New Baby, Used Gear
An expecting mom is gearing up for baby the secondhand way
Olivia Emmer
Instagram
It didn’t take long for the algorithms to figure out I was expecting. Use your browser to find strategies for dealing with morning sickness or to search what foods you shouldn’t eat while pregnant and “boom!” you are inundated with pregnancy and baby-themed advertisements.
I’m now in my third trimester and the volume of ads from companies selling baby-related gear has been overwhelming. As a first-time mom, I wondered, “How much of this do I really need?” and, “Oh my gosh, a ‘green’ crib costs how much?”
I’ll be honest. I’m a person who enjoys shopping and does it more than I should. But, over the last few years, I’ve been making efforts to be a more conscious consumer. While ultimately the goal is to buy less, you can also buy used and buy better. I’ve been trying to apply this ethos to preparing for my first child. Here’s what I’ve learned.
Hand-me-downs
Friends and even friends-of-friends will give you stuff. This is the most budget-friendly option and works particularly well if you aren’t picky about materials and aesthetics. Friends have passed along a baby swing, a playmat, a Boppy pillow, and more.
Purchase used (thrift, consignment, Craigslist, swaps)
There is so much used baby gear out there with a lot of value. For bigger items, I’ve turned to my local Facebook swap. Here, I’ve scored a used Oeuf crib, a Snuggle Me infant lounger, a Puj tub, a Baby Bjorn bouncer, a Patagonia puffy, and a running stroller. For clothes, I’ve mostly been using ThredUp. I’d prefer to frequent my local thrift and consignment shops to keep my money local and small, but being pregnant during the pandemic means I’m high risk, so I’m not shopping indoors right now. On ThredUp you can filter by condition, fiber content, size, and more. There are also lots of Instagram consignment accounts, like @Noihsaf.kiddos (which has beautiful clothing, if you don’t mind being quick on the draw and paying more for trendy brands).
Handmade
I’m certainly not suggesting you make all your kid’s clothes. But maybe you’re like me and knitting and sewing are hobbies you already do that relax you and make you happy. Baby stuff is the perfect way to use up small bits in your stash. Leftover machine-washable yarn? Baby beanie. Small pieces of yardage from garment-making? Try a Wiksten smock top. A friend gave me her Boppy pillow and I had lovely fabric in my stash that I made into a cover that fits my living room aesthetic. I found a free Boppy pillow cover PDF pattern online with just a quick Google search. Don’t have the right fabric on hand? Check out FabScrap (even their scrap-packs have pieces big enough for baby clothes), or the used fabrics on FeelGoodFibers.com, Etsy, or a trade account like @buyselltradehandmade before buying new fabric.
Eco-minded new
I’m not here to recommend specific brands, mostly because I think it’s more complicated than just finding a website that says “organic cotton” or “sustainable fabrics.” I think it’s great that there is a market for eco-conscious stuff, as that will help drive sustainable technologies and businesses. However, I’m of the opinion that a used cotton onesie from Carters is probably the more sustainable choice than a brand-new organic cotton onesie from fill-in-the-blank company. What’s the adage? The most sustainable thing is the one that already exists?
Registry notes
I made a registry because family and friends are kind and want to help. I don’t like how many of the online registries favor Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, and other big box stores, so I’ve made an effort to link to small shops. If someone is going to buy my baby something brand new, I’d love for that money to go to a small business owner. This can be a challenge because small shops carry less inventory, so make sure to list alternative buying options in the notes (silicone bibs sold out at Denver’s Broomtail? No problem, try Asheville’s Playdate Goods instead). Some registries also have place holders you can use to indicate your openness to used clothes, books, etc.
Some of these strategies are time-intensive. Not everyone has the bandwidth to haunt swaps or scour eBay. But keep these options in mind if you are someone who can make the extra effort, even if it’s just for a portion of what you need.
Are you a parent with a great tip? I hope you’ll share it in the comments on the Instagram post for this article. I’m new to the parent game and want to learn from you!
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