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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Second hand stuff for newborn

48 replies

Dollybird86 · 27/06/2013 16:46

Starting to buy baby clothes & a friend of mine suggested Ebay there are lots of lovely things at great prices but I was a but about buying second hand for a newborn. Would you? Or are you? Moneys not a massive issue although it could be better spent rather than on cute baby stuff! I just feel a but tight buying her loads of used stuff just because it's cheap!

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YBR · 28/06/2013 09:46

Bought very little for our PFB - all clother were (at least) 2nd hand, also cot, moses basket, pram, pushchair, car seats, highchair and so on. Much of it is on loan to a friend's PFB and will come back in time for our DC2. Various people were very generous in hand-me-downs and gifts.

I made the decision to go with 2nd hand matresses and car seats as they were nearly new, easy to clean/disinfect and I know the source, however, note madthings's advice.

I made sure everything was in good condition, washed it , and (where appropriate) soaked in milton.

Letticetheslug · 28/06/2013 09:50

mine had almost everything second hand, with th odd sale purchase. Babies aren't in clothes long enough for them to get worn out. Once bought a pair of Oshkosh dungarees for my daughter at a boot fair. Woman's 5 children had all worn them, I passed them on to my friend, whose 2 daughters wore them and she gave them back to me for my son. He was owner no 9, I gave them to a charity shop after him and they were still in really good nick.

MoominsYonisAreScary · 28/06/2013 10:12

The majority of ds2 and 3s clothes are 2nd hand from friends charity shops and fb. They have some lovely stuff, next, gap, John Lewis , vertbaudet that I wouldn't have paid the price for if they were new.

Ds1 bought ds4 a pair of ted baker jeans for a pound the other day.

froubylou · 28/06/2013 10:21

Get what you can hun. They are in them mere minutes anyway.

If it makes you feel better and you are buying from strangers on ebay chuck them in a mild disenfectant over night before washing, or wash them twice.

Baby won't know a thing. And neither will anyone else unless you tell them if you feel odd about it!

Im 15 weeks pg. My DD is 9 so we are starting again. But my sister has a 6 month old baby boy so got a full set of blue stuff plus bath, moses basket and cot and bedding (though I will get new mattress's). And my brother has just had a baby girl so full set of pink as well, plus bouncy seat, another moses basket and stand and god only knows what else (very precious mummy to that baby!).

So whatever colour I have I just have the travel system to buy. Am even having sisters breast pump.

And I am bloody grateful for it all. And when I've done with it there will be someone else to pass it on to I'm sure.

SupermansBigRedPants · 28/06/2013 10:31

I got a laundry bag full of baby gear from my hv for dd1 years ago I was young and poor - lots was not to my taste but vests, babygrows and 2 piece sets were kept and used.

Didn't have anything second hand for ds as a 'statement' of my not being poor anymore ..

Still not poor but dd2 has got a couple of fantastic bundles of clothes from ebay - pinafores, dungarees, babygrows, snowsuits etc all next/mothercare/m and co, little rocha and so on - things I'd buy anyway but on a huge saving and a lot was still BNW/OT.

I'd say go for it!

Witt · 28/06/2013 10:35

Save your money for when your DC will fit into clothes for more than 5 mins at a time! My DD was given some lovely 0-3m and 3-6m clothes but didn't get to wear them much before she was too big for them.

RenterNomad · 28/06/2013 10:38

With second hand stuff, you already know it's robust enough to last through more than one child.

Emilily · 29/06/2013 16:07

Everything I've bought so far has been second hand or hand-me-down (travel system, changing table, cot and clothing).

I'm the main bread winner, but aiming to take the full twelve months off. DH does earn a decent salary too, but I don't want him feeling like he had to take every bit of overtime on offer or actively seek a promotion to keep us. Our baby will appreciate having a more visible dad so much more than new clothes. Keep in mind that people who buy oodles of brand new/expensive gear aren't buying it for their kid, they're buying it for themselves!

soupmaker · 29/06/2013 17:45

Second hand all the way. PFB was in 2nd hand travel system and cot which came from friends so knew that car seat hadn't been in accident. Lots of second hand bedding and sleeping bags too. Bought new mattress for second hand cot and Moses basket. Borrowed baby carrier from SIL.

About to have DC2. Have loads of second hand vests and babygros from charity shops and got loads of muslins and cellular pram blankets for swaddling at second hand sale.

Got sling and top of the range baby carrier second hand of Gumtree.

Spent less than £40 and have everything we'll need for first 3 months.

They grow so quick and even though we could afford it all new, seems a complete waste of cash we can use to do nice things and have fun with the kids a bit later.

There is loads of pressure from baby magazines, shops, etc, etc, to get it all new. Don't get sucked in.

ghosteditor · 29/06/2013 17:57

Yep. Lots of second hand stuff here - cot (new mattress), clothes, books, toys, slings.

Better for the environment and good when they're small and changing size every few months.

PinkApple86 · 30/06/2013 13:00

If it helps, when driving to work this morning I drove passed a house having a clear out. They had loads of baby stuff out on the pavement with a big sign saying " free take me" so I pulled up and filled my boot quick and drove off . I'll look through it later when I get home.

toni1bump · 01/07/2013 01:25

Im pregnant with firat baby. Shes a girl. Have been.going.ebay MAD..theres some gorgeous stuff on.there and really cheap. Also not all is second hand! :D. Im always made up with the quality of items on delivery!! Feels so good to get a gorgeous baby outfit for 99p! Go for it xx

Skygirls · 01/07/2013 01:42

I spent loads on my pfb. Had to be new.....didn't wear half of it, but luckily then had dc2, so clothes passed down.

Three years later. Dc3 came along, and was now wiser, so bought tons of stuff on eBay....mostly new or hardly worn, and mostly expensive brands because I could get them at great prices. Dc3 lived in baby grows/all in ones until 6m, as outfits are a pita ( although very cute).

Have sold outgrown, really good condition stuff on eBay to fund clothes for growing baby. Excellent way of saving money.

Go for it, but check out seller's feedback before buying, as there are some who aren't that great.

mrsyattering · 01/07/2013 02:01

no problem new born stuff is hardly worn anyway. dc 2 was mostly in hand me downs rhrn went to dn and rhen on to a friend. some hardly worn or still new. would always go for new car seat unless you know where its from

parttimer79 · 01/07/2013 08:26

I only have about 3 new outfits for bump! All the rest was NCT sale or passed on from friends.
They grow so quickly and I'm not sure of how many of each size will be needed so lots of shopping seemed pointless (and I really hate shopping, getting the pram was a fecking nightmare).

Lots of other bits were 2nd hand including most of my maternity wear.

fayebell77 · 24/07/2013 22:09

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Dogsmom · 24/07/2013 22:48

I prefer car boots to eBay, firstly because you can actually see the clothes before you buy and secondly they're much cheaper, a lot of people sell them for 50p whereas on eBay people ask a couple of quid then the same in postage.
I've had many things still with labels on.
They really do outgrow them so fast, my daughter is 19 weeks and there's already 3 bin bags full of clothes that no longer fit and only a handful that have been worn more than a couple of times.

ananikifo · 24/07/2013 23:03

I'm accepting everything anyone offers me used. I'm not sure if I really want to use half a tube of Lansinoh nipple cream that I got used from a friend but I accepted it. Logically there's no reason not to use it, right? That stuff is expensive.

I have gone off eBay for clothes though because by the time you've paid shipping you may as well have bought something new on sale, and baby stuff is always on sale.

SeriousStuff · 24/07/2013 23:24

Most of the stuff we've bought are from ebay. Babies grow out of clothes so quickly so seemed like a good idea. Will wash them before using though.

FrussoHathor · 24/07/2013 23:28

dollybird I bought ds a bundle of clothes from eBay, and he's hardly worn any of it (due to the hot weather) and he's grown out of the size already.

JRmumma · 25/07/2013 10:14

I planned to do the nct sales/car boots/ebay but we have been bought so much stuff that we have ended up with all brand new and im sure we have enough stuff to last till baby is 6m old, and he hasn't even been born yet!

Will start stocking up on second hand for 6-12m stuff though

blueamber · 25/07/2013 10:50

I'm not sure about this. Even though I think it's great for saving money and better for the environment I would worry the clothes had been in contact with cigarette smoke. Washing it once or twice will not get rid of the chemicals!

DreamingOfTheMaldives · 25/07/2013 14:55

A lot of stuff I have for baby is second hand or has been bought for us by family. Most of the second hand things have been donated by friends, including some sent all the way from Oz, but I currently have my eye on a Bjorn babysitter chair thing on ebay which I plan to buy as it is £140 new!

We have bought new car seat, pram (well Mum has bought this), mattress and have hired a baby nest from NCT. We've bought other bits and bobs new as well but I don't have any problem with second hand stuff if it is in good condition. I don't see the point in spending the money on things if I don't have to - I'm self employed so leaving as much money in the bank as possible is a priority - that will help us and baby more in the long run as a Mum who is stressing about money is not going to be great for baby.

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