Other National Chain Store ~ Discussion: Gymboree ~ Do you buy ahead (in size)?

[my3girlz]

Well having lots of girls is great....except when they're 5 years apart. LOL! Really the only one who is getting the hand-me-downs right now is DD#2. DD#1 is 13.5 yrs old & has a certain style she prefers (Hollister & AE). DD#2 & #3 were same season babies, but I got rid of most of DD#2's stuff, claiming no more kids (that'll teach me...hee hee).

I try to buy ahead a season (or as much as possible)when I find clearance stuff & my kids are used to getting off season clothing for Christmas gifts (hey a $6.90 pair of Hollister shorts is a steal!). DD#1 & #2 are pretty consistent in their sizes right now. DD#3 is the only one moving up slowly. Her Gymboree wardrobe is overflowing for the summer, so I need to get concentrate on the fall/winter

[hbaqueen]

How do you guys decide what sizes to buy?
My almost 15 month old wears a 18-24 so Im thinking maybe a 2T for next summer but I dont know ????
How do you decide it?

[MrsPinecone]

DS has been consistently a size ahead.

He's almost 18 months, and is in 24 month/2T clothes now.

So I am buying 3T for the winter, when he will be 2.

[ShoppingCartDiva]

I got burned on buying ahead when she was little. (Lili is 20 months now.)

Everyone told me to buy large sizes, that babies always wear larger sizes than their age, and I did. She wore newborn/0-3 months for the first 7 months. I had bought lots of 18 month clothes for her first summer, when she'd be almost a year - and they were all huge on here. I had to buy a bunch of 6-9 and 12M. She's now wearing the 18M I bought for last summer. She wears 18-24M Gymboree which is a little big on her, 18M Carters and 24M is big on her but she wears it in just about everything else. 2T positively swims on her.

So there's no real hard and fast rule, IMO. I've always figured, better the clothes be too big than too small, though. I will probably get 3 for my daughter for next summer, though I bet it will be too big on her.

[kintx]

Yeah, the sizes are a guesstimate for us too. Both my kids are rather tall for their age but DD who turned 3 in Feb still wears some 2T and mostly 3T summer clothes from Gymboree. Other brands she needs on average one size bigger, somtimes more. She will probably need 4T for long pants this fall/winter but maybe some of the 3T from last season will still fit too. And yes, when she was a baby she was at least one size if not two ahead but around 2 years old that kinda evened out.
Now DS who just turned one is wearing all kinds of sizes. He does need 12-18 months for length in long pants even in Gymboree but they are too wide on the waist for him. Short and T-shirts he actually wears anything from 9months to 18 months in Gymboree - 24months in other brands.
So, for Gymobree I do buy according to the size they should be wearing at their age but other brands usually run small.

[Mothernature]

I've purchased 2 sizes ahead (summer and winter). This worked well. My son is 4 years old and wears 7/8 cloths. I purchased clearance from JC Pennies, Target, WM (once), TCP, Gymboree, and Crazy Eights.

I received a Kohl's gift card two years ago. I purchased DS a jacket plus two sizes. This winter will mark the 3rd year he has worn this jacket; it is in brand new shape too

[4vaughns]

I usually buy one or two years ahead. I would probably go years in advance on a really good deal, but we have limited storage(like zero..it's all in my mom's attic right now) I am a clearance hound. I love the clearance at Kohl's, Old Navy, Children's Place, and Target. I also hit Walmart when they do 1.00 markdowns...I usually buy everything that is cute. At 1.00, I know someone, somewhere, someday can use it. I also have 3 nieces, so I stock up on clearance for their birthdays..they LOVE clothes.

Last summer I just happened to catch the sale at Limited Too! when they had an extra 50% clearance. I got some great stuff for our oldest niece for her birthday and Christmas. I kicked myself, though, for not getting more!

[backyrat]

I rarely buy something for the current season for either of my girls. I keep seing jeans on clearance right now and wanting to stock up but have to remind myself that I already bought all the jeans my 5 year old could possibly need for school next year.

[kintx]

Originally Posted by backyrat I rarely buy something for the current season for either of my girls. I keep seing jeans on clearance right now and wanting to stock up but have to remind myself that I already bought all the jeans my 5 year old could possibly need for school next year.

Who has good jeans on clearance? I would love to get a few in toddler sizes because DD still fits in all her shirts from last winter but the matching pants are too short - some basic jeans would solve that problem.

[missgymbo]

I don't usually buy much there (obviously), but I did find some jeans for $2.99 the other day at Children's Place. They were marked $6.99, but when they came up $2.99 I went ahead and bought the other 3 they had in my size, too (is it just my CP that can't seem to price anything correctly, or are they all that way?).