Toddler clothes: Stylish and Affordable

A few weeks ago I went shopping and bought some summer clothes for Abel. I thought I’d share some tips with you for keeping costs down as you buy clothes for your little ones.

I know there are a myriad of ways you can shop and dress your child, but I’m just sharing how I’ve found some clothes I love at a price I love, to dress my baby the way I like! Since Abel is in that stage where I can buy from both the baby section and the kids section, this opened up even more cute options.

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Know What You Need

The first thing you should do is to make a list of what you need. Check your child’s closet, see what they already have, and write down what you’d like to get. I am trying to keep things minimal as it just makes things easier for me, plus buying less = less spending.

Look Online

I am obsessed with the baby and kids clothes that Kmart currently has! I browsed online and used my list to come up with some ideas of what to get Abel. Knowing that I could get everything I needed in one place was helpful. I decided to go into the store in person so I could see which sizes to buy, and to try some shoes on Abel.

Coordinate

Another important factor is buying items that all go together! I have to confess, when Abel was a newborn he had many adorable outfits in cute gender-neutral patterns, but there were so. many. patterns. It was hard to match sometimes! So when I purchased him some clothes this time I looked for plain colours or neutral patterns. I also chose a few colours and stuck with that theme, comparing everything to make sure it went well together.

Then again, not everything has to coordinate. My mom sent Abel some clothes from Primary.com for his birthday and they’re so fun! He also has a few pairs of pants that we already have, but with his cloth nappy bum, pants sizing can be unreliable so those are just ‘we’ll see when these fit’ items.

Multi-Purpose Items

I got Abel two pajama sets, and I made sure at least one of them didn’t necessarily look like pajamas so it can be worn anytime. When choosing a pair of shoes for Abel, I wanted some that could be worn to church but also just anytime we go out. He has some soft-soled bobux that I love, however… they are bright red. They match pretty much nothing he has.

Thrifting

Thrift shopping is a great way to save money. I recently got some baby clothes that were in new condition, for half the retail price. The issue is that it can be a bit hit-or-miss and there’s no guarantee you’ll find what you’re looking for. I’ve been keeping an eye out for shoes for Abel every time I go there, but haven’t found any so I decided it was finally time to suck it up and spend $10 to buy them new.

Buy Used Online

Many times you can also find what you want for less by looking on Facebook Marketplace, Trade Me, Craigslist, etc. I bought Abel’s Bobux on Trade Me for much cheaper than they are new. If you’re looking for name brands this is a good place to start. Bulk lots are also really common, but I have mixed experiences with this. I bought a bulk lot of 0-3 month clothes for Abel and ended up with more than I needed, and much of it wasn’t in great condition and/or wasn’t my style. Because of this now I’d rather buy items individually. If you go this route just be mindful of the condition, style, and quantity.

Try On

Take your child with you if possible so you can make a good guess as to whether the clothing will fit, and then try it on them before taking off the tags (or before purchasing, if you can).

I hope these tips help you with shopping for your kids and finding what you need that’s both affordable and stylish!

Do you recognise the shirt and leggings from the photos above of my Kmart haul? So cute and stylish!

Last weekend we spent the day at the beach and had so much fun. I’ll share some more photos soon. Abel is so different now compared to earlier this year.