Kids’ clothing is a uniquely frustrating expense for families: children grow fast, outgrow clothes before they wear out, and have strong opinions about what they’ll actually wear. A family with two children in different sizes can easily spend $500–$1,000 per year on clothes that last one season before being outgrown.
It doesn’t have to be that way. The families who spend the least on kids’ clothing aren’t buying from clearance bins at low-quality stores—they’re shopping smarter, buying at the right time, and using a system. Here’s exactly how to do it.
Buy One Size Up at End-of-Season Sales
The single most powerful kids’ clothing strategy is buying one size ahead at clearance. When winter clearance hits in January and February (50–75% off), buy next winter’s coats, sweaters, and cold-weather gear in one size larger than your child is currently wearing. Do the same in July and August with summer clearance.
This strategy works because:
- You’re paying clearance prices (50–75% off) instead of full retail
- Children grow predictably—if your 4-year-old is in a size 4T, they’ll almost certainly be in a 5T next winter
- You’re shopping with no urgency—not scrambling when your child suddenly needs a new coat in November
The savings are significant. A quality winter coat at Old Navy or Carter’s retails for $50–$80. The same coat at January clearance sells for $12–$25. Buy three kids’ winter coats per year on clearance and you’ve saved $100–$150 versus buying in season.
Best Places to Buy Kids’ Clothing on a Budget
For New Clothing: Best Prices and Quality
- Old Navy — The sweet spot for kids’ clothing: decent quality, good sizing variety, and deep sale cycles. Old Navy runs 40–50% off sales almost every other week, and their end-of-season clearance regularly hits 60–70% off. Sign up for their emails or use a discount browser extension to never pay full price. Old Navy kids’ basics (t-shirts, leggings, jeans) hold up well through multiple kids.
- Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh — Carter’s runs frequent sales and a Points program (Carter’s Cash) that rewards repeat purchases. Baby and toddler clothing quality is excellent. Watch for their “Buy 5 for $25” deals on basics which deliver exceptional value. Their end-of-season sales are among the deepest in kids’ retail.
- Amazon Essentials Kids — Amazon’s house brand produces genuinely good-quality basics (t-shirts, underwear, socks, leggings) at prices well below traditional retailers. A pack of 6 kids’ underwear from Amazon Essentials costs $10–$14 versus $20+ at major retailers. Quality holds up through washing surprisingly well.
- Target (Cat & Jack) — Target’s Cat & Jack line has a one-year quality guarantee—if the item wears out within a year, Target will replace it. Quality has been consistently good, and Target’s seasonal clearance brings Cat & Jack prices down to very reasonable levels.
- Walmart (Wonder Nation) — For basics, Walmart’s house brand is hard to beat on price. Everyday leggings, t-shirts, and underwear are functional and inexpensive, which matters when items get outgrown in 6 months anyway.
For Secondhand Clothing: Significant Savings
- ThredUp — The largest online secondhand clothing marketplace. Kids’ clothing condition is graded and photographed; you can search by size, brand, and price. Prices are typically 60–80% below retail. Their “Good” and “Like New” conditions are generally reliable. Kid-specific brands like Gymboree, Mini Boden, and Children’s Place appear regularly at a fraction of original retail.
- Poshmark and Mercari — Peer-to-peer selling apps where parents resell their children’s outgrown clothing. Find popular brands (Patagonia kids, Boden, Mini Boden, Hanna Andersson) at 50–70% off. The key is searching by specific item and size rather than browsing.
- Facebook Marketplace and local buy-nothing groups — Bundles of kids’ clothing in specific sizes go for almost nothing locally, especially when parents are clearing out a child who’s grown past a size. A $15 bundle of 12 items in toddler 3T beats any retail purchase.
- Local consignment shops — Children’s Orchard, Once Upon a Child, and local consignment stores carry gently used kids’ clothing at 50–80% below retail. Quality is usually better in person than online because consignment stores inspect items.
What’s Worth Buying Secondhand vs. New
Not all kids’ clothing is worth buying used. Here’s the breakdown:
| Buy Secondhand | Buy New |
|---|---|
| Outerwear (coats, snow pants, rain jackets) | Underwear and socks |
| Jeans and pants | Swimwear |
| Special occasion/holiday outfits | Shoes (hygiene + foot support) |
| Name-brand items (Patagonia, Boden) | Items your child wants in a specific style |
| Dress-up and play clothes | School uniform basics |
| Books and costumes | Bras and undergarments for older kids |
The Seasonal Sales Calendar for Kids’ Clothing
January–February: Winter Clearance
Best time to buy: coats, snow pants, sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, boots, and cold-weather accessories for next winter. Discounts of 50–75% are standard. Old Navy, Carter’s, Children’s Place, and Gap all run deep January clearance.
July–August: Summer Clearance + Back-to-School
Summer clearance (swimsuits, shorts, summer dresses) starts in late July at 40–60% off. Simultaneously, back-to-school sales begin, making August the best time to stock up on jeans, leggings, t-shirts, and school shoes. Shop late July through mid-August for the best overlap of deals.
November: Black Friday and Holiday Sales
Most major kids’ clothing retailers (Gap, Old Navy, Carter’s, Children’s Place) run 40–60% off promotions during Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Good time to buy fall and winter items if you missed the January clearance, and to stock up on holiday outfits before the season.
December 26+: Holiday Clearance
Holiday-themed clothing, dresses, dress shirts, and festive items go 50–75% off immediately after Christmas. Buy next year’s holiday outfits the day after Christmas and save dramatically versus buying in December.
Strategies to Minimize Kids’ Clothing Spending Overall
Create a Capsule Wardrobe for Each Season
Instead of buying many inexpensive items that don’t coordinate, buy fewer versatile pieces that mix and match. A child’s seasonal wardrobe needs to be functional, not extensive: 5–7 tops, 3–4 bottoms, 1–2 nicer outfits, and appropriate outerwear covers almost every situation. Fewer pieces means less spending and less laundry.
Track Sizes and Growth Between Siblings
If you have more than one child, keep a simple record of what size each child wore at what age. Clothing that the older child outgrows can pass to the younger one—eliminating the need to buy many items for child #2 at all. For this to work, quality matters: buy items from Carter’s, Old Navy, and similar brands that hold up through multiple children.
Use a Storage Bin System
Keep a labeled bin for the “next size up” for each child. As you acquire clearance items or hand-me-downs, sort them into the appropriate bin. When a child grows into a size, you already have a ready wardrobe waiting—no emergency shopping trip needed.
Sell What Kids Outgrow
Reselling outgrown kids’ clothing on ThredUp, Poshmark, Mercari, or locally offsets what you spend buying new. Popular brands (Gap, Carter’s, Old Navy, Gymboree, Patagonia, Boden) resell well. The effort-to-return ratio is better for higher-quality items—cheap clothing from Walmart isn’t worth the effort to resell, but a $60 Patagonia fleece might sell for $20–$30 used.
Join and Use Brand Loyalty Programs
- Carter’s Rewards — Earns Carter’s Cash on purchases, provides birthday discounts and member-exclusive sale access
- Old Navy Navyist Rewards — Points on purchases redeemable for Super Cash rewards
- Target Circle — 1% back on all purchases plus targeted discounts on kids’ clothing categories
- Gap Good Rewards — Covers Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta; points earn across all brands
How to Save on Shoes (The Most Expensive Kids’ Category)
Kids’ shoes are expensive and outgrown fast—it’s a painful combination. A few strategies reduce the sting:
- Buy shoes at the transition between seasons — End-of-summer sandal clearance in August/September, and end-of-winter boot clearance in February/March, offer 40–60% off. Snag next season’s sizes during clearance.
- DSW, Shoe Carnival, and Rack stores — These carry quality brands at lower prices than department stores, especially during semi-annual clearance events.
- Puma, Skechers, and New Balance for athletic shoes — Comparable durability to Nike and Adidas at 30–50% lower prices. Kids’ feet grow fast enough that a $35 pair of Pumas performs identically to $75 Nikes for the 4 months they’ll actually fit.
- Don’t buy secondhand shoes for growing children — Shoes mold to the wearer’s foot over time. Used shoes can affect gait and foot development. This is one category where new is worth the extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should you spend on kids’ clothing per year?
The USDA estimates families spend $800–$1,400 per year on clothing per child. Families using clearance shopping, secondhand sources, and hand-me-down systems routinely spend $200–$400 per child per year with no sacrifice in quality.
Is ThredUp worth it for kids’ clothing?
Yes for most categories. ThredUp’s kids’ section has extensive inventory at 60–80% off retail, with reliable condition grading. Best values are on quality brands (Gymboree, Mini Boden, Children’s Place) that were originally expensive but resell well. Account for shipping costs when calculating savings.
When do kids’ clothing sales happen?
Major clearance events: January–February (winter clearance, 50–75% off), July–August (summer clearance + back-to-school, 40–60% off), November (Black Friday, 40–60% off), and December 26+ (holiday clearance, 50–75% off).
What kids’ clothing brands hold up best through multiple children?
Carter’s, Old Navy, Hanna Andersson, Patagonia Kids, and Mini Boden consistently hold up through 2–3 children with proper care. These brands are worth spending slightly more on (or buying secondhand) because the quality justifies passing them down.
The Bottom Line
The key insight about kids’ clothing is that the purchase timing and sourcing matter far more than hunting for deals in the moment. Buy one size ahead at end-of-season clearance, build in secondhand shopping for categories where it makes sense, use a size storage system to stay organized, and resell what kids outgrow to offset future purchases. Families who implement these strategies consistently spend 50–70% less on kids’ clothing than the average—without their children wearing anything but quality, age-appropriate clothes.
