Tesco kids' clothes - false economy?

frostyspice

I've got two little boys aged 3 and 2, and at the moment I'm a stay-at-home-mum. So I'm very careful with the money!

However, I'm beginning to wonder whether it's a false economy to get the super-cheap kids' clothes from Tesco as they look terrible by the time they're passed down to my younger son. For instance, the little cotton long-sleeve tops keep growing to twice their original width and then they just look silly.

anyone else had experience of this? Can I avoid it (I wash them according to wash label, 40deg minimum wash) or can anyone recommend clothes which might be a bit more expensive than the supermarket ones but which will last two boys? Please don't say Boden - they're a rip-off and the blurb in the catalogues REALLY annoys me!

Magentasue

I find clothes from Asda good value and they wear and wash well. Better than QS and Peacocks.

Or try a Redoute catalogue. I find their children's clothes very good. Not as cheap as Asda but they are always sending discount codes and they make generous end of season price cuts. Useful if you buy next summer's shorts etc at the end of summer - that's something I always used to do before my kids got to their teens. They don't grow so predictably now!

rach1973

I often buy these clothes as they are so cheap and I have never had any problems with stretching....infact I find they keep their shape quite well unlike some others I could mention and they don't get those annoying little holes in either :mad:

The T-shirts/Jeans have been passed down from one boy to the other (15 1/2 mths between them) and have gone through Nursery and garden play.

It is even better when they give you the £2.50 off a £10 voucher and you get them in a sale.

I don't know why you are having problems with them.

Zziggi

I've got a 2 year old girl and a 3 year old boy. Obviously only the unisex stuff gets passed down (other than boys PJs & sleepsuits which no-one else sees). I buy Tesco stuff rather than Asda as generally i think even cheap tesco stuff is better than cheap asda stuff and they are of similar prices. I have passed down some unisex clothes and i have found that they are still OK. Some stuff i don;t bother such as jeans as the unisex jeans go so faded i just by some more (at £2 a pair). When you talk of tesco clothes are you meaning the 'value' range or the cherokee? the value range i tend to find aren't suitable for passing on to other children (i buy the value jeans at £2 and value fleece jumpers £2-4).

On the other hand friends have bought me ladybird stuff and adam's clothes and i find that these do wear much better and can easily be passed on to other clothes. However they are double the price of tescos clothes.

I was given lots of french clothes from a (french) friend who had all the stuff sent over from france. Her 4 kids had worn then and her sister's 2 kids. When i got the clothes they were 7th hand(!!!) and still looked absolutely fine to wear. Much better quality but thisis reflecting in the prices if you buy them new.

I personally think there is very little in it. You can buy cheap clothes but they generally only last for one child, or you buy more expensive clothes that might be able to be handed down. As you have 2 children of the same sex then there is a chance they will get used again (barring the child ripping them).

iwanttosave_2

i personally never buy clothes from tesco, the styles are horrible and also the fit, someone bought my baby now 6 months an outfit size newbornwhen he was born, he was nearly 9lb and it didn't fit till he was 2mths. If its cheap clothes i'm after i stick to asda or primark (primark clothes are great unless you get a stain on them), i save the more expensive clothes till they get older, there not in then 2 mins.

I think really that either way you shop you will proberbly spend roughly the same amount, you can either buy cheap for both kids or go expensive and hand down. The only things i kept from fist son was things like his first coat and shoes everything else i gave away. With this one, who has far to many clothes, his are all going on ebay esp his designer items, so i still get some money back.

Bargainbabe_2

I also buy most of my sons clothes from Asda George. Trendy stuff, excellent quality and they wash really well. I've never had a problem with fading colours or items going out of shape. Tesco Cherokee's I've found to good also (although admittedly not as good quality as George) but the value stuff is very much "you get what you pay for"

frostyspice

Zziggi, you're right to draw the distinction between the value range and the Cherokee range. Now I think about it, the Cherokee stuff has generally worn better.

Thanks everyone for your opinions.

carpool72

Asda George, then Tesco Cherokee, then Baby Gap if bought in the sales / outlet (probably still not quite so cheap, but washes really well - have had 3rd & 4th hand stuff that looked almost new) Also have had some H&M stuff that washed well - not one near us so only have a few things that were pressies.
Also, for ultra cheap, have been quite pleased so far with the £1 Asda tops I bought my 2 yo - obviously it's early days as it's only been a few months...

Spendless

I have a 5 year old boy and 2 year old girl so am limited in what I can pass down. Even more so since the girl started refusing to wear blue tops cos they were her brothers:rolleyes: . Asda/Tesco/Primark I find fine. Tesco value def doesn't last as long. The best value I find is a little independant shop in town that sells seconds/surplus stock of big names. They cut out label (but they're not very good at it-intentional or not:D ) so I've had BHS and M&S clothes for a few £££s.

littlereddevil

Tesco underwear is also crap-it lasts about 2 weeks

moo842

i use mini mode from boots, there value range is excellent quality and with all the extra points offers they do it works out super value. it's also on 3 4 2 at the mo. with a £5 voucher back when you spend £20