New customers save 20% on their first order. Sign up for emails to receive your code at checkout. Cannot be combined with other promo codes. Some exclusions apply.

Expires: July 1, 2026343 uses

Reveal Code

PROMO CODEVerified

The Children's Place

10% Off Email Sign Up

10% Off

Subscribe to the newsletter and receive 10% off your next purchase. Code sent via email after signup confirmation. One use per customer.

Expires: May 15, 20263,171 uses

Reveal Code

FREE SHIPPINGVerified

The Children's Place

Free Shipping on Orders $50+

Free Shipping

Get free standard shipping on all orders of $50 or more. Some heavy or oversize items may be excluded. Promo code required at checkout.

Expires: Limited Time2,743 uses

View Deal

Kids & Baby Buying Guide

Introduction

The kids and baby category is a treadmill — children outgrow products on a schedule that doesn't care about your budget, which means the discount math is dominated by velocity, not absolute price. A $189 Stokke Tripp Trapp lasts 15 years across multiple kids; a $24 IKEA high chair lasts 18 months and goes to the curb. Baby gear specifically (strollers, car seats, monitors) carries a safety regulatory layer (ASTM, JPMA, FMVSS-213) that prevents the deepest discounting because manufacturers won't risk liability on closeouts. Toys run on the opposite cycle — IP-driven (Disney, Marvel, LEGO licenses) toys peak at holiday and crash in January, while evergreen toys (Magna-Tiles, Play-Doh, Hot Wheels) discount predictably twice a year. Kids' clothing follows adult apparel cycles compressed to 90 days because growth charts force the turnover. The category rewards buying ahead at clearance for the size your kid will be in 6 months, and rewards used markets (Once Upon a Child, Facebook Marketplace, Patagonia Worn Wear Kids) where one-season-old gear is functionally new.

What to Look For

On car seats, check the manufacture date and expiration (typically 6 to 10 years from manufacture); used car seats from anywhere other than a known family are not safe regardless of appearance. NHTSA crash test ratings are mandatory baseline; brands like Britax, Clek, Nuna, and UPPAbaby publish additional Swedish-standard or European i-Size testing. For strollers, weight matters more than features — a 28-lb travel system is a back injury waiting to happen if you live in a walk-up. Toy safety: ASTM F963 certification, no small parts for under-3, and the EWG database for chemical concerns on plastics. Wooden toys from Melissa & Doug, PlanToys, and Tegu use FSC-certified wood and water-based paints. For clothing, look for cotton percentage and stitch quality at high-stress seams (knees, crotch); flame-retardant treatments on sleepwear are now safer than the 1970s tris-treated era but still worth checking. Avoid recalled products — CPSC.gov maintains a current list.

When to Buy

Carter's, Old Navy, and Children's Place run perpetual 40 to 60 percent off promotions; the actual low for staples is during their semiannual events (late January and late July) when clearance hits 70 percent. Toys peak in price October through December and crash 50 to 75 percent the first two weeks of January. LEGO sets that are about to be retired (announced via LEGO's own retirement list) appreciate post-retirement; current sets run 20 to 30 percent off at Target, Walmart, and Amazon during back-to-school and Black Friday. Baby gear (strollers, high chairs) sees the deepest discount during baby and maternity sale events at Buy Buy Baby successors and Pottery Barn Kids in May and November. Halloween costumes hit 50 percent off November 1 and 75 percent off November 5, which is the buy-for-next-year window. Back-to-school clothing bottoms out the second week of September after schools have already started. Avoid "prime baby week" type events on Amazon for items where size and fit matter — return rates are high.

Savings Tactics

Stack the Carter's email list (welcome 25 percent), the loyalty program (Carter's Rewarding Moments returns roughly 5 percent), and a credit card category bonus. Target Circle returns 1 percent plus targeted weekly offers, which often hit 25 to 40 percent on specific kids categories. Costco's Kirkland diapers are produced by Kimberly-Clark (same factories as Huggies) at 30 to 40 percent less per diaper. Subscribe & Save on Amazon for diapers, wipes, and formula returns 5 to 15 percent and stacks with Amazon Family ($89/year extra benefits). Used markets are legitimate for clothing, books, and non-safety toys: Once Upon a Child takes consignment, Facebook Marketplace runs free, ThredUp for kids' brand clothing at 70 percent off retail. Patagonia Worn Wear Kids and Hanna Andersson resale (HannaDowns) recirculate brand-name kids clothing in good condition. Birthday and holiday gift redirection — registry items at Target and Amazon hit 15 percent completion discount for the registrant.

Common Mistakes

Buying a $1,200 nursery furniture set when the convertible crib is the only piece that lasts past 18 months — the dresser and changing table become regret pieces. Skipping the car seat installation check at a CPST (free at most fire stations) and assuming the manual covers it; over 70 percent of installs fail inspection. Stockpiling diapers in the wrong size — your 4-month-old will be in size 3 in six weeks, not size 1. Trusting hand-me-down car seats from anyone you can't account for the full history; a seat in a moderate accident is supposed to be retired. Buying clothes in the current size during the season — by the time the weather hits, they've outgrown it. Falling for educational-toy marketing claims (Baby Einstein-style) that have no peer-reviewed support; open-ended toys (blocks, magnetic tiles, dolls) outperform branded "learning" toys. Paying full price at Pottery Barn Kids when the West Elm and Pottery Barn outlet sites stock identical product at 40 to 60 percent off.