Re: Baby Stuff

Sept1799 · January 2010

I am frugal and like to get a good deal on stuff.....I am always buying stuff on sale and clearance...

But I can't bring myself to buy second hand stuff....no matter what it is...I can't even take clothes from friends or family....Its not in me.... I like new stuff for my new baby....

Are there any other moms like me? I know a lot of moms on here that mention they will buy second hand items for their lo.

strawbrrysmile05 · January 2010

In a way. I'm so not beyond taking free stuff. I have so much stuff now that we've gotten free.

However, beyond the safety issue (as in...if its not an issue), then the item must be clean...no stains. I also wash or disenfect the item as well. If it is stained or can't be cleaned then I don't want it. But like I said...I'll still take it as long as it is "like new" or whatever

moonrose2715 · January 2010

I'm super weird about used stuff too. I feel like there are *some* baby items I could probably deal with since most infants really don't use things (maybe once, or even not at all). I can handle second hand stuff from friends or family members that I know and trust (i.e. they're clean and not gross somehow). But in general, yeah, I have a problem. Second hand stores have this smell to me that makes me gag (even before pregnancy).

We'll see though once I start to feel like I'm going broke just buying the essentials... I know one mom who garage saled 70% of the stuff for her new baby and it just grossed me out... I feel ridiculous for it, but I think it is the direct result of being the baby out of 4 girls. Nothing but hand me downs makes it hard to stomach as an adult.

star173 · January 2010

I've known people like that, and while I take a "to each his own" stance on it, I could never pass up a hardly used FP little lamb swing that my friend offered to give me!! Heck no..not to mention all the other stuff I've been given second hand (clothes, bouncer, etc). The only thing I wouldn't take used is a mattress and cloth diapers (though I know some people do this too).

metzy144 · January 2010

I am exactly like you. If it's a boy we have friends that have clothes to give us-a lot that their son never got the chance to wear- but if it's a girl I won't be getting any hand me downs and I am happy about that. I want my first baby to have pretty much everything brand new. I work in an infant room and there are some things in the room they want to donate to me and I just don't want them because of germs and I am having a lot of showers so I am sure I will be fine.

Brewtowngrl · January 2010

I was like that till DS was here and i realized how much money I was spending on clothes that they wear for 2 months. I got hand me downs for the 18 months and I am so happy i accepted. Some of it was not my style. I sent DS to daycare in it then because daycare clothes get trashed.

mylove071407 · January 2010

It depends on what is with me I guess. I want new stuff but if it's something that the baby will barely use then I might go second hand.

laumholl · January 2010

I'm kind of weird about stuff...my sister wanted to give us my nieces infant car seat and stroller (unisex), but I really want my little guy to have his own!

mysticporter · January 2010

I don't shop for second hand items, in large part because I just don't enjoy the garage sale or thrift store scene (requires more work on my part driving around for what I'm looking for) and would rather hit the outlets or look for deals online.

If a friend or family offered me something, it would depend on the condition and what it was.

paxilchyk · January 2010

Maybe its a first time mom thing or at least that is how I feel about it. We've gotten lots of offers for various baby items, but a big part of me feels like since they got their chance to buy it new, why shouldn't I? We're planning on reusing our big items for when we have more children so I don't think I should feel guilty for wanting it to be brand new the first time around. Also I question the care the items have received and the quality. I've done my research on everything we're buying but I can't say the same about the people who are wanting to get rid of this stuff.

Mrs. Reckling · January 2010

Right now we are like that. I think when she is older we will probably use hand me downs and buy second hand. And we are like that with the bigger items (crib, pnp, etc.)

amiserip · January 2010

I want new stuff for my baby too. That being said, I would take clothes or blankets that were not in disgusting condition and just wash it, but only from people I actually know. I will never go to a secondhand store and buy that--that's just gross! I also don't think I would take a used upholestered furniture, like the glider or a mattress or bedding. And no used baby gear like the stroller or carseat but for safety reasons.

lactyfiregirl · January 2010

Since this is my first baby, I have to say that I tried to walk into a second hand baby store 2 weeks ago and came with bad nausea. With that said, although I appreciate the offers I have gotten I have to say that since this little boy will be our first I rather do things new. If we do have another baby the second time around I guess we will see, for now I love the gestures but would rather not.

ChristinaD09 · January 2010

I never buy used for myself (I would hate going into Goodwill, for example--couldn't do the thrift store clothes trend even though its fun and cheap). So I wasn't sure how I would feel about doing it for LO. But I bought a few things on craigslist, spent some nights scrubbing it all up/washing it in the washing machine, and have gotten over my phobia really quickly. Also, it helped to remember all those babies who will go to day care and be subjected to MUCH worse germs than just having a gently used baby item that has been scrubbed down and washed!! My girlfriend told me that her day care always sent her home with other children's bottles! And of course the children in day cares suck on each other's toys, lay in the same pack n plays as everyone else all day, etc.

I did hear some comments the other day from older women, about how sickly chidren now days are becoming due to the more recent trend of buying all new for babies/trying to keep them free of all germs. It got me thinking about it--I wonder sometimes if we really are making our children weaker in the long run by trying to "protect" them from germs all the time. Who knows.

Echowysp · January 2010

I used to think the same way. Then I had my child and realized it was silly to need everything new. As long as it's in good condition, why waste the money?

charlies-angel · January 2010

I got a stroller (bugaboo) on craigslist for an amazing price. I would never pay full price for one, so for me used was the only option. It is in great shape too! I am also using a friend's moby wrap. Some things just make sense to buy/accept as used.

*speedracer* · January 2010

i prefer to buy most of my stuff, for both DS #1 and speedfetus 2.0, used. Some things will always be bought new but for the most part they outgrow everything so fast and the new stuff is so overpriced that it doesn't really matter.

so much baby crap ends up in the landfill and that really makes me think about how i purchase & consume things.

proudarmywife08 · January 2010

I shop clearance racks and used clothing stores for kids. My daughter and soon to be son go through so much stuff that I try to get a good price for it whether its gently used or on the off season clearance rack. I won't pay more than $5 for any article of clothing for my kids, its just not worth it. I usually pay much much less though. I have gotten a TON of handmedowns for DS and I am THRILLED about it. Yes some were stained or just not my style. The stained got sewn into burp rags, the NMS ones are getting resold/donated. I did get all my gear new for my kids though but that is more of a safety issue than a used issue. As long as the used things can be disnfected/cleaned and are a good deal, I won't pass it up! Example: I bought DD a rocking horse (cloth covered) at a yard sale for $5. Its a $90 item brand new. I tossed the cloth cover in the wash, disinfected the plastic and she has a toy she loves for an $85 savings!

FutureMrsLemon · January 2010

proudarmywife08:
I shop clearance racks and used clothing stores for kids. My daughter and soon to be son go through so much stuff that I try to get a good price for it whether its gently used or on the off season clearance rack. I won't pay more than $5 for any article of clothing for my kids, its just not worth it. I usually pay much much less though. I have gotten a TON of handmedowns for DS and I am THRILLED about it. Yes some were stained or just not my style. The stained got sewn into burp rags, the NMS ones are getting resold/donated. I did get all my gear new for my kids though but that is more of a safety issue than a used issue. As long as the used things can be disnfected/cleaned and are a good deal, I won't pass it up! Example: I bought DD a rocking horse (cloth covered) at a yard sale for $5. Its a $90 item brand new. I tossed the cloth cover in the wash, disinfected the plastic and she has a toy she loves for an $85 savings!

Yes I have no problem whatsoever accepting used items. Clothes can and will be washed. You dont throw away your clothes if someone sneezes in your direction right? I so dont see much of a difference. Clothes are gross, regardless. Thats why we wash them routinely. I have a preference for used clothing. I am trying to make an effort to be more conscious of my consumer habits. And the amount of "stuff" that our child will collect. So if we can keep things out of a landfill by using second hand, then thats what we will do. A friend gave us all her son's 0-3 month clothes that he recently outgrew and they were in perfect condition (barely worn). Why WOULDNT I accept them?

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