Buying clothes for next winter?

[galaxy8227]

The Children's Place is having a great winter clearance sale and I wanted to pick up a new jacket for DS for next year. He is currently in their 18-24 month 3-1 jacket (which I Love) so I was trying to figure out where he would be next winter. I was thinking I would order a 3T? I think he'll be in 2T by the summer and I would want to make sure he would get the whole winter out of it.

Is anyone else buying winter stuff now for next year?

[6fsn]

I never have luck buying ahead. I've wasted far more getting the wrong size than I ever save.

[ilikedonuts]

I only buy ahead if its from Carters and I can return it if it doesn't fit (they have no time limit for returns).

I will sometimes buy holiday pjs on clearance from other stores because they are always super cheap and can be worn whenever even if she outgrows or doesn't fit that size in time for the next holiday.

[dcrunnergirl]

I can never figure out the right size to buy ahead, so I stopped doing it. Except for a few things, I can usually get the same deals in season as I can on clearance.

[Ashley&Scott]

I don't buy ahead either. So far this fall/winter M has worn 9m, 12m & now 18m sizes. There's no way I can predict what he'll wear next winter.

[bunch]

I've been fine buying ahead. I'd get 3T and assume it will be fine, even if a little big. Dd has been pretty consistent in growth so far though.

[CloudBee]

Those of you who don't buy ahead - is that the case across the board? Things like pajamas, pants, short and long sleeved tees... they're not very seasonal. Even in warm climates pants or long sleeves may be worn in summer if the AC is on or it's a chilly day. And pajamas - from what I've seen most people don't have summer pajamas and winter pajamas. They mostly just seem to be basic cotton LS pajamas. Please explain!

[pugz]

the only things I usually buy ahead on are pjs since they aren't seasonal. We have well defined seasons here. I can see buying ahead more if you had mild weather (or frigid weather) most of the year.

[Ashley&Scott]

CB, I sometimes buy one size ahead for a few basics: plain white short sleeve & long sleeve onesies, socks & pjs. Not anything else though.

[6fsn]

I guess I consider long sleeve/short sleeve shirts and pants/shorts as seasonal. I don't wear clothes off season so I don't put kids in it. Well, maybe some layering things for tees but it's a rare summer day we stay inside all day. PJs aren't something I buy a lot of so it's not something I think about stock piling. Now that I'm thinking about it, pjs seem to be gifts from people so I've never really bought any.

My son pretty much went from 3T shorts and tees this summer to 5T pants and shirts.

[Deleted]

I haven't bought ahead since I can always find a sale somewhere. DS was inconsistent with size for a long time and I don't have room to store the smaller sizes plus the bigger ones.

[pamela]

My son stalled out just above a 18M so the 2T I bought last winter when he was in 18m clothes are fitting him just a bit big still (too bad he's a shorty). I think you'd be safe with a 3T. That's my plan. But only when I catch the sales for things that are <$5.

[whitepicketfence]

Dec 26, 2012 15:44:47 GMT -5 6fsn said:

I never have luck buying ahead. I've wasted far more getting the wrong size than I ever save.

Ditto.

[pugz]

and I agree there are always good sales to be found. Especially with Carters. I do most of my shopping at the spring and fall consignment sales when it's close to the upcoming seasons so I can better gauge sizing.

[bronxgirl]

I guess DD is very true to size b/c I always buy ahead and have never had any problems.

[ilikedonuts]

Dec 26, 2012 16:59:05 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Those of you who don't buy ahead - is that the case across the board? Things like pajamas, pants, short and long sleeved tees... they're not very seasonal. Even in warm climates pants or long sleeves may be worn in summer if the AC is on or it's a chilly day. And pajamas - from what I've seen most people don't have summer pajamas and winter pajamas. They mostly just seem to be basic cotton LS pajamas. Please explain!

DD only wears short sleeved onesies in the summer. Not regular pjs. Even with the AC, its just too hot for regular pjs.

[dcrunnergirl]

Dec 26, 2012 16:59:05 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Those of you who don't buy ahead - is that the case across the board? Things like pajamas, pants, short and long sleeved tees... they're not very seasonal. Even in warm climates pants or long sleeves may be worn in summer if the AC is on or it's a chilly day. And pajamas - from what I've seen most people don't have summer pajamas and winter pajamas. They mostly just seem to be basic cotton LS pajamas. Please explain!

In the summer, they are always in shorts and t-shirts b/c it's so warm here in DC and shorts are so easy. In fact, I don't think they wore pants or long sleeves from May-early October this year. And, we definitely have summer PJs--they usually just wear short sleeve shirts and diapers to bed with their sleepsack. Even with the AC on, their rooms don't get so cold that they need more than that. In the winter, they wear long sleeves and pants or zip-up PJs.

[GailGoldie]

once my boys hit 1yo they stayed in a size for almost a year.... 2 of my boys were always a year ahead in size (ie- at 1yo they were in 2T) so I have since been able to judge easily what they will be in the next year- and it's worked out well.

the TCP 3-in-1 jackets have run very big in the past few years we have purchased them- so keep that in mind.

i don't buy much ahead - just things like sweaters for xmas next year, I got today online on sale... but regular stuff I buy mostly at consignment b/c it's SO much cheaper (and nicer brands for less) and i can buy it in season and not worry about sizes.

[dragonfly08]

I didn't buy ahead until my girls were over 5 because before then, their growth year to year was way too unpredictable. Now I can usually get away with it because they grow much more slowly, plus if one can't wear it the other usually can so it isn't wasted.

[mollybrown]

I always buy ahead, and rarely do I have things the kids just can't use. If something truly is the wrong season, it just becomes a gift.

When in doubt, I always buy a bigger size. And I mostly buy things that can be used across seasons, like jeans, pants, onesies, leggings, and long sleeved cotton shirts. Once they hit 2T they are in the sizes longer, so generally they are that size at some point in the season. I don't buy things that have a very limited window like snow boots ahead.

[statlerwaldorf]

I never saw a big difference in size between the 18-24 months and 2t. I used them at the same time. I would go with 3t.

[Deleted]

Dec 26, 2012 16:59:05 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Those of you who don't buy ahead - is that the case across the board? Things like pajamas, pants, short and long sleeved tees... they're not very seasonal. Even in warm climates pants or long sleeves may be worn in summer if the AC is on or it's a chilly day. And pajamas - from what I've seen most people don't have summer pajamas and winter pajamas. They mostly just seem to be basic cotton LS pajamas. Please explain!

We absolutely have winter pjs and summer pjs. Warm fuzzy Jammies with feet for winter, tank tops and shorts/lightweight pants for summer. We keep the heat at 63 at night in the winter and AC at 78 in the summer.

That being said, I do buy ahead. But DD is much easier to predict now. Plus with girls, a dress can be a dress, or a shirt when it's too short

[rootbeerfloat]

It was trickier in the beginning, but I do buy ahead. Their growth curves became more predicatable as they got older. Also, I live in a warm climate, so they will always need shorts and tshirts. There were a few long-sleeved outfits baby outfits that they never wore, so I buy cold-weather clothing on an as-needed basis.

[Deleted]

I buy ahead every year. I just cleaned house at old navy. I've never had an issue.

That said, I live in FL so I am not buying jackets. Just shirts and pants and then shorts and tank tops for summer.

[hocus]

Dec 26, 2012 16:59:05 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Those of you who don't buy ahead - is that the case across the board? Things like pajamas, pants, short and long sleeved tees... they're not very seasonal. Even in warm climates pants or long sleeves may be worn in summer if the AC is on or it's a chilly day. And pajamas - from what I've seen most people don't have summer pajamas and winter pajamas. They mostly just seem to be basic cotton LS pajamas. Please explain!

While I supose it is true that you *might* wear pants in the summer it find that 1-2 pairs of pants is more than enough. My kids never wear short sleved T's in the winter unless I run out of clothing. I never buy a head except for PJs and that is because my kids wear winter PJs all year round because the a/c makes their rooms cold and they don't use blankets.

My older child was wearing 18 months by a year and into 2T shortly after that. She skiped 3T almost entirely and went into 4T. By 2 she was handing down clothing to the 3 year old down the hall. At 3 she wears 5 and sometimes 6 depending on the brand. I have her 5T shorts stashed away. If she potty trains she might be able to wear them again next summer since panties are much smaller than a diaper. Even if she does potty train she might still need size 6 or 6X given that she's got a round belly. She just had another growth spurt that probaby added an inch and 1-2 pounds.

I now buy lots of used clothing on ebay. It works pretty well for me. I'm really not very picky about clothing. I find I can get nice clothing for about $2-$3 an item that way. Once my old child starts to really care about what she wears I'll buy her new clothing.