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

[ShoppingCartDiva]

Just curious how many others buy ahead. Not just Gymboree, necessarily, but clothes in general. My daughter is 19 months and I have clothes all the way up to a size 8. ;)

I plan on buying the new Gymboree line (Lady Daisy) for NEXT summer, instead of this summer. I really like it, but in Gymboree alone, my Lili Bug has tons of summer clothes.

She has Tropical Garden, Tennis Match, Spring Rainbow, Lady Lovebug, Little Strawberry, Snappy Dresser + Leapin' Lily, My Best Friend, My Pet Goldfish and 2 "unknowns" from the Outlet, all in sizes 18-24M.

[hbaqueen]

Well, I chose option 1 as it was the closest. But I dont technically stock up. If I find something cheap enough that I like I will get it in hopes of it fitting later. But I dont really stock up b/c I dont want to be stuck with a bunch since he grows so fast.
Man Im glad we have a gymbo forum now but Ive been doing so well staying away from my gymbo addiction and you all are making me want to shop!
I do not have the $ for gymbo right now - must repeat that 15 times a day lol
I did get 2 summer outfits since I had GBs and so I did charge $39 but he honestly didnt have any summer stuff and I paid it back with my yard sale money so I dont feel to bad. I have a $10 GC and 2 plums so I need a really good sale so I can get something for just $10 lol

[Mandy]

I do sometimes.

depends. I have a few things for next spring and summer but most of my ahead stuff is fall/winter for Kaida.

now jordan I can anticipate his growth better it seems. and I have stuff up to 5/6 for him (he is barely a 3T). tees/jeans...come on. they'll fit at some point.

[latte]

my kids are 6 and 8 (i dont think ive ever purchased anything from gymboree) but when they were little, i would get clothes in unisex colors for my son, save them for my daughter and if they hadnt been thrashed by her, they got sent to a friend. Now that they are older, my son wears anywhere between 6-8 and my daughter is the same way(the boy is 48 inches, 56 pounds, the girl is 46 inches 54 pounds at their last physicals) so hand me downs dont happpen any more:( but when i find clothes that i like in my price range, i buy what i can afford, and what i can store) as in just because i can afford to get 50 tshirts for $2 each, does not mean i have the space to store them........but ive always been about 6 months ahead on their clothes

[jkelstaten]

I try to stay at least a year ahead. They've been pretty predictable in their growth patterns (except for shoes with DD#1), so I can can generally determine what we'll need. I think we're at a stopping place as far as sizes going up for about a year or two. Seems a bit much considering they are only 3 and 4 years old, but they are in bigger waist sizes (6) because they need the length of the dresses and skirts (they don't wear pants except to bed). So hopefully, they will even out a bit.

But when I do buy ahead it's usually basics like t-shirts, undies, tights, socks, etc. Then I can add the few pieces we need once they actually fit into them. Usually by that time we've gotten some hand-me-downs from friends or received some of my mom's awesome shopping deals.(clothes are MUCH cheaper where she lives and better clearance prices too)

[drnuke14]

I religiously buy season(s) ahead and it's always worked fine for me. Of course, I have 4 (soon to be 5) girls ages 8 and under and I can practically buy any item for any season and someone will be able to wear it, eventually!

[TheWoman]

I always buy ahead from the previous year's clearance. I don't worry so much about it not fitting because I have 4 girls, so it will fit one of them eventually.

Last summer and fall when I was pregnant and EXTREMELY sick and we were building on to our house with dh doing a lot of the work himself I didn't have time or energy to shop. I had to pay a lot more for clothes this year for my oldest because I didn't stock up last year.

As kids get older buying ahead is easier. When they are small and going up a size every couple of months it is difficult to estimate what size they will need for which season. When they are older and go through a size every year or so it is much easier to estimate.

I do not buy many years ahead--usually 2 is my max. If you go beyond that you have to have a place to store them that you will remember when you need them. I would probably have a box in my attic and not be able to find it or not remember it exists and buy more clothes later anyway. Also, elastic and spandex don't last forever. If the clothes have that, you may pull them out years later and find that the elastic doesn't bounce back like it should. Also, in 8 years will the child even like the clothes? Considering that the style would be 8 years out of date your child might not even want to wear them.

[austinmomto2]

I usually do with my daughter. She was pretty consistent with her growth in regards to height but the last few months she has outgrown many 4T clothes and shot straight into 5T.

My chubster 11 month old son is a different story-he's already in 2T clothes. We get a lot of nice name brand never been worn hand me downs from his fashionable cousin. My daughter was a peanut but my son was born a big baby and continues to follow that path, so I am hesitant to buy ahead for him...

[ShoppingCartDiva]

Originally Posted by Mandy depends. I have a few things for next spring and summer but most of my ahead stuff is fall/winter for Kaida.

Kaida is a really pretty name. Lili's first playdate was with a little girl named Kaia. :)


Even though I buy ahead, I got "burned" a little bit at first. Everyone told me, "they never follow the sizes" and "they will always be bigger than the sizes".

Hah! My daughter wore newborn clothes for months, and was in 0-3 months until she was 7 months old. The summer I was pregnant I bought her a bunch of 18M clothes for next summer and 24M for that fall. She is just NOW (almost 2 years after I bought them) getting into 18M. So, I had to adjust.

She also was crazy with shoes. Her feet were TINY, she wore these Baby Gap 0-3M crib shoes until she was 6 or 7 months old. Then all of the sudden, by the time she was 10 months, she was wearing size 5 1/2. :D


I almost envy those of you with lots of girls. ;)

Originally Posted by austinmomto2 My chubster 11 month old son is a different story-he's already in 2T clothes.

My daughter could wear his hand-me-downs, hehe. :D I love how funny babies are in regards to sizing.

[Jillibean]

Heck yeah! I was just at the Gymboree outlet today and found a couple of outfits for my girls for next winter.