Secondhand or “Pre-Loved” Baby Markets Provide Cheaper Baby Products
Filed under: Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Safety, Baby Toys, Premier Baby Stores
Everyone wants to save money these days, including new parents. We’ve mentioned about purchasing secondhand baby items before on here, in particularly from consignment and thrift stores. But while baby products at these places are secondary, markets geared specifically toward parents have popped up. The Tiny Tots Baby Market in South-West Sydney, Australia has parents selling their “pre-loved” baby clothing and toys; parents needing slightly worn items for their babies and young children attend when the market opens every three months. Considering that most babies and children go through clothing and toys at this rate, parents can stop by Tiny Tots and stock up on basics their children will need.
As the link above mentions, secondhand or pre-owned markets have several benefits. First, cash-strapped parents can get the items they’ll need and stock up on clothing their children will quickly outgrow. Second, parents are selling to other parents, and the market offers a greater selection of baby products. Third, recycling clothing is green.
But parents should also be careful when taking the secondhand route. For example, while slightly worn clothing saves money for the parents, other slightly worn products may no longer be usable – or could have been recalled. Certain items, such as strollers, car seats, and furniture may no longer be in usable condition, and parents should examine each larger piece. Toys, similarly, could have been recalled at one point or another and parts, even from non-recalled items, may break off easier.
When attending a secondhand market or accepting hand-me-down items, examine them first before purchasing. Although clothing is generally safe, toys and furniture should be scrutinized. Beyond knowing if a product was recalled at one point, check toys for parts that could break off easily or are a clear choking hazard. For furniture and strollers, make sure that the child can be strapped in firmly and won’t get loose easily.
Ways to Be Economical with Baby Products
Earlier this month, we talked about going to secondhand stores for baby clothes and making sure all furniture and strollers were new. Aside from these tips, more can be done to make having a child more affordable. When it comes to baby products, what is necessary and what is affordable? What is a splurge? What don’t you need? An article from GoToBabyGift gives a few suggestions suggestions:
• Always buy new cribs, but if you expect another child in a few years, choose a unisex design.
• If you want a fashionable diaper bag, make sure it holds everything you’ll need.
• Stick with cloth diapers.
• Only use wipes for emergencies and go with soap and water if possible.
• Make sure you have four and nine-ounce baby bottles, which should be BPA-free.
• Have ample onesies around in sizes 0 to 18 months. These, too, can be unisex.
• Invest in a baby monitor.
• Strollers don’t need to be expensive but they should be sturdy enough to protect your child and to last through the toddler years.
• Have multiple swaddling blankets on hand.
• Have a baby thermometer in your home.
While many of these suggestions will help a parent save money, the article doesn’t address one issue: baby toys. Although toys, on some level, might been extravagant and excessive, they’re necessary for a baby’s development and growth. Consider stimulation toys that are age-appropriate: mirrors and crib books and various soft toys with colors, sounds, and textures. Additionally, find a mobile that also stimulates sight and sound. Several retailers carry baby toys and offer a selection of stimulation or educational toys.
Additionally, a car seat is an item that will last for several years. Like furniture and a stroller, a car seat should be new and solid enough to last a few years. The car seat may be part of a travel systems stroller or it may be purchased separately. In either case, it should support the needs of a baby – head support – and a toddler.
Buying Frugal: Which Baby Products Should You Purchase Secondhand?
As all parents know, having a new baby or another child is expensive. In addition to the expense of having a child in a hospital, getting all of the appropriate gear is a significant financial hurdle. Parents are advised to stick with the basics, but even this is a long list of clothing, furniture, toys, strollers, and diapers. If you could use hand-me-downs or purchase items secondhand, part of the initial financial burden would be lessened. Parents, however, are advised not to purchase certain items secondhand or receive hand-me-downs, but some are perfectly fine.
Baby clothes, according to an article on NOLA.com, is one of those products that can be purchased secondhand. Many new parents who still have baby clothes donate them to thrift and consignment stores, and many of these items are lightly worn. Going to a consignment or thrift store is a way to pick out basics: onesies, t-shirts, coats, pants, and hats. You can go and pick out the clothing you’ll plan to use for the first year, and, later, you can find clothing a toddler will use. As babies and children go through clothing quickly, purchasing them secondhand is helpful to your wallet.
On the other hand, certain items should never be purchased secondhand or as a hand-me-down. Baby furniture and strollers should always be purchased new. Certain pieces of furniture and strollers may have been recalled, and secondhand stores may carry these recalled models. Additionally, these items experience wear and tear and have a higher likelihood of breaking. Drop-side cribs, in particular, have been in the news for various safety hazards and have a greater potential for breaking if purchased secondhand.
Strollers, similarly, went through a large recall earlier this year and also have the potential for hurting the child or parent assembling it. Purchasing a new stroller means that the product will be in better shape.