Buying jeans for kids

[brookmey]

DD7 needs some new jeans. She hit a big growth spurt over the summer and absolutely nothing from last year fits her. We live in TX, so jeans aren't worn for more than 2-3 months, so I try not to spend more than $10-$15 on them.

In the past 2 years, I've bought her jeans at Old Navy and Children's Place. The prices were right, but I was disappointed in the quality of the jeans. Old Navy's especially. The knees wore out very quickly last year and DD didn't even go outside much for recess because we had a pretty cold February.

So, I'm not sure how to go about it this year. Is it better to spend more on a better quality pair (or 2) or should I continue to spend $15 max on several pairs, knowing that the knees will wear out quickly?

My sister buys all my niece's clothes at Justice and she says the clothes are made well. She used to buy at Old Navy, but now thinks Justice's quality is better. But Justice jeans are just so expensive! And of course, that's what DD wants.

DH thinks I should buy 1 good pair, then 2-3 cheaper pairs. Knowing that jeans are only worn for a short time here does make a difference in what I buy or how much I spend. I've tried buying just leggings and avoiding jeans, but DD gets cold easily and when it's below 50 degrees she doesn't want to wear leggings out for recess because she says her legs get cold.

What do you think? For those who live in the south like me, what do you do?

Thank you!

 

[Alesia]

Buy them at Sears. With the Kidvantage guarantee, if they wear out before she outgrows them, they'll replace them for free.

 

[MichiganKris]

I don't live in the south, so we wear jeans for a longer time each year. When my daughter was that age, I watched the Lands End clearance section for their jeans. I bought most of them for $9 to $12 a pair, that way. The jeans never wore out in the knees before she outgrew them, and she loved the embroidery that went up and down the legs on many of them.

 

[mjkacmom]

I buy the girls jeans at ON, Justice, and P.S. Just a FYI - no one shops Justice without a 40% off coupon - sign up on their website. I do think the jeans at Justice and P.S. are better quality, but we've never had holes in the ON jeans (girls - boys always have holes).

 

[goofyredraider]

I don't find Justice's quality to be great by any means. Plus their prices scare the crud outta me! (even with a 40% coupon).
If you time it right, Gap jeans are wonderful for girls.
I buy my DD's jeans at the end of the season on clearance at Target (think 2.48 each!) I typically buy about 10-12 pairs, so if they wear out, I don't really care They seem to do pretty well, though.

However, I've had great luck with jeans for my boys (much arder on their clothes) from Crazy 8 or TCP. In fact, my youngest son now has his brother's jeans that he wore for 2 falls/winters here in TX and they still look great.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If she only wears jeans for 2-3 months a year, I'd go for the cheap ones. Does she wear out the knees that fast?

 

[MSSANDRA]

If you only have to buy one pair a year, I would make sure I had a good coupon, watch for a sale and indulge her the Justice jean she wants. I would also encourage her to take better care of her "special" jeans, though not to discourage any normal kid play!

 

[SaraJayne]

Justice clothes are not quality. Even with a 40% off coupon, their clothes are still pricey.

I'd stick with either The Children's Place or Crazy 8's for jeans.

 

[brookmey]

Buy them at Sears. With the Kidvantage guarantee, if they wear out before she outgrows them, they'll replace them for free.

I didn't know about this. I'll look into it. Thanks!

I buy the girls jeans at ON, Justice, and P.S. Just a FYI - no one shops Justice without a 40% off coupon - sign up on their website. I do think the jeans at Justice and P.S. are better quality, but we've never had holes in the ON jeans (girls - boys always have holes).

Definitely with the 40% off!

I don't find Justice's quality to be great by any means. Plus their prices scare the crud outta me! (even with a 40% coupon).
If you time it right, Gap jeans are wonderful for girls.
I buy my DD's jeans at the end of the season on clearance at Target (think 2.48 each!) I typically buy about 10-12 pairs, so if they wear out, I don't really care They seem to do pretty well, though.
However, I've had great luck with jeans for my boys (much arder on their clothes) from Crazy 8 or TCP. In fact, my youngest son now has his brother's jeans that he wore for 2 falls/winters here in TX and they still look great.

I haven't looked at Gap, but we have an outlet nearby, so I'll check them out. Thanks!

If she only wears jeans for 2-3 months a year, I'd go for the cheap ones. Does she wear out the knees that fast?

Yes, she plays hard. She plays football with the boys at recess. She gets more stains (mostly dirt and grass) on her clothes than her 5 year old brother. That's a big reason why I don't want to spend a lot on clothes for her, but I have to find jeans that will last longer than 2 months!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Would you consider co-signed or thrift shops? My little guy, goes though any brand of jeans pretty quickly (spends more time on the ground than not) and I can buy a pair for 2-3 dollars that will last as well as a pair that cost 20.00 or more. That way I do not get upset when he come home from preschool with the whole knee gone like he did yesterday

 

[magchavez]

I will only buy Gap jeans for my kids. Everything else seems to wear out so quickly! You can usually find deals online (% off, etc). They were on sale in August in the stores for $15/pair.

 

[angierae]

DD16 is short (4'11") so we still get away with buying jeans in the girls department at Target. They wear out quick, yes, but for $8-10, I don't really care. We buy them 5-6 pair at a time when they are on sale (we have gotten them as low as $6, I think) and then just rotate new ones in as they wear out (and even at 16, the knees wear out because she sits on the floor a lot.)

 

[robinb]

You're in Texas, home of the Just Between Friends consignment sales. I get used name brand jeans in great condition for about $5-$10 each. The clothes are carefully inspected so there are no rips or stains. They are so picky that when I brought one pair of jeans in to sell the inspector rejected it until I pointed out that it was supposed to be distressed . Our local JBT sale goes all the way up to Junior sizing.

Here is a link to the Texas sales. Maybe there is one near you: http://jbfsale.com/findevent/Texas/

 

[brookmey]

You're in Texas, home of the Just Between Friends consignment sales. I get used name brand jeans in great condition for about $5-$10 each. The clothes are carefully inspected so there are no rips or stains. They are so picky that when I brought one pair of jeans in to sell the inspector rejected it until I pointed out that it was supposed to be distressed . Our local JBT sale goes all the way up to Junior sizing.

Here is a link to the Texas sales. Maybe there is one near you: http://jbfsale.com/findevent/Texas/

Thanks, sounds perfect! I missed the fall 2011 events, though. I'll definitely bookmark this to remember for next year!

 

[HLAuburn]

Just bought DD(7) 2 pairs of jeans (one skinny and one bootcut) from Crazy 8. They were on sale for $12 a pair and I also had a 20% coupon. There may be better quality jeans out there, but she will no doubt outgrow them by the time it's cold enough to wear them again, so I don't like to spend a ton on them.

They have a few different shades and cuts and they come in slim, regular, and plus size, which is nice. They also have the elastic inside the waistband too.

 

[happygirl]

I would try thrift stores, you aren't pay much a buck or so and if they wear out who cares you paid a dollar.

 

[skw444]

My dd9 lives in jeans all winter. We have jeans from Target, Old Navy, GAP and Justice. Her GAP and Justice jeans hold up the best. Target and Old Navy wear out very quickly in the knees. I'd rather spend the money up front and have them last then to buy the cheaper jeans and have to buy more. At Justice, they are $22 with a coupon, so not much more than what I pay at Old Navy.

 

[mrs.basil]

Another vote for thrift stores. DD(5) is wearing Levi's, Lands End, and Gap Kids jeans this year--all were $2-3, and they're in good shape.

 

[Shelly888]

Believe it or not, the jeans that we have found to hold up the best for my rough 7 year old are Faded Glory from Walmart! I'm not sure if the girls are the same or not, but I had tried every brand from Gap, to Old Navy to Levis, and they all got ripped holes in the knees. Every. Single. Pair.

Finally, around March, maybe April, the end of his kindergarden year, I found these, and I found them to hold up better than any other pair of jeans I have bought. They sell for between 8-10/pair. I think in the 2 + years he has worn them, 1 pair ripped in the knees, that is it!! We live in crazy cold CT and wear summer clothes basically May-October, the rest is jeans. It is all he wears now on the bottom. For tops we still mix Gymboree, Crazy 8, Lands End, LL Bean, etc.

 

[sk!mom]

I'm in TX too and surprised that you only wear jeans for 2 to 3 months- you must be really far south. Even in a mild year jeans are worn by November and it stays cold through February here.

Anyway...I prefer to shop sales and buy nicer.