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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

MIL buys baby clothes from charity shop

247 replies

Amber76 · 29/03/2011 22:36

I am expecting my first baby next week. My partner has told me that his mother has already picked up a few bags of baby clothes from a charity shop.

I'm happy to get given old clothes that my nieces and nephews have outgrown but I don't like the idea of putting my new baby into charity shop clothes. Am I being a snob? I wouldn't wear clothes from a charity shop so why should my baby?
I think I'll just say thanks and then donate them back to a similar shop in a few weeks. Is it too much to expect her to want to buy something new for her grandchild? She is not short of money....she just thinks this is a sensible way to shop.

OP posts:

CrispyTheCrisp · 29/03/2011 22:38

It is a very sensible way to shop. She is right.

You are most definitely being a snob. Most baby clothes in charity shops have been barely worn

theITgirl · 29/03/2011 22:38

Well it is. Most new baby clothes are only worn over a couple of months so still perfectly good.
But fully understand the wanting new clothes for a new baby.

MmeLindt · 29/03/2011 22:38

I often bought clothes from charity shops, but then I was living in Germany where it was very common to do so.

You can often get really good clothes in charity shops for next to nothing.

If she is picking up grotty babygros, then I would be offended, but if they are good quality clothes, I don't see the problem.

MmeLindt · 29/03/2011 22:39

Agree with ITgirl though, it is normal to want to have everything new for first baby.

candleshoe · 29/03/2011 22:39

Very snobby!

splashyy · 29/03/2011 22:40

Yabu what's wrong with charity shop clothes?

You sound rather ungrateful.

Babies outgrow clothes so quickly no point spending lots of money on them.

theITgirl · 29/03/2011 22:40

When you see how fast the little bleeders grow, you might start as well.

02 · 29/03/2011 22:40

Stuff in charity shops for babies is often fab. They grow out of it so quickly. I think I felt the same way for DC1 but reality has hit now I'm on child three. I think it's very sensible. Babies are expensive, don't wear things out, and not bothered by trends so go for second-hand while you can.

moondog · 29/03/2011 22:40

My best buy was a moses basket, blankets and sheets from a second hand shop.
Also lots of lovely cardigans.

You are being strangely fussy. They grow out of them in about 10 minutes for a start.

Makingaminime · 29/03/2011 22:40

Well lots of people, myself included, don't give a toss if something is from a charity shop. Would rather that than lots of money spent on something for baby to wear once or twice. Just wash it first. And sometimes things in charity shops are brand new.

YANBU to not want things from charity shops I suppose. But I can't really agree with you or understand why. If it is sheer snobbery, then, I'm sorry but have

suzikettles · 29/03/2011 22:41

It's really sensible. A lot of ds's clothes came from eBay after I'd worked my way through all the lovely presents. The charity shops round here never seem to have children's clothes.

You'll be amazed how much clothing a baby can work it's way through...

DramaInPyjamas · 29/03/2011 22:41

You're right. You are a snob

PrincessConsuelaBananaHamok · 29/03/2011 22:41

absolutely MIL is right

I got a BNWT pair of JL trousers for £1.50 for my mate's baby the other week. The ticket price? £12

babylann · 29/03/2011 22:41

Like all clothes from charity shops, I don't see a problem if you wash them when you get them home and make sure they don't have any noticeable damage or stains. Why wouldn't you wear from charity shops? Depending on the answer you give will probably affect whether people will think you're a snob, I think.

I think it is too much to expect your MIL to change her views on spending just to suit your ideals.

backwardpossom · 29/03/2011 22:42

YABU and a snob. Sorry!

SpeedyGonzalez · 29/03/2011 22:42

Congrats on your pregnancy!

What do you think is the difference between used clothes from relatives and used clothes from a charity shop? If you don't like the style of the clothes, that's fine, but they'll still be clean or you can just wash them yourself. If you find your money starts to run low you'll soon see the sense of charity shop stuff.

I totally understand you being a bit precious at this stage on your journey of motherhood, and you sort of have to be until you can sift the wheat from the chaff! But charity shop clothes really aren't worth getting antsy about - believe me, there will be FAR hotter hot potatoes just around the corner!

Good luck with the birth and becoming a mama.

psychoveggie · 29/03/2011 22:42

i personally think yabu but i wear charity shop clothes a lot myself. I think it's a great place for baby clothes because so many are hardly worn in the first place. Some of my and ds's favourite clothes are charity shop purchases. You've got to shop around but your mil sounds like a seasoned charity shopper :) rather than write them all off, how about looking through them first- you night find some gems, then when you're finished with them go ahead and give them to a charity shop.

AnnieNotalobster · 29/03/2011 22:42

Once you find out that newborns rarely wear anything more than once since they grow so fast, you'll be very pleased with charity shop clothes. Don't worry, you just have a touch of PFB syndrome. It will wear off quickly enough!!!

PaisleyLeaf · 29/03/2011 22:42

Have you even seen the clothes yet?

splashyy · 29/03/2011 22:42

Also my first baby is fully dressed in hand me downs and everyone comments on how nicely she is dressed.

4FoxAche · 29/03/2011 22:42

Yes, you are being a snob.

I've found loads of gorgeous bits in charity shops for the children and myself.

DirtyMartini · 29/03/2011 22:42

OK, I'll bite. YABU: If the clothes are decent then of course I would be fine with that. So yes, IMO you are being a snob, although it is of course not unreasonable to have preferences about what to dress your baby in. The unreasonable bit is to object to the clothes just because they are from a charity shop.

Hate to say it but your MIL is right ... it is a sensible way to shop. I have worn clothes from charity shops myself - throughout my teens and twenties I haunted them all the time and found great stuff. Not so much now, I haven't the time.

If you don't want them then just hand them back, someone else will appreciate them more.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 29/03/2011 22:43

keep them as spares, because you might find a time when your baby has a tummy bug or something and suddenly you need more clothes than you thought possible.

then in no time at all your baby will have outgrown them and you can donate them again.

not worth falling out over. There is a picture of me as a baby in a really bizarre dress made out of nylon lace - I look like a pompom with arms and legs sticking out. My mum says it was a present from Granny and she didn't want to hurt her feelings so she put me in it and took a photo I think that was a nice thing to do.

but yes, your baby, in general you dress it in what you want.

candleshoe · 29/03/2011 22:43

My best recent 'find' are OSH KOSH dungarees age 5-6 brand new with labels for £2 and a spotless Boden coat age 7 for £3.25.

everthebeliver · 29/03/2011 22:44

OP, you are not a snob. This is your first child then yanbu to want nice things for him/her. Just take them, be polite and pass them on. good luck with baby

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