There are a lot of options for inexpensive kids clothes these days, but not all of it lasts very long. Many brands don’t hold up for the length of the time where my kid will wear it, let alone being in good enough condition for hand-me-downs for friends. But at the same time, it’s hard to justify spending a lot of money at pricier clothing stores.
I’m always on the lookout for brands that offer both high quality and high value. Here are some places to buy children’s clothes that will last without breaking the bank.
When I need to replenish my son’s wardrobe, often the first place I hit up is Sears. They have good sales, excellent discounts if you join their rewards program, and a variety of brands. They sell the ubiquitous Carters brand which is definitely budget-friendly. Sears also sells their signature Toughskins brand. Toughskins has been around for a long time and specifically promotes their durability. The prices are good to begin with, but the deals are amazing when there’s a sale.
For slightly more expensive options, Sears carries Land’s End. While not as inexpensive as the other brands they carry, Land’s End has a great return policy, so if your childrens’ outfits start to wear and tear before they should you can return them easily, making them a solid option.
We do a bit of shopping at Old Navy, especially for pants. We love the fleece pants for the winter. Old Navy has some fantastic sales and most recently we stocked up on those fleece pants for only $3.99 a piece. Their clearance section is usually filled with lots of goodies if you have the patience to sift through it. I’ve found shirts for less than a dollar.
I always thought Gymboree had adorable clothes, but it was always a bit more than I was willing to spend for children’s clothes. When I stumbled upon Gymboree’s sister store, Crazy 8, I was thrilled. Crazy 8 is to Gymboree as Old Navy is to the Gap. The quality is a little below Gymboree, but it seems better than Carter’s.
There aren’t a ton of Crazy 8 locations right now, but they they seem to be popping up a little more. Otherwise, their website has flat rate $5 for orders under $75 and free standard shipping on orders of $75 or more. Crazy 8 has lots of good sales and coupons, so you can find even better deals.
The Children’s Place has nice jeans at a nice price! They’re adjustable, so if you have a slender kid you don’t have to worry about them sliding off. The regular prices for their jeans usually run at about $20, but they’re almost always on sale.
The Children’s Place is also great for underwear and pajamas. Their underwear prices are better than what I’ve seen elsewhere, even better than Walmart, and they hold up well – even through multiple accidents.
Costco
I’m a huge Costco fan and I use our membership there regularly. While they don’t have a huge selection of clothes in general, what I’ve found there is usually a great deal. I’ve gotten 3-piece outfits there for only about $12. You can find name brand attire, like Adidas track suits. In the fall, they have high quality outerwear, ranging from heavy winter coats to sturdy snow bibs. My whole family loves the socks they sell at Costco!
I love shopping for children’s clothes for my son, friends, and extended family, but I definitely don’t like the price tags I see at some stores. Luckily, by shopping at the stores I listed above, I’ve been able to find plenty of long-lasting kidswear without it impacting our finances too much.