Mom Blogger, Gina, talks about dressing her three boys in affordable, stylish and durable clothing without breaking the bank, and offers up 3 Hand Me Down Tips When Shopping For Kids Clothes. Disclosure: We received clothing courtesy of The Children’s Place to help facilitate this post.
Our family is spread out all over the country so whenever we have the time for a road trip we go because I dare not take three children under the age of five on a plane. But this holiday season, we opted to stay home and enjoy our oversized tree and warm Florida weather. Since we are the only family members that do not participate in this season people call, “Winter,” our relatives are all flocking to us instead!
Extra time spent with far away cousins, aunts and uncles is good for the soul, especially while the kids are still young. With everyone visiting, this also means that we’re spending a lot of outdoor time at the park, beach, and pool. I know this sounds bananas to anyone North, but the weather here is really amazing!
No matter what time of year it is I always look forward to seeing out of towners, but the time spent with our relatives during the holiday are extra special. I cherish my holiday memories from my own childhood dearly and being able to watch our children enjoy the same pastimes with their cousins warms my heart. Whether they’re just exchanging toys with one another, or eating lots of cookies from Grandma, or just going to visit Santa, they get to do it together. I truly think that having our family with us as we enter the New Year guarantees an encouraging 2017! Don’t you?
Since my kids are running around all day with their cousins, I want them to be dressed in comfortable clothes. But as much as sweatpants and pjs may be on the spectrum when we go to the grocery store (don’t judge, we’ve all had “pj day”), I knew I’d be taking a million pictures to capture this week with our family and they needed to have nicer clothes on.
This is when The Children’s Place came to my rescue. Their tops and bottoms are durable, fashionable and inexpensive and can withstand multiple washes per week without shrinking or getting damaged. So when you’re a mom of boys like me, you know how important it is to have clothes that can be washed over and over and over again. It seems like every time I turn my back, my boys are getting into something dirty and disgusting, which is why my washer and dryer are my best friend. (Sad, but true!)
Plus, their clothes are always incredibly affordable and it’s nice to know that I can always get a super cute shirt or bottom for under 10 bucks! So the other day I went to The Children’s Place to get them some new clothes for our family outings and I walked out with eight pairs of shorts, one pair of pants, three rash guards, eight shirts, six pairs of pajamas, a very girly First Christmas outfit for a friend, and two hats. Can you guess what I spent? Are you ready for this?
I only spent $198.30! That averages about $7 an item! I still can’t believe it!
So if you’re looking to drape your kids in some super cute, coordinated outfits, or show off for the holidays and not blow your budget doing it, I highly recommend taking a trip to your local store. You won’t be disappointed!
Merry Christmas,
Gina
3 “HAND ME DOWN” TIPS WHEN SHOPPING FOR KIDS CLOTHES
1.) Mix and Match Items: Live For Them
I have three boys, so I always make sure that everything can be mixed and matched. This way, if the younger ones are ready for a 3T tee-shirt and a 4T bottom, I can easily dig through the hand me down bins and pull together a new outfit. I never buy “collections” – i.e. everything in a set in one size – because kids never grow that way. One body part always grows bigger before the other!
2.) Think Ahead: Shop End of Season Sales
I always scour the “out of season” racks to see what I can pick up at a severely marked down price. Since my oldest doesn’t get hand me downs, I make sure to shop for him first. If he’s a 5T this fall, chances are solid that he’ll be a 6T or a 7T next fall, so I’ll grab any lightweight sweaters while I can. It’s always sunny in Florida, so sweaters act as coats down here and even if I misguess the size, the little ones can use them later on.
3.) Keep Hand Me Downs In Mind: Avoid Cartoon Characters
I shop with our hand me down bins in mind. This means that when I do need to buy a pricier item, I make sure I buy it in a color that will transcend generations. This means that even if my oldest son loves a certain cartoon character, his Florida “winter gear” will not be sporting it. Why? Well because by the time the little ones fit into it, that character may be so outdated they wouldn’t wear it even if I wrestled them into it!
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