Kids grow up fast, and that means growing out of their clothing, shoes, and even the toys they used to love. The good news is that with some strategic shopping and timing, you can get high-quality clothing for less and also stock your gift closet with toys for birthdays and holidays.
Retailers like Carter's, Children's Place, Target, Old Navy, Kohl's, and others regularly run sales on kids' items, but knowing when and where to look makes all the difference. We know exactly when and where to look, and we're sharing all our cheapest finds with you here, as well as our tips for building your kids' wardrobe and toy chest while keeping your budget intact.
In addition to saving money on kids' clothing and necessities, you can save money on the fun stuff, too. Check out our monthly list of free activities to do with kids, as well as our list of all the restaurants where kids eat free.
Don't forget to download our free KCL app , so we can send you the best deals on kids' toys, shoes, and clothing in real time.
Best Kids' Retail Deals Right Now
Apparel
Shoes
Toys
More Great Deals
Our Top Tips for Saving on Kids' Clothes, Toys, and More
In addition to shopping the deals above, follow these tips to find kids' clothing and toy deals on your own.
Sync your shopping with sales and clearance events.
By knowing when major sales go live, you can stock up in advance rather than pay full price at the last minute.
Shop end-of-season clearance sales when retailers need to move inventory. That means late August for summer clothes and late February for winter gear. Carter's typically offers 50% - 70% off seasonal items during its clearance sales.
For back-to-school shopping, wait until late August when many stores discount their inventory, or shop in early fall when retailers clear out summer merchandise.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales also offer another chance to get clothes for cheap. Old Navy's Black Friday tradition, for example, is to make everything 50% off.
Right after the holidays is a sweet spot to shop clearance toys. Target runs its Semi-Annual Toy Sale (which gets you 50% off) every December (and also in June). And we often spot up to 70% off clearance toys at Walmart in late December and the beginning of January.
Sign up for store loyalty programs and email lists.
Make a list of the stores you always come back to and sign up for their rewards programs. That way, you'll earn points that you can put toward future purchases. For example, Carter's Rewards gives you one point back per dollar you spend. Every 100 points gets you a $5 reward. Another program to consider is Kohl's Rewards, which gets you 5% back of what you spend in Kohl's Cash, and you can use that toward future purchases.
Shop outlets and clearance sections for clothing and more.
Don't overlook outlet versions of your favorite stores. Carter's Outlet and Janie and Jack, for example, offer the same quality clothing at significantly reduced prices year-round.
The clearance section is also a goldmine for deals on kids' stuff. Target's Cat & Jack brand frequently appears in clearance sections with prices as low as $3 - $5 for basic items. Old Navy's clearance section is another smart place to check. Plus, fun fact: Target and Old Navy both have extra-generous return policies for kids' clothes. Target gives you one year to return clothing from its Cat & Jack Brand, and Old Navy gives you one year to return most kids' clothes (under certain circumstances).
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