Comments on: Do You Have “Issues” Buying Used Clothing and Gear for Baby?

By: mother-to-be

mother-to-be — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:10:08 +0000

I think this has something to do with culture and where you are from. I am not from United States and when my American girl friends mentioned a clothing swap I didn’t get the concept. I still have a hard time accepting old cloths from friends yet alone buying it myself or for my babies. So, I think it is just a cultural thing.

By: Trisha Jackson

Trisha Jackson — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:08:26 +0000

I can honestly say that I’ve only purchased 2 articles of clothing for our baby due in February. We have 6 full totes of second hand clothes from my niece and don’t plan to buy any (new or used) until we see that the sizes may not fit right. I’m very lucky to have such a resource!

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:45:34 +0000

I have no issues with (nice) used clothing! Almost every weekend in the summer, I can be found at garage sales. This year, I found our 5 year old’s wardrobe for Kindergarten at a single sale – all clothing a dollar apiece for brands like Gymboree, Children’s Place, Old Navy, etc. An entire coat/snowpants set for $7. Our son’s winter coat for $3.

I love to frequent Once Upon A Child, our local secondhand store. Recently, I’ve found snow boots for each of our children, a winter footed coat for our baby due in 7 weeks (tags on! From Babies R Us), etc. Not to mention maternity clothes from their partner store next door – I stopped in the day they had a clearance rack outside, and got 10 long-sleeved shirts for a dollar apiece!! Plus, both stores offer a 10% military discount.

By: eileen

eileen — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:59:49 +0000

Being a child from a big family who grew up wearing mostly hand-me-downs, I don’t have any clue why people would have a problem with used clothes. That’s just weird. If they’re worried about germs, wash it.

The only item I wouldn’t buy second-hand is a car seat. I would take a used one from a friend if I knew the age and history. I would be very careful about buying a used crib and be sure to check recalls, etc. But everything else, buy used!

A great little second-hand secret in Portland is Deseret Industries on 82nd Ave. It is run by the Mormon church and they have tons of cheap, barely used baby stuff.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:44:39 +0000

My husband is the one that has the second hand issues. He is slightly OCD so I let him buy his own clothes and I don’t feel the need to tell him where that cute oufit came from. He knows I love thrift stores and I have been teaching our children the benefits of going secondhand verses new. Besides, kids like more and they can definitely get more for their money when we thrift.

By: Stephanie - Green SAHM

Stephanie - Green SAHM — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:52:52 +0000

I love secondhand clothes for my kids. My inlaws had an issue with the idea when I was pregnant with my first, but within the first few months they realized how expensive new clothes were, and my mother-in-law started asking me where my favorite shops were.

Expecting another baby now. She’ll be starting out with clothes handed down from one of her cousins. The clothes my daughter had were first worn by an older cousin, then my daughter, then that cousin’s younger sister, then my other sister’s daughter. I think they’re finally showing signs of wear, so this batch of clothes is coming from my husband’s sister.

No matter how cute the baby clothes are, I love not having to buy a ton of clothes!

By: Frugal Babe

Frugal Babe — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:36:39 +0000

Absolutely not. All of our own clothes come from thrift stores – and we’re not growing… our clothes fit until they wear out. Our son will always have used clothes until he’s buying his own. And I hope by then that the lessons we will have taught him about frugality will mean that he’ll continue to buy second hand clothes. It’s the frugal and environmentally sound option.

By: Raise Them Up

Raise Them Up — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:33:10 +0000

Not at all. In today’s economy, I can’t imagine not taking advantage of savings like these. My 11 year old son scored a beautiful name brand hoodie at Goodwill for $3 and he actually brags about the “steal of a deal” to his friends at school. They have similar sweatshirts that cost them more than $30 and they stand in awe. His sense of independent confidence, frugality, and the value of being a good steward tickle me. I’m hoping his younger brothers follow in his footsteps!

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:59:44 +0000

Bravo!! You have my respect for posting this. I cannot believe how people can get so caught up in what their kids wear, to the extent that they ‘must have new’ as well as name brand and feel that those ‘poor kids that have to wear second hand clothes’, are somehow mistreated. Kids grow so fast. Second hand clothes now days are pretty nice. When my kids were growing up, I didnt have a choice but to buy second hand clothes. I thank God that I had that available or my kids would have really been in trouble. I don’t think my toddlers EVER wore name brand. I had nice clothes for my kids but their play clothes were always second hand. Great post!~ Great blog. God Bless!

By: Larisa

Larisa — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:19:41 +0000

I love to rummage–I enjoy the “hunting” part of bargain hunting because it feels like so much more of a “find” than just walking into a regular store and getting something off the rack.

Since I frequently buy used clothes for myself, I certainly had no issue with consignment stores or hand-me-downs for my now 2-year-old, and have found some fantastic (un-stained) deals at Salvation Army. My favorite hand-me-downs came from a particular friend who confided that her favorite pieces were hand-me-downs to her from a friend who did buy expensive, European-made baby clothes (though I don’t think any of the onesies cost $150).

Because I buy so many pieces of my son’s clothing for 50 cents to $4, I feel less bad about the occasional splurge of a $20 or $30 new item that’s just too cute to pass up.