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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/hand me downs?

30 replies

CathyandHeathcliff · 14/04/2018 18:10

This is my first baby. I'll be buying some things new but I've seen loads of cheap bundles of baby clothes on eBay.

Of course I'll wash them first.
Do others do this too?

OP posts:

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gryffen · 14/04/2018 18:11

Hiya

I don't use EBay but charity shops and baby sales I do use and just wash everything bought - our Jack and Jill markets are amazing for things like this.

You can go daft though with cuteness overload so check your storage first lol

TheQueenOfWands · 14/04/2018 18:12

Of course. It's awesome.

The more cute, chubby cheeked babies that have worn/used something the more epic that item becomes.

strawberrysparkle · 14/04/2018 18:12

Nearly all my baby stuff is second hand! I love a bargain get more of a thrill than buying new things!

Situp · 14/04/2018 18:13

Apart from our car seat, pretty much everything we had for DC1 was second hand.

It is economically sensible, ecologically responsible and they are only going to shit and vomit on everything anyway.

We have just had our third and are actually struggling because we have been given so much stuff that I am advertising locally for someone who would take it off my hands for free!

Mamabear1475 · 14/04/2018 18:14

I got loads from charity shops. There is one where I live where you can fill a carrier bag with baby clothes for £1. I go every couple of months to get stuff on her next size up.

Carboholic · 14/04/2018 18:16

Local FB selling pages will also have loads of clothes bundles very cheap. When they're tiny, each size is only 3 months, and when he was tiny I had to change DS at least twice a day, so some of these outfits were worn something like 10 times total and looked pretty new. Buy a few special items if you really fall in love with them, otherwise second hand is fine.

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 14/04/2018 18:17

Of course. Frankly, buying everything new is very PFB and you rapidly come to see it as impractical and wasteful, especially with how much trial and error is involved in finding stuff that works for you and baby and how quickly babies grow out of all those adorable clothes.

I haven't bought a thing new for DC2 - I buy everything secondhand, secure in the knowledge that I can then sell it on. There is a thriving market in secondhand baby stuff because so much of it ends up outgrown/barely used while still in perfectly good condition.

Makingworkwork · 14/04/2018 18:19

Yep. Don’t get a car seat or mattress second hand. Make sure things come from a smoke free home.

user1493413286 · 14/04/2018 18:24

Yep I bought a few bundles off people on Facebook and i’ve Been to some nearly new sales; everything has always been in perfect condition and looks barely worn. I also buy plastic toys second hand as I can dettol them but not soft ones as I know how much my DD bites hers.
I don’t tend to buy bedding including sleeping bags second hand as I know how often my DD has wet through hers but I think that’s just me being a bit odd about it as obviously they’re clean

ChilliMum · 14/04/2018 18:27

Of course they grow so fast and spit up so often that half the clothes are only worn once or twice for a few hours at a time.

Most of my stuff was hand me down from relatives and dd wore loads of blue vests and baby grows from her boy cousin and ds wore some lovely pink ones from dd (as well as a few blue ones that had done the rounds by then).

My brothers mil knits beautiful cardigans and matching booties and hats. We had loads of these from cousin's and when I finished (ds yon gest in the family) I gave them to a friend and they were still in perfect condition.

Moominfan · 14/04/2018 18:41

the rate you go through clothes is extortionate even buying second hand. I love charity shops spent plenty of time searching while on maternity, got lots of new stuff and now their in nursery I'm not precious about stuff getting ruined

dointhedo · 14/04/2018 19:32

I still buy the occasional eBay bundle and DS is almost 3; it has saved us a fortune. I've had some great quality stuff. I buy a large bundle or two and top up with new vests, pjs, pants and socks.

El1995 · 15/04/2018 09:56

Hells yeah! Basically all of my baby stuff has come off ebay or Gumtree, got some lovely stuff including a cot and bundles of clothes which are all still basically brand new as babies are only in their clothes 5 mins! saved me a TON of cash x

Dubdoor · 15/04/2018 10:07

Almost everything DC1 wore came from NCT sales. Last winter, when he was 4, he was dressed almost exclusively in Boden tshirts, picked up for £1.50 a piece.

As a baby it was brilliant though. We saved so much.
And DC2 has worn most of it too. I've bought her a few slightly more girly bits, mostly from NCT sales too.

I prefer charity shops and NCT sales to buying bundles as I can be fussy about what they wear (prefer brighter colours, minimal slogans, minimal characters, no camouflage patterns, which can be tricky with boys clothes!) so its easier to pick out individual items.

We used to have an amazing second hand children's clothes shop in town, but it closed when DC1 was about 2yrs. That made me very sad.

katmarie · 15/04/2018 11:00

I boughtalmost all of my DS's clothes via bundles on ebay or facebook market place, gave them all a good wash of course, and we've had some absolutely fab bargains. When you think about it, you can spend £10 - £15 on a set of sleepsuits, brand new. I got a whole huge sack of clothes in 3 to 6 months for £20, enough to basically kit my DS out completely. And most of it was in exceptional condition too, kids just don't wear things for long enough to wear them out when they're babies. I'm not really planning on buying brand new until he's a lot bigger and has to have things like school uniforms.

ForkIt · 15/04/2018 11:01

My three don’t even know people get clothes from shops 🤣

SmallestInTheClass · 15/04/2018 11:05

Yes! They wear them for such a short time that they are usually good as new. Also eBay is brilliant for shoes when they get older.

BewareOfDragons · 15/04/2018 11:10

I used to think that people who didn't acquire most of their baby and toddler clothes second hand were nuts. You can keep them in clothes so cheaply that way! And they just grow straight out of them anyway ... makes total sense!

MoralBeryl · 15/04/2018 11:19

My DParents are car boot sale-aholics. It's always been a bit of a joke that I am the snob fusspot in our family because I like to buy new. It's largely because of the pleasure I get out of shopping and curating a wardrobe.

This has changed since I had my DC! While I still like to buy some new things, I don't think I've ever turned down anything my parents have bought home for them.

My DM now volunteers in a charity shop in a naice village. Some of the stuff we get from there is astonishing. Multiple unworn designer baby outfits, with change from a tenner.

QueenofSerene · 15/04/2018 11:24

99% of my babies clothes were second hand, my mum bought bundles of clothes and washed them for us. Nothing wrong with it, they grow super quick!

user1483387154 · 15/04/2018 11:27

yes, hand me downs or ebay bundles for my little one. A very very few new items that i have fallen inlove with but only because the money saved on the rest of the clothes has enabled me to save up a bit.

LeighaJ · 15/04/2018 11:31

Yes, the majority of our baby's clothes were bought second-hand off of eBay or Gumtree.

Also her iCandy travel system, isofix car base, swing, and baby carrier.

Mum2Mum Market is another place for good deals on second-hand baby items and you can see them in person before deciding.

ClareB83 · 15/04/2018 11:35

Remember people will give you loads of stuff too so don't go too overboard until they've had a chance to give you presents or hand me downs eg we only had to buy three sleepsuits for our twins in 0-3 months because we were given everything else in that age range.

Smurfybubbles · 15/04/2018 12:11

I was skeptical about the eBay bundles but my husband got some and I'm delighted with what we've gotten! We didn't get as much as anticipated from friends/family and the bundles now mean baby is pretty much dressed until he's 6 month old for a fraction of the cost!
Everything that arrived either had tags on or was clearly only worn once or twice! We found the same buyer shifting 6-9 bundles and have now bought them and tucked them away! I say go for it they grow out of things so quickly.

whattookyousolong · 15/04/2018 12:13

The other week I was charity shopping and found a load of hardly used mamas and papas/ next/Jojo maman baby clothes. I spent about £18 and had 4 bags filled to the brim of clothes that looked brand new 😭 second hand is the best!

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