How do you feel about....

ChristineBaker23 · March 2014

supgabs said:

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.

I check and make sure they don't want anything back that I don't use then I go through and take what I want and donate the rest. Most people just want to get rid of the stuff, they don't need to know if I kept it all.

PinkKEL9 · March 2014

YES! Take them! I love hand-me-downs. I also shop yard sales and thrift stores. I rarely ever buy clothes new for DH, except for basics like bras, underwear and socks. And I don't think you could ever tell that by looking at our clothes. I buy all name brands and only things that look like new. We live in a pretty wealthy area and people get rid of tons of stuff with the tags still on it!

This baby will wear mostly used clothes except for the ones family and friends buy because they can't resist.

fsumom · March 2014

I received some hand me downs that were really stained and had holes. These items were 15 years old or older as the children that wore them are now 15 and 20! Most of them also scream 1980's to me. I am very appreciative to anyone that wants to help us and would never be rude about it even if I really didn't want to accept them based on the condition and age.

jwarnerb · March 2014

Tdonatoni said:

What's proper etiquette on accepting hand-me downs? We have a friend that has two bags of clothes for us. Do I just say thank you, offer to give her money for them, send a thank you with a gift certificate for dinner?

I usually ask "What would you like for these?" And more often than not they respond with "nothing". I think it is polite to offer (and also refuse if it is more than you want to give!). A lot of my friends/family that I have gotten stuff from have only asked that I pass it along (or something else) when I am finished in a pay it forward kind of way.

To OP- obviously this has been answered and the response is a resounding "YES! TAKE THE STUFFS!" I'd add that sharing baby items is also recycling! Wins all around!

izzetoot · March 2014

Oh boy... I have been dealing with the issue of hand me downs for a few weeks now and this has been my experience. Absolutely yes! Take all that you can get! I have received so much clothes its a little nuts. Most of them are great but the really soiled and worn items I separated and will either donate or throw out depending. But the one thing to be sure of is MAKE SURE THEY DONT WANT THEM BACK. My SIL and sister had 2 boys 10 wks apart and have been borrowing clothes. Now they are frighting of who's is who's and when you have that much clothes and that much going on it is damn near impossible to keep things organized or remember who gave you what and who wants what back. So "yes!" to hand me downs and a big fat "no thanks!" for loans!

allrightmeow · March 2014

Your friend is a snob. Hand me downs are great!

babyglo350 · March 2014

Natalie78W said:
Your friend is a snob. Hand me downs are great!

Lol. She can be when it comes to stuff for the kiddies. She just wants to give them the very best. I totes get where she's coming from but I don't agree. Sooo glad I got so many responses to this because I wasn't sure if it was weird to want to take used stuff. Thanks fellow pregnasaurs!!

cMichelle0423 · March 2014

I love hand me downs as long as they're gently used. My SIL gives us the best HMDs ever! She shops at really nice expensive places so we always get super cute stuff. With DS2 on the way, he'll be getting more HMDs than not, but honestly, they grow out of clothes so fast, it saves SO much money. DH and I were actually just talking about this and both agreed that HMDs would be okay until the kids got old enough to have their own "style" and want to shop for themselves.

Plus if you get anything you don't like or don't want, you can always donate to good will or to another mom in need of some stuff!

(But I totally agree that this goes for clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, and car seats... i would definitely get new bottles and pacifiers)

MissBHaven1024 · March 2014

I'm not a big fan of HMD's unless it went from DD#1 to DD#2. If I don't know where it came from and how it was handled, I graciously say "no thank you". I'm trying to be more open-minded about it, but it's just not really my preference.

MrsP419 · March 2014

Both of my kids had tons of hand me downs (mostly from church) and often ended up with nicer clothes than I would have been able to afford! Definitely ask if your friend wants them back; sometimes separating and keeping track of clothes is more of a hassle than they are worth. I am in the process of getting back some hand me downs I passed on from DD and while I'm grateful for the people who saved them, I definitely wouldn't have been mad if they didn't. Also, it is ok to turn down handmedowns or pass on ones you don't like. I used to think I had to keep everything I was given, but sometimes it is not your style or you simply have too much. I always ask if I can go through the bag and pass on things that don't fit. I have a giant bag of clothes from my SIL all set for goodwill right now!

RaisingABuzz · March 2014

The only time I've every refused hand me downs was from an aunt who is a heavy smoker. She left a bag of stuff at my house and I actually washed some of it, but couldn't get the smoke smell out of them, especially the blankets.

Otherwise, there are a few friends that send us so many clothes and we LOVE them!

gmc222 · March 2014

I'm in a great position because my brother and SIL have a boy and a girl, and we have a girl and a boy (soon!), so we pretty much traded everything after our firsts were born. I give them everything from DD, and they give me everything from my nephew, so we both make out.

I didn't have anyone to give me hand me downs for DD, but I have gotten a few bags for this LO which I was thankful for. Although I've still bought a ton of stuff!

potterybygrace · March 2014

What's proper etiquette on accepting hand-me downs? We have a friend that has two bags of clothes for us. Do I just say thank you, offer to give her money for them, send a thank you with a gift certificate for dinner?

Wondering this myself. I will definitely send a thank you note. However, I would love to give a restaurant GC but $ is REALLY tight...on the other hand, they did save us a bundle.

CherSomething · March 2014

Depends on the condition of the hand-me-downs.

Someone gave me a box of baby girl clothes, and I didn't find one single thing worth keeping. Everything looked used and ratty. Maybe I wasn't the first to get these clothes handed to?

My sister has been giving me my niece's clothes, and they are all in beautiful condition. She is planning on giving me more, and I couldn't be happier because she took good care of her daughter's things. She gave us a baby bather seat-fine with that. Can't wait to get the fisher price sleeper (wonderful thing, by the way. My sister and everyone that helps care for my niece say it is the best thing she has).

FutureMrsW9 · March 2014

I think it depends what it is. As long as it was clean and in good shape I would probably take clothing, but other baby essentials I want new for baby #1. I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune with baby #2 if there's anything we need. We actually haven't been offered anything from anyone yet, as I don't think our friends and family of childbearing age are done having kids yet or have already given their stuff away, so I haven't been faced with making this decision for real.

babyglo350 · March 2014

Just an FYI... I picked up the goods yesterday and went through 5 bags of AMAZING STUFF. Some of it even has tags still! The winter stuff is so beautiful and there are soooo many sets of Pjs, pants, shoes and even a brand new bundle me. I'm so glad I accepted her offer. I offered to give her some $ but she absolutely refused it. H and I feel like we hit the baby goodies jackpot lol.

chloephoebecali · March 2014

I love hand me downs, even old ones as long as they aren't ratty. If I don't like it, I don't use it. The hMD have worked great as fillers and then I reinforced their wardrobe with stuff I really love that sometimes can be expensive, but I don't feels so bad because I know I saved money having all those HMDs.

babyglo350 · March 2014

joules235 said:
@babyglo350
Do you mean the JJ cole bundle me? Like the one below? These are not safe to use in a car seat because "reasons."

ETA: There is a video in the link showing you how to modify it to make it safer for use There is still a
potential issue with it holding the baby's head at an incorrect angle if the top straps are pulled too tight around the seat.

Wow. Very interesting! Thanks for that info. I'll def use with caution.

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