I feel like since becoming a parent I am on email lists for every child-related product on the planet! One of the biggest product is clothes. I love oohing and ahhing over cute little girl clothes and shoes. But 17 months into this parenting gig, I absolutely will not stray from my tried and true brands for Miss H. I do not have the opportunity to do a lot of in-store shopping, and if I do, I don’t have time to do a lot of returns. So I absolutely have to know that what I’m going to buy Miss H to wear is going to fit her without a lot of fuss and back-and-forth on sizing. (Even though Mini Boden is about the cutest line of kids clothes ever!)
Gap & Old Navy Clothes
When Miss H was an infant she wore clothes from all over the place – there was no loyalty, only cuteness and convenience! But starting with her clothes for last fall up until now, 95% of Miss H’s wardrobe has been from Gap and Old Navy. I’ve stuck with these brands for the following reason:
- I’ve bought enough of their clothes to know that they will fit Miss H approximately within the designated date ranges (i.e. Miss H is 17 months and just started wearing size 18-24 months from these stores). Other stores tend to confuse me with their sizing – if it is size 18 month, is it for a child approximately 12-18 months or 18-24 months? I never know, and the time it would take to figure out sizing I could have just bought clothes I know will fit.
- I can walk to large Gap and Old Navy stores over my lunch break.
- I have a family member who works for Gap Inc, which means she can buy things for Miss H at a discount.
- With my Old Navy credit card, I am constantly earning rewards with the money I spend at any Gap, Inc store (i.e. Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime) – since I also shop a lot for myself in these stores, I feel like I always have a $10 coupon in my account.
- They are always having sales, often up to 40% off.
- Finally, their stuff is trendy and cute and the quality has stood the test of time in our household (or, you know, as long as an infant or toddler wears something before their grow out of it). I am particular about some items – I will only buy pajamas at Gap because I do not like the quality of Old Navy’s fabric (it has little stretch and is impossible to but on a squirmy LO with a big cloth diaper!). On the flip side, Old Navy’s leggings are a great deal and have held up well for us, along with their t-shirts.
Some of my favorites pieces for this fall include:
Jersey Long-Sleeved Dress
Graphic Fleece Dress
Fun Printed Leggings
Lightweight Fleece Jacket
2-Piece Pajamas
Polka Dot Cardigan
See Kai Run Shoes
I have become just as particular about Miss H’s shoes after buying some shoes for her last summer that I thought would fit her (based on size charts), only to find out that they were HUGE on her little feet. I sent back so many shoes until I bought a pair of See Kai Run shoes from their “Smaller” line (these to be exact. I think they’re sold out everywhere now, but they are just so cute!).
At the time Miss H was right around 5 months old and I bought size 0-6 mo in See Kai Run sizing and the shoe fit perfectly! Since that point I haven’t looked back and have exclusively bought See Kai Run shoes for Miss H (with the exception of a pair of TOMS that I’m pretty sure will never fit her well!). I don’t have to guess about sizing because when she outgrows one pair I know I can bump up to the next size. And while I have heard some negative reviews of their See Kai Run line (hard sole shoes for new walkers; the “Smaller” line is soft sole), we have not have any issues with them. They seem to move and bend well with Miss H.
At 17 months, Miss H is in a size 5/12-18 mo. We just moved up to this size for her fall/winter shoes. I love having the mystery removed from what size shoes to buy for her itty bitty feet!
To get Miss H ready for the colder weather, we’ve bought:
Robyne Sneaker in Navy
Maeve Boot
Both pairs are wonderful, and the boot is especially great – it’s not too clunky and easy to get Miss H’s foot in and out of it!
What kid brands are you loyal to? Do you find that brand loyalty has saved you time and money?
honeydew / 7091 posts
La-la-love that polka dot cardigan!!
I haven’t gotten a chance to develop brand loyalty – we’re still operating on hand-me-downs.
blogger / persimmon / 1220 posts
H&M, Target (Circo, Cherokee, Genuine Kids), and Old Navy are my go-tos.
nectarine / 2280 posts
In the beginning it was the same for us. We just got whatever. Now that she’s an older infant/almost toddler I have a better sense of what I like and how certain brands fit. Makes shopping easier.
ETA: I heart mini boden!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
We have the same store loyalty, with a little Target thrown in!
kiwi / 538 posts
I have a Banana card so ON and Gap are 2 big ones of mine also because the sales are so good. I’m also within walking distance of the stores so I shop at lunch a lot- especially on Tuesdays when there is the extra 10% off. Carter’s and H&M are my other faves.
pomegranate / 3314 posts
Totally agree with See Kai Run. In fact, I recently ordered the same sneakers, as well as the Kesley boots in gray. Loving them both so far.
guest
I agree about the ON pjs. They are great if you can find some of the older used ones, but the new ones are useless, with their super skinny sleeves and legs.
I buy most of my kids stuff at consignment sales and look for Tea, Mini Boden and Cute Gap, then Old Navy and Carters. I know how they fit and what size they really are. I just got some adorable Tea dresses for my newest one for $2 each.
New H&M and pants from Children’s Place for my preschooler boy and Old Navy for everyone if it is the “right” price.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
Old Navy, Gap, and Target! Sometimes Carter’s.
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
Baby Gap is my weakness. Their clothes are so cute and trendy but I also find them so soft and they seem really comfortable. They also hold up really well and with the sales that Gap runs you can often get them at comparable prices to Carter’s and Target clothes.
pomegranate / 3053 posts
Baby Gap for sure! Their sizes have been pretty consistent with my oldest. I’m still trying to figure out my youngest, but I think he’s on the taller side and tend to outgrow a lot of his older brother’s clothes much faster even if their birth month is only a month apart. He is 18 months today and pretty much has outgrown any 12-18 months anything from Gap probably a couple of months ago; while my oldest was still able to wear it for another month after he turned 18 months. Just goes to show how different kids can be and from the same family! I also like Old Navy for their fun character shirts but mostly for their superhero shirts b/c they are a lot less expensive than the Gap ones (which I still love when they are on sale!). I also like Carters for their PJs. I’ve gotten some H&M pants for my oldest and they are not bad. Not a great fit maybe b/c my oldest has thinned out A LOT…. But for the price, not bad!
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
I’m loyal to Gap for clothes, and Stride Rite for shoes. I love Carter’s for newborn essentials like onesies.
olive / 64 posts
Carter’s all the way. Super cute. Great quality. And always seem very comfy. I feel bad for kids who are dressed in trendy clothes that r stiff and hard to run and play in. Or they get in trouble when they get dirty (I’m not talking about ALL trendy clothes. You know what I’m talking about). Of course I buy things here and there from ON, Target, Janie and Jack (only clearance!), Gymboree and Macy’s. you can get great stuff from second hand stores too!
nectarine / 2886 posts
I really love mini boden but only buy their stuff on sale, since it can be pricey. I also love Zara, and it’s really the only brand I pay full price for because by the time they run sales, my LO’s sizes are always gone! Am also a die hard fan of Old Navy’s leggings! For PJs we buy Leveret. Hanna Andersson is great too (especially the Serena & Lily line…droooool) but can’t justify the price!
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
i actually prefer old navy to gap now. they’re clothes have gotten so cute, and you can’t beat the prices and sales! olive is also so slim and old navy runs smaller, so it fits her better. some of gap’s leggings are baggy on olive!
so i highly recommend old navy for skinny babies!
bananas / 9973 posts
Love Miss H’s style and that Heart and Soul dress! Wish they made it in K’s size. I would say I know what brands I like and know the sizing, so I do tend to buy the same brands repeatedly and not worried about buying ahead of time to stock up during sales. Baby Gap makes up the biggest portion of K’s closet. We do a lot of Carter’s footed pjs and play sets for now, Tea Collection, Peek, Ralph Lauren, and Juicy Couture. I love some of the Old Navy and H&M stuff, but I think K is still too young and the fits run big. Hoarded stuff has still yet to be worn. Good to know on the SKR shoes, just ordered a few. Love the first pair you had for her!
apricot / 453 posts
I’m a loyal Gap/ON shopper. Especially since they’ve started offering FREE Return Shipping (this is a big one for me). I agree with @mrs. bee – ON is great for skinnier babies!
kiwi / 511 posts
I wouldn’t say that I am loyal but I tend to shop either Target or Walmart, occasionally Kohl’s if I am desperate because they are easy to get to from work or home.
My issue is my kids are small (as in my 3 year old is wearing 2T and has no butt so he needs those pants with the elastic/button thing and my 15 month old is wearing 9ish month clothing). I looked and nothing is consistent even within brands (I had a photo of 4 pairs of swim trunks from Circo all labeled 9 months all 4 were different lengths, wildly different). Right now the littlest is wearing onesies that are 9 month, 9-12 month, 12 month and 2 are 18 month depending on the brand.
Add on top of that the boys sections are so small it is hard to find anything in any size that I need and I am miserable. Now what I do is I find a shirt or pants that fit currently and take it off the kid and will measure it, be it a shirt, onesie or pants and then measure stuff in the store regardless of size.
Yesterday I was in a Target and couldn’t find any 9 month pants, I was able to get 2 pairs of 12 months after trying 8 pairs on a very patient baby. There were were in the middle of department my DH holding him under the arm pits, and me stripping off pants (he was wearing a onesie and a fresh diaper) and putting them on again, then off and then on.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@Mrs.Maven: i can never find anything in the Target store. I usually have to get it online!
apricot / 279 posts
I buy most of Brielle’s clothes from old navy. When I received the first order for 3-6 months onesies (the little bundles line) and leggings, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the quality is. I’m all about simplicity, and the ON designs are cute and simple! I just bought a bunch of 6-9/6-12 months clothing and again it fits great and looks absolutely adorable on her. I have to say that I also loveeee ON’s socks. They stay on her feet very well and keeps her warm and toasty. I don’t have the store CC but like Mrs.Hopscotch said they always have sales! I can’t bring myself to buy Gap stuff, designs aren’t half as cute as ON’s and always at least twice as expensive, even on sale. And man…I know baby stuff in general are expensive, but wow baby shoes are up there! I better brace myself, Brielle at ten months is learning to walk. Thanks for the see kai run recommendation, I think I’ll use the brand as my starting point!