The thing about babies is that they grow so fast – just five months in and they’re double in size! Now factor in the fact that baby clothes are super expensive and you’ll see how it makes more sense to just go for second-hand stuff.
In fact, according to the emerging resale giant thredUP, the estimated price of the global secondhand market is to grow by 127% by 2026. In contrast, according to Daily Mail, a survey showed how mothers using hand-me-downs for children spent up to £500 less.
That said, there are definitely some basic precautions for getting second-hand baby gear and hand-me-downs. Let’s take a look at them:
Baby clothes — things to look out for
It’s really surprising to see how baby clothes can be just as (if not more) expensive than adult clothes. Buying them second-hand just makes more sense. Here are all the things that you need to look out for when shopping for newborn baby clothes:
- Condition always matters: There are two major things that you need to look out for while checking the condition of your second-hand baby clothes. The first one is whether the item has any loose threads or buttons. You can also turn them inside out to see if there are any tears that you cannot see.
The second thing you need to check is if the material is fire hazard safe. Flammable baby clothing is highly common in the US — especially sleepwear — so you need to be really picky and thorough about it as these clothes are chemically treated and could be harmful to your baby’s health.
Pro tip: it’s best to always wash second-hand baby clothes with a non-bio detergent. If you don’t, then something might cause rashes on the baby’s sensitive skin. - Avoid baby clothing hazards: Recent research indicates that clothes-related hazards have resulted in around 54.7% of child injuries. Most of them occurred due to zippers, loose buttons, and drawstrings around the neck as a choking hazard. Therefore, when picking out secondhand clothes for your baby, try to avoid items that have these accident-related hazards on them.
- Be selective with baby shoes: It’s important to take care of your little one’s foot health, so it’s better to be selective with baby shoes while curating second-hand outfits. Out of all the things, the most important is to see how worn the inner sole is. They’re usually molded to a child’s foot structure, so it’s best to avoid those.
Tips for buying second-hand baby clothes
Now that you know what to look out for in secondhand baby clothes, it’s time to share some tips about where and how to buy them from:
- Legit Online Platforms: there are so many online platforms where you can buy and sell baby clothes these days. One of the most popular ones includes Mercari, which is a great place to trade secondhand items — especially clothes. People find it easy to sell on Mercari because they don’t charge a listing fee and also have an escrow payment system that ensures safer trading.
Poshmark is another great website that can be used to buy secondhand baby clothes. They set themselves apart by having a return policy for buyers to ensure legitimacy. They also provide seller protection by letting them use their pre-paid and addressed shipping labels. Although relatively newer in the field, great Poshmark reviews have been coming in from satisfied users.
You can also check out other legitimate websites like Buildabundle or thredUP if you really want to explore the market. Facebook marketplace is another online platform that you can use to buy secondhand baby clothes.
Pro tip: when using online platforms, you might see labels like BNWT (Brand New With Tag) or EUC (Excellent Used Condition). Try to buy these only. It’s also best to check the comments section against the seller to determine if they are legit or not.
- Designer hand-me-downs: if you’re into designer baby clothes, then you’d be glad to know that big brand companies are starting to take an initiative on the matter. John Lewis, a highly popular UK brand recently introduced a “hand-me-down” drive in their stores to propagate qualitative handovers exclusive to their brand. In fact, they have even sown in a cotton label where new owners can inscribe their own name inside.
Baby gear — things to look out for
Baby gear includes all the hardware that comes as your infant’s support and safety system. It includes cribs, strollers, car seats, harnesses, and more. Now, you can buy some of these things online, but others might not be the best choice. Here’s everything you need to know about it:
Things not to buy
- Breastpumps: although quite expensive to buy brand new, breast pumps should never be bought second-hand. They come with a high chance of contamination and are designed for single-person usage only.
- Mattresses: used mattresses have been linked to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), so it’s best to forego this as well.
Things you can buy:
- Carseats: it’s mostly safe to buy a used car seat, but make sure that your source is reliable and that they are not selling you a product that has been through an accident. Also, note that car seats have an expiration date (6-8 years) so ensure what you’re buying is still viable. Other than that, take off the seat covers and wash them before regular use.
- Strollers or pushchairs: these are specially built to withstand long-term wear and tear, so it’s safe to buy them. Just make sure that they meet all the safety standards. It’s also best to inspect the whole thing for any hidden malfunctions by taking it out on a ride.
- High Chairs: once again, the build and timeline are everything here. Anything over 10 years old might lack structural integrity, so get it from a reliable source.
Conclusion
According to Statista, the average volume of baby clothes per person is 1.3 pieces per person in 2022. It’s slated to grow to 11,458.8m pieces by 2026. That’s a lot of clothing items for little people who will outgrow them in a blink! Therefore, it’s best to opt for secondhand baby clothes and gear — it’s sustainable, promotes a circular economy, and keeps things out of landfills!
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Gilles Couvreur is the founder of Crosslist, a productivity tool that allows sellers to list quickly on the world’s largest online marketplaces. In his free time, he loves to share simple tips that help resellers reach more customers.