AIBU to spend £200 to £250 sizing up toddler clothes?

[wrinklycactus]

Just that really. How much do you spend when baby/ toddler goes up a size?

Going up to 12-18 months size and we haven't had any hand-me-downs this time (I got lots for younger baby but people seem to have stopped now!)

I reckon I've spent somewhere between £200-£250 on the lot including coats, shoes etc.

50% Vinted/ supermarket stuff,
30% mid range like Next and H&M,
20% more pricey brands like a couple of nice tops/ dungarees from JoJo (still mostly in the sale though!)

Is that about normal? Or do you tend to get all your stuff secondhand/ from supermarkets at this age?

I know they grow so fast and make a mess at nursery etc, but still want to have a few nice things.

We earn OK and can afford it (and £100 was gifted from family), but DH thinks I've spent a lot given they grow so fast.

Just wondered what others tend to do and AIBU to think this is not too extravagent?

YABU - it's a lot to spend
YANBU - it's fine

If you can afford it easily and don't even need to total it up then it's fine. In any other situation it's way too much and totally excessive. It's easy to get bundles off vinted, especially at that size, and do the whole wardrobe resize for £30.

I honestly don't see why if you've got the money to do so, you wouldn't enjoy choosing clothes for your children. It's a whole new concept to me, that people are buying second hand clothes for their children's whole wardrobe. For Nursery, a lot of people go to Asda and then buy more expensive outfits to visit family/events etc, then in-between for days out. It varies on here what brands people find washes well. It's a worry that your DH resents spending on your child's needs.

I feel like yes I spend about the same amount. I try to get sales on TU but not always possible.

also vinted stuff is good but often comes smaller than it should be, I find.

I don’t spend anywhere near that on either my 2 year old or 5 year old. They grow so fast and clothes get dirty. We’re not on a budget but I buy mainly from Vinted and supermarkets, plus hand me downs from friends. I’d rather spend the money on other things.

I rarely spent lots in one go on toddler clothes but just gradually get a few things in a bigger size and give away the smallest of the old things. It was a continuous process rather than a one-off resize.

but if you can afford it, go ahead

I wouldn’t buy second hand if I didn’t need to -

£250 is not a lot! 18-24 months it’s only £25 a month in n clothes until he goes up to age 2

Surely they grow gradually and clothes do fit differently, I just replaced as and when, especially shoes which don’t align with clothes exactly. Never did I spend a big chunk at once

It seems a lot to me but prices have moved on, and a pair of shoes new would eat in to the budget.
50% on mid-high end seems unnecessary.
They are in these for such a short time, it seems a waste. Do NCT nearly new sales still exist?

I took great joy in choosing clothes for my kids when they were wee, I didn’t overbuy and I think back so fondly of what they wore. If you take pleasure in their clothes, don’t overbuy and feel happy with what you’ve got, don’t feel guilty. It’s what each person can afford and what they choose to spend their money on. Enjoy it.

Not sure I'm understanding your maths. 18-24 is 6 months, 250/6 = £41 a month.

When mine were that size I only spent around £50 on general size up stuff, especially in summer, when you won't need thick coats or boots. They had the odd nicer bits, but that would be something like a nicer jumper over basic top & bottoms, to make up the outfit. I'd also be tempted to get the nicer bits in age 2-3, and have them be a little baggy for a few months, but my kids did grow fast, so usually only got a few months out of a size.

Keep an eye out in sales and buy bigger sizes to put away. Works really well if you have storage space

I think it’s totally normal, and I easily spent £250 at 18months and then probably about £300-£400 at 2-3 and 3-4 when they weren’t in school uniform.
I mostly bought from supermarkets or next but a couple of pairs of shoes, wellies, swimming costume and puddle suit or proper coat was over £100 before you got into any other clothes!

Tell grandmother, I enjoy buying for my grandkids so if my daughter says they need a particular thing I will get it, within reason obviously.

I often spent more than that, but would buy scandi brands and resell them on afterwards. I would buy supermarket sale stuff for nursery/ messy wear.

Second this! I love buying baby/toddler clothes, and I have the time to search for them unlike DD. Best buys tend to be eBay NWT, either factory overstocks or things people have bought in the wrong size etc. I wouldn't buy second hand because of my fragrance allergy..fabric conditioner etc. I buy summer things for the older boys every school holiday.

I'd buy in the sales, so August it was summer clothes for the following year. Then Primark, Zara and H&M for the other bits. I'm not in the UK, supermarket clothes are dreadful, no family to buy and send clothes to us, not much of a second hand culture so no exchanges between friends.

If you can afford 250 then spend it 🤷

I can afford new but only buy second hand. We as a world are drowning in clothes.

No I tend to buy everything on vinted as they grow so quickly it’s not worn for long or 80% of it anyway, if I’m out and I see something cute I might grab it but not for the bulk of next size up buying. Probably spend between £50 - £100 depending on time of year ie if I need coats. Much better for the environment that way, usually a mix of John Lewis, jojo maman, Ralph Lauren, Joules, M&S and next. I do spend a lot on shoes though as I think they are important to buy new and have fitted. Bobux generally whenever they grow out of them which are between £50-£70 a pair.

Sounds fine to me - kids are expensive, and only get more expensive as they get older!

I easily do.

i mean at 1 year they had less clothing types and shoes. But now if he outgrows shoes for example that’s at least several pairs I need to replace at once ie trainers, wellingtons, slippers, then either sandals or winter boots. Those alone aren’t cheap, without clothing.

Things like coats usually try and get to last 2 years. And jumpers also. But bottom half has to fit properly or they fall down.

If you can afford it and it makes you happy then do it. I've went a bit mad buying stuff for my son in the past and have come to the realisation that it's not worth it since he manages to stain most things and I'm sick of him ruining all his lovely stuff. Also I bought too much so some things barely got worn and then I really felt like it was a huge waste of money. Now I'm much more careful, I only buy stuff hes grown out of or needs right now. A mixture of second hand on Vinted if I can or brand new from Next/supermarkets.

2nd hand stops masses of clothes going to landfill

That isn't a lot money nowadays and the clothes start lasting a few months longer once they're in to the 18 month range.

I don't think that's a lot at all to be honest. I've spent that on a single item when it's luxury branded. 2 packs of good quality vests will easily take at least 10% of your budget before you've even started.

It sounded like a lot to me initially but if it includes things like coats and shoes, I think it's pretty reasonable.

I did buy a lot secondhand at that age - you can get a lot of premium brands very cheaply on vinted, it doesn't mean buying tatty clothes