I feel like I spend about £150 on kids clothes about every 3 months. Neither Sam nor Kitty seem to me to get much bigger in the interim, but suddenly one day sweaters, which have been loose and baggy, are stretched across tummies like Billy Bunter’s jacket, ankles poke out of the end of trousers, Sam’s cords are so tight that he cannot climb stairs.
Everyone has their sworn-by place to get kids clothes. I have always been a fan of H&M, but the sizes are such pot-luck even outside of sale-time. Whatever size your kid is, everyone else also seems to have a kid that size and they’ve taken all the navy joggers.
I recently had a bit of luck in Next, especially with navy joggers – with the added bonus that if you order online it comes practically within the hour. But there is also something perfunctory and unsatisfying about Next, just generally – not just for children’s clothes.
The only shop that sells leggings that I find do not instantly sag in the crotch on Kitty are from Little Bird, Jools Oliver’s range for Mothercare. There is a certain sort of mother for whom Little Bird is the apogee of ghastliness, and I get it, but that mother is not me. I bought three pairs of these leggings – two for now and one for when she grows out of them next week.
I am also on a bit of a rainbow-motif jag at the moment and love this sweater so much that I got one for Kitty and one for Sam.
I find as long as you avoid the more garish patterns and prints, Boden make good clothes for kids, they’re just so very sturdy.
If you do want anything for your kids for Spring/Summer – especially swimwear – get it now as Boden sells out quickly after the catalogue arrives, which it will any day now.
Kitty lives in playsuits in the summer – put in by me because a) I can’t bear catching sight of girls’ knickers on climbing frames in the summer and b) I can’t wear playsuits or jumpsuits because of my long back disease but would dearly like to.
And this sweater for Sam just seemed marvellous. But I may have lost my judgment a bit by that point.
I adore playsuits. But once they’re out of nappies I don’t bother because don’t they drive you crazy every time they need the toilet?!
Happy New Year ! Speaking of getting in quick at Boden I’ve already perused their new Johnny B range to avoid repeating the catastrophic disappointment of missing the fairisle jumper. Shopping, as an adult, from teenage ranges may be worth a post to winkle out of readers other places of interest. For example there are good basic shoes and boots at Russell & Bromley if you are size 6 or under. My 4 year old daughter has a terrific sparkly charcoal grey sweatshirt from Next that I had my eye on but it completely sold out in age 15 and 16 very early on. I think this phenomenon of adults shopping from children’s ranges is a “thing”.
Great blog Esther (I loved recipe rifle too)!
Yes agreed that kids’ clothes are fiendishly tricky.
I’ve found that M&S jeans for my son have tended to work over the years (as no buttons and comfy), and also H&M for the odd nifty gem/Hawaiian shirt/khaki shirts (as well as crazily cheap summer t-shirts).
My kids are both 7 now, and we’ve also started branching into slightly more expensive/nicer fare – top of the list for girls is http://www.ilovegorgeous.co.uk, and http://www.frankieandava.com (set up by friends of ours).
The sales beckon!
Verbaudet is good for kids clothes too. And once you’ve bought something from them they bombard you with discount vouchers for future purchases.
I find playsuits too fiddly, but it is really difficult to find decent summer shorts for girls. Mine is only 2 but she isn’t a skirt wearer, she likes to climb and always gets tangled up, doesn’t like tights. I’ve never had sizing problems with H and M, my kids must just be the right shape, and I like their jogger style jeans. The Boden things are lovely, but I just couldn’t think of spending 30 quid on a child’s jumper, my children are too hard on their stuff at the moment!
I buy navy joggers in Asda!! And all our basics come from Gap/P.o.P with pretty things from Boden thrown into the mix. And agree with the person above ref the potty-training/onesie issue. Baby is wearing dungarees every damn day from now until he starts to train coz they’re so damn cute and I’ll miss them when they’re gone 🙁
I sometimes flirt with Zara.
you’re only human
I love their kids clothing .. they are the cutest and colorful.i would like to special thanks for sharing this blog