Random Thought - How do you shop for your kids?

[tulips]

I keep a spreadsheet of upcoming sizes and what I've already picked up in each size. I aim for a certain # of a particular item and stop (usually) when we have that amount.

I mostly shop at target, ON, kohls, and consignment sales. Children's Place and BabyGap if the sales are good.

I don't stick to a particular color palette, but X's clothes tend to be more neutral bottoms with colorful tops. K's is mostly pinks, purples, blues and some patterned ON items.

My ILs give some clothes for birthdays and Christmas and that fills in the gaps. They shop at Macy's and Dillards, so they buy mostly CK and RL clothing and the occasional Gymboree outfit is MIL stops in there.

[carrieq]

I was all over the place before but a few months ago I was sick of the clothing chaos and came up with a plan. I have 2 sons, ages 6 and 3 so the 3 year old gets a lot of hand me downs. I shop second hand a lot as well, but also hit up old navy, children's place, etc when they are having amazing sales. I decided to make a list of what they need for each 'season' (warm weather vs cold weather) including pajamas, socks, underwear, swim clothes, hats, gloves, dressier outfits vs everyday vs play clothing, shoes, etc. I listed long sleeve vs short sleeve tshirts, button ups, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc . separately and placed a number next to each for how many they need. For example they each only need 1-2 button ups or polos and sweaters but may need 6 or so tshirts. I try to keep things to a minimum anyway and we do their laundry at least once a week so we're not running out of clothes. I'll keep this list as a reminder each season that I purchase for them so that I don't over purchase bc I tend to purchase a season or a year ahead. I also looked through what had already been purchased for the future and tried to write down fill in pieces so that I didn't have a bunch of cute shorts and no shirt to go with any of them for example. I think this entire process will streamline things for the future. It sounds like a lot but maybe took me an hour tops. I plan to do the same thing for our little girl when she gets here too. Sorry this was so long, but let me know if you have any questions!

[Deleted]

I usually shop in bulk once a season. I pull things out of their wardrobes that have holes, pulls, etc. when I'm putting laundry away.

[mlt]

I am kind of always perusing online for clothes and when I see cute stuff + a sale I buy it.  I keep their closets pretty organized and I buy ahead so I always have stuff "on hand" when they grow bigger.

[Deleted]

Generally, if I see something in the next size up that's a really good deal and style they'll like, I buy ahead.

Other than that, I fill the gaps at Once Upon a Child as needed. I'd prefer to notice I have to do laundry too often (more than once a week) than have unused items in the closet.

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2016 14:23:04 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Generally, if I see something in the next size up that's a really good deal and style they'll like, I buy ahead.

Other than that, I fill the gaps at Once Upon a Child as needed. I'd prefer to notice I have to do laundry too often (more than once a week) than have unused items in the closet.

Same here. Except not OUAC, we have a small independent resale shop. Plus the MMM BST board.

[thebreakfastclub]

I have a Gymboree in a not successful nearby mall that I go to after a season ends. I buy $1.97 long sleeve tees, stuff like that. When Target does winter clearance plus Cartwheel, I will buy there too. I like their pants best.

I am buying pjs at HA on promo because I do like them better and they will resell here.

I wait on shoes. My boy is in size 10 already, so I have no idea what's to come there.

[moopoint17]

I'm awful at this. I usually end up buying stuff for next year whenever they start to go on sale. And that's how I end up with 10 pairs of pants and 20 shirts. DS1 wears a uniform to school -- he doesn't need that much clothing!

[Ashley&Scott]

I like have a minimum number of each item per season. I don't have a specific list but generally it is: 12 shirts, two zip up hoodies, 10 pants, 12 pairs of socks, 3 pjs, etc. My goal is to easily make it 7-10 days without scrambling to do laundry.

I don't stick to a palette necessarily but I do try to have enough neutrals that I can mix & match easily. (so neutral pants to go with bold/bright shirts & neutral shirts to go with pattern/bold pants.)

M is 4 & has had an opinion for quite some time. I take that into account when I'm shopping for him. I make it a point to buy things in his favorite color (orange) & also characters or graphics that he likes. I try not to buy things that "I" think are cute if I know he won't like it. (because if he doesn't like it the chances of getting him to wear it are slim)

I often make a big online order at the beginning of every season then supplement as needed. Sometimes I find that I need more of a particular item & sometimes I just find something I really like.

[MadamePresident]

I try to get as much as I can at garage sales. Then I also buy from some fb swap sites.

I don't have a certain number, but after a new season has started, I often find I am a little bit short on a specific type of item will seek out more of it.

It's kind of hard to completely plan ahead, because my daughter is very picky and only like specific things. There have been times I find something I think she will love and she doesn't or something that seems good and isn't.

[quesyrah]

I just buy as needed which to be honest isn't very often. My kids will get 2-3 seasons out of shorts, coats and dresses

Every summer/winter they typically need new pants and shirts.

New pajamas, socks and underwear I buy once a year. Shoes they typically need 1-2 pairs a year.

I'm not one to buy my kids stuff just because it's cute so I really only shop when they need stuff. The exception to this is typically holiday shirts.

[mrsGreeko]

Generally I don't. I accept every hand me down offered to me and they mostly wear those.

I buy them new shoes, socks, underwear as they outgrow things.

And if they are missing major things from their hand me downs we go get those as needed. I don't really ship ahead because my kids are super picky about clothes and we get hand me downs frequently. If they need something we go get it (like oldest needed a few more pairs of leggings and long sleeve shirts in November so we went to target and bought a few.

Today I bought oldest a new ski jacket because she's almost out of her current and Amazon had a good deal on one that she liked. And I bought DS new mittens because he outgrew his others.

I think they are all set for this summer except the girls will probably need new swim suits.

[ssmjlm]

Since daycare is messy central (which is fine by me!) I basically like to have a ton of solid colored bottoms, either leggings or shorts, and then mix and match her tops. She isn't a fan of bulky things like sweaters.

I either shop sales, the b/s/t board here, or my local annual consignment sale. I fill in with trips to the HA outlet and Kohls for their jumping beans leggings.

I used to buy her a ton of cute stuff. But at this age, it's not practical anymore. And she has an opinion.

[zarapipe]

Who wants to send me their clothing spreadsheet?

[yellowbrkrd]

I see a sale and buy what I think he needs, either in the current size/season or ahead for the next. I don't really have a strategy.

[cricketwife]

If I find a great deal in the next size, I buy it. The , at the beginning of each season I take stock of what I have/need and shop in bulk at the consignment sale. I fill any gaps on an as-needed basis. DS is only two but I don't feel like he's ever had crazy excess of clothes, so it's worked for us so far.

[6fsn]

Twice a year I get on Kohls, Old Navy, and Children's Place websites. I pick my kid's size and sort by price. I buy anything under $7 in their size that they like.

My sMIL gives them huge bags of nice clothes for Christmas and birthdays so I never really feel like I need to buy much more. I rarely have a gap, but if I do I go pick up one or two things.

[scribellesam]

I casually drop in conversation with my mom that I'm looking for certain items for one kid or the other. Then a week later, a box of nice secondhand clothes shows up on my doorstep. I fill in any gaps with new stuff from Target or Old Navy.

My kids generally look like clean, character-drenched ragamuffins. I don't spend a lot of mental energy on fashion or style, I'm afraid.

[ewall]

I don't have a strategy. I buy stuff when I'm bored or if there's a really good sale. Like I bought a ton of Carters onesies in dark colors during a good Kohls sale last week. Perfect for daycare. I buy most of his clothes online because again, I like to shop when I'm bored (or drinking.)

I don't have the patience to shop consignment or dig through sale racks. It just doesn't do it for me.

[abs]

I shop when there is a good sale, when DD needs something, when I'm bored, or when I see something cute.

That said DD still somehow ended up not having enough clothes to make it through winter. Dang end of season growth spurts!

[DarcyLongfellow]

I pretty much just buy as needed.

Right before school starts there are usually pretty decent deals, so we buy a lot of school clothes then. Usually at Gymboree or Carters. Other than that, I just buy when I notice they need something. I buy from Target a lot, sometimes Gymboree if there's a sale.

[SpartanGirl]

I usually shop ahead on end of season sales. There are certain things I know my kids will always need/use and wear for most of the year - coats, snowpants, long sleeve shirts, etc. I buy those as they go on sale. Usually I buy what I think looks nice, but my oldest gets more of a say in her wardrobe. We thankfully get a lot of nice, name brand clothes as hand me downs from my niece.

Shorts, pants, short sleeve shirts I typically buy if I notice they are outgrowing them. My son grows so fast it's hard to keep up with pants that fit him. My girls are fortunate to get hand me downs.

I do aim for a certain # of each items if for no other reason than to cut down on laundry.

[mcfelix]

Jan 22, 2016 16:54:20 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I buy everything, all the time.

I'm with you. I love shopping. And whenever there is a great sake online, I load up. DS is 2.5 and I have some clothes in size 5. DD is 5 months and I have clothes up to size 3. I'm a sucker for a good sale. I also have a ton of hand me downs from two different friends for DD. The hand me down collection I did have for DS is no longer available because he is now the same size as my friend's son.

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2016 16:54:20 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I buy everything, all the time.

YES! I shop sales but I do it often. I have specific prices that I won't go over for different items so I take advantage of sales when I spot them. I have soon to be 4 girls 6 and under so it all gets used eventually. I shop less for DS because he is picky and less fun to buy for. I get him graphic tees, hoodies and jeans and mix it up with khakis and a sweater for special events.

[formerlyak]

I'm usually like, "Oh crap! Your pants are too short! Growth spurt? Guess it's time for the next size. You can get away with wearing these for today and I'll run to Target at lunch."

Though with tops I tend to buy a cute t-shirt whenever I see one I like. My boys have tons of t-shirts!

[niq]

For the basics I think we still shop at Fred Meyer (think target) or consignment shops.

msniq is subscribed to a bunch of those flash sale email lists. If he's starting to outgrow his current clothes, she starts paying more attention and picks up anything that looks cute and reasonably priced.

Shoes we try to stick to consignment.

[deo]

I stock up whenever there are big sales from Children's Place or Old Navy. I usually just buy for next season. I do the laundry and usually get them dressed in the mornings so I know what they are going to need next or what they are low on. Snowsuits I buy for the next year when they go on sale.

I have a hard time buying shoes ahead of time because I never know what size they will be for what season. DS2 skipped from size 6 to size 9 in shoes this winter so I have no idea what he will be wearing for sandals or for winter boots next year.