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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy baby clothes from Ebay?

468 replies

memoo · 27/01/2009 19:37

Long story short, I'm pregnant with my 3rd, baby isn't due til sept but we are absolutly broke, struggling to pay the rent let alone buy new baby things.

So I decided to start buying a few little things each week from ebay. I've bid on some babygrows and a pramsuit, both used but look lovely and clean.

I was casually telling a work colleague about it today and she turn her nose up when I told her I was getting stuff from ebay. She said she "would never put her baby in second hand clothes" and "you don't know where they've come from" she went on to go on about how baby clothes aren't really expensive anyway etc etc

Maybe I'm being over sensitive but she made me feel really bad, as though I was getting second best for my baby but the way I look at it is that the baby won't know or care and newborns are only in stuff for 5 minutes so even second hand stuff will have lots of wear left in them.

Like I said, maybe I am being over sensitive (pregnancy hormones are raging) but she has made me feel like I'm not doing the best for my baby.

Is it really so bad to get second hand clothes for a new baby?

OP posts:
Disenchanted3 · 27/01/2009 19:48

Thats all DD has got.

2 big sleepsuits/vest bundles from ebay and donations from family

and you know what?? she gets told daily how beauiful she looks

ignore her.

dangfando · 27/01/2009 19:48

Of course YANBU. I get loads of stuff 2nd hand from car boot sales, charity shops and ebay. The only thing to beware of though is that Ebay can actually be more expensive than just buying the basics (vests and sleepsuits) from Tesco or George sometimes so make sure you aren't paying over the odds by the time you've paid postage.

kitbit · 27/01/2009 19:48

In fact babygros and vests that are passed on are much better as they are sooo much softer.
She's mad, it makes perfect sense! And most of the stuff on ebay is great clean quality anyway, you'd use it if a friend gave it to wouldn't you? Same thing really

daftpunk · 27/01/2009 19:49

i just wouldn't...not for a new born...maybe from 6 months old or something...if money was really tight (and it is for me too)...i would buy cheap clothes from asda or somewhere...sorry.

Original poster
memoo · 27/01/2009 19:50

But why though daftpunk? I am genuinely interested in your reasons

OP posts:
mamadiva · 27/01/2009 19:50

When I had my DS I didn't even think to buy from Ebay and spent a small fortune on clothes and now he's 2.6YO I buy loads of stuff from Ebay for him. If I'd have thought at the start I would defo have got from there!

YANBU but your colleague clearly is.

hazeyjane · 27/01/2009 19:52

most of dd's clothes are either hand me downs (some have done the rounds of 4 or 5 children), ebay, charity shop and car boot sales (last summer I bought 10 pairs of trousers for a £1 at a car boot sale, brilliant because dd2 was a bumshuffler and wearing out the bottoms weekly!).

I always feel really pleased that everything has had so much use, but it is usually really well looked after. When we do buy stuff new, it is usually something really lovely like a couple of Boden dresses (still sale though!), which I know will last, and which we can pass on to friends children in the future.

spottyshoes · 27/01/2009 19:52

YA sooooo NBU! We are not particularly hard up for money yet I buy the bulk of my PFB's clothes from ebay. You shop around and choose wisely and then wash when you get them - what's the problem. I resent paying for one item from a kids shop what I can get a whole bundle of a dozen or so outfits for from ebay. Where we are there are very limited choices of shops so most children wear similar clothes, it's nice to be able to get something a bit different/unique on there too.

EachPeachPearMum · 27/01/2009 19:52

Newborn clothes are barely worn- people usually have so many.
It's much more environmentally sound to have 2nd hand ones or hand-me-downs.
Ebay is a great source of things for babies.

singyswife · 27/01/2009 19:54

Try your local freecycle too. This wont cost you anything other than your petrol to go and collect the stuff.

daftpunk · 27/01/2009 19:54

i think the 1st time you dress your baby it should be in clothes that are brand new, it's a really special occasion isn't it...maybe it's all to do with being pure...do you know what i'm trying to say?...

jrsqueak · 27/01/2009 19:54

My ds3 has been in hand me downs from 2 older ds's so not a lot of difference. Am putting some baby stuff on ebay if you're interested memoo

notcitrus · 27/01/2009 19:54

colleague is a numpty. i don't know anyone who's bought their own new baby clothes, it's all hand-me-downs and gifts round my way.

ebay is a bargain - was going to sell some clothes there but it would be way too much work for a few quid so I'm giving them away and hoping to be given more if i have another.

nct sales are fab too - piles of unworn baby stuff.

singyswife · 27/01/2009 19:55

Just putting in Freecycle again as their seems to have been alot of people passed comment on your thread at the same time as me.

hazeyjane · 27/01/2009 19:56

Also, I know the supermarkets do really cheap babygros etc, but I don't think the quality is as good as a 'good' secondhand babygro. Dd2 had eczema, and we got some lovely babygros from Next with foldover sleeves, the quality was fantastic, really thick and soft and washed really well.

jrsqueak · 27/01/2009 19:56

Also some stuff i have put on ebay in the past has only been worn once or twice. Ds3 born October had 2 hand me down snowsuits and then got given one as a present. Pressie has been worn once!!!

Original poster
memoo · 27/01/2009 19:57

I feel so much better now

Its not like I buying anything tatty, the things i have got so far look like new. I got the most beautiful pramsuit that would have cost me £20+ new for £3 and its beautiful, you'd never know that it is second hand

OP posts:
christiana · 27/01/2009 19:58

Message withdrawn

CherryChoc · 27/01/2009 19:58

No way - baby clothes are expensive - and they wear them for such a short time they're barely second hand anyway. Some stuff on ebay is brand new, too.

Tell her next time she buys off the peg clothing how disgusting it is that someone might have tried it on - much better to buy tailor made!

seeker · 27/01/2009 19:59

Can you say why, daftpunk? I would rather buy second hand clothes that hadn't been made for my baby by children in the third world, that didn't contribute to global warming and which have been washed so much there will be mo traces of the processing chemicals remaining in them What's not to like?

Original poster
memoo · 27/01/2009 19:59

Jrsqueak, yes, let me know when you have put them on and I will have a look thanks xx

OP posts:
christiana · 27/01/2009 19:59

Message withdrawn

daftpunk · 27/01/2009 19:59

you could dress a newborn in brand new clothes for under £10....that's not alot is it?

KingRolo · 27/01/2009 20:00

The cheap baby stuff I have bought from supermarkets has generally been really poor quality - shrinking in wash, poppers coming off etc and it's only been fit for the bin, not passing on. The clothes I have bought on ebay however have been good quality from gap, M&S and Next. And ebay is cheaper . I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with putting newborns in second hand stuff, as long as it has been washed.

Almeida · 27/01/2009 20:02

yanbu - I got some really lovely clothes from ebay. Most of my kids clothes are second hand as they have been handed down plus why spend lots when you don't need to.

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