What do you really think of second hand for kids?

thewalrus3 · 2025-10-09T21:48:17+00:00

I get at least 50% of my toddlers clothes from Vinted. Probably more. She does get brand new things too and I love the clothes in places like H&M and Zara but I cannot justify the cost when I know things are likely to get stained and ruined, or grown out of quickly. I get a lot of my own stuff from Vinted too so it’s not like I’m decked out in designer gear while my toddler is only getting second hand. I have a friend who is very aesthetic focused and her and her dd always look perfect. She hasn’t said it directly to me but we’ve had conversations where she’s made it clear she’d never dress her dc in second hand anything. I suppose it makes me feel a bit embarrassed and inferior. Not that I’ll stop doing it because we’ve had some great bargains. Does it really matter?

nutbrownhare15 · 09/10/2025 22:51

Environmentally and financially it's the better choice. I rarely buy new clothes for me or the kids. I'd judge someone who would never use secondhand tbh.

ThatRealLemonCat · 09/10/2025 22:52

I don't see how they are related to each other frankly.

very aesthetic focused makes no difference if you buy direct from the shop or on vinted? You select the look you want?

I can put my youngest in brand new clothes, they won't look brand new after 1 hour, it's irrelevant where I got them from.

HateMyselfToo · 09/10/2025 22:54

2nd hand for as long as you can get away with it. I could have afforded new, but my priorities were to spend on fun things like days out and not feel guilty chucking clothes away if they were ruined by food or mud etc.
Now my DC is a teenager, I do spend more on things for them, because I remember what it was like to not have new clothes / trendy things growing up.
I always look out for people asking for things on Facebook and pass on things where I can too.
I also buy off eBay for myself as I prefer the fabric quality of vintage clothing.

Neveranynamesleft · 09/10/2025 22:54

It's your choice what you buy / wear. I love a bargain and as long as it's in good condition then I can't see anything wrong with buying second hand.

BertieBotts · 09/10/2025 22:55

Of course it doesn't matter. If the clothes are clean, weather appropriate and comfortable it's fine.

If anything I would judge someone who put the "aesthetics" of their toddler over anything actually sensible. I would much rather DC go around in second hand clothing than cheap crap from Shein with elevated lead content in it, or Primark stuff sewn by Bangladeshi children in sweatshops (I do buy Primark even though I know I shouldn't).

ToKittyornottoKitty · 09/10/2025 22:55

No it just matter, just like it doesn’t matter that she chooses to buy new. Neither of you are superior or inferior.

34ransum · 09/10/2025 22:55

I see 2nd hand as sensible and environmentally friendly

Clothes are crazy prices at the minute and young kids grow out of them every few months

Original poster

thewalrus3 · 09/10/2025 22:55

ThatRealLemonCat · 09/10/2025 22:52

I don't see how they are related to each other frankly.

very aesthetic focused makes no difference if you buy direct from the shop or on vinted? You select the look you want?

I can put my youngest in brand new clothes, they won't look brand new after 1 hour, it's irrelevant where I got them from.

Probably the wrong choice of words. I mean she likes the finer things, has a lot more disposable income and doesn’t think anything of blowing £200 on an autumn/winter clothing haul for her 2 year old. Nothing wrong with that if you can afford it obviously.

OP posts:

Thepoliticsofchaos · 09/10/2025 22:56

My children (now young adults) always wore second hand. And they love buying at charity shops now. I used to buy them clothes on Ebay and, when they were little, at NCT jumble sales. It meant that they wore lovely quality clothes - often Mini Boden or similar. I wouldn't have bought those brands new. Children grow quickly, so second-hand children's clothes are usually in very good condition. I don't get people who always buy new, especially for children. Particularly when it seems to be a snob thing. What's so great about being a snob?

SteakBakesAndHotTakes · 09/10/2025 22:56

Everything I buy on Vinted looks the same as what I've bought new, especially after a few wears and washes. New children's clothes are just a waste of money - even a single basic outfit from Primark is over £10.

Thaimonstera · 09/10/2025 22:58

I buy most of our clothes from Vinted or second hand/charity shops. But I usually only buy the ‘new with tags’, ‘new’ or ‘very good’ condition things

Blessedbethefruitz · 09/10/2025 22:58

Second hand clothes don't work for us. Dd (and me) have sensitivity issues with fabric (also ear defenders and many antihistamines, not being precious), and ds has a weird tall skinny shape so it's not worth the hassle.

Toys, books, anything that doesn't need to be worn? All golden as far as im concerned. I don't buy second hand for other kids gifts, but happy to for mine. Dd has a beautiful refurbished first bike for Xmas and she's going to lose her mind over it. And ds is not turning his nose up at second hand switch games!

Edit - dd has hand me downs from her brother when I know the fabric/fit works for her. She idolises him so loves his oversized mario cast offs!

GlosGirl82 · 09/10/2025 22:59

My three kids are in 100% second hand clothes (save for underwear and socks). It’s not about money - it’s two things. Firstly, there are waaay too many clothes in the world. They are just clothes - even when my teenager wanted a designer jumper for Xmas - I got it off eBay. Why not, better for the environment. Secondly, it teaches them that we can’t just consume and consume - they wear clothes from eBay, hand it down between them and then I sell or donate for someone else to benefit. It’s not about money - it should be how we all live

KnickerlessParsons · 09/10/2025 23:00

Most of my DDs’ clothes were hand me downs, and after my two finished with them they went on to cousins.

FunnyOrca · 09/10/2025 23:00

I love a second hand sale! Not so keen on Vinted as it’s not always as shown, but that’s an internet problem not a second hand problem.

To me it’s crazy to pay full price for clothes kids will grow out of, but I’m really glad other people do so that I can buy them in the second hand sale!

ThatRealLemonCat · 09/10/2025 23:01

thewalrus3 · 09/10/2025 22:55

Probably the wrong choice of words. I mean she likes the finer things, has a lot more disposable income and doesn’t think anything of blowing £200 on an autumn/winter clothing haul for her 2 year old. Nothing wrong with that if you can afford it obviously.

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the main difference with buying new is that you can return things that don't fit perfectly or are disappointing. With Vinted you are a bit stuck or have to sell them back, so I can see why new is more practical.

But without people buying new, we wouldn't find good second hand, so it doesn't matter does it

Newnamethisway · 09/10/2025 23:06

I don’t have children and wore a range of hand me downs and new. I do go to charity shops but being petite don’t find as much I can get but accessories scarves and hats are great.

These is a danger these threads do sometimes head to far the other way of you should feel inferior if you are buying new and the only worthy ones buy everything second hand.

TonTonMacoute · 09/10/2025 23:08

What a waste if no one bought second hand clothes. There's lots of great stuff out there.

When I was a kid, whenever we met up with friends or family, bags of clothes would change hands between the mums. Some of my favourite clothes were acquired that way!

I certainly bought plenty of second hand stuff for DS.

Original poster

thewalrus3 · 09/10/2025 23:09

Newnamethisway · 09/10/2025 23:06

I don’t have children and wore a range of hand me downs and new. I do go to charity shops but being petite don’t find as much I can get but accessories scarves and hats are great.

These is a danger these threads do sometimes head to far the other way of you should feel inferior if you are buying new and the only worthy ones buy everything second hand.

That’s not my intention. As I said in my op I do love the clothes in Zara and those kind of places. I just don’t have the money to blow on things that will get wrecked or outgrown quickly. It doesn’t feel like money well spent.

OP posts:

INX · 09/10/2025 23:10

thewalrus3 · 09/10/2025 22:55

Probably the wrong choice of words. I mean she likes the finer things, has a lot more disposable income and doesn’t think anything of blowing £200 on an autumn/winter clothing haul for her 2 year old. Nothing wrong with that if you can afford it obviously.

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But why mention her at all in the context of this thread, unless you feel so insecure about your own choices that you want MNetters to criticise your friend?

You could've just asked what people think of buying second hand clothes for their kids.

Acafan · 09/10/2025 23:10

Almost all my DCs stuff comes off Vinted. It's much more fun shopping, there's more choice, I don't fret if the clothes get stained/wrecked, and I get nicer quality stuff for the same price. I know how different brands fit my kids so there aren't many duff purchases. We could afford it but I struggle to justify, say, a £30 kids jumper from Boden, but if it's £10 and only lightly worn, happy days.

I think my kids mostly look well turned out! I get lots of compliments on their (usually second hand) clothes.

TeenLifeMum · 09/10/2025 23:10

In my experience, poorer people are more likely to buy new as they worry they will look poor using hand me downs, whereas more comfortable families are happy with hand me downs so it frees up money for holidays. This does exclude the keeping up with the Jones’ types.

Martymcfly24 · 09/10/2025 23:12

I don't have time for charity shops. I will gladly accept bags of clothes from friends or relatives but other than that I buy new as they are too old now to wreck clothes and it gets passed from big sister to little sister.

Gowlett · 09/10/2025 23:13

DS has been wearing hand-me-downs since birth.
During COVID, lots of friends were clearing out their stuff.
And no shops were open, I got so much great gear.
Still doing the same, 5 years on. I only buy pants, socks…
If I do see something in the shops, it’s sale rack only!

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 09/10/2025 23:14

thewalrus3 · 09/10/2025 22:55

Probably the wrong choice of words. I mean she likes the finer things, has a lot more disposable income and doesn’t think anything of blowing £200 on an autumn/winter clothing haul for her 2 year old. Nothing wrong with that if you can afford it obviously.

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I do think there's something wrong with it actually.

Baby clothes are worn for a short amount of time so second hand makes perfect sense. Buying all new gear that will be barely worn is a poor use of our planetary resources - in the manufacture, the raw materials, the landfill once they're used. Unless she's shopping somewhere incredibly expensive, 200 quid could buy an unnecessarily huge amount of clothes for a 2 year old. It's excessive, consumerist and wasteful.

So she judges you. I judge her.