Bargain Hunting for Baby Clothes and Gear: How to Save Hundreds of Dollars

Babies grow so fast, it’s a shame to pay retail prices for their clothes and gear which they will only use for a few months. A previous article (“Yard Sales: A Great Placeto Buy Children’s Clothes”) recommended buying baby clothes in garage sales, which is a great idea. Here I recommend garage sales, eBay, craigslist and thrift shops for getting quality used clothes and other baby items for a fraction of the price. I only buy barely used items - you can really find great used stuff that is practically new!

Before you start bargain hunting, you need to do a little research. Look up online how much the clothes and gear you are interested in cost new. Once you know how much you would pay otherwise, you are ready to find bargains!

Garage Sale

Check your newspaper or craigslist to find out what garage sales are going on next weekend. I recommend that you go to sales in the morning, as soon as they open to get the best stuff. Also I suggest that you go to the more expensive neighborhoods in your area to find the best brands. In addition to clothes, you can look for baby gear at these sales, such as high chairs and entertainment items (such as exersaucers, which are used for short periods of time). In general, a rule of thumb for baby gear is that you should not pay more than 50 percent of the retail price if you buy the item used. Baby clothes tend to lose their resale value even more abruptly, so I never pay more than a $5 for an item of clothing (and in general I only pay $1-2 for each piece of clothing).

Especially good selection can be found at rummage sales sponsored by churches and other non-profit organizations. Check the paper and also watch for signs when you’re driving around.

Items like Bumbo seats and Jumperoos, which are extremely popular, tend to be sold for slightly more than half the retail price. Once again, know your prices before you hit the road. 

eBay