Taking Advantage of Sales as a Mom

The sales. Twice a year, they promise great deals—clothes we’ve been eyeing for weeks are finally within our budget—but the reality is often a bit more chaotic than we imagined.

When you become a mom, your relationship with sales changes. You no longer have the same time, energy, or priorities. You shop differently—often faster, sometimes less effectively, and sometimes much better than before—because you’ve learned to focus on what really matters.

This article isn't just a list of deals. It's a guide to help you navigate the sales season with purpose—without stress, without regrettable impulse buys, and with the satisfaction of knowing you've really done what's best for yourself.

Shopping the sales as a mom: a completely different perspective on time

Before having a baby, the sales could last for several weekends. We used to take the time to browse the stores, try everything on, and compare prices. We had whole afternoons to do that.

With a baby or a young child, free time is measured differently. An hour between naps. Twenty minutes while someone else watches the child. An online session at 11 p.m. when everyone is finally asleep.

It’s not a constraint—it’s an opportunity to become a much more efficient shopper. When time is short, you naturally cut out the hesitation, aimless browsing, and “maybe” purchases. You get straight to the point. And often, you come away with exactly what you needed.

 

Before you dive into the sales: the work that makes all the difference for moms

Moms who really take advantage of the sales don't start shopping on the first day of the sales. They start before then.

 

Take stock of your current wardrobe

Take twenty minutes during a nap, during a meal—whenever—to take a look at what you’re actually wearing. Not what you own. What you’re wearing. What you put on week after week because it’s comfortable, because it works for breastfeeding, because it makes you feel good.

Those pieces are your real wardrobe. Everything else is just noise.

 

Spot what's missing

Once you've taken inventory, it becomes clear what's missing. You might be missing a Breastfeeding t-shirt in a neutral color that goes with everything. Or a warmer nursing sweatshirt for the coming fall. Or a Breastfeeding dress for those occasions when you want to feel a little more dressed up.

Make a note of these items on your phone. They’re what will guide your purchases—not sales, not store windows, not algorithms.

 

Set a realistic budget

Not an ideal budget. A realistic budget, taking this month specifically into account. Sales are only a good deal if you buy what you need at a discount—not if you end up spending more than you planned because everything seemed too good a deal to pass up.

Smart Shopping During the Sales for a Nursing Mom's Wardrobe

A breastfeeding mom's wardrobe has its own specific needs. And the sales are the perfect time to invest in high-quality pieces at discounted prices—items you'll actually use every day.

 

Focus on the basics first and foremost

These are the items you wear most often and that wear out first from all the washing. Affordable basics are perfect during the sales—it’s the perfect time to stock up on them. A couple of extra T-shirts in your favorite colors, another tank top—you’ll never regret these purchases.

 

Take advantage of the sales to try out some new pieces

There may be some items you hesitated to buy at full price. A Breastfeeding dress in a cut different from what you usually wear. A knit sweater in a bolder color. The sales are the perfect time to step slightly outside your comfort zone with a budget safety net.

 

Think about next season

This is the most underrated tip for sales. Summer sales take place right in the middle of July, which is the perfect time to start planning your fall purchases. Winter sales in January are the perfect time to start thinking about spring. Buying a size larger in anticipation of continued breastfeeding, or planning for the coming months’ needs, is smart shopping.

Shopping Online During Sales with a Baby: The Art of an Efficient Shopping Session for Moms

Let's be honest: for many moms, shopping the sales happens online, from the couch, phone in hand, during a brief moment of relative calm.

Here's how to turn those fragmented sessions into productive ones.

 

Create your wish list before the sales

Most e-commerce sites let you save items to your favorites. Do this ahead of time by identifying the full-price items you’re interested in, and wait for the sales to start before placing your order. When the sales begin, all you have to do is check if your favorites are on sale.

 

Check the available sizes first

There’s nothing more frustrating than falling in love with a sale item only to find out your size is sold out. Always start by filtering by size before you get attached to an item. It saves you a lot of disappointment.

 

Beware of a false sense of urgency

Countdown timers, "only 2 left in stock," "offer valid until midnight"—it's all designed to make you decide quickly. With a fussy baby, that pressure is even harder to resist. Set your rule before you start: if you're hesitating, don't buy it. The good deals you really need won't make you hesitate for long.

 

Shopping the sales in-store with a baby: what makes all the difference for a mom

Some moms prefer to feel the fabrics, try things on, and see the colors in person. Shopping the sales in-store is possible with a baby, as long as you plan ahead.

 

Choose your niche carefully

Avoid Saturday morning on the first day of the sales if you have an infant. The crowds, the heat, and the wait for fitting rooms don’t make for a relaxing outing with a baby. Instead, go on a weekday mid-morning, when the stores are less crowded and your baby is usually in a good mood after feeding.

 

Dress strategically to make it easy to try on

If you're breastfeeding, wear a nursing tank top under whatever you're trying on. This allows you to try on tops over it without having to undress completely, and to stay comfortable if your baby wants to nurse in the fitting room.

 

Pack everything you need for the baby

A quick feed before heading into the store. A stroller or baby carrier, whichever works best for your child that day. A clean diaper and extra clothes in the bag. A small toy or comfort item. And most importantly: a Plan B in case your baby gets tired before you do.

What shopping during the sales shouldn't be like for a mom

During the sales, it’s tempting to go overboard. To treat yourself to everything you haven’t had time to look at in months. To tell yourself it’s now or never.

This temptation is understandable; the first few weeks and months of motherhood are often spent putting oneself last. You shop for the baby, you think about the baby, and your own wardrobe gathers dust.

But sales aren't a cure-all. Buying a lot doesn't make up for not having enough time for yourself. What really makes up for it is buying a few carefully selected pieces that will truly fit into your daily life and make you feel good every time you wear them.

A mom who wears three pieces she loves is happier than a mom who has a closet full of clothes she never wears.

 

Our picks for must-have items for Mom during the sales

To help you narrow down your search, here are the types of clothing that are definitely worth investing in during the sales if you're breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding t-shirts often come with a higher price tag at full price, so the sales are the perfect time to treat yourself to a piece that’s a little more unique than the basics. Sweaters and Breastfeeding sweaters are more substantial purchases that are often put off until later at full price, but the sales finally make them affordable. The Breastfeeding dresses A well-chosen dress is a versatile piece that works for all seasons and occasions. And of course, Breastfeeding pyjamas because they wear out quickly with baby’s nights, and having an extra pair or two on hand is always a good idea.

After taking advantage of the sales: an honest assessment

A week after the sales, take out your purchases and ask yourself a simple question: Do I see myself wearing each item at least twenty times?

If the answer is yes to all of them, you’ve nailed it. If some items already seem less relevant to you than they did when you bought them, make a note of that for next time. That’s how you refine your shopping habits over the years.

And if you have the chance to return them, go ahead and do so without feeling guilty. It’s better to return something than to have it sitting around gathering dust.

 

You deserve to take advantage of the sales and build a wardrobe that reflects your style

Sales are an opportunity, not an obligation. You don’t have to take advantage of them if it’s not the right time. You don’t have to buy just because everyone else is.

What matters is having clothes that make you feel good, that make your daily life as a breastfeeding mom easier, and that let you look at yourself in the mirror with a smile.

At 23 Mai Paris, we create clothing designed to stand the test of time and stay in style. Pieces you’ll still be wearing two years after you bought them—not just during the sales.

Discover our new collection and our affordable basics —pieces designed to become a lasting part of your everyday life.