How do you feel about....

babyglo350 · March 2014

Hand me downs? One of my friends is totally repulsed by the idea and another thinks it's totally fine. They are both mothers to more than one child. I'm a FTM to be to a baby boy and have been offered tons of stuff from a friend with two young sons. Do I take it? Have you accepted hand me downs?

katekat8721 · March 2014

I take all the hand me downs I can get.

bumpuser9343355 · March 2014

Absolutely take it!

otter1103 · March 2014

Bring on any freebies offered!

crhein26 · March 2014

DH's BIL and SIL have offered us all of their baby stuff. They have 2 girls and we are having a girl. BIL is dead set about not wanting another child but SIL keeps saying she wants more. Because they are wishy washy, I'm hesitant to take any of their stuff. Otherwise, I'd take whatever I can get from anyone who has had girls. We may borrow a few things from them, but I don't want to take all their stuff and then turn around and them get pregnant and have to buy a bunch of stuff. Clothes I think are ok because everyone in our families are constantly buying clothes for my nieces. I'm assuming it will be the same with our LO.

k2k2tog · March 2014

I would love it if someone offered me hand-me-downs! I have to admit, I don't understand being repulsed by them... Generally, babies only use most of their clothes for a few weeks or months, so they're in good condition and can be washed. I wouldn't turn anything down.

potterybygrace · March 2014

Heck yes! We don't say no to hand-me-downs and we have saved at least $2000 - $3000 already. We have enough clothes now for the entire first year and a half, plus our crib and changing table/dresser and a bunch of other stuff. Take everything, they grow so fast, even toys or other stuff, my friends say their kids only used them a few times. Just wash the clothes and clean the other stuff. I am also a FTM. Good luck! Also I got a $700 like new rocker/glider on Craigslist for $150 too.

supgabs · March 2014

I am A-OK with hand me downs, especially now that I am not able to work because of my health. Majority of the stuff I have for baby was given to me by clients from work (my boss put a donation box up for me in the lobby). I don't see what's wrong with hand me downs as long as you wash everything beforehand.

Mztwilson · March 2014

I know of one person who flat out said she doesn't take hand me downs. She got side eyed a lot for that comment. For me I'll take hand me downs as long as it's not nipples or pacifiers. I need to be able to wash it completely. It's more of a personal preference but let me tell you you'll get farther with them then you will without. Like alot further!

Valie18 · March 2014

When it is for a baby - take it!

When it is for a kid old enough to express if they like it or not, take it selectively.

babyglo350 · March 2014

I have to say I personally agree with you guys. I think in going to go ahead and take everything! She offered me an infant car seat, musical bouncy seat, changing pad, and tons of clothes. I figured even if I get doubles my mom can have her own stuff since she will be watching baby when I go back to work.

ElTrain5 · March 2014

Just make sure that the infant car seat isn't expired and hasn't been in an accident.

babyglo350 · March 2014

ElTrain5 said:
Just make sure that the infant car seat isn't expired and hasn't been in an accident.

Her youngest boy is only 8 months old so I think it should be fine. I was thinking the same exact thing though.

feistybear · March 2014

I took and still take all the handme downs I can get! Kids clothes are so expensive and a lot of times the kids only wear the outfit a handful of times.

Plus the equipment is expensive and you never know whether baby will like it or not or how long they will use it.

MNOpea · March 2014

I am all about hand me downs. But like PP said make sure the infant seat isn't expired and hasn't been in an accident. Everything else I would take in a heart beat!

hollygb22 · March 2014

With DD, I felt like I wanted to buy most of the stuff and it was hard with a baby shower and so many grandparents etc offering to buy stuff that I didn't take alot. That lasted only so long...once you realize how quickly you go through things, how short the shelf life is on gear, clothes etc, I started taking whatever was offered!

Verstej2 · March 2014

Also check and see if there were any recalls on the car seat too! Otherwise I say take everything you can get. I usually do, although I am wary of using stuff if someone wants it back (I always worry I will wreak it or stain it or something). Otherwise, take it all!

JmeJoLee83 · March 2014

Just a question..what if hand me downs are 10 years old? I was offered some clothes from a colleague but her son is 10. They were moving so she was anxious to lighten her load...any thoughts?

PressLove · March 2014

I'm totally into handed down items. As a FTM, my co-workers thought I was crazy for saying I wasn't buying anything if I didn't have to. However, since we're no where near family and most of my friends don't have kids or their kids are older, this hasn't been a reality for us.

Like PP said, babies don't wear/use things very long. Therefore, many items are like new. My only caution would be items like cribs or car seats due to changing safety standards. Also, people know don't take care of things. You don't want anyone else's junk.

supgabs · March 2014

JmeJoLee83 said:

Just a question..what if hand me downs are 10 years old? I was offered some clothes from a colleague but her son is 10. They were moving so she was anxious to lighten her load...any thoughts?

If they are in good condition I don't see why not? If it's junky I would pass.

Verstej2 · March 2014

I got lots of stuff from my BFF from her son who is 10 years older than mine. I think it's just fine, as long as it is in good condition and you wash it up first.

MollySm · March 2014

We have so mant hand me down clothes! I bought outfits for special occasions, but other than that I haven't had to buy any clothes for my now two year old. They are all packed away waiting for her sister to be born :-) It has saved us so much money!!

babyglo350 · March 2014

So her baby is 8 months old and she has not had any accidents ( Thanks God ). She got the seat within the year and stopped using it only because he grew out of it. Still no good??

liberty95 · March 2014

So long as the items the generally clean and in a working/usable fashion, graciously accept everything!!!
The only thing I can't wrap my head around is used cloth diapers. However, I don't use them so it's a mute point.

babyglo350 · March 2014

liberty95 said:
So long as the items the generally clean and in a working/usable fashion, graciously accept everything!!!
The only thing I can't wrap my head around is used cloth diapers. However, I don't use them so it's a mute point.

Um...hand me down cloth diapers?!?! Gag! Lolol.

temursgirl · March 2014

Absolutely. I wouldn't rely on hand me downs, though, just because you don't know what you'll get, whether it will be useful or in good condition.

My mom had a friend and a relative, both with daughters a few years older than me, who gave us lots of old clothes. The stuff from the friend was often in really bad condition and my mom didn't end up using most of it. The relative's stuff was fine, but her daughter was much bigger than me, and they lived in a different climate, so a lot of her stuff never fit or wasn't useful.

I would also be cautious about situations like that described by @crhein26. One of my friends (who I know is planning more kids) has offered me her activity saucer. I am taking it because I wouldn't have bought one at all ($90?!?) and it's only for 5-10 month olds so I'm sure I can give it back to her (her first kid just outgrew it). I wouldn't take a longer use item or something likely to get really dirty.

diagonalley · March 2014

I think it is fine to take hand me downs. You have the right to decide if you want your kid to wear something or not, so if a hand me down was not to your liking quality wise no one would fault you for not using it. But how do you know unless you accept?

Personally I am pretty psyched that DH's cousin/bff has a son that will be exactly 2 a few weeks after our son is due...so they're on the same schedule in terms of seasons/sizing (hopefully). I'm hoping we won't need to buy much clothing wise other than if it is something I really really want to buy!

wtfisup · March 2014

Being repulsed by handmedowns is just being classist. I know folks making really significant salaries that dressed their kids in them. There's nothing gross or dirty, and anyone who attaches a stigma to used clothing might as well say, "Eww, gross, I don't like the poors. I don't want to be associated with them." Children's clothes are not harbingers of bacteria.

Our kid will wear pretty much all used clothes until she's well into elementary school. We have spent less than $20 on clothes and have her entire first year + wardrobe. It's full of clean, attractive clothes from expensive stores. 95% was free via friends. Instead of spending money on stuff she'll wear for 2 months, we can pay an extra payment on the car or knock some money off the hospital bill or save it for traveling while on maternity leave.

brooklyngirl46 · March 2014

I'm getting hand me downs. Saves money and time spent shopping. Lots of it is from my niece and neph. They just grew too fast to wear it.

Pepper6 · March 2014

I love hand me downs, especially for clothes. Babies and kids grow out of their clothes so fast, sometimes they only have the opportunity to wear some outfits once. Heck, I even shop consignment/thrift stores for my own clothes...you can get some great stuff for amazingly cheap.

As long as you can clean/disinfect stuff, and know the history of 'safety' items (ie car seat, crib), then go for it!

MrsCase1 · March 2014

My kid is 2.5 and I don't think I have spent more than $100 on clothes for him in his entire lifetime because we take hand-me-downs. Some stuff is yucky when you get it but some stuff is super nice. Boutique clothes especially hold up really well so my kid gets a lot of compliments despite the clothes being someone else's leftovers. I am very thankful for them!!

coffee89 · March 2014

I have taken some and turned some down. Anything to make this transition easier on us financially, I'll take as long as the items are in good condition. I see no problem with "gently used and loved" items.

I took a carseat and stroller because I trust the people who used it prior and it is not expired. I also took a swing, bouncer seat, pack and play and a bassinet (possibly) from my sister, they are all 2 years old and were hardly touched.

I have turned down a crib because it is old and had far too many recalls for me to feel okay with it and a carseat that was 11 years old.

LovetoLive614 · March 2014

If it's free, it's for me! (Within reasonably good condition - of course)

flerlgirl · March 2014

I live for hand-me-downs

kks4471 · March 2014

Love them! I'm going to a huge consignment sale this Saturday and can't wait! There are only a few things I wouldn't personally buy used, but I'm hoping to get clothes, a rock n play, a diaper bag, and a swing this weekend. Why pay full price when they'll only use things for a few months.

babygabe614 · March 2014

I've been given plenty of hand me downs already, both for LO and myself. A friend of mine who has 3 kids and is done passed me down all of her maternity clothes, plus a bunch of little girl clothes she'd bought but never used (she ended up having 3 boys but had bought girl stuff over the years hoping one would be team pink... but had no such luck). I won't use absolutely everything, and have even passed some of the maternity clothes that didn't fit on to another friend, but it certainly helps!

kbellizio3 · March 2014

Thanks to hand me downs the only thing I had to pay for in the nursery was paint. Our carpet was given to us by a neighbor (he's one of those guys who takes excellent care of his things so I'm not worried about it, and it's really clean), dresser from the same neighbor, a 1 year old glider from another neighbor, a changing table from a friend and my parents are loaning us a crib. I had a friend drop off a box of baby girl clothes that I'm able to use most of, and was very fortunate to have a friend take me clothes shopping (so not hand me downs but she was generous and wanted to help out), give me all the hand me downs! I'm a FTM and anywhere I can save money (without sacrificing safety) I will. The only thing I wouldn't take is a car seat but that's just me.

Rosebud2587 · March 2014

I would take everything but the car seat. Car seat is meant to save your child's life so do you trust the person enough that you're willing to trust them with your child's life by using their old car seat? There are just too many factors involved with car seats.

If you are going to take the car seat make sure

-it has never been in an accident

-it is not expired

-the straps have never been submerged

-the car seat was washed according to the manuel

-it was never gate checked or baggage claimed on a flight

kcartwright12 · March 2014

Take whatever they will give you! Less stuff you have to buy and like you said they can alway be used at grandparents houses if their not your favorite.

lest12 · March 2014

I would totally take hand-me-downs of anything offered from a trusted friend or family member.

If it's a stranger or a few certain other people who come to mind, then it would probably depend on the item.

ChristineBaker23 · March 2014

I received hand me downs from lots of moms at the daycare I worked at for my first and it was a real blessing! It was not necessary for me to buy clothes for her until she was almost two years old. That made it even more fun to buy her clothes because I could afford to buy really nice ones because she already had so many. Some of my favorite outfits were hand me downs and I can't wait to get them back out for her little sister. I still get hand me downs and would recommend anyone accept free clothes. You have no idea how many clothes they go through and how quickly, especially if your baby's butt is explosive as my first baby's.

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