So if you buy your 2-year old toddler a 2T t-shirt in one brand it may or may not fit. You just can't count on sizing unless you try it on or you know your baby's exact height and weight and can compare.

As kids get a little bigger it's a lot easier to shop – and to take advantage of promotional kids clothing. Sales items are the latest and greatest thing when kids get older and the sizing starts to make more sense.

Kids Clothing – The Elementary Years

Kids start to take an active interest in what they wear around the time they start elementary school. Don't worry; you don't have to rush out and buy branded kids clothing yet. You can still get away with discounted wear. However, you can also still enjoy a few pieces of personalized kids clothing too. Do you sew? Your child will still enjoy a home knit sweater, at least during the early elementary years.

As your child enters middle school he or she will start expressing their likes and dislikes even more. Long gone are the days when pastel colors or bold primary colors were all you had to worry about when shopping.

NOW is the time when your child may start shunning promotional kids clothing in favor of a few major brand names. What do you do if you find buying kids clothing is breaking the bank?

Making Kids Clothing Affordable

Kids grow out of their clothing just as fast as they grow into their clothing. To help you pay for the cost of clothes, it often helps to buy second-hand. Many consignment shops sell promotional kids clothing for half the cost of new clothes at brand name department stores.

The best part? Many consignment shops or second-hand shops sell practically new kids clothing for a fraction of the cost of traditional retail outlets. You can even find a few gems – never before worn pieces of designer kids wear – if you search through the racks of clothing carefully.

If you don't want to spend hours doing this, have your child help you. Tell them if they really want to look cool then they have to do what it takes to find affordable kids wear. Most kids are more than willing to shop for kids clothing with you as they grow older, because they will want to veto certain items you select while eagerly accepting others.

You can also put your child on an allowance so they learn how to “earn” certain specialty items like that expensive pair of sneakers or customized jeans they want to wear. Never buy expensive kids clothing for just a season unless you have good reason because most kids will grow out of it before you blink an eye, unless you have a child that will grow into it the following season.