To have already failed Oxfam's SecondHandSeptember

[coffeeforone]

I took the pledge thinking how difficult can it be? Sort my wardrobe out, donate clothes, don't buy anything new except maybe a few preloved pieces.

Until I realised, following the change in weather that my 10 month old DS who has just had a growth spurt overnight needs a new mini wardrobe - he has nothing that fits at all!

Went to the two nearby charity shops on my lunch break but they didn't have anything in his size except a few pairs of shorts. Going away at the weekend and pretty desperate, I've just spent £60 on H&M online on quite a few items of brand new 9-12 month autumn clothes. I wouldn't think twice about doing this a year ago but not I feel so guilty and like such a failure!

I love charity shops for books and ornaments and bits but I hate looking for clothes.
There's never anything nice in my or the kids sizes. Always loads in the next size up or down though.

That being said try looking on Facebook market place next time. Always loads of bundles of kids clothes going on there locally.

Have you checked on facebook / ebay or for a local selling events?

We have a place nearby that only sells childrens things and has masses of clothes.

Or have you have any friends with similar aged children that you could borrow/buy from?

I don't use Facebook but have used eBay in the past - maybe I should have tried there!

The thing to remember is that whilst these campaigns suggest that you should go all in when what they really aim to do is encourage people to try to look at reusing more than they already do and to make their first stop a charity shop.

If you already do this then you're already doing your bit and shouldn't feel guilty at all.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't really have any friends with babies a few sizes up. They are either much older (over 3) or younger babies. I'm totally new to the idea of second hand clothes too and not sure how I feel about them. I was actually hoping to just not buy anything new and make do with what we have as I've been guilty of the 'disposable fashion' mentality that they are trying to reduce.

Facebook market place is my favourite way of maintaining a 2nd hand life! Way more choice and fast moving 'stock' than charity shops plus you can search precisely what you need.

I regularly get bundles of good stuff in the next size (or even next next sizes!) for DC and they both have a 'too big box' that I review when stuff's looking a bit tight or at the change of season.

So if you start doing that now, you should be more self sufficient in a few months.

I think the key thing with baby clothes is to plan ahead, so you don't get caught out when they grow 2 inches overnight!

I generally don't get much in charity shops as they don't ever seem to have a good range in the right sizes, but I do have several friends who pass things on to me.

If you have friends with kids a few years older, could they pass things on and you store them? Or if you buy an EBay bundle that you really like, contact the seller and ask whether they'd bear you in mind for future bundles? Most sellers just want rid of the stuff, and they'd prefer not to have the hassle of selling online each time.