Product Spotlight: Baby Apparel w/o 3-22

krash_ · March 2021

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... baby apparel. Favorite brands or items!

Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.

For S+TMs:

Favorite [baby apparel]:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
What you like about it:
What you don't like about it, if anything:
Is there a [baby apparel] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
Additional thoughts on [baby apparel]:

For FTMs:

[baby apparel] you're interested in:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:

Here is the schedule for the product spotlights to keep track of the topics and threads: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BFKfcrp0DX8dvYklwMEyqaex6ixXUoJ2zRbYirApXd4/edit?usp=sharing

krash_ · March 2021

Favorite [baby apparel]: basically anything from Target but these sleepers in particular
Link/picture: https://www.target.com/p/baby-boys-3pk-sleep-n-play-cloud-island/-/A-79785005?preselect=79399670#lnk=sametab
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $13 for 3
What you like about it: they zip from the bottom! You can change baby in the MOTN without taking their swaddle off or fully undressing them. They also have mittens until the 9 month size and we used the mittens for a long time with DS because he would scratch his eczema.
What you don't like about it, if anything: literally nothing
Is there a [baby apparel] you don't have but are considering? Why?: I'm thinking of getting some bougie sleepers and stuff this time around because why not.
Additional thoughts on [baby apparel]: We also used a lot of white Gerber onesies but their sizes run really small. For cute outfits I like Carters. The fit always worked well for my lanky skinny baby. Gap onesies always ran short and wide. Old Navy fit pretty well so we had some cute stuff from there too. In general just know that baby will likely live in onesies and sleepers for the first 6 months. Cute outfits were only for special occasions and even then we usually ended up in a sleeper after he spit up or peed on his cute outfit.

muggsd · March 2021

Favorite [baby apparel]: Carter’s/Oshkosh
Link/picture: cartersoshkosh.ca
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):$$
What you like about it: by far the most durable for kids clothes that is still reasonably priced. If you get it on sale it can be comparable to old navy, etc.
What you don't like about it, if anything: they tend to go through colour palettes based on season. If you are looking for something specific you might be out of luck.
Is there a [baby apparel] you don't have but are considering? Why?: I also enjoy gap! And Walmart runners are surprisingly durable.
Additional thoughts on [baby apparel]: I made the mistake for a while of getting cheap kids clothes from old navy, H&M and my kids just wore through them so fast. They got stretched out and ugly. I now have committed to just investing a bit more for items that actually last.

muggsd · March 2021

@krash_ definitely second your sizing comments! I also had a skinny baby (#2 was chunky) and it helps to know which brands run slim vs wide!

chewie5990 · March 2021

We really like babygap, carters, and cat and jack (target). I agree with @muggsd that old navy baby clothes stretch out - I don't have any problems with the toddler clothes, but all our old navy onesies have stretched out collars and look awful - the Macy's brand "first impressions" also does the stretching on the collars.

paulpaw · March 2021

I’m a Carter’s girl until kid sizes. Kid sizes I do a lot of target and old navy. Both have reasonable basics. My MIL is silly and buys him Nike and UA so he has a lot of that too. Kid size boy is so boring.

I have 6 bins of baby clothes up to 24 months, I can’t wait to get rid of almost all of except sleepers and onesies. Denim and newborn/infant do not mix. Even separates in general, always riding up or riding down.

I started selling outgrown from prior season right before that season the following year on FB marketplace when we got to the T sizes. I do pretty well on it and I put the money in a drawer to use as fun money for things like the ice cream man or carnival/boardwalk. I wish I did it with the baby sizes too, I definitely did not have to store and move them for 4 years.

cassafrass123 · March 2021

My first was long and slim with most of her height being in her legs. My second was a little round bowling ball. So, I’ve got some experience on sizing for different babies

Favorite [baby apparel]: all around best IMO is Janie & Jack. Best on a more reasonable budget is Carter’s.
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
What you like about it: Janie and Jack’s quality is top notch. It lasts and lasts and looks good forever. Carter’s is always good enough quality to last through one or two babies, and they make it easy to put outfits together.
What you don't like about it, if anything: J&J is expensive as all get out. Carter’s sizes girls sleeves/pants shorter than boys.
Additional thoughts on [baby apparel]: I buy a lot of baby clothes from re-sell stores like Once Upon A Child. It saves my budget!

Good brands for long babies: Burt’s bees, children’s place (Children’s Place also starts slim sizes at size 4 when your child gets bigger. Most every other store starts at 5 or 6), H&M.

Good brands for more chubby babies: Carter’s, Cloud Island (at Target), Jumping Bean (at Kohl’s)

a lot of those stores have stuff that will fit many different shapes of baby, but those were my best brands for those shaped babies.

muggsd · March 2021

@cassafrass123 my kids were exactly the same 😂 I found Carter’s ran slim though 🤷🏻‍♀️

We always had issues with sleepers for my first cause she would be too tall for the size that actually fit well. The best ones for that issue that we had were the Carter’s footie ones. Or gap kids 2 piece pyjama sets when she was older

kissyfir1586 · March 2021

Another vote for Carter's. Granted, it's been awhile since I went out and actually shopped for children's clothes. DS2 got all of DS1s hand me downs, plus those from my nephew, so I very sporadically have ever had to buy him clothes! I will say that DS1, who I actually shopped for, was really really chunky and Carter's always seemed to fit. I also loved Children's Place for him, and noticed their sizes seemed to be roomy. I never could get the children's place clothes to fit DS2, who was my skinny string bean.

I also love shopping the consignment stores...we have Once Upon a Child here as well and it's great! I also recently discovered this event in my area called Three Bags Full. I'm assuming it's just a local thing here in Ohio, but it's basically a huge pop up kids consignment event. Ill definitely be shopping for kids clothes there as soon as I find out the gender (STILL impatiently waiting for those NIPT results 😭).

marymh80 · March 2021

Now is actually a great time to shop Carter's and Target for sale items. They've put all their winter stuff out, and I've scored a TON of stuff that will be great for fall (three piece sets with jackets and long pants).

And there's pretty much never a reason to pay full price for Carter's! There's almost always a coupon somewhere or just wait until what you need is featured as a door buster.

It took a while to figure out sizing for Carters. Because they don't have any 0 month clothes, I figured out their 3 month size is really more like 0-3 in other brands so you have to remember to try it on your kid BEFORE they're 3 months old. (at least that was true for my son) And 6 month is like 3-6, etc.

For infants, I like the gowns for night time. Zippers and snaps at night are too annoying. I prefer the sizing on Carters ones. I got some Gerber ones for my son and they seemed HUGE (they probably would have fit him passed 9 months but were 0-6 months).

Baby Girl Carters 2-Pack Sleeper Gowns

I also prefer these swaddles (swaddle me pod) for the same reason. They zip up from the bottom so you can keep their arms contained. Very easy access!

Image: https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/GUEST_30b8ddca-a65d-4f6e-85b5-3a2908fde5e3?wid=253&hei=253&qlt=80&fmt=webp

marymh80 · March 2021

@muggsd I've had the same issue with Carter's pjs (and rompers)! I always go up a size for my son, who's like, 15th percentile. I think he's just long in the torso? He always goes up a size in those way before anything else.

williams-jen · March 2021

Carter’s, Old Navy, and when walking Children’s Place. My first baby has been long and slim his whole life, and osh kosh has always been too wide-waisted. We’ll see how his brother will be!

chewie5990 · March 2021

yes about Carters sizes! I'm always reminding my mom to think about the size as the LAST month baby will wear it -- 3 month = 0-3M, 6 month = 3-6 month, etc. etc.

cassafrass123 · March 2021

@williams-jen why is Children’s Place so good at sizing though?! I swear it’s the only store making pants to fit my lanky girl, but I have friends, and people on this thread, talking about how their stuff is what actually fits their wider kids!

I just wish they didn’t have such a more-is-more attitude with their shirts!!

chewie5990 · March 2021

I have a skinny/shrimpy 5 yr old and The Children's Place jeans are definitely #1 for fit - I don't feel like their tops fit any different/better than other places though. And I think The Children's Place starts using the waist adjusters at an earlier size than other places typically do...I might be wrong about that though..or it could have changed in the last 5 years

agea · April 2021

I prefer Target to Carter’s. And I think Target is better for toddlers than babies.

For babies by far my favorite sleepers are Hanna Andersson. They are pricey but go on sale and are great quality. Plus Amazon sells a slightly cheaper version via Moon & Back line that is great too.

I also like Primary a lot. They do footless and footed rompers, I usually opt footless plus socks.

HA has best socks but I only buy them on sale.

H&M is a favorite for baby basics especially their onesies that snap at the neck. I can’t stand the foldover necks on most onesies, they stretch out and just aggravate me.

Example of HA rompers
https://www.hannaandersson.com/sale-event-hs/62027-TX9.html?dwvar_62027-TX9_color=TX9&cgid=sale-event-hs

These socks are awesome and worth it
https://www.hannaandersson.com/baby-accessories-socks-tights/44967-GN1.html?dwvar_44967-GN1_color=GN1&cgid=

HA by Amazon

https://smile.amazon.com/Moon-Back-Hanna-Andersson-Footless/dp/B07ZR33W7P/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=hanna+andersson+pajamas&qid=1617469040&sprefix=hann&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUDlMQTlTNllBVjhNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzQxNTM1MVJSNVdFVlJDRkJVMCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzg1ODc0MkQzQTFWQVkxM1RHWSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Primary just ended their 25% off sale but has relatively frequent promotions. Love the color assortment available and everything is unisex. With three boys we like COLOR.
https://www.primary.com/shop/baby/rompers/the-new-zip-romper?color=sky&ref=plp_pdp_g1_1

love the kimono tops for newbs but everywhere sells them
https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0827318009.html

heres an example of the snap shoulders that just look so much nicer:
https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0942293004.html
https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0900670001.html

Also two notes-
im sure you’ve heard a million times to do zips instead of snaps. This is good advice.

Find some jackets/sweaters without hoods. Everywhere sells hoodies for babies and they’re not all that practical.
it was nearly impossible to find a zip up sweatshirt sans hoodie and we used it all the time. I like hoodies better for toddlers and beyond.

krash_ · April 2021

@agea yes the number of hoods on baby items was maddening! When sending DS to daycare I didn't want anything extra that his teacher would have to remember to take off and I wouldn't want him napping in a hooded sweatshirt. I only used them if I really wanted to for the outfit and when DS was home with us all day.

Also I didn't like the fit of Primary. I got some sleepers and the arms were so incredibly tight, even though DS was skinny and lanky, the sweatpants ran really small and the sweatshirts ran huge.

paulpaw · April 2021

@krash_ I agree on primary fit and it varies by color. I ordered 3 different pj colors, the blue and green were ok but the orange didn’t work for us at all. I even sized up!

I do like getting solid rash guards there when I can’t find ones without stupid saying on them elsewhere. But I size way up because the run smaller.

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