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

[Roxietrees]

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

You don’t generally get skids on a jumper do you? 🤣

Do you judge the people who bought new clothes as gifts ? Have you ever given new clothes as gifts?

My mother buys a lot of clothes for my two daughters. If the clothes are still in good shape by the time they’ve both outgrown them, we donate them to homeless shelters.

I’ve been reading a lot about textile waste in the last year, but banning buying new children’s clothes is ridiculous.

People always insist second hand childrens clothes are "like new". I've always found that unless I pay a lot, they are noticeably faded and quite clearly rather worn. Often stretched/shrunk/misshapen or have stains.

Of course you can get some bargains. I use a lot of family hand me downs. But to be honest I find once its been through 2 nephews then my two, i find its fit for the bin! Clothes don't last forever.

The exception is things like party dresses that might only be worn an odd time.

Vinted isn't available in every Country.

Charity shops don't always have what you need.

It's a 15 minutes drive to my nearest charity shop and the prices are extremely high.

How about I am not an absolute scruff and I like to make sure my son has new and not some other kids hand me downs?

My thoughts exactly!!!

The few times I have braved vinted I’ve ended up with clothes that are damaged/stained/stink. I agree with you in theory but when my toddler has a growth spurt out of nowhere I don’t have time to be risking vinted again, I’d rather buy a few new pieces.

I keep my daughter’s clothes limited. She wears her clothes countless times before she grows out of them because I don’t just buy endless crap. Then when she grows out of them I donate them/pass them onto friends (if they’re in a fit state). Sentimental stuff I keep for a patchwork project I’m working on.

I also repair a lot of stuff, both mine and my daughters. She scrapes her knee and makes a hole in her trousers? I make a cute flower patch to fix it. A seam splits? I repair it. I’ve saved lots of pieces by being able to sew.

Where does stuff in the bin end up?

At least half if not more of my kids clothes are second hand. However second hand shoes tend to fall apart in storage as I have stored to pass down. The real thing is to just by less. Something I don't do bit aspire too.

I loved buying Boden, Fruji etc second hand but that isn't always possible when they get a bit older. Now my dd picks her own clothes and we try to buy only a few items each season but she will also pick out item on Vinted.

I buy some stuff secondhand on Vinted for my kids but it takes wayyy too long trawling through listings, and with postage it’s not always that cheap. A mixture of new and old works for me. I sell loads too.

I buy absolutely everything second hand - clothes, shoes, electronics, cars, books. I can't remember the last time I bought something new. Even food I like to buy from the social supermarket which is past its best before date! I don't wish to contribute to the destruction of the planet's resources to have something new when there's so much perfectly good, completely useable stuff available.

I do agree that many things are outgrown before they’re worn out so they can be handed on, sold, etc and I used to sell a lot of DD’s clothes when she was younger (was all good quality stuff worn only by the one child).

BUT, there is still a place for new clothes.

I don’t sell second-hand anymore, I have tried but I think the reason they don’t sell is that postage costs are so high now that it is far cheaper for people to buy new in their local area.

I gift/donate what I can. DD is lucky to have had school uniform and dance uniform items gifted to her but never normal clothes (we don’t have any relatives to donate as she is the oldest child in the family).

I have tried buying secondhand items online but sometimes they can be really poor condition. It’s interesting what some people consider to be “great condition” whereas to me it is certainly not “great”, it might do for daycare but it is something that I myself would have put in the donate rather than sell pile. So that does make me wary of buying secondhand online.

So mostly, new it is! I do try to be mindful of where I shop and buy more ethical brands, and good quality items which will last.

I thought i'd save a fortune buying kids clothes on vinted.

Well, kids clothes are a different ballgame. The amount of 'very good' quality clothing that is actually stained or badly boobled I received put me off. Still buy most of my clothes on there and don't have the same problem.

I buy mostly new now

"massively contributing to the destruction of the planet."

The children themselves are massively contributing to the destruction of the planet. If you were that concerned about the planet, you wouldn't have had children.

Honestly no the only second hand clothes mine wore were hand downs from older child for play stuff .school and going places clothes always new also socks pants and definitely footwear ..we saved hard to buy them buying little for ourselves unless really needed and grandaughters the same between the girls yes .do I feel guilty no we all have a line in the sand and that's mine .I love picking small people's clothes especially girls boys no one cares if boys clothes look a bit faded .but girls no I like them to look pristine x

how can I “take a strop” with a stranger on an anonymous internet forum?!

Just read you reply back and that'll answer your question 😳

I'm genuinely surprised that you'd get so arsy just because I'm saying that in my opinion (which the last time I checked I was still entitled to), there's no difference between a pair of trousers that may have been shat in, or a pair of pants if they're both washed properly.

But you seem to be getting strangely upset, so just forget it I guess.

Redpeach when i say "the bin" i mean either:

• they go in those clothing collections that recycle for rag
• something there are things i can used them for eg patchwork, cutting up for hankies etc. Ive shredded things up to re-stuff the arm of a cuddly toy before!
• my kids get a lot of hand knit cardigans from my mum, she'll reuse wool for things like pompoms or trims etc if she can.

I know some people will just dress kids in very faded clothing, or with small holes, frayed edges or stains, but i just can't do it.

No but you do get snot and vomit 🤣

OP, do you resell/donate your child's outgrown clothes? I assume so. At which point they'll be third hand if you're getting second hand. Do you honestly foresee this process continuing ad infinitum?

In newborn size, yeah you'd make it through a LOT of babies. For a 4 year old, even top quality brands will only do 3-5 children when you're talking everyday items. I get hardly any trousers handed down now and haven't since my kids were about 5 because the knees completely go, beyond patching, they're only good for the fabric recycling bin. I feel lucky if I can buy a pair of trousers and both my children manage to grow out of them.

I used to be a childrenswear designer. The industry employs a fair few people, and has quite a large revenue which helps the country.

Should this just be forgotten?

I’ve bought everything brand new for my DS. He has never had anything second hand whether that be clothes, books or toys.

Once he has outgrown things I give them away for free to someone who can’t afford to buy everything themselves. I’ve helped 3 people this way. They can then sell it on Vinted once they no longer need the items if they want.

boys no one cares if boys clothes look a bit faded

I do! I can't stand my son looking scruffy. But then i wash & dry things carefully to keep them smart for longer.

Persil non bio is the WORST for fading coloured clothes. It has whitening agents in it to compensate for the lack of biological enzymes. I can spot clothes washed in it a mile away - faded reds etc.

How do you know your Vintage purchase wasn't made in similar conditions?

No kids of my own, but I’ve always loved buying nice new clothes for my nephews, nieces and goddaughter (think Monsoon, mini Boden, M&S etc). If people are happy dressing their kids in second hand clothes from the internet, then that’s up for them but it wouldn’t be my choice. If I’m spending money, I’m doing so on clothes that haven’t been used already by someone else.

And I would make a distinction between clothes from Vinted etc where you’ve no way of verifying their condition before purchasing, versus outfits passed on by friends/family, that you know have hardly been worn, well looked after, correctly laundered and in a smoke free household.