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.

@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.

I'm doing this for my 2 year old. Have bought her mostly secondhand for a while now. Buy new if cannot get a toy I am after or similar either at all or cheap enough

Nearly all DS (age 2) Christmas stocking presents are charity shop. He loves a large volume of plastic crap as he enjoys sorting toys and lining them up so to save £££ and the environment it makes much more sense. For £20 I’ve got about 15 things he’ll play with for a year and then they’ll go back to the charity shop.

Mine are 15 and 9 and are both happy to buy/receive second hand stuff - we generally have a mix of new and used depending on availability whether that's for gifting or generally.

9yo is currently lounging around in a "new" mermaid tail blanket that she bought with her own money from eBay - £25 to buy new and cost her £8 Inc postage!

We live within our means on a relatively low budget so second hand makes sense financially and environmentally. It needs to be normalised so that we can produce less new stuff.

I can't recall the poster but they said that wouldn't buy second hand for their kids because you don't know where it's been and that it would be talking away from the poor families... So essentially give the cast offs to the poor because beggars can't be choosers? It hasn't occurred to me that this type of rotten attitude was still around

It's a great idea!
I used to be one of those people who turned their nose up at second hand, refused to go to Carboot sales or look in charity shop because I didn't know where stuff had been
I've been making a massive effort to be more environmentally friendly and I've had to get over my bonkers fear of second hand. DDs main present is from ebay, I've saved over 50% off retail price and there are other additional bits there aswell. Means I can buy DD other bits she will like and she gets to have things I couldn't other wise afford, less stuff going to landfill and no need for more plastic tat to be produced so it really is a no brainer buying second hand.

Absolutely go second hand 😊 weve got a baby and a 3yo and actually managed such a cheap Christmas thanks to charity shops and freebies!

At least 80% of my kids' stuff is secondhand. The rest was mostly bought for us as presents.

I hate the feeling of paying over the odds for something they might not play with.

It usually goes back to the charity shop when we're done with it too.

As for not knowing where something has been, tbh it's the same with new stuff to some extent - unless you're going to watch it being made in a Chinese factory and transported across god knows where, stored in another five places, kept in a shop or warehouse etc - nothing is sterile!

@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.

It's not really that cut and dry, the same parents buying second hand might also be donating to clear stuff out. It's a secondhand marketplace where things are bought, sold and donated - not like a good bank with a finite amount of stuff.

YANBU

Fantastic idea. I have ebay watches for things like 'Fisher Price bundle'. I've got some wonderful stuff

@DoucheCanoe

Mine are 15 and 9 and are both happy to buy/receive second hand stuff - we generally have a mix of new and used depending on availability whether that's for gifting or generally.

9yo is currently lounging around in a "new" mermaid tail blanket that she bought with her own money from eBay - £25 to buy new and cost her £8 Inc postage!

We live within our means on a relatively low budget so second hand makes sense financially and environmentally. It needs to be normalised so that we can produce less new stuff.

I can't recall the poster but they said that wouldn't buy second hand for their kids because you don't know where it's been and that it would be talking away from the poor families... So essentially give the cast offs to the poor because beggars can't be choosers? It hasn't occurred to me that this type of rotten attitude was still around

Funnily enough this year I've donated a bunch of toys to a local charity collecting for those who cannot afford it, all brand new, and my child has a bunch of second hand stuff mixed with some cheap bargains new. She is privileged. She doesn't need a bunch of new things. I prefer to use money saved to spread the wealth.