Shopping for baby clothes

[shinaabikwe]

I am 24 wks pregnant with my first child and we are starting to think about finding clothes.

Currently I work part time and my dh works full time but once the baby arrives I will have to leave my job and then two months later we are going to move and more than likely I will be the sole provider for the fam for awhile...so we anticipate being on a very tight budget for the first year this little one is around. We are both in very working class fields and so even with both of us working we aren't living it up or anything!

So we are thinking we should start stocking up on some clothes now while we have a little more cash...but I need some tips from more experienced bargain shoppers!

I am definitely planning to hit up the second hand kids clothing stores whenever we go to the larger urban area (we live in a medium sized town with limited shopping).

BUT
I am also kind of picky about baby clothes and think most of them are ugly. I am not really a pastel kind of person. We are having a little girl but I despise pink. So I also want tips on how to shop online and get some of the less tacky (IMO) but more expensive brand name stuff cheap!

So please ladies, teach me how to bargain clothes shop for kids! TIA

[Juvysen]

I just bought 4 baby girl summer outfits and two tank tops for my preschooler at old navy for $13. They have good sales, but it's best if you go frequently and look at the sale rack.

They also tend to have more interesting colors available (deep purple, for instance) for baby girls than some other places, ime.

I've heard good things about buying lots on e-bay, too...

[Juvysen]

*

[mnnice]

Honestly, I'd just work on stockpiling cash.

You don't know what the exact growth curve of your child is going to be. You don't know what gifts and handmedowns your going to get. You are unlikely to find nice warm outwear that you will need for MN in a thrift store in AZ (although if you did find something it might be in mint condition).

If you need to nest buying diapers might be more useful. You could work on stockpiling cloth wipes and prefolds (those will work for lots of different body types). Alternatively, you could work at finding good deals on disposible diapers and wipes (in my experience size three and four are the size that were used the longest and size two fit for the shortest amount of time.

[brooks97]

You can try Salvation Army stores. Half the time the have good clothes for sale there. Also pay attention to the sale they have. On certain days they will have buy green tagged clothing, for example for 10 cents, or something like that. I remember spending $10 for 2 full bags of toddler clothes about a year ago.

[jennlyn]

delete

[Ruthiegirl]

Honestly, I wouldn't buy a thing. Friends, family, co-workers will give you stuff. People LOVE buying for babies and you will probably be inundated with stuff. Register for essentials (and the essentials are minimal really) and let everyone know that you need clothing, diapers, wipes, and meals to stock the freezer.

Save, save, save. You can always buy things later if you need to, but you will not be able to easily reproduce these days of two incomes and no daycare costs.

And congrats!!!!

[LaughingHyena]

Got to be quick as it's time for the school run but here are my tips.

* let it be known that you're happy to get hand me downs, or used clothes.

* Don't store stuff you know you won't use due to fabric/logos but I keep everything else. Some things I didn't think I would like suited dd really well and became favorites.

* set up a storage system for clothes bought ahead (eg 1 box per size)

* I now try to keep a list of what I have in stock after ending up with far to many shirts in the same size.

* freecycle, there are lots of kids clothes going round here and I have build up relationships with a couple of reliable people with kids younger then mine who I'll offer stuff to first.

[karkli]

Originally Posted by mnnice

Honestly, I'd just work on stockpiling cash.

You don't know what the exact growth curve of your child is going to be.

This is very true and important. When you take into consideration sizes vs. seasons, stockpiling far in advance is a gamble. For instance, my first DD was in 18 month clothes by the time she was 9 months old, while my second DD still fit into most of her 6 month clothes at the same age! Besides that, the recommendations for how many outfits a baby needs are highly subjective. You may find that you can get by with (and afford) a few high quality items rather than a closetful of things that don't inspire you.

In addition to that, if you're going to be moving, you'd probably be better served by buying as little as possible for the baby until you get to your destination.

And echoing everyone else, never underestimate the generosity of others when it comes to babies. Remember that for every well-dressed baby you see, there's a trail of outgrown clothes that end up somewhere as that baby grows.

[SleeplessMommy]

Freecycle or a few very good yard sales. Babies grow so fast, each outfit is worn for only a short period of time. Plus, some expecting women buy tons of new clothing for their babies. Be sure to ask your friends with older babies for outgrown clothing, as they may feel uncomfortable offering it.

Babies can wear clothing of any gender. When you compare the used price (free to $1.00) to the new price ($12+) for a baby outfit, you will find you can get over colors you don't like, or "wrong gender" clothing. Around age 4-6, kids grow more slowly and the supply of good used clothing is much smaller.

When winter clothing goes on clearance, THAT is the time to buy next years clothing - hopefully $1-2 per piece NEW at Target or Sears.

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by karkli

This is very true and important. When you take into consideration sizes vs. seasons, stockpiling far in advance is a gamble. For instance, my first DD was in 18 month clothes by the time she was 9 months old, while my second DD still fit into most of her 6 month clothes at the same age! Besides that, the recommendations for how many outfits a baby needs are highly subjective. You may find that you can get by with (and afford) a few high quality items rather than a closetful of things that don't inspire you.

I had almost the exact same experience except both my dc are boys. I also remember putting 12 month clothes on ds2 at about 12 months and wondering why they looked so good and had no stains. Then I remembered that ds1 worn them for only six weeks to 2 months at a time when he ate no solid food.

I also had a couple of favorite outfits of ds1 that where useless for ds2 because they were one-piece and by the time they fit ds2 he was using the potty most of the time and looked way too babyish to boot.

[Fujiko]

From cheapest to most expensive, here are sources of clothes:
1. Hand-me-downs/freecycle/gifts (free)
2. Garage Sales
3. Craigslist
4. Jumbo, biannual Consignment sales
5. Second-hand stores like Goodwill
6. Consignment stores
7. Clearance or sales at discount stores
8. Otherwise buying things new

For me, my dd is very little (I'm only 4'11" and my dh was very runty until puberty), so she doesn't grow very fast. This is advantageous because I can pretty accurately predict how big she'll be in the coming season. So I buy her wardrobe pretty much solely from hand-me-downs, garage sales, and the big twice-a-year consignment sales that are held in Portland. Also, this past summer and this coming winter she'll fit into some of the same clothes she wore the previous year. But YMMV.

I'm also expecting a son in February, so I need baby boy clothes now. With both genders, I like to have a good selection of newborn-12 month clothes, and since my babies (and others in my extended family) are average-sized I can predict and buy in the seasons I need. Although, for me at least 0-3 months are clothed pretty much the same in summer or winter (onsies, blankets, hats, sleep sacks) with maybe more little pants or a thin long-sleeved sweatshirt for colder months. (This would obviously include more winter gear if we lived in a colder climate.) After this baby, I will have baby clothes in both genders, so I won't have to worry too much about any future babies. This works for me because I've never been too concerned about having fashionable/designer/"current" clothes or anything like that. And while the clothes are cute, but I'm not going to buy different clothes if my babies have different complexions.

[shayinme]

Originally Posted by Ruthiegirl

Honestly, I wouldn't buy a thing. Friends, family, co-workers will give you stuff. People LOVE buying for babies and you will probably be inundated with stuff. Register for essentials (and the essentials are minimal really) and let everyone know that you need clothing, diapers, wipes, and meals to stock the freezer.

Save, save, save. You can always buy things later if you need to, but you will not be able to easily reproduce these days of two incomes and no daycare costs.

And congrats!!!!

Depending on her family/friend situation this is not always true. When I had my first child almost 18 years ago, I rarely had to buy clothes but at that time I had both a living mother and mother in law. Four years ago I had my second child and pretty much had to buy everything. Much of the family is deceased and closest friends 1100 miles away so no baby showers, and pretty much received very little.

So if she knows she doesn't have much support as far as folks willing to buy items, I would start buying some things now though I would be concerned moving from AZ to MN since two totally different climates.

Places like Kohl's and Old navy are pretty cheap for new clothes and of course yard sales and consignment shops can be good places too.

[Juvysen]

Originally Posted by Fujiko

From cheapest to most expensive, here are sources of clothes:
1. Hand-me-downs/freecycle/gifts (free)
2. Garage Sales
3. Craigslist
4. Jumbo, biannual Consignment sales
5. Second-hand stores like Goodwill
6. Consignment stores
7. Clearance or sales at discount stores
8. Otherwise buying things new

I find that around here, buying clearance items (carefully) I get WAY better deals than the consignment stores around here.

[ChetMC]

Me Too

Originally Posted by Juvysen

I find that around here, buying clearance items (carefully) I get WAY better deals than the consignment stores around here.

This is my experience as well. I cruise the clearance racks, especially at outlet malls. I have lots and lots of shoes that I paid $3 to $5 for. I got DD's last winter coat for $6 marked down from $50. Lots of $1 shirts, $3 pants and $5 dresses. And when I end up not needing all of what I picked up, they make for nice baby gifts or I can sell the stuff on Craigslist or kijiji for a small profit.

[Belia]

I would echo the PPs who say to BEWARE stockpiling clothes, especially as you move to a location that has varied seasons. So many times DS was given clothes for one season, but by the time that season rolled around he had already outgrown them.

Also- you really do a lot of laundry. We probably only had 5-7 outfits per size and it was FINE.

I've had the best luck with waiting until he is starting to outgrow stuff, then hitting the consignment shops / goodwill / salvation army / clearance racks. MAYBE I'll buy one size ahead if I see something I love or a very good deal.

[Noelle C.]

eBay and Freecycle. We have HUNDREDS, literally hundreds, of clothing items in sizes preemie to 2T. All colors and adorable styles. Total spent? About $60 if you include shipping on the one lot off eBay and the gas to pick up a couple Freecycle grabs. One lady's daughter had kept every item her daughter wore, and decided to give them all away on Freecycle, minus baptismal gown. It's also easy to dye pastel things to darker colors.

[twentyalmonds]

I've always found the nicest, name brand clothes for the cheapest prices at yard sales. Obviously, you have to find the right yard sales and that can take time. But when you do find the right one, it can be pretty amazing in terms of quality and price.

[poiyt]

Also facebook. My town has a facebook group (actually several) for selling cvlothing. Much better deals than ctraigslist and things have pictures (very few on craigslist do). You can get the more expensive brands (mexx, gap, gymboree...etc) for like 1.00. Its awesome!

[possum]

Originally Posted by shayinme

Depending on her family/friend situation this is not always true. When I had my first child almost 18 years ago, I rarely had to buy clothes but at that time I had both a living mother and mother in law. Four years ago I had my second child and pretty much had to buy everything. Much of the family is deceased and closest friends 1100 miles away so no baby showers, and pretty much received very little.

Yeh, it always makes me a little sad when someone raves over not having to buy maternity clothes or baby clothes and tells people they won't have to either since people WILL do the same. Mot everybody has a support network, and not everybody's support systems are geared toward helping in this way.
Except for a few special family items and the diapers that my mom and MIL gave us, we have bought almost every stitch of clothing my son has worn in the last 2.5 years.

To the OP, I would get what you think your baby will use in the first few months (pre-move) but not much more than that. You have no idea how what size she will be at any given time, and it would be a terrible waste of time and money to stockpile things that you will not be able to use. Even worse, you might end up moving stuff you won't be able to use. I expected my son to be like me - born smallish, stayed smallish/average. Nope. He's was wearing 12 month clothes at 4 months. At 2.5 he wears 3-4T.
If you find an absolutely fabulous deal on something for later on and want to take a gamble that it will work, go for it, but I wouldn't focus my efforts on getting a year or two's worth of clothing lined up.

We have the best luck at thrift stores. I find that it helps to go multiple times when I am shopping for certain things. For instance, getting together clothes for fall/winter, I started going to GW or SA about once a week in August and have pretty much what we need now (so 5-7 trips probably, and he will be able to use some things from last year that I bought big).
Here, at least, I find that decent brands like GAP, Old Navy, Children's Place, and Carters show up a lot at the thrift stores. I don't know if that is because of who is donating here, if they select out the nice stuff to sell and make rags from the rest, or what, but there are decent brands that come in nice bright and deep colors (we do lots of solid shirts and solid pants as I don't like to worry about matching and don't like pictures on clothes).
We have never bought lots off Ebay because I am picky about prints (no pictures) and fibers (aim for cotton, wool, and linen with no synthetics if I can find it). It's easier for me to find this looking at individual pieces at a store since I'm not willing to pay the $$ for Hanna Anderson and other clothes that would generally meet my specs.

Good luck mama!
Melinda