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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:
leya · 27/01/2009 22:34

Daftpunk; SORRY, you say sorry after saying people who buy used clothes are poor parents, hippys, or addicted to Ebay! & you say 'Sorry'

nickschick · 27/01/2009 22:36

I worked at a private day nursery before i had ds1 almost everything he wore was secondhand as the parents gave me loads of stuff.....he was the best dressed child in town even the midwives were saying what beautiful clothes he had

cali · 27/01/2009 22:36

leya, ignore her - she is the one who has the problem.

ninedragons · 27/01/2009 22:36

Every time I buy DD something from a charity shop, I chuck a couple of dollars into her piggy bank. I'm going to give her the money when she's 16 or 17 and aching for designer clothes, and tell her how I saved it.

I don't know anyone who doesn't use secondhand clothes for their DCs. I just took a bag around to our neighbours (he's an investment banker, she's a corporate lawyer). They were delighted. When babies are weaning they always look like they've been rolling around on the floor of Jackson Pollock's studio anyway, so the odd stain doesn't bother me in the slighest.

daftpunk · 27/01/2009 22:37

well who the fuck buy's from ebay?...i don't fucking know...it just ain't me!

i'm sorry leya..i know i've upset you...i really am sorry.

i'm outta here.

leya · 27/01/2009 22:39

Ha! Clearly daftpunk is not as stuck up as she makes out, judging by her language!

cali · 27/01/2009 22:40

Bought a large bundle of clothes from ebay for dd1, cost me £30 for 35 items, all in very good condition.

2 dresses in the bundle, although in excellent condition, I knew dd1 would not wear as they weren't what I would normally choose.
Put them back onto ebay and because of the name, they sold for £23.

what do you think of that daftpunk?

Anglepoise · 27/01/2009 22:42

I feel a bit sorry for daftpunk. Some people prefer new stuff. Up to them.

Thinking you're doing someone a favour by keeping them in the garment industry is a bit silly though.

daftpunk · 27/01/2009 22:42

i'm impressed cali..

leya · 27/01/2009 22:43

Night everyone! I've had enough too!

AnybodyHomeMcFly · 27/01/2009 22:44

Have not read all the posts but to answer the original question - of course it's fine to buy baby clothes from eBay. In fact I was just thinking today that I would be eBaying some of DS's baby clothes soon and stocking up on "new" ones for DD (due in a couple of months). I also gave away some on Freecycle a year ago.

What on earth is meant to be wrong with second hand baby clothes that will only have been worn a few times?? Your colleague is an idiot.

fledtoscotland · 27/01/2009 22:45

daftpunk - you can get good used clothes from places other than ebay. I swap bits with my friends (have a good coat from next that am giving to my pal next week. it was given to me but doesnt have a mark on it so why bin it?)

no matter how much your DH earns, surely you dont have money to burn and recycling clothes, whether it be through ebay, family, etc etc is good for the wallet and the environment?

i just dont get your generalisations.

cali · 27/01/2009 22:48

thought you'd left daftpunk?

started off buying clothes from ebay for dd1 when she went to nursery, didn't mind so much when cheap but still decent clothes got covered in paint/mud etc.

dd2 was born at a different time of year from dd1 and couldn't really use the clothes that I'd kept, so having had good experiences on ebay with buying dd1's clothes, looked there for clothes for dd2.
I am selective about what I buy and whom I buy from but I think I will continue to buy a mixture of new and ebay clothes for dd's.

happybeingme · 27/01/2009 23:04

Hi OP,

I am doing the same. Your work colleague is a twunt. It does not matter where they come from, they can be washed. Baby clothes are expensive and as you said they only were them for a very short period. It would make me feel bad too if someone said that to me but really who cares? Enjoy shopping and your new baby.

I also feel quite pleased with my ebay bargains, why pay full price for very similay stuff?

happybeingme · 27/01/2009 23:07

Daftpunk,

Why buy chepaper brands when you can get more expensive brands for less and are usually like new? I don't get it.

LucyEllensmummy · 27/01/2009 23:11

I have never bought baby clothes from Ebay, but that is because every purchase i have ever made from ebay has been a big fat pile of shite! I think i attempted to buy some once but they never arrived (i did get a refund though).

I do however buy lots of clothes for DD in charity shops, although less available as they get older. Thats a win win situation, you get to look at the stuff, the money goes to charity and its cheaper.

I did get a bit pfb about DDs clothes when she was born, but i just thought "what the fuck am i doing" going into next or mothercare spending £80 every few months, i so wish i hadn't done that - have spotted some beautiful baby clothes in charity shops, there was once a complete layette that a lady had bought in when i was in the shop, it was spotless and beautiful.

Anyone who thinks that people have clothe their children in second hand clothes needs to crawl out of their own arsehole!

Most of my friends I suppose, would be classed as middle class alpha mummies (i dont class myself as such) who take parenting VERY seriously - you know the sort, im sure - their children mostly look like urchin children in their tatty handmedowns and charity shop clothes. But they are all happy, well stimulated future doctors and accountants.

NaturalBornThreadKiller · 27/01/2009 23:15

By daftpunk on Tue 27-Jan-09 22:37:22

well who the fuck buy's from ebay?...i don't fucking know...it just ain't me!

i'm sorry leya..i know i've upset you...i really am sorry.

i'm outta here.

i am [shocked] beyond daftness daft,

and while i am ok about you buying everything new your attitude towards others stinks,

i think you will be remembered for this thread, sad really,

and in answer to your question, 'what sort of mother buys 2nd hand'?

one with more sense than money...

fledtoscotland · 27/01/2009 23:20

psml NBTK. think you said in in one

happybeingme · 27/01/2009 23:20

NBT,

Well said. We don't have loads of money but could probably stretch to new baby clothes but why, why, why? I would much rather spend my money elsewhere especially in the current financial climate.

I had'nt thought of charity shops but I will be looking there and have just looked for my local NCT sale - GREAT tips.

LucyEllensmummy · 27/01/2009 23:24

Daftpunk - you are being naughty aren't you? didn't you used to be Ts mummy? If so, you are defo being naughty, you bad bad girl!!!

If not - stitch this: Babies dressed out of ASDA might as well wear T-shirts saying "My mummy has no taste and doesn't care who knows it". Usually end up in cut down t-shirts and awful themed t-shirts with fifi and the fecking flower tots and dare i say it "high school musical" emblazoned across their bums! MY child however is often clad in Boden, Benneton, other vague designer wear that i couldnt afford even if i saved up to it, she wears mostly next and H+M clothes. ALL of them second hand! She never looks naff, in fact people comment about her lovely clothes - so, up yer bum!

NaturalBornThreadKiller · 27/01/2009 23:25

talulasmum

LucyEllensmummy · 27/01/2009 23:28

lmao - i was trying to be descrete!! You had to love TM though

NeedCoffee · 27/01/2009 23:30

ebay is good, Asda, Primark is good. 2nd hand, freecycle, charity shops are all better

NaturalBornThreadKiller · 27/01/2009 23:31

i did love her in a funny way,

and i think she grew on me,

le ruset was very funny,

but her lastest offering is shite pants,

Clary · 27/01/2009 23:31

I love hand me down clothes and so do my kids.

I wonder if daftpunk passes on clothes in the family - her posts suggest not. That's just bonkers IMO (I have a colleague who is the same).

DS2 loves it if sthg belonged to DS1 and DD always enjoys hand-ons from DS1's girl-pals (we have a variety of sources )

ebay, charity shop, car boot, whatever looks good memoo, you go for it.

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