Second hand clothes for kids

[jkljkl]

My daughter is 3, almost all her clothes are bought at garage sales or consignment stores.

My MIL said I should not take my daughter in second-hand clothing stores when she is older, because it will give her a complex and make her feel inferior. Is there some truth to that?

Also, my MIL never buys anything second-hand, not even books. Which I think is strange. I wanted to take her to a thrift store with me one time, and she got very offended.

[Macaela25]

Sounds like your MIL is the one with the complex.

[$Saving!]

My 23 yr old daughter is never ashamed to buy great clothes (some even new with tags) from thrift stores!

Of course I sewed all her clothes up until 6th grade when middle school exposed her to the kids with all the designer stuff Then she wanted clothes from Limited Too. Did that for a couple years, in high school she realized it was all 'show' and didn't make the person any better than the next.

Oh how I love that girl!

[fungirl2727]

I did do a lot of second hand shopping for my daughter when she was young. My daughter is 6 yr now and really don't buy her second hand anymore. I usually don't shop second hand for her anymore. I can get way better deals on new clothes at justice then used. I also don't see what is wrong with second hand stuff. I shop at goodwill near my house all the time and love it.

[JulieDB]

My daughter is 13 now. She likes to buy secondhand because she gets more for money. That being said, most of what I get her inow s new.

When she was younger she would only wear certain styles of clothes. Those were no longer in style but she didn't care. So I had to get used. I found a person who sold on Ebay who was also in the military. Her daughter was one size up from my daughter. So it worked out well. I just bought her used stuff.

But then daughter pitched a fit and refused to wear any more dresses or blue clothing. I had to replace her whole wardrobe.

These days she mostly wears dance clothing. But she also wears sweats and T shirts. She will only wear knits, scoop necks, short sleeves, elastic waists. No other kind of neckline. No woven fabrics. No buttons. She does not care what is in style. And if it has a cat on it, so much the better.

[CW&M Mom]

I think if the parent is on top of what is "cool" your fine...buying thrift/consignment is fine. If you have no idea what is fashionable and cool...your kids will hate you.

[cpaige]

She won't even buy 2nd hand books? um.....yeah. She's weird.

[angeliainwonderland]

I would suggest to MIL that if thats the way she feels maybe she should help buy the new clothes.
My DD is 12. Has always wore mix of used and clearence clothing. I know give each of my 2 kids (son 15) the same amount of cash to buy school clothes with. I took my son, he only wants all new. He got 2 pr jeans, cowboy boots, belt , 2 shirts and a hat. Took DD with same amount she got 7 pr jeans, 3 pr shoes, 15 tshirts, 5 jackets, heavy coat, jewelry etcc, etc... She shopped garage sales, thrift stores and the clearance racks at mall stores. I was sooooo Proud of her!!!!

[angeliainwonderland]

Just wanted to add this because of the "stigma" your MIL seems to be worried about:
My daughters friends are always commenting on how awesome her clothes are.

[fungirl2727]

[QUOTE=angeliainwonderland;3110683]I would suggest to MIL that if thats the way she feels maybe she should help buy the new clothes.
My DD is 12. Has always wore mix of used and clearence clothing. I know give each of my 2 kids (son 15) the same amount of cash to buy school clothes with. I took my son, he only wants all new. He got 2 pr jeans, cowboy boots, belt , 2 shirts and a hat. Took DD with same amount she got 7 pr jeans, 3 pr shoes, 15 tshirts, 5 jackets, heavy coat, jewelry etcc, etc... She shopped garage sales, thrift stores and the clearance racks at mall stores. I was sooooo Proud of her!!!!
My parents use to give me a 1,000 dollars to spend on clothes a yr that included all my shoes. My parents would keep track of money they gave me also. I think it is a great idea for kids 12 or older. It teaches kids to budget there money and watch sales. I will prob give my kids a nice allowance when they get older. They are 3 and 6 now almost 4 and 7. My daughter goes to a charter yr around school that wears uniforms. My son goes to a christian preschool. My daughter wears uniforms to school 5 days a wk. I still buy her lots of nice clothes at justice dirt cheap. My 4 yr old son gets all his clothes at gap that I get 50 percent off. I would shop used if they could beat the sales I get. They can't beat my sale deals though.