AIBU to get 18m old DC second hand toys for Christmas?

[NC4THISS]

For the price of one new item, we can totally overhaul the play area with many many new things that are in great condition, already put together and have a lesser impact on the environment.

DH seems to think it’s a bit off since we could afford to get all these items new, but I don’t think spending hundreds on a bloody toddler is a great idea when things can be found for a fraction of the price. My thoughts are they’ll never know it’s second hand, just play with it and then I’ll sell it on/give it away in the future.

For context I also buy myself second hand things if they’re in great condition too, shoes/bags/clothes/phone/car.

Make the most of being able to reduce costs and reduce environmental footprint!
Which is completely understandable but it knocks a lot of struggling parents out of the 2nd hand market now it is about the environment for the MC.
It is nice to pass on the good bargain karma by donating said toy afterwards or a few tins of beans.
Tbf the more money people have the less they like to spend, I loved charity shops now they're marketed at environmentalism they're too expensive for the people who previously benefited from them.

Pretty much all the toys I buy for my 18m are secondhand. Including Christmas. Cheaper and much less wasteful / better for environment

I went to a ‘toy exchange’ yesterday and swapped some old toys for a box of duplo and a John Deere tractor for my eighteen month old daughter to go with her Christmas presents (toy kitchen and books). She’ll absolutely love them and have no idea they aren’t brand new.

I still buy a lot of second hand for mine and they're 6 and 8, this year the youngest wants Our Generation stuff which is a fortune new, it's a total waste of money essentially paying for the original box which will go in the bin.

She wants the classroom and a couple of dolls which would be over £300 new, I've picked them up for £45 and steamed it all so it's perfectly clean.

I'm surprised by the poster who would rather spend hundreds of pounds extra because she doesn't know who has touched the second hand stuff, even new things have been handled by strangers during production, transport, being put on shelves and then other shoppers picking things up to look and putting them back.

I wouldn't if I could afford new, just because I don't want to take away the opportunity from parents who actually need to buy secondhand from their DC.

I also don't understand why your DC is a "bloody toddler". Toddler would have sufficed.

@BatshitBanshee

I wouldn't if I could afford new, just because I don't want to take away the opportunity from parents who actually need to buy secondhand from their DC.

I also don't understand why your DC is a "bloody toddler". Toddler would have sufficed.

**for their DC.

By ‘bloody toddler’ I’m emphasising the age and therefore the lack of understanding on new/used concepts.. not the toddler themselves.

Great, excellent points I will use to bolster my response as I buy more second hand beauties.

We are staggering over mid December- Christmas then what will be the favourite two we are putting in on Christmas Eve when they’re asleep 🎉.

I used to wrap things that hadn't been played with (slightly too old or not the current favourite). Hide for 6 months and regift to the same child 🤷‍♀️

The kids never noticed and I think only one adult ever realised. There's so much stuff that half of it isn't even 'visible'. Then also when I'd bought second hand things, I didn't get pressured into keeping it in the same way. So I was able to pass it on, or give it to the charity shop with much less guilt!

@BatshitBanshee

I wouldn't if I could afford new, just because I don't want to take away the opportunity from parents who actually need to buy secondhand from their DC.

I also don't understand why your DC is a "bloody toddler". Toddler would have sufficed.

More people buy new than second hand, even now. Realistically, second hand needs to become the norm for everyone- go back a hundred years and it was the norm, even for those that could afford new. Just because you can buy it new, doesn't mean you should. For environmental reasons, I've made a rule that plastic comes second hand or from a toy library we subscribe to (I recommend Whirli), wooden I can buy new.

Yanbu! My 2yo is getting a couple of new things and the rest is second hand - a lot has actually been free as friends with similar aged dc have done toy swaps with me. I think it's a great idea.

Go for it! Our toddler son was obsessed with Thomas trains etc & we had several Christmases & birthdays where some of his presents were good quality, clean, 2nd hand stuff.

By the time he outgrew it all, I'd say more than half his stash wasn't bought new by us. It was perfect, though - he was none the wiser, wouldn't have cared anyway, no packaging, better for the environment & some of the stuff was no longer available to buy new so he had some unique sets which he adored.

I cleaned it all, packed it all up & sold it on via ebay & Facebook marketplace. In fact, we've done this many times over the years with all sorts of toys.

I can also remember that one Christmas, our then 2.5yr old son was so overwhelmed with all the presents; he was thrilled with a few particular 'main' gifts & once he'd set them up, they were all he wanted to play with. He wasn't particularly interested in opening his remaining gifts so we put them aside for a few days & when it was obvious he hadn't noticed or cared, we stashed them again, re-wrapped them & gave them back to him a few months later for his birthday!! Again, he was perfectly happy & it didn't feel like we were being mean at all.

I’ve bought my nearly two year old grandchild a (new) pull along trolley for Christmas which I intend to fill with books from charity shops. Good quality second hand toys are a great idea. Go for it.

Yanbu, I used to buy most of my dcs presents 2nd hand when they were younger from bootsales. Still get a few bits now they're 15 and 19. Managed to get ds for christmas a BNWT dressing gown for a £1 and its currently online for £20. Nothing wrong with 2nd hand imo

Secondhand for sure! I disagree with people objecting to secondhand generally - do their kids not go to nursery or playgroups, the toys there aren't brought out new each day. Much better for the environment and your pocket. I wouldn't use the savings to buy more stuff, kids get overwhelmed if they have too many presents. Get a few quality things and put any saving in their ISAs. We are trying to do the "something to wear, something to read, something they want and something they need" thing - gives a bit of structure to our buying decisions. We count little stocking gifts outside of this which helps!

The children either won't know or won't mind and for the environment and your purse it is a no brainer.

Our main presents for our LG this Christmas are second hand. A bike we were given for free (we've bought her a brand new helmet) and then a wooden kitchen with all the accessories (which I got off Facebook for £30 when bramd new it would have cost me about £150).

Great idea.
I've given away many excellent toys to charity shops.

My daughter has mostly had second hand everything from birth! We also use whirli which is really wonderful. I have a code if anyone wants it to get more money off.

Of course you should. The argument that if you can afford it you should buy new sonpoorer families can afford it is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. There is far far more second hand and things already made in circulation than there are people buying them, there is no shortage and the level of ignorance to actually think and say that out loud would be funny if it wasn't so utterly stupid.

Yanbu at all!

Family always buy new so the kids always have some new stuff but we try (or rather Santa tries) to get pre-loved

Kids are 6 and 8 now and understand and are fine with it

tbf the more money people have the less they like to spend

Isn’t it more the case that I’ve always opted for second hand as a first choice, and therefore saved a serious about of money long term? Rather than just being awfully MC and thinking about the environment.

Definitely buy second hand and consider splitting your savings from not buying new between your child's savings account and children's charities.

Also I always tell my daughter (4) when I've got her some clothes or toys secondhand. I tell her another little boy or girl also loved the toy but is now too big and wants someone else to play with the toy. She loves hearing that. For her it is normal and when I buy things she often asks "did another little child love this before me?"

I think it's OK. At that age it does seem a waste to buy lots of new things.

We do this all the time. I very roughly split the savings like this: 50% into the emergency childcare pot, 25% into their stakeholder pensions (trying to get as much into it before they're 18!) and the other 25% goes into our holiday or household contingency fund (depends on which looks lower).

I've become less likely to buy just because I've panicked they don't have enough the more I'm conscious about what I'm spending. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of a bargain and haunt the Christmas threads, but I'm not ashamed anymore.