Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Why are little girls' pants so flimsy? Where can I get good solid undercrackers for my dd?

27 replies

YunoYurbubson · 04/06/2010 13:20

From about age 7 you can get pretty boy-shorts sort of things, but younger than that they are all silly flimsy things. Boys get good solid cotton and soft wide elastic. Why on earth should little girls be in little scraps of thin cotton with pissy little frilly thin elastic.

It really makes me cross.

Especially as aged 4 (as my dd is) she is quite likely to be wearing a skirt and flashing her pants at all and sundry as she goes about her 4yo business.

So, where can I buy proper solid cotton PANTS for my dd, without actually buying boys pants (which I could do I suppose, but she would much prefer girly colours and patterns).

OP posts:
Fayrazzled · 04/06/2010 13:22

Gap pants are a pretty sturdy cotton and solid fit, as are Boden. You pay quite a lot more for them though.

tellnoone · 04/06/2010 13:31

Strangely matalan pants were the best cheap ones I found for my 2yo DD. They are quite thin but the cut is generous compared to the likes of tesco which are bikini cut, and the elastic was bit better, and they were cheaper. 10 pack for £3.50 or something like that.

LIZS · 04/06/2010 13:38

Petit Bateau - not cheap but soft and well covering

Northernlurker · 04/06/2010 13:42

GAP are excellent - really nice patterns.

FragileMum · 04/06/2010 13:45

My old regulation bottle green school pants lasted forever - I don't know if you can still get them - or in the relevant size but you could try school outfitters. They were comfy too.

littleducks · 04/06/2010 13:47

I am so glad its not just me and my dd with the pants problems then, i have spent the best part of a year finding the elusive perfect pants for dd (who is just 4, she did wear boys pants till 2 with intg etc on)

GAP pants are really nice but still over £1 a pair in sale, god knows how much full price

My dd also wears the co ordinated knickers that come with the GAP dresses as pants, which in the sale are an ok price

Vertabaudet/la redoute look like they have a good selection but i have never bitten the bullet and ordered as their sizing is too complicated for me

My absolute bargain were some girls booxer shorts from LIDL about a month ago (so poss some left in some branchs) they are plain white and lycra-y so fit smoothly

I would not recommend M and S pants, i bought 'short' style DORA ones and the all shrunk to totally different sizes

miche8 · 04/06/2010 15:57

My boys have the boden boxers and they have washed and washed and still look like new, so hopefully the girls pants are just as good.

YunoYurbubson · 04/06/2010 16:54

Thanks all. I shall investigate Gap.

Is Gap an American company? I wonder because apparently American little girls pants are far sturdier than British.

OP posts:
motherlovebone · 04/06/2010 17:59

H&M

YunoYurbubson · 04/06/2010 20:05

Funnily enough it was a 5-pack of H&M pants I bought dd last month that partly prompted my ire. Ridiculously tiny little things with a silly narrow gusset. They have been relagated to under-trousers-only status.

AND the stupid kitten pictures on the front have started peeling off (and she likes pictures so she knows which bit goes at the front).

OP posts:
HLaurens · 04/06/2010 21:13

Boden girl's pants are fantastic. I'm not a big Boden fan on the whole, and do think some of their kids stuff is poor quality. But the seven pack of pants in a bag that they do every season are fantastic. DD1 is now on her second load, the first having come through almost a year's wearing in great shape.

littleducks · 04/06/2010 21:39

Oh i got some good pants in h and m, but the boxers style again so look like boys but with no 'slit' and in turquoise and pink spots

ravenAK · 04/06/2010 21:44

I have some hand me down vertbaudet pants. They are extremely sturdy.

(well, 3 people have toilet trained in them. Best not tell dd2 that when she's older, she'll have me on Jeremy Kyle...)

Lotkinsgonecurly · 04/06/2010 21:47

I'm so glad its not just me with this problem.We've had a range of pants to find the better ones and the best fit are still eluding me.

Clearly I'm going to have to go upmarket to Boden or Gap for my sturdy little darling.

PlumSykes · 04/06/2010 21:52

The Boden ones are wonderful. Good thick cotton, no thin elastic to cut in, no dodgy transfers to peel off, and they come up nice and high around waist. Wait for the sale, and then swoop!

D0G · 04/06/2010 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BeehiveBaby · 04/06/2010 21:59

Thank you! DD2 only ever has one buttock in, quite often put her in boys pants too.

PosyPetrovaPauline · 04/06/2010 22:01

one of the only clothes advantages of little boys
boys pants rock and girls are rubbish!

puffling · 04/06/2010 22:05

DD's Gap ones are nice and thick. They're not very elasticated tho' so are always falling down. She ends up in her flimsy cheap princessy ones which do stay up.

TheNextMrsDepp · 04/06/2010 22:07

A second thumbs-up for Next. They do nice ones with thick elastic, have lasted well.

PeasPlease · 04/06/2010 22:15

Boots sell sturdy kids knickers that are fairly expensive if I recall (don't remember how much, just remember thinking they weren't cheap). It is their Mini Mode range and they wash very well and don't go thin.

Sazisi · 04/06/2010 22:15

The best ones I've bought are Greenbaby and Gap.
Also got a couple of good sturdy ones from h&m that came as a vest/knicker set.
I've had Boden ones in my basket for yonks, but keep balking at the price..
Will have to investigate Next.

ruckyrunt · 04/06/2010 22:18

liz got there first with petit b the french made proper knickers/pants for little girls that last for a long time..

SofaQueen · 04/06/2010 22:26

I third Petit Bateau - only pants I buy as they make pants sturdy enough to pass on to a sibling in good nick.

YunoYurbubson · 05/06/2010 13:06

I went to Petit Bateau and the shop was all boarded up. Not sure if it has moved or just closed down. Hmph. Got a 3pack of Gap pants though - will see how those fit.

OP posts: