kids wear coats that cost around 100 quid. To me that just seems a bit mad for a pre-schooler when others are so much cheaper. I mean how much technology does a pre-schooler need for a British winter. Same with waterproofs etc etc - somehow I just thought that kids dont really need this stuff but I've only just moved back to the UK so unsure whether am totally off the mark here

OP posts:
Comedycook · 02/02/2022 16:39

I guess people must buy them very large

LIZS · 02/02/2022 16:41

Some of the decathlon ones, for example, have "growing"sleeves which can be let out. Most styles with velcro cuffs can be fastened to shorten them and loosened as required.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/02/2022 16:42

@pombears22

does anyone have any tips on how to make one coat last two years? mine invariably grows out after a year
As they got older their growth slows and they look less ridiculous in slightly too big clothes.

My 10yo is on her third winter for her school coat... but thats partly because she doesn't like giving up comfy clothes. Its size 9-10. The sleeves were slightly too long first year. Also she only grows upwards, not out.

Original poster
pombears22 · 02/02/2022 16:44

guess i'll just have to wait for him to slow down. at the moment the coats are always too big at the start of autumn (i already buy one year above) but to short and tight by the next one.

OP posts:
RandomQuest · 02/02/2022 16:45

@pombears22

does anyone have any tips on how to make one coat last two years? mine invariably grows out after a year
We’ve had North Face ski stuff where you can snip red threads in the sleeves and trousers to get a couple of inches of extra length.
QueenLagertha · 02/02/2022 16:48

No way! I buy DS (nearly 4) winter coat from
Next and it is excellent quality. Waterproof, lined etc. a family member bought him a ted baker one last year and honestly I prefer the next one.
I do buy him a light rain coat and then a slightly heavier puffy jacket from summer through to autumn though

Icantgetalifeifmyheartsnotinit · 02/02/2022 16:49

My toddler has 5 coats - a thick fleece lined puffer jacket (£20 from Asda) a lined waterproof (£20 from Next), a light waterproof (£10 Asda) for rainy summer days and a denim for the summer (£5 charity shop) and a woollen coat for "nice" occasions (£25 from Next).

That's £80 for 5 coats.

£100 on one coat is completely insane. I wouldn't spend that on one coat for me and there's a lot more of me than there is of my toddler!

rambleonplease · 02/02/2022 17:06

If I can't find a decent one in a charity shop or on eBay I will spend around £50 on a new one but I size up so it will last 2 years.

3WildOnes · 02/02/2022 17:20

@BellaTheDarkOverlord yes two of mine got the Lands end waterproof expedition down parkas just before Christmas, they were reduced from over £100 to £50. They are really great warm coats. We went on lots of long walks over Christmas and this stopped them complaining about being cold.

Svara · 02/02/2022 17:45

@Valkyrie40

It's all relative isn't it? It depends what you can afford.

I wouldn't have spent that on a 4yr old personally as I wouldn't have thought it necessary (ie a 4yo doesn't give a shit what he/she is wearing) but now mine are teens they all have £250 puffa jackets!

My teen is in a second hand Hollister coat that cost me less than £20 including postage. It's his favourite item of clothing!
Svara · 02/02/2022 17:51

@pombears22

does anyone have any tips on how to make one coat last two years? mine invariably grows out after a year
Just buy a 4, 6, 8.. and so on. Unless they are big for their age and go up more than a size a year? By the time a 4 is outgrown a 5 is a perfect fit or even a little small too so completely pointless! They don't need it new for the start of winter either, buy two sizes up and switch when needed. I only ever bought every size in trousers and even then only until age 8 or 10.
CottonSock · 02/02/2022 17:53

I stretched to £50 for the Boden super warm coat for my 8yo who is always cold. It will do her sister after. I thought that was pricey!

TolkiensFallow · 02/02/2022 17:55

I think it’s crazy, I buy my kids a proper 3in1 waterproof coat from mountain warehouse or millets so that they are warm and dry. I spend about £30-£40

BlackRedGold · 02/02/2022 18:08

I've never spent £100, but between £50 and £70 seems reasonable.

It rains a lot where I am (North west), so you need a coat to be properly waterproof as well as warm if you are going to get out and about in winter.

I always found the cheaper waterproof coats, though they worked just as well to keep the rain out, were often heavier and bulkier than the slightly more expensive ones, which made it harder to size up.

I always buy on the large side and hope to get a couple of year's wear, then hand the coats down through my Dc and on to nephews and nieces, so I probably pay the same overall (and my brother doesn't need to spend anything!)

Chely · 02/02/2022 18:12

If I'd bought the kids their weatherproof coats at RRP then yes easily. £50 is usually my limit for a good coat, shop around get old/clearance stock etc etc.

WitchWithoutChips · 02/02/2022 18:15

You'd probably think we were very flash if you looked at my children's coats. I have family in the USA who send a North Face coat every year which is then passed around five cousins and generally comes back to us looking more or less new. We have also done very well in the Helly Hansen outlet in Bridgend on a few occasions, and I also buy off-season in the sales. I never pay full price for any of them but you and various other pp are welcome to consider my children's coats 'ridiculous'.

caringcarer · 02/02/2022 18:41

Many many years ago my Aunty bought my dd a beautiful red wool coat with a black velvet collar and matching velvet muff to wear to a wedding we were attending. She spent £36 on the coat and that was 25 years ago. I know at the time she came back and showed me as and I loved it but I was horrified at the amount she had spent. It did 2 years for dd and then I passed it on to her cousin so it did get a lot of wear. I would certainly not have spent anywhere near that amount.

Hankunamatata · 02/02/2022 18:46

Nope. Usually supermarket one max £30

ToykotoLosAngeles · 02/02/2022 19:50

Well... if anyone is buying a "cool" Scandi brand coat for that money as opposed to spending because it's proper outdoor gear and you walk 3 miles to school, it's going to be the relatively well-off middle class mums in London that you mention. Brands can't exist on sales, so someone is buying full price.

DS's last 2 winter coats were Trespass (£12, TK Maxx) and Matalan (£14). I'm in the south. They're great. In-between I had a spring-weight Hatley waterproof from Amazon which was marked down to £15 from £45. The lining wore away in weeks. You don't always get what you pay for.

Flingingmelon · 02/02/2022 19:54

A posh coat for £100?

She's playing at it. This is an expensive kids coat Confused

uk.loropiana.com/en/p/kids/boy/roadster-jacket-FAL3161?colorCode=W000

PurgatoryOfPotholes · 02/02/2022 20:10

The most I've ever spent was about £30 in H&M, I think. I tell you what, ebay is AMAZING for second-hand children's coats.

Babamamananarama · 02/02/2022 20:21

I buy a Polarn O Pyret coat in the sale every 2 years - about £70. They last so well that DD wears it for 2 years and then DS gets it for (generally) another 2. We are on our 3rd one now in 5 years. I would rather buy one really well made item that is well designed, warm and weatherproof and can be passed down to the next sibling than 2 coats per year, one for each child, that only last a year.

sparkycats · 02/02/2022 20:26

I ve just spent £39 on a school coat for my dd although she will wear it outside of school too. I thought that was a lot and scoffed having to pay it. There were other ones for £160/200. Who would spend that much?

sweatervest · 02/02/2022 20:56

the school where i work - kids in reception have balenciagas. for school. for their 4 year old feet. real ones. (real balenciagas. and real feet)

plus brand new coats that fit the kids exactly. i always bought 938492 years too big for coats. i realise that isn't the norm though.

Original poster
pombears22 · 02/02/2022 21:27

@sweatervest wow, where do you teach? I mean am used to be surrounded by 18 year olds wearing those but four year olds. But interesting tobhear that lots of people just buy them second hand or pass them down to others.

OP posts: