to want DD's winter tights to not shrink and go crispy after 2-3 washes?

[fiveisanawfullybignumber]

Why can't all manufactures use a reasonable %age of elastane in little girls cotton tights? I now find myself scanning the packs like a slimmer does with food.
Some supermarkets and well known mail order companies (and not just the cheaper ones) feel it's ok to only use 3% elastane, said tights now look like they've been frozen and won't defrost. Debenhams Blue Zoo range however have 30%, they wash like a dream but don't come in plain colours and cost about £6 a pair!
OK, rant over, but AIBU to want more elastane, or should I just crawl back into my winter burrow and hibernate with my DD's crispy tights?

This is the problem, you get what you pay for, I know, I've bought tights for dd1 for one pound for three pairs from Asda, and dd2 inherits them after two washes because they are suddenly too small for dd1.

Snap!

I get so frustrated with the stupid tights. I try not to wash them too often but that's hard with a very active 3 year old. Winter tights should last for at least ONE winter, non? Too much to ask for?

well if you're like me and pay one pound for a pack of three then yes it is too much to ask for!

Actually I don't pay 1 quid for a pack. I did do that in dd's first winter, then thought it was a better idea to spend good money on tights. Last winter I tried M&S, Next, H+M, even Zara. I can't afford the top quality range (£6-8 per single pair) but I paid up to £8 for a pack of 2. No joy .

This year I have a mixture of the mid-range tights that I save for special occasions and cheapo Asda tights that I use for nursery, park etc. and which get thrown away after the first or second wash.

what about hand washing them?

YANBU

FWIW my tights tips are:

Never buy white or cream
Never tumble dry them
When they shrink (or DD's legs grow), hang them up with large potatoes in the toes to stretch them a bit

glad i have boys........

Gap cabled ones - they cost a fortune but are the only ones that go the distance ime

luckily dd is quite happy in trousers so I usu just buy cheap tights for one-offs eg parties and accept they won't wash.
3 pairs cream Primark will do all impending parties and Christmas day for £1.

Glad it's not just me then. As for hand washing, fraid no time, I've 4 DC's and a 5th due in May, and I work part time.
I wouldn't be quite so miffed if I hadn't found this really good make. But even got some (2 prs for £9 or so) from v well respected childrens mail order company and they are useless as well!
Think I feel an email rant coming on to a few companies.

Rant away, you may get a refund or some sort of compo from them. It's not just children's tights that are crap. I got a pair of knittted cotton ones from a big supermarket. They cost the equivalent of 20 pounds. I struggled to get the bastards on (being 5'10 and manymany stones) there's a lot of me. The packaging said they'd fit me. Nothing beats walking around with a gusset near your knees for glamour. Needless to say they shrank after the first wash and ended up in the bin.

John Lewis here, but in the after Christmas sale.
Asda are OK actually, for bog standard.

I always buy my DD designer tights for this very reason. I have had success with -
pampolina, catamini, chipie and (although these no longer exist) Oilily.

All cost around £12-£20 full price so I can often be found rooting through the baskets in the sales of the local designer shops for children in order to secure them at 50%+ off.

I think buying cheaper ones is a false economy as you have to buy so many more.

DDs tights do tend to be rather lurid though - all these makes seem to feel they have to do something vivd to justify the pricetag.

I detest tights for the same reason, and the fact that my girls rip them, dd2 does have a gap pair which are ok, but under dresses/skirts/shorts they wear leggings, warmer, better fit, and a bit more hardwearing....