Toddler UNREALITY Layette

[egoldber]

Hmm. Maybe its me, but I find the Target Circo stuff holds up really well. I will say that I think their cotton knit stuff is better than the wovem cotton stuff. But I got a pair of khaki shorts there last year that she wore ALL last summer and that she will wear all this summer too. I also find that Lands End washes well and holds up well. Frankly, I don't let her play in the dirt in her Hanna stuff!

So for us, her preschool/playground wear is Target or Lands End, with a little Old Navy stuff too. Her nicer outfits and outfits for less dirt-filled outings are Gymboree and Hanna. :)

HTH,

[atlbaby]

I think you're pretty safe with winter-wear. In my experience things don't get nearly as dirty since even when the kids play outside they're in jackets (and perhaps snowpants) and the ground is usually solid! At least that's been my experience. Also, Arielle preferred to stay home a lot of the time anyhow this past winter. I had a hard time actually getting her to take walks/play outside when it wasn't too cold! Guess she just doesn't like the cold like her mommy. :)

as for messy indoor activities, when we do painting or "sink" activities (washing dishes, etc) I just take off her shirt and/or give her a smock so clothes have a better chance at staying clean.

BTW, if you're looking for a good winter jacket for either/both girls I really love LE outerwear. I've used both the buntings and squall parkas and they wash perfectly and are very warm.

-Rachel
Mom to Arielle, 10/30/01
and Daliya, 10/27/03

[pamela mom of 3]

You should see my three and two are not toddlers }(


Well i've tried the cheaper clothes route and they fell apart which ticked me off to no end! Plus some of the stuff is rough so if i didn't like the "feel" of it why would i put it on my child kwim?

I'm sure their are different levels of quality out there, but just going by some things i have tried they fade, shrink and don't wash as well as the higher end labels, plus they aged if that makes any sense at all, they just seemed old & cheap after awhile.

You know it did used to bug me, and sometimes i will go..grrrr when i see that mud up the back, or the grass stained knee but on the whole i admit i have relaxed. The clothing is comfortable and looks nice even if the odd stain is about, i do try to stick to darker colors and if i know their is a super messy project under way, select outfits that would have less risk etc.

What does my toddler do? LOL play in dirt, yeah i'm serious...he finds all the wet spots and the mud/dirt/gravel/sand to play in...that is what he loves to do. If we paint or color it's always washable products, if it's a really messy meal off comes the shirt or all the clothes...he has always hated bibs, so i went this route with him instead.

I also will add i almost always buy on sale, i do try to pass things from my eldest dd to my middle one, but i have found as they get older kids wear stuff out!

So i guess obviously i have no real answer, you go with what you feel comfortable with..above are my reasons for my choices, GL! :)




~Pamela Mom Of 3

http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/...blobflower.gif

[lisams]

:-) I've noticed I'm doing much more Target shopping for clothes than Gymbo these past 3 months. If we're going out (shopping, play group, gymboree play, etc) then I put her in something "nicer" but for all other times it's usually a Target outfit (which I am loving!)

We're also going through AT LEAST 2 outfits a day (due to outdoor play, self feeding, trips to the water park and art projects), so her closet is stocked with super cheap Target outfits because we just can't afford to spend $20 per outfit on 20 outfits.

Lisa

[AngelaS]

The other thing I do, is pair a cute Gap or Gymboree shirt with a pair of denim bottoms. That way she can sit in the dirt and I don't have to worry about her bloomers or light colored bottoms getting trashed, but she still looks cute! :D

[mharling]

kelly ann -
Check your e-mail! :)

Mary & Lane 4/6/03
[link:www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b370a2992536|Birthday Pics!!]

[redgus]

as a mother of two girls i am a devoted gymboree fan for which i never pay full price. those clothes i save for when we go shopping, special occasions,etc. for playing in the back yard it is target brands, walmart, marshalls, tjmaxx, tcp. also, i frequently find very good buys at lord and taylor when i use the 15% or 20% off sale prices coupons they email me. my limit for "play" clothes is $10 and under.
diana and abigail 4/23/01 and emma 1/13/04

[sarsah]

My two boys wear 99% brand name stuff -- mostly Gymboree, Old Navy & Lands End. I buy it on clearance as much as possible and don't spend much more than $5/item. Granted, I have boys and there are far fewer cute choices than for girls. I buy a season ahead of time and put them away for the following year. I'm pretty good at guessing their future sizes, and if I mess up and get something that is too small, I can consign it with the tags still on and make usually at least what I paid for it.

I have also found that the better brands wash really well. I've had Gymboree stuff that my oldest has gotten completely stained & filthy and they've come out of the wash looking like new. I have a high efficiency washer (Whirlpool Calypso) and it gets out so many stains that my previous washer wouldn't touch. I have Gymbo outfits that have been passed around between my friends and are on their third or fourth child and still look great.

Sarah......mom to Jason (5/25/00) & Devin (5/12/03)

[RhondaSue]

I live in the Cleveland area and have always been able to outfit my 2 year old with clothing bought at "mom club" sales. The newspaper always lists the upcoming sales and I have been to a few this spring, spending maybe $25 each time and leaving with a huge amount of nice clothing.

The way I figure it, I can buy a used Gymboree outfit for a few bucks if it is in good condition and I don't worry about dd playing outside. I can even buy "party" clothes because the previous owner of the dress only wore it to parties also, probably 1 or 2 times.

I agree with everybody that the Target brand Circa doesn't hold up. I hate to waste money on cheap clothes that can only be worn a few times.

Garage sales can sometimes be fruitful, but all in all the mom's club sales are awesome because there's not alot of the other junk, just kid's clothing.

[khakismom]

"Maybe its me, but I find the Target Circo stuff holds up really well."

ITA! I've bought Circo playclothes for the past three years and they've held up wonderfully for me--no abnormal shrinking or fading. Sure, her 3T khaki and denim capris that Kathleen lived in all last summer were a little snug by the end of the summer, but she was growing. And I put them away to pass them down to Ellen, who is wearing some 12-18m Circo dresses this summer that were Kathleen's and are still in great condition. And these were the dresses that Kathleen wore to school and got really dirty in.

Perhaps my kids aren't as messy as others. :) But overall, I'm really happy with the Circo line.