Buying baby clothes on a budget-help!

I have 2 one year olds and need to buy them clothes for next year.I spent alot on their summer clothes and will not be able to spend 500+dollrs on their clothes for the next year...can anyone tell me stores online and off that sell baby clothes for cheap?

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5893

I did pretty well at Target, got DD a bunch of t-shirts, some leggings, a skirt, and a dress for $5 or less apiece (dress was a little more) and that's her full summer wardrobe. The dress is even a little shabbosdik. So far the quality is holding up nicely, and they're cute! I also did well at Old Navy clearance once but that's verrrry hit or miss, usually I find nothing.

I find the key is also buying out of season as much as possible. Like now is the time to buy a size or two up for next spring and summer. Everything in children's place is majorly on sale for that now.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5893

The problem with clearance is that they never seem to have the sizes I need, even when I'm looking ahead... Everything I liked in Children's Place last time I looked was only available in smaller sizes, for instance. But I did do pretty well there last fall. I guess bargain hunting is a mazel zach. I used to spend a lot of time looking for the metzias and lately I just decided it was too much like work and switched to just buying things that were cheap to begin with and decided not to worry too hard about quality. But I'm sure my pendulum will swing the other way again one of these days.

Gold Member Joined: Jul 02 2010 Posts: 1416

Why would you need to spend $500 on their clothes? Are you buying everything designer names and not on sale??

There are tons of sales all the time at the children's place, old navy, carter's/oshkosh, etc. Also, if you'd consider it, look to buy "lots" (bunches) of good condition clothes on craig's list.

If some stores still have leftover winter stuff they should be super cheap. I bought my son a winter coat last year around this time at gymboree for $3.99.

To find the best deals always check out the liquidation racks or online the sale items.

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

Is there anyone to give you hand-me-downs? Relatives/neighbors/gemach?

I've always done well with baby/kids' clothing from Target.

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5893

op here..do you think a 14 month old can comfortably wear 18-24 month clothes?
have any of you ever done that?

Executive Member Joined: May 22 2012 Posts: 430

As was said, you need to shop in the clearance section. That means you need to buy things ahead of time, not when the season is approaching. Scout the clearance isles, and buy the good deals - even if your kid won't be wearing it for another while.
The kind of sales you get in the store, is extremely unlikely to happen online.
You can get some really good stuff at old navy and children's place - cuttest things for a few dollars. Walmart has some really good stuff too - no one would know it's from Walmart. Kids at that age just need comfy things you won't need to worry about washing again and again.
TJ Max, Marshals. For European clothing for fraction of Boropark prices go to Daffy's.

Executive Member Joined: May 22 2012 Posts: 430

Platinum Member Joined: Feb 20 2009 Posts: 7666

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5893

Depends how big the baby is! When they start to outgrow/fill out the 12-18, you start on the 18-24!

And yes the brands vary also. I found we grew into most things about the age that it was suggested for (e.g. wearing size 6 months when DD was around 6 months old) but Carters seemed to run long and Children's place was a little on the smaller side - not really small but JUST right, like if it said 9-12 months it wouldn't fit anymore by the end of 12 months whereas other brands always did. Target I didn't discover until recently but I figure they're on the small side too because DD is 19 months old, wearing many clothes size 18 months, but Target's 2T seems to fit her much better, 18 was borderline.

Gold Member Joined: Jul 02 2010 Posts: 1416

For infant clothes, TCP runs small, but starting in their toddler sizes, they run HUGE, especially pants.

Carters I found fit true-to-size, gap and old-navy were also pretty true-to-size (though some gap one-piece outfits run snugger).

I have found some monster sales online - I subscribe to the blog "Kosher on a budget" and she's always posting listings for great sales online at TCP, Carter's, and stores' online sites like walmart, Kohl's and Target.

Silver Member Joined: Jun 08 2010 Posts: 529

Do you have a second hand store by you? I thought the idea was a bit weird at first, but the one by me sanitizes, cleans, and steams everything first. It's all organized by size. I got ds, 15 months a whole summer wardrobe for about $30- he needs to be changed a lot, so that's saying something. all normal brands plus some I wouldn't think or getting for him. Not always so lucky with 3 yo dd, though. I've gotten some great stuff for myself, too. 100% cashmere Bloomingdale's sweater for $3, stuff like that.
Google it for your area and see if there's one near you.

Gold Member Joined: Mar 16 2009 Posts: 2292

Buy a season ahead. And all sales.

So as a season starts you buy nothing. Then sales start. You buy what you still need for that season on sale at the earliest sales. Then at the end of the season when things are super cheap you buy for the next year.. and the year after... That way you can always have stuff at home and you can supplement their wardrobe with what's on sale. I also splurge on cute things I like.

If you aren't that kind of shopper, buy secondhand. Anything else will be more expensive.

Also, and I made big mistakes on this one: my baby was a big baby and she spent very little time on each size. Eg she was size 9 months for only a month. I should have just either bought very little or nothing at all at that size. Or... Babies can wear a size bigger. Obviously you may not want to do this as much when they are up and running, and it's less of a necessity once they stop growing as much.

I shop at Target and buy Carter's there. I buy gymboree on massive sales, sometimes splurge on what I want. Babies R Us also have some nice Carter's stuff. I don't usually like TCP but they have good sales and I sometimes find things I like.

Gold Member Joined: Feb 13 2007 Posts: 1264

I'm not a fan of buying clothes in advance for toddlers. They have unpredictable growth spurts.

I recommend Kohl's and Target. Buy from their displays of folded tops/bottoms, rather than the ones on hangers, which are more expensive. Get darker colors so they won't stain too much.

Active Poster Joined: Nov 06 2011 Posts: 29

Become a member of Zulily.com. They have brand names for awesome deals!!

Moderator Joined: Aug 14 2005 Posts: 4555 Location: Ohio

Pass the word around to people that you will accept hand-me-downs. And shop yard sales. My kids are cutely dressed and I did not buy new for them at that age, with the exception of a few yom tov outfits.
_________________
mommy to 2 girls, 1 boy

"I would rather have my people laugh at my economies than weep for my extravagance."
--King Oscar of Sweden