The boys' clothing brands that make the best hand-me-downs

My clear winners in every category, put to the test by four busy little boys.

There are few things I’d say I’ve truly mastered 6.5 years into motherhood, but my hand-me-down system for boys’ clothes is one of them. Our boys haven’t pushed back on my dressing them yet (I’m sure the time will come…), so until then, these are the staples they’re wearing on repeat at ages 6, 5, 3, and 1.

I don’t buy much that only lasts one child. If I’m spending on something new, I want to know it can make it through at least two — ideally three or four — boys. Over time, I’ve figured out which brands actually deliver on that, and which ones just look cute on day one.

For polo shirts, Ralph Lauren and Little English. There are more white Ralph Lauren polos than anything else in their closets — they’re a slightly stiffer cotton that washes well and holds up beautifully over years of wear (…and bleach). For striped polos, I love Little English in both short and long sleeves — they’re softer than RL but still hold up to stain treatment (I buy this one in bulk).

For sweaters, I’m more willing to experiment and mix it up. These striped Minnow sweaters have been staples for years, and the quality has lasted through all four kids. These cable-knit sweaters from Amazon are a great affordable option (size up if you’re on the fence — I find the head opening in particular runs small) to wear over the aforementioned polos, and these polo sweatshirts (also from Amazon) are an easy standalone piece to throw on with chinos and call it a day. I like quarter-zip pullovers like these from Crewcuts and Vineyard Vines, but this is the category where I’m least brand-loyal.

For pants, I stock up on these Ralph Lauren chinos in navy and khaki. We’ve had our fair share of ripped knees, but we also have pairs of Teddy’s that have held up long enough for Rory to wear. I also love these pull-on drawstring chinos from Boden and these Janie & Jack white linen pants for summer (think family photos on the beach).

For shorts, I have several favorites, starting with Cadets classic twill shorts in navy, light blue, and white. Their slogan “free the knees” underscores their shorter inseam, which I find adorable on little boys. For more fun colors, I love Beaufort Bonnet Company’s Sheffield shorts (above), which have an elastic waist you can fold over at first for longer wearability. And for a seersucker option, Henry Duvall makes a really sweet elasticized pair that I especially like in the white seersucker — just a little texture that pairs beautifully with Little English’s striped polos above.

For pajamas, Lake and Petite Plume. I love these from Lake for babies and toddlers and these from Petite Plume for preschoolers and above. We have sets of each that have made it through all four boys (!). These from Amazon are a much more recent find that I find shockingly good for the price.

For swim, Minnow all the way. I now usually buy 2-4 sizes of the same style each season, but we do have navy stripe and blue gingham trunks from Teddy’s babyhood that are still in tact for Rory to wear this summer. Treat yourself to cute swim trunks and save on rash guards — this $10 option is now my go-to after realizing rash guards bear the brunt of ice cream and ketchup at the beach.

For shoes, I find our boys are pretty hard on sneakers, so we haven’t had a ton of decent-looking hand-me-downs in that category. But the Floafers they wear all spring and summer can be rinsed off and look as good as new. Our boys truly wear theirs everywhere from the playground and the beach to church and out to dinner.

I’m definitely not above the occasional Amazon find, but at this point, I’d rather buy fewer things that last than constantly replace what doesn’t. It’s less clutter, less decision fatigue, and (over time!) probably even less expensive.

If you’ve found a brand that holds up just as well, I’d love to hear — I’m always looking for quality new favorites!