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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Hand me downs for first baby?

45 replies

Wotsits4357542 · 22/05/2020 16:17

I’ve been given a bag of baby clothes from a friend of my moms. I think it’s a nice gesture and had a few bits out of the pile she was giving away. My mom said she understands if I don’t want it because it’s my first baby and I’d want everything new. I’ve already bought a lot new, but it was nice to be given them and I’ve had a few newborn vests out of it. Now my mom had said that I wanted other people’s views? Would you have second hand vests if someone gave them you and you liked them?
The rest I’m going to give to someone who needs them like a charity or advertise for free as theirs plenty left. I think I’m over thinking it!

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Fivefourthree · 22/05/2020 16:18

I did for mine. Pre loved clothing does not mean you love your baby any less x

Hatscats · 22/05/2020 16:20

Yes, I’ve told people I’ll take anything going spare.

First baby. Sister in law has offered up their travel system.

We will buy a few new things where needed, but I am keen to keep my carbon foot print down, I hate waste and excess.

Snausage · 22/05/2020 16:20

Most of what my son wore as a baby were all hand me downs from friends. Now pregnant with number 2 and am going through everything I've got to see what I don't have to buy! Would definitely accept (and use!) second hand baby clothes again.

Daffy2020 · 22/05/2020 16:20

Yes...can’t see why you wouldn’t? Babies are very expensive and they go through clothes rapid so can’t see what the issue would be with wearing any pre loved clothes??

ChillyB · 22/05/2020 16:21

Hand me downs for babies and children are brilliant - especially babies as things are worn or used for short periods of time. They save you a tonne of money that you can spend on better things and are good for the environment. It doesn’t have to be an exclusive thing either you can have new things too.

Original poster

Wotsits4357542 · 22/05/2020 16:22

Don’t see anything wrong with it either! Again think it was very kind of her to pass them on to me. I’ll be doing the same when my little one doesn’t need them anymore

Also found a few vests in their that I’d looked for online but were sold out in new born so bonus lol x

OP posts:

peajotter · 22/05/2020 16:25

Never bought anything for my first two until they were 5yo. Everything was hand me down or second hand from the cot to the nappies. I can’t see the point in buying new unless you have to. Save the money for when they’re teenagers!

At my church the clothes go round and round the families. I’ve just had a bag for dc3 containing clothes that I used for dc1 and they weren’t new then!

snowball98 · 22/05/2020 16:25

Yes, no problem with hand me down's, I hardly bought any clothes for the first year between clothes handed down and gifts.

Mammyofasuperbaby · 22/05/2020 16:27

My son wore lots of second had clothes although I always selected the best bits and anything with holes, stains or well worn was sent for fabric scraps. My next baby will be wearing a lot of the same hand me downs as I stored a lot of it for him.
I'm not spending a fortune on baby clothes and stuff when second hand is often just as good

MerryGoRoundBrain · 22/05/2020 16:27

We had a lot of hand me downs for DS. I gracefully accepted them all, thinking I’ll keep them for emergencies. My baby was only going to wear brand new stuff. What a twat I was!!!
Then DS came along and turned out to be the world’s most sicky baby. These extra clothes saved my life when he needed to be changed 20+ times a day.
In short -yes, use hand me downs

SqidgeBum · 22/05/2020 16:27

Yes I used lots of second hand clothes for my first baby. Some were in fantastic condition. Babies dont stay in clothes long at the newborn stage so they sometimes only get worn once. For my next baby (I am 16 weeks pregnant) I will be using as much of DD1s old clothes as possible and I will get a few nice new bits. Babies don't know what they are dressed in. Around the house I just used the second hand babygrows anyway for the first few weeks and dressed baby in an outfit if we were going out somewhere.

mynameiscalypso · 22/05/2020 16:27

I've kept everything for my DB and DSIL who are expecting a baby in November. They are very glad I did because they're struggling with things being out of stock at the moment (presumably because a lot of stuff is made in China). I've given my SIL some of my maternity clothes too which she seemed grateful for (although she might just be a good actress!)

Pinkpepper9 · 22/05/2020 16:27

Yep no problem

Topseyt · 22/05/2020 16:29

I did get a fair bit of new stuff for my first baby, but she was the first baby in either of our families for about 25 years, so that was why. There was nothing left from previous children by then.I did also get some great charity shop stuff for her too though and was a regular there very quickly.

DD2 and DD3 lived on mostly hand-me-downs and charity shop stuff right from the word go. Newborn baby clothes are worn for such a very short amount of time that initially they hardly show any wear and tear at all.

BeMorePacific · 22/05/2020 16:30

I hardly buy any of my sons clothes, as we get some many hand downs from cousins! We also got a crazy amount of gifts.
When they’re tiny they are in clothes for such a short amount of time that clothes stay in a great condition.
x

rm15 · 22/05/2020 16:33

I bought lots new and had some passed on. Took the boys out I wanted from the passed on and then either passed on again or charity shop the rest.

I was looked down on by soooooo many people for choosing to buy new!! “What a waste” “buy on Facebook” I wanted to buy my own travel system cot etc but was happy to have good quality pre-loved clothes. Each to their own situation really... if you can afford it and want to then buy new!

Congrats on your pregnancy ☺️

Mintjulia · 22/05/2020 16:33

Babies grow so fast, and throw up or poo on everything, I was always glad to have as many changes of clothes as I could get.

I bought some outfits but had lots of secondhand as well. No-one noticed.

walkingchuckydoll · 22/05/2020 16:35

Clothes? Sure. Safety stuff like car seats, no.

The clothes tend to be almost new snyway, since most babies outgrow them in 2.3 seconds.

Mustbethewine · 22/05/2020 16:35

I was incredibly lucky as I was given so much stuff from other people. The only things bought new was a bouncer, play gym, high chair, changing matt and mattresses. Literally everything else was pre loved.

platform9andthreequarters · 22/05/2020 16:36

My first had probably 80%secondhand clothes for his first year, given to me or bought at nearly new sales.
Second one is almost 6 months and has had 2 new items of clothing.
Really don't understand why you wouldn't. Particularly in the first year or so, they grow out of things so quick, and people have loads they've barely used so it's in nearly new condition to buy. I'd much rather spend the money on cake and baby classes /outings. (and I did.)

RingaRosie · 22/05/2020 16:38

Most of my baby’s things are hand-me-downs from friends & family. It’s brilliant because both of our jobs are in the balance right now...
And I haven’t been able to go shopping for new things (picked up a few bits online). Delighted with all of the baby bits & bobs!

PorridgeStoat · 22/05/2020 16:38

I would love them but annoyingly all our friends either had babies years ago or are having them at the same time as us!

I have bought quite a lot 2nd hand (buggy, crib..).

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 22/05/2020 16:38

My first is due in a couple of months and I haven't bought anything yet - obviously we'll be getting a new car seat & mattress but otherwise we've had so many hand-me-downs I don't think we'll need much! I mostly buy second-hand & vintage clothes for myself so won't be doing any different for the baby.

SqidgeBum · 22/05/2020 16:39

Oh yes I agree with PP. Get the car seat new! Its very important you know its 100% safe. I bought a buggy new too but I know many people who bought theirs second hand. I also bought a play mat, a bouncer, a prep machine, and a sling second hand. Brilliant buys! I used all a lot. Even now I buy a lot of DDs toys second hand (hard plastic ones that can be wiped).

Eskdale2004 · 22/05/2020 16:42

Absolutely! I love a big bundle of hand me downs.

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