Shopping Tip if you know Gender (even if you don't)

ladymcp

The winter sales are about to hit if they haven't already hit in your area.  So if you know the gender of your baby now is the BEST time to get a lot of really cute baby items for next winter with a big discount 50% and on.  I know GAP usually in store has amazing sales.  Just a thought.  You can even get items that aren't gender specific.  I bought for my son a year in advance and always saved a ton of money.  

Has anyone already started this?  If you see a great sale pass it along!

MamaC2b2011

No I haven't and honestly, living in a 4 season city, I'd like to however, my kid is going to be bigger than most I'm sure, so I have NO idea what size little one will be. Also, I do not know baby's gender.

cherylanddoug

DH's family has small babies, mine has big babies.  If I bought now half the stuff might not fit by then.  I know we'll get a lot of stuff at the shower and I already have one friend with a boy and one friend with a girl who have promised me their clothes, which is even more cost effective.

KtGirl88

I live in FL so not too much winter stuff here... hehe

ring_pop

I haven't even started thinking about immediate need stuff (carseat), much less stuff I'll need next winter.

ladymcp

I live in a 4 season city too and the general rule of 6-9 months (by winter) will work 90% of the time and if your baby is bigger you just get more then and you will know better for the next season of shopping.  (I have one friend that has a daughter is 97% and a friend that has a son that is off the charts literally and they tower over my 75% child.)  Even if you find some sweaters in solid colors or snow pants, or long sleeve t's and onsies etc it just might be worth it.  Usually you get a million things for infants at your baby shower but nothing for a growing child. 

aozmomma

Ya I've been doing some shopping at local boutiques. Gotta wait for the clearance sale for the prices to be decent.

ladymcp

KtGirl88:

I live in FL so not too much winter stuff here... hehe

Lucky for you weather wise.  Spring/Summer will be your big sale season then.

ladymcp

aozmomma:

Ya I've been doing some shopping at local boutiques. Gotta wait for the clearance sale for the prices to be decent.

I have been looking too.  I hit up the Jacadi sample sale and got a beautiful sweater (cream) for 70% off.  The boutique around the corner put a 50% sign out today, that is what got me really thinking.  Now I have only wait for the 15th to find out what I am having!

LnR70707

No, and I don't plan to.  I have a few hand me downs and I'm sure I'll get gifts, but stocking up on clothes when I don't know how big/small my baby will be next winter is just silly.  Everyone I know with small children has specifically told me not to do that.

mbritto4

I won't be prebuying much since I had a 95th percentile for height and 90th for weight baby with DD so a lot of the things I prebought ended up not fitting for the seasons I needed. 

Kinda hoping I get another girl so I won't have to buy a ton of clothes.  Will find out on the 7th. 

Meijer (in the midwest) starts their baby sale this week.  Had a good deal on onesies and carters clothes.  I think the carters clothes was buy one get one 50% off.

ksevin

I started shopping ahead when DS was about a year.  I had a better idea of his growth pattern by then.  Since then, I purchase about 90% of his clothes the year before and put them aside.  The Children's Place is my big shopping place for deals.  My mom just brought me an entire bag of clothes for him and spent $1.99 on each item.  Girls clothes may be different but the styles in boys really don't change all that much year to year so I'm not too worried what I buy will be out of style by the time he fits into them.

DMBfan41

I agree with a PP that with this being my first one I have NO idea how big or small LO will be when it gets cold.

Although, I did buy an adorable Columbia snowsuit for LO.  I couldn't resist and it was only $20.    

Heather&Ben

I've heard you have to be careful about this as some babies grow so much faster than others & then you are "stuck" w/ clothes you can't use...

christa62908

I agree with many of the postings already. Every baby grows sooo differently! My DD is 11 months and in 12 month clothes and a friend has a son in the same size and he's 5 months old and my niece is 8 months wearing 6 months still-crazy!!! 

The only place I know that has a wonderful return policy is Carter's outlet-there is no time frame at all on their returnes! I LOVE their clothes, they wash very well-stay bright a don't look worn even though DD has worn clothes over and over. I think 90% of her wardrobe is Carters! 

mbritto4

christa62908:

I agree with many of the postings already. Every baby grows sooo differently! My DD is 11 months and in 12 month clothes and a friend has a son in the same size and he's 5 months old and my niece is 8 months wearing 6 months still-crazy!!! 

The only place I know that has a wonderful return policy is Carter's outlet-there is no time frame at all on their returnes! I LOVE their clothes, they wash very well-stay bright a don't look worn even though DD has worn clothes over and over. I think 90% of her wardrobe is Carters! 

It depends on the store.  Some I've seen have a year limit on returns.  But still better than the 30 or 60 day limits at most stores!

LyndseyLC

trust me! I have thought about this! We already bought cute neutral Christmas sleepers on clearance. I can't wait to go shopping once we find out the sex!

We wont find out sex until very end of Feb. or first week in  March.  do you think we will still be able to find good deals??

momtoRaegan041008

Old Navy had an extra 40% off clearance last weekend, plus another 25% off coupon on top of that.  I always buy a year ahead for my daughter.  I have saved a ton of money.  I just spent under $2 on long sleeve shirts for her for next fall/winter.

I want to add that garage sales are a great place to find infant/toddler clothes.  You have to find the good ones, but when you do, it's like hitting the jackpot.  I have found tons of clothes that have only been worn a few times and you usually don't pay more than $3 for them.  The one year I think I got 13 pair of jeans for my daughter for $2 a pair.  They were all Old Navy, Osh Kosh, Gap, and Children's place. 

mpaden

I've bought a few things for my DD in advance (t-shirts and onesies mainly) but it is SO hard to predict size/season! She is super skinny but of average height so she usually wears tops that are true to her age size, but she is almost a year behind on bottoms- she's 2 and she wears 12 and 18month pants because anything bigger falls off!

I feel like tops are an area you can't really go that wrong in, but I can't even buy my DD sets now because the tops and bottoms never fit at the same time!

ladymcp

The whole idea is having the ability to utilize the amazing deals that come up at the end of season.  I love hearing about getting brand new clothes for less than $5 a piece and even $20 for a snowsuit.   

 It worked for me with my son and he will be 7 in March.  He has a skinny waist but longer legs, but that was part of the ebb and flow that I learned as he grew.  I also loved it (still do) when his clothes we bigger.  If it doesn't work for you now, try it next year when you know your baby's growing patterns and sizes a bit more, it really can help, especially if you live in a winter state where you will need coats etc.  

aaahh parenting!  

Sunshine987

I did this with my first and won't do it again.  I ended up with lots of clothing that wouldn't fit DS at the appropriate times.  Even knowing better how the brands' sizing run, I will still wait because children are all different sizes. 

I'm seriously annoyed with myself for doing this.