How much do you spend to kit each child out for the summer?

[MilaMae]

Clothes and shoes I mean.

Only buy as and when we need to.

No more than I normally would for shoes. They get a pair of lightweight trainers and some sandals. I try to buy fairly cheaply within reason, as they get through shoes so quickly.

I get loads of slightly more expensive stuff (Boden, Monsoon, Next) secondhand on Ebay, and top up with tee-shirts and lightweight stuff from H&M, Zara, Tesco and Asda, mostly.

Oh, and a new pair of trunks/swimsuit for each, usually, and a sunhat.

Probably about £75-100 per child.

I have splashed out on a couple of Boden dresses for DD this year, too, with money she got for her birthday

DS grows so slowly that I only need to buy new shorts or t-shirts every coulple of summers.

Usually he needs a new pair of sandals each year though.

Car boots for clothes wherever I can but she's 9 now so it's getting a bit tougher to do this. H&M, Next and Debenhams for the bits inbetween. DD loves the Matthew Williamson tee shirts so I usually buy her a couple when they're on offer or in the sale and I'm quite fond of their tops generally. H&M are great for tees and jeans and (occasionally) sweaters. It's the only place I'll buy full price from, as they're good value anyway.

I did do TKMaxx this year and got a Roxy cardie and a Dior tee (chavtastic I know, but it was soooooo cute). I also did Office for her Converses, which were adult priced because she's a size 3

I buy trainers from whereever I can get them cheaply. I usually buy a decent pair of sandals (sports types) and last year she had plastic cloggy croc type shoes which she wouldn't take off...drove me nuts with them as I know they're not great for your feet.

So I'd say about £150 with shoes.

Squilly last year I kitted all 3 of mine out in 'summer shoes' only for them to live(and I do mean live)in their £2 market crocs

I have 6 year old twin boys and a 5 year old dd so passing on is minimal. Interesting to see how much others spend,think I'm average but always on the market for whittling it down.

I find H&M good too.

Tesco for cheap Tshirts and shorts
ds has an April birthday so my mum usually gets him something then
dd has loads of girl cousins to hand me down stuff
ebay for anythng special

My DD has way too many clothes! She has far more than me. I get easily tempted when out and about. There is a lovely children's c;lothes shop opposte where I work Not all expensive clothes for DD though, big mix, and I look for sales too - got her a couple of lovely maxi dresses from Matalan online last week and they are great.

I need another sort out as she currently has winter and summer stuff in her wardrobe, plus both winter and summer school uniforms. And a number of stuff from last summer - such as dresses that she could now wear as tops with leggings.

This summer for shoes DD will have

Converse boots
Crocs
Party/slip on ballet style shoes
Sandals

Hulababy - I miss Daisy Chain. I know it's moved, and I could find it if I tried, but I used to love going down Eccy Road and browsing in there. The new designer shop just doesn't do it in the same way

Mind you...I only ever bought during the sales My first designer purchase was a pair of D&G sandals for dd when she was a baby, for £10. She wore them and wore them, then I sold them on Ebay for £20 second hand!!!!!

Same as hulababy for shoes, both girls will have converse, crocs, prob birkenstocks, some pumps, and wellies, (if I am completly honest, they will have more than 1 pair of each, I am TERRIBLE for shoes , ds is 9 months but already walking so has a teeny pair of crocs waiting for him, and 3 pairs of converse, though at the min he wont keep any on, as for clothes, well I wouldnt like to add up how much, I usually buy all 3 at least 1 item of clothing every week, H&M, gap, zara, some Boden,Joules, some of their stuff is cheaper, they do have some nicer stuff thats saved for parties/visiting relatives, I dont buy all their summer/winter clothes in one go, I enjoy shopping for their clothes so prefer to buy throughout the year.

aquilly - Miss Cantors behind Ecclesall Road is good.

Last year both girls had -

a pair of flip flops (dd1) / croc things (dd2);
a pair of dressy silver Clarks ladies' sandals (dd1) / a pair of walking sandals from Millets (dd2);
new swimming cossy and bikini/tankini each for beach holiday in Greece - M&S I think;
2 cotton dresses each - H&M or Gap
3 pairs of shorts each - H&M or Gap
Lots of tops/vest tops - H&M or Gap sale or M&S sale
Long silk skirt each - Boden sale
Sun hat each - can't remember where from, probably H&M or Gap!
Sun glasses each - Boots on special offer
Dd2 had a towelling beach dress thing from Boden and dd1 had a couple of sarongs. Think that's it!

I try and keep 1 season 'ahead' by buying loads of stuff in the Next sale. Does involve a bit of guesswork though, but much easier to do now she's 4.

For cheap summer T-shirts that are going to get horribly stained by suncream, I go to Primark, Clarks outlet for shoes, or Next, ASDA for any stuff dh can't be dissuaded from buying little bits and pieces.

1 pair wellies
1 pair proper shoes
2 pair trainers / baseball boots
1 pair slippers

We do not 'do' party frocks or party shoes, which probably saves us a fair amount.

Dd has one chest of 3 drawers and one wardrobe. If it is getting too crowded in either, then I am buying too much and I know I need to STOP and look at what she needs and what is really worn / still fits her. Have only had to do it once.

Lanismum - Wow, walking at 9 months!! thats early, hope you don't mind me saying but please try to avoid the temptation to put shoes on your 9 month old until he is a little older. The bones in babies feet are still very soft, therefore, shoes should be avoided until needed for walking outdoors at which point the feet should be measured for correct width fittings. Although the fashion shoes look lovely, I'd invest in a well fitted pair of shoes from a reputable shoe retailer. Good luck!

this summer boy has lots of shorts that still fit from last year, and some hand me downs, lots of Ts that still fit and some hand me downs.
He might need a new sun hat, shades still around from last year. hand me down sandals I think will fit, if not I'll pick him up a pair for under a 10er.

SO, how much, not much.

DS2 has all DS1's stuff plus stuff from his cousin and a few other sources. Got him 2 pairs of combat school shorts tho as DS1 didn't have those 4 yrs ago. No special summer shoes, just school shoes and trainers as normal. So about £12.

DD - bought her a new summer outfit from M&S for £12; she has a lot of stuff from last year/hand-ons. May get her another new top. 2 school summer dresses. No new shoes unless she needs them for size reasons. So maybe about £30.

DS1 more tricky - school shorts (just one pair - he leaves this July); 2 new pairs of summer shorts as he has none that fit from last year; he has plenty of Ts tho. Ditto the others on shoes. So about £40, maybe a bit more if he needs another pair of shorts or so.

Ooh may also need to get some people a sunhat. All last year's getting a bit small.

Alann, thanks, I only put the hard soled converse on him for 'show', they really do come off as soon as he gets on the floor as he cant walk in them anyway, rest of the time his gorgeous fat little feet are bare

Literally bare, I am the mum that gets stares from old ladies because my baby refuses socks!