Shopping for children in the US

[lovinbeingmum]

I'm sure this is a done to death topic but I can't seem to find any threads. Looking especially for children's clothes, jackets, etc. Would anyone have suggestions? Want to get some good quality night suits, jeans, winter jackets....

.....and, of course, I'm hoping the price differential is really as much as everyone makes it out to be :)

The best price differentials are during sales/promotions, or in the outlets.

I tend to hit Gap, Old navy, Ralph Lauren for the children. There are other kids' shops: Gymboree, Justice etc, but I rarely find anything that suits my tastes.

Thanks! Looking for 3/4 year olds. Will check out all the places you have mentioned.....

You won't find much for winter in many shops right now. It's all back to school stuff in August.

TJMaxx, Marshalls, Gap outlet and other outlets are your best bet. Target only really has seasonal stuff. Same with The Children's Place.

I agree with the above recommendations. My other go to place, though, is Hanna Andersson Everything I've ever got from there for my kids they have worn and worn it. Great quality and very comfortable.

Apart from Gap/Old Navy/JCrew I do find alot of American kids clothes for girls (I have 2 DDs) to be inappropriately tarty.

Don't miss Carters! If there's an outlet center there will be a Carters, great stuff and ridiculously cheap.

Even the department stores like Macys have good deals if there's a sale on. But outlet malls are an absolute bargain. There's also a TJ Maxx and Marshalls (my favourite US discount clothes store) in many cities. You may need to take a taxi to a few of these places as they're not always bang in the centre. Where are you going?

For really good quality that will last:
Gymboree
Osh kosh
Gap/old navy
Jack and Jill
Macys

For cheap and cheerful:
Crazy 8
Childrens place
Carter's (although I am going to be using many bodysuits/sleep suits for dc3 soon!)
Justice

Nodding to the suggestion of Hanna Andersson. Super quality, wears and wears and wears and if you list it on Ebay when you're finished with it, it will be bought in minutes.

Go to Sears for their Land's End section. Lands End winter jackets are very good quality.

Macy's is good, and you might find something in Kohls. Carters can be found in decent department stores (like Macy's) and also JC Penneys.

Even Walmart can have decent jackets, and the always useful snowbibs. But not at this time of year I am pretty sure.

H&M children's stuff isn't bad but that's available in the UK.

Old Navy has great stuff and very affordable. Check online for coupons, they also regularly have 30% storewide sales.

Gymboree is good quality but pretty expensive - they have a big sale twice yearly or so, which is the only time I would buy there.

I love Target for basics, shirts, pants, hoodies, pajamas, etc. Though too early for winter jackets, and some stores are bigger/have a wider selection. There's an app called Cartwheel which will have coupons, often there's one for childrens apparel on.

Er, I meant jeans/trousers, not pants. Though they have those too.

Thanks so much all!!!

oly4 going to Chicago...Saturday can't get here fast enough :)

Theres a big Macys in Chicago. Also theres a TJ Maxx (cheap, designer). Theres a HUGE Gap and Old Navy. Not many outlet stores though unfortunately which is where the real bargains are!

Ohh and you must go to Nordstrom off rack (downtown Chicago). All designer at really good prices.

There are some outlets a little out of the city that might be accessible. There's a newish one Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont (near O'Hare) that you can get to using the Blue Line ($2.50 each way on the train). You would probably need a taxi once you got off the train but even so it might be worth a try. There's another in Gurnee (Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall) about an hour out of the city in good traffic. Taxi fare might be pricey but there are rideshare taxis and you might get a decent price out to Gurnee if you don't mind sharing a minivan.

There's a Lands End outlet in Niles, a suburb just north and slightly westish of the city limits. Also, a Gap outlet in the city, on Milwaukee Avenue.

Nordstrom Rack is great though, and no transport problems.
Try Target downtown for decent quality children's stuff.

Or if you are feeling adventurous, try going by the South Shore Line to Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City Indiana. The train takes you through the south side and along the lakeshore via the Indiana Dunes to Michigan City. The Dunes are nice to visit if you get fed up shopping.