A helping hand-me-down

Two mothers tell ROSEMARY MAC CABEhow they avoid spending a fortune on their kids' clothing

THERE ARE a few things that are guaranteed to make any right-thinking individual smile. A dog with its head out a car window, for example, ears flapping in the breeze. A small child in a Breton stripe and a pair of Converse. But, picture-perfect postcard imagery aside, how do you decide how to dress your child? Does it matter what colour their babygros are? Where do you get the best value for money when buying clothes that will last approximately until your next square meal?

Roseanne Smith is a recruitment consultant who lives in Crumlin with her husband Vinnie Meyler, their three children – Garman (8), Setanta (5) and Ada (2). Smith is a self-confessed functional clothes-buyer, at least when it comes to her children. “I’m not very fussy about where I buy my kids’ clothes,” she says. “I get really basic stuff in Dunnes. Its vests and babygros are great value and some have stood up to being handed down.”

Any middle or youngest child knows that hand-me-downs are an essential of child-rearing. It’s something that Ellie Balfe knows all too well. Balfe’s two girls, Lulu (3) and Anna (4 months) have more in common than their DNA; several items will do the rounds between the two and, says Balfe, more besides. “I kept all of my favourite bits from Lu’s baby wardrobe,” says Balfe. “The rest did the rounds among my friends: every time a new baby is born, a job lot of clothes arrives from the last baby to wear them. It makes sense: they grow out of them really quickly so we all decided to share.”

There are some items that will need to be bought. Where do you start? “My favourite shops for Lulu are Zara, H&M and Du Pareil au Même in Dundrum Town Centre,” says Balfe. “The children’s department in Brown Thomas is divine, but pricey, and I find Penneys great for cheap and cheerful bits. I love HM’s skinny jeans; they come with a kind of adjustable waistband, like maternity jeans, that you can let in or out.”

Smith also favours H&M. “They have lovely colour palettes. They’re generally well made and hardwearing and, most importantly, good value,” she says. “They go beyond pink for girls and blue for boys which, sadly, Penneys can tend a little towards,” says Smith.

On the topic of gender-toned clothing, she would also advise against tailoring your babygros. “Those baby pastels don’t suit many babies, and can be really insipid, especially in photos.”

For Balfe, pre-walker shoes from Pediped ( pediped.com), found in the US, were a godsend. "They do cute designs but in a butter-soft, almost like ballet-shoe leather; great for getting them used to the idea of shoes before they wear shoes with hard soles."

Smith is a big fan of Puddleducks ( puddleducks.ie), an Irish-based children's outdoor clothing company. "We cycle every day and their raingear has defrazzled many a wet morning," she says. "It's also made camping in Ireland possible even with a wobbler in tow."

Of course, the birth of a child is also a time for gifts. Are there any items of which Balfe and Smith got too many, or would have liked more of?

“Giving newborn clothes is pointless,” says Smith. “Buy age one because they will be in season and a much-needed injection long after the newborn stuff is in the attic.”

Balfe advises being forthright with your friends, who may be well-meaning but often misguided. “Don’t be afraid to give guidance,” she says. “Just indicate that you need a few cardigans or hats or an outdoor all-in-one. It means you’ll get what you need and it’ll save you having to trek to the shops and return things with a new baby in tow.” For Smith, too, there is no point in skirting around the issue. “Accept hand-me-downs,” she says. “And don’t spend too much money on your kids’ clothes: you’ll need it to pay for childminders.”

Reader Query

I spend most of my weekends running around after my one-and-a-half-year-old son - chasing him in the park or playing on the ground with him. So it’s difficult to find clothes for me that are comfortable, suitable for all the frenzied activity, and able to handle a good wash (did I mention snotty noses and hands covered in mashed banana?). Am I doomed to a life of tracksuit bottoms and leggings?

Sarah, by email

While I would encourage you to stay away from wearing tracksuit bottoms on a daily basis (remember, what would your Parisian self do?), there’s nothing wrong with a good pair of leggings if worn under a decent tunic or dress. They’re comfortable and stretchy, you’ll never have to worry about builder’s crack and they wash well. Topshop and Dorothy Perkins are good bets. Invest a little bit (still sub-€20) to get the best wear.

Prints are a mother’s best friend. A subtle print masks all sorts of evils – banana, snot, spat-up milk – and, even if you get a stain, say, of Ribena or mashed-up blueberries, choose your print wisely and no one will be any the wiser. Topshop’s Aztec-print dress (left, €40) will look great with a pair of leggings and will work for summer and winter, as well as being machine-washable. Cos provides another print option in the form of this print-panel cardigan (€59), which you could throw on top of a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Again, it’s machine washable.

If print isn’t your thing, look for solids in dark shades, but not black, which has a tendency to show up the most minor of upsets. This khaki jumper from Asos (€51.59) is a comfy option that will wash well and looks great with leggings or jeans.

Marks & Spencer’s five- pocket jegging (€30) is the last word in comfy cool. These are super-stretchy, high-waisted jeans. Mom jeans, then, that will wear well, wash even better and are the comfiest denim that ever met thread.

Read Rosemary Mac Cabe's fashion blog Fash Mob at irishtimes.com/blogs