It's hard to find fashionable and affordable clothes for children. Here is the scoop on dressing your little bargainista in the hottest fashions for less.

Dressing Girls
Most of us struggle to find clothing for girls that don't make your favorite five-year-old look like a midget Britney Spears. There are plenty of stores to find age appropriate items like Old Navy, Children's Place, and the Gap. These stores offer great pieces, for reasonable prices. Always buy items like pants and jackets one size up, so that it can last into the beginning of the following year.

H&M has some of cutest clothing for girls at even cheaper prices than the Gap. Avoid department stores that tend to price children's clothing at the same price point as adults. There is no justification for a 4T Ralph Lauren Skirt to cost the same as an adult skirt. If you are a department store shopper try stores like Macy's, which has great deals on children's clothing during their major sale events, and Sears, where the clothes are guaranteed to last thru at least one kickball season.

The best store to bargain shop for girls is at Target. The options are limitless and the clothes are well constructed with most items in the $10-$17 range. Plus shopping at Target is very acceptable (unlike Kmart), so you can save money without worrying about the "cool" factor.

Dressing Boys
It seems like the designers for boys clothing are hell-bent on making them look like little action heroes. Bargain shopping for these tykes is an art form that few know how to do. Target has great stuff for little guys, with Children's Place giving the most for your bucks. However, Sears is also a great place to find cute little items from designers like Sean John and Levi's, for very reasonable prices. Although Old Navy is a great place for basics like Cargo pants, the really cool stuff is at Gap. Bright colored lumberjack jackets and knit caps will keep your little guy looking stylish. Another good place is Marshall's and T.J. Maxx. Usually both these stores have nice suits from designers like Polo Ralph Lauren for such a bargain that you could also pick them up a little toy to make up for forcing them to go shopping.

Dressy Outfits
When you want to spend a little more on either a good suit or party dress, head to the outlets of the big expensive department stores, like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom also have children departments. Go to the main site of these stores to find the outlets nearest you. You can find designers like Betsey Johnson and Ralph Lauren for kids. Nordstrom has an amazing selection of shoes for little ones as well.

Saving Grace -- The Internet
The Internet has revolutionized shopping for children. Long gone are the days of having to meander through stores with a screaming three-year-olds. Put the kids to bed, grab a cup of chamomile tea and start to shop. Check out these great online stores:

• Zappos.com. Great selection of shoes from designers like Bibi and Kenneth Cole.
• Target.com. Cheap and Cool. A great combo.
• Overstock.com. A wide selection and rock bottom prices. Great for coats.
• Babystyle.com. Keep your favorite infant stylish with clothes from this online fave.

About the author: Kathryn "The Budget Fashionista" Finney is the Chief Shopping Officer and Founder of "Kate Magazine" and "The Budget Fashionista" -- two popular online magazines. She is also the Chief Shopping Officer of TBF Group, LLC, an internet based company focused on providing the best shopping and fashion advice on the web. Known as "the stylist to the cheap," Kate has been around the world searching for the best bargains on designer goods, and is willing to get the bargain by any (legal) means necessary. She is recognized as one of America's Smartest Shoppers and has appeared on the E! Network, The Style Network, and several local television shows in the New York City Metro Area. She has served as a fashion and Internet expert in publications as diverse as "Reader's Digest," "The New York Times."

More from SheKnows.com
More from PregnancyandBaby.com