4 Places to Save on Used Baby Gear
I recently wrote about setting up a baby registry as a way to provide well-wishers with a list of items that we hope to get for our baby, but also to use as a shopping guideline for myself. I can be a bit of a shopaholic, so without some firm parameters, I know that I would go crazy buying everything we need and then some.
While I plan on taking advantage of coupons and registry completion discounts to purchase some items, I also have a game plan of ways to purchase some items without paying anywhere near full price. Here are my favorite places to save on gently used baby gear:
Craigslist
I do not plan on going too over-the-top in my baby shopping, but one item I have decided that I would really like is a 4moms mamaRoo. I am going to be a work-from-home mom and since we are not going to invest in any other swing-like item, this seems like an ideal item that will provide baby with a place to lay down and relax every so often. A mamaRoo retails for $200-plus, making it a pretty pricey piece of baby equipment. Luckily, there is a robust resale market on Craigslist, which is where I will likely purchase ours from.
One thing to keep in mind when shopping on Craigslist is to always try out electronic items before completing the purchase and do not ever agree to purchase any item before seeing it in person. Another thing that multiple friends have warned against is purchasing a used car seat, since car seat standards are frequently updated and car seats that have been in crashes should not be used again, since they can suffer invisible damage. If there's one thing I don't want to mess around with, it's my baby's safety.
Online Consignment Shops
I should admit that I have already purchased three pairs of shoes for our baby even though he or she won't be here until February. I know this is counter to my stated goal of trying to curb my baby spending, but I literally have not purchased anything else yet. I really do not plan on purchasing any additional clothing for the baby until after our baby showers and after the baby joins us, but when I am ready to go shopping you can bet that I will be checking out the online consignment shops.
Two of my favorite online consignment shops that offer great prices on new and gently worn kid's clothing is ThredUp and Moxie Jean. The prices at both online stores are fantastic, and I know ThredUp offers regular coupons that can provide big savings.
Additionally, once my little one begins outgrowing his or her wardrobe, I definitely plan on consigning with these sites so I can build up credit to apply toward future purchases!
Mom-to-Mom Sales
While I have never personally attended a mom-to-mom sale, I have heard nothing but good things about the amazing deals that can be found. The idea behind a mom-to-mom sale is that a bunch of moms get together in one large space and sell the baby and kid items they no longer need. These sales are generally open to the public and can provide steep discounts on a huge assortment of items.
To find a mom-to-mom sale near you, do a web search for "mom-to-mom sale" plus your city. I was surprised at the large number of sales in the Chicago area when I began searching.
Yard Sales
I currently live in the city, which is not really an optimal area for finding garage sales, but many of my friends live in subdivisions that have frequent subdivision sales that feature parents selling off the baby items they no longer need. As much as I enjoy shopping online, I cannot wait to begin checking out some of these sales and finding clothing and toys for a fraction of the original retail price.
Much like Craigslist, there are some items that I would not purchase from a yard sale, but I am not opposed to putting a little bit of work into making a gently used item shine like new.
I have no doubt that we are going to spend plenty of money on our future child, but wherever possible I plan on purchasing gently used items, especially when the baby is so little and will likely quickly outgrow both clothes and toys, to help save a little bit of cash wherever possible.
Lisa Koivu is the founder of ShopGirlDaily.com, a budget fashion and shopping blog for women who want to have the best for less.
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