To ask how much you spend on DC clothes?

[Elmo67]

Posting for traffic.

DD is two, up until now I have been on the ball when it comes to buying and selling her clothes on Vinted. I’ve gotten lazy recently, can’t be arsed bargain hunting but urgently need bigger clothes for summer.

Opted for Asda but as usual hardly any sizes in stock, always find H&M quality dubious so landed on Next.

Now I am sat debating over whether to check out with my eye watering £300 basket. Is this normal?! For one DC for one season?!

Look through the things you've chosen from Next and work out what you can get secondhand/from Vinted, particularly if they're going to be wearing it to nursery as it'll likely get stained. I'd reckon on 5 dresses, 5 t-shirts, 5 shorts/leggings, some swimwear, and a couple of light layers (e.g. a hoodie/cardigan) for cooler days.

Relax a lot about outfits, it doesn't need to coordinate and they'll probably only wear it for a few months unless you size up to last next year as well. To be honest I just look for a mixed summer bundle and get it all in under £20, because I don't have the time or energy to do it any other way, but I'm glad someone's buying stuff new because there'd be nothing to buy secondhand otherwise!

£300 is crazy. Bundles from eBay are the way to go. And then I've got odd bits from Sainsbury's and charity shops on top of that.

At that age I never spent much on clothes as they just get covered in stains from food, play, pens, and more "dubious" stuff... I used to mainly buy stuff in the sypermarket for the next season when it was in the sale. Would get the winter stuff 6 months bigger than needed, when thr started bringing out summer stuff and vice versa. Tesco quite often have stuff heavily reduced with 25% off on all clothing, so that comes off on top of the sale price, and you can get while outfits for a few quid! Very rarely did I buy full price stuff at that age, unless it was a wedding outfit etc.

2 DC ages 2 and 7

I've always found asda George really good. There's always loads of stock both online and in store of all sizes (there's 2 big asdas within 3 miles from me) so I'd try George again. Next is ridiculously expensive.

I've always been pretty restrained in this area (admittedly I have boys which means a) less pretty things b) I can pass things down) but I only spent £200 twice a year until recently when I upped it to £300 as eldest is 14. Their feet seem to grow abnormally slowly for children, they're not overly fussed on clothes and my recent introduction to Vinted means I can still buy branded cheaply! We are financially comfortable, it's just not a big priority spend area of any of us (well, don't ask me what I spend on MY clothes )

Someone has to buy stuff new for other people to be able to buy it second hand. If no one bought new clothes, there would soon be no second hand clothes to be had.
I’ve got 3 children but don’t ever buy all their stuff for a ‘season’ in one go, I’ll buy bits as and when they’re needed/I see them. If I sat and worked it out it probably wouldn’t be far off £300 per child when you include things like sandals/swimwear/waterproofs etc. It’s up to you what you spend.

Goodness these comments have shocked me.
I assumed I saved a lot of money by buying second hand but £300 a season is mind boggling to me.
I visit local charity shops regularly, browse facebook market place and buy from a website for second hand kids clothing. I make a point to buy bundles where possible as they are usually the cheapest option and then top up on specific items that might be needed.
I also buy in advance if I see shoes/coats/waterproofs in the next size up that are at a good value so I have them when needed.
I am supremely unfussy about what I put my child in though, she gets gifted 'nice' outfits as presents for birthday/Christmas so I know not to bother buying anything like that myself.

£300 seems a lot and I feel like I spend a lot on my kids clothes! I would be wary of buying too much ‘summer’ clothes if you live in Britain as it’s not even very warm yet and at best we’ll probably have 3 months of summer when she can wear the clothes? I wouldn’t buy that much all at once, you will run the risk of having a lot of unworn stuff. Maybe a couple of nice bits new and then a bundle on Vinted will save you a fortune.

We’re going on holiday next week and I’ve just spent that much on each child at Next. I always buy big so it lasts longer.

What did you buy for £300??

I’m guessing amounts, but probably:

New pyjamas x8
New socks x10
Swimwear x3
Shorts + Tshirt sets x 6
Rompers x10 for DS/ Dresses for DD
Sandals
Raincoat
Sun hat

I don't have time to do vinted. I have two DDs, 13yo and 9yo. I got all their clothes from H&M, Sainsbury TU, Asda George. Some Next but not often. The only thing I spend a lot more on are shoes and coats. £300 seems a lot given they will last only a season. Can you buy less and wash more? If you are too busy to run a load every other day, then you'll just have to buy more I'm afraid.

@SpringBunnies what do you mean you don't have time to "do Vinted" I understand the selling element, I give away our clothes as it's not worth the effort of selling, but how is it time consuming to buy on Vinted?

we never buy/bought full new outfit.

we replace clothes when worn out or grown out of if and when.

Buying for a two year old is a long time ago for me so prices have changed - that seems like a lot though . I always bought big so things tended to last more than one season and also shield from the sun a bit , and then everything was passed onto DS2 and then on to my friend who had 4 boys . At the time I loved Boden sale t shirts , then it was good quality and lasted . I wouldn’t say Next will last my teens destroy it pretty thoroughly .

DD is 2 and all her current stuff has been 2nd hand (either free or cheap)- charity shops/Vinted/Facebook/hand me downs, presents from family or us for Xmas/birthday or brought in sales (mostly marks/next with a little frugi/Toby tiger).
The only thing I spend lots of money on is her main shoes as I believe that's important- however her current ones for £17 in the clarks sale. Wellies are 2nd hand mostly (pick up the next size when I see them) and sandals will be 2nd hand (likely free for the amount she will wear them!).
However it does take some thinking ahead: I have been picking up bits in 2-3 for about the last year and asked for things we needed for Xmas/Feb birthday. She got a lovely winter coat in 2-3 from PIL that will be for next winter.
We are also helped by DD not going to nursery so no doubles of wellies/coats etc. I also try to think carefully about what we actually need/use. I don't get it when toddlers have multiple pairs of shoes etc- DD has 1 pair of shoes (sometimes 1 spare pair I pick up free), wellies and will have sandals. Same for coats- 1 water proof warm coat and 1 light weight water proof for spring/summer. She does also have a puddle suit.

I live in Germany where kinder Flohmarkts are popular ( same as NCT sales). I buy bundles on eBay and FB marketplace then sell what I don't want at car boot sales. DH is a high earner and I would baulk at spending 300 on clothes for one season, much cheaper second hand.

It’s more I have to carefully look how new they look from the photos. Also my kids are 9 annd 13 and don’t have the kind of imagination of what the clothes look like when not on a model. I give the girls the websites to shop from and they tell me what they want. About 1/2 or 1/3 of items are often returned because they don’t look like how the girls imagine. Often it can be wrong size, or the fabric is itchy, or leggings too tight. I can’t be bothered with the refund process with individual resellers. The ones I buy from are all good with returns and drop offs are often at post office or evri.

If you think it's expensive now wait until you have teens!

@SpringBunnies I have boys, I suspect they're easier to dress 😂 mostly just buy adidas t shirts from there!

loads as I have two teens and that is with buying from Vinted, this weekend has been expensive though some summer stuff from Subdued and Brandy Melville for youngest! However, £300 on a 2 year old seems quite a bit, it is hard to advise as with inflation I’m unsure what is reasonable but I suppose it will last if you have variety!

My kids got clothes from Tesco and Sainsbury's. So did their friends whose parents were both doctors.

They all looked lovely.

We spend around £300 per year (maybe less) per DC. Range 16-4yo

My son (3) has a limited wardrobe. I've just bought his base set of summer clothes from H&M for £60.

4 x striped t shirts
2 x cardigans
2 x chino shorts

All mix and match colour ways.

I then buy a 1950s shorts and shirts pattern and make him...

4 x shirts
4 x shorts

...with fabrics that he chooses. He's gone for florals this year in pinks and purples!

His vests, bobby socks and 60s straw hat still fit so all I've got left to buy is a new pair of t-bar plimsolls.

Sometimes it's just worth throwing money at the mental load.
If it all fits, vaguely co-ordinates and it's easy to send back if the reality is disappointing, just press buy.

It also makes reselling easier later on.

Once I got a grip of buying small kids clothes, I would ruthlessly shop the sales for the big stuff - coats, party clothes, PJs, waterproofs.

But honestly saved souch time and money not impulse buying every shopping trip 'just picking up bits'

It also means you model a strong consumer rule to your kids - shopping should not be a leisure activity. Constantly searching for bargains, second hand, bundles etc in partly about the dopamine hit. If you have the money, buy a capsule of stuff, size up, wear it for as long as you can then buy another one.