Author Topic: Pass-me-downs and baby items  (Read 5135 times)

jeromedawg

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Pass-me-downs and baby items
« on: March 12, 2015, 12:02:32 PM »
Hey all,

Just wondering what your take is on pass-me-down items for newborns, infants, toddlers, etc...

Are there certain things you explicitly will look for as pass-me-downs from friends or family who have kids who have grown out of whatever stage(s)? Is it worth it? What items is it better just to buy new vs used vs get as a pass-me-down? Presumably Baby Showers and Registries will take care of some of these items. But just wanted to get a consensus on what others do or have done.


TIA!

Stachetastic

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2015, 12:06:39 PM »
We took any and everything that people were willing to give. Being the last among our friends to have kids, we made out like bandits on this. Free crib, bassinet, clothing, stroller, bikes, you name it. We still get hand me downs for both of our kids, and we're happy to pass them along when we're done.

We had to buy cloth diapers because no one we knew used them, but we bought used off of eBay. I can't remember anything we bought new, although I'm sure there were some things. I didn't want a shower at all, but lost that battle. I remember people getting us books and sleepers, etc.

SisterX

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2015, 12:56:56 PM »
About the only thing you *should* buy new is a car seat, and there are plenty of reasons to make an exception to that.  For instance, if you know the previous owners and know the safety history, etc., many people have taken hand-me-down car seats.  (You can find discussions about that here on the forum, so I won't go into all of the pros and cons.)
Also when it comes to cribs, there have been some changes to standards in the last few years so check on what they are before accepting a hand-me-down crib.  Shouldn't have drop-sides, mattress has to be a certain thickness, etc.
Other than that, go to town.  Grab everything used that you can.  Babies grow out of clothes so fast that it's rather insane to buy new things, since they don't get worn enough times to wear out with one or even two kids.
The cloth diapers we have are on their second or third and maybe even fourth kid.  They're perfectly fine, and will still be fine when we get around to having another.  I'm certain I'll even be able to pass them along to someone else when we're done with them.

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2015, 01:02:55 PM »
Because our daughter has nearby cousins only a few years older than her, we have yet to buy a single item of clothing - 16 months tomorrow. We bought our first toy on Monday, a $5 ball from Target because she is getting into throwing things and we didn't really have anything suitable.

ysette9

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2015, 01:04:18 PM »
We have gotten almost all of our stuff as either hand-me-downs, gifts, or at the (nice) thrift store. Our baby came 6 weeks early and we had NOTHING, so getting things from friends was an absolute life saver. We did get a number of items new as gifts or stuff the hospital sent us home with (blankets, lots of pumping equipment). I think the sum total of new things we have bought for our baby is: some new socks in the correct size, a plastic bathtub to fit into the sink (we don't have a bathtub at our house and the one a friend tried to give us was way too big to fit our sink), and a jumparoo (couldn't find one used and my baby LOVES it, so I don't mind spending the $).

I concur on the new car seat comment as well as being careful of the cribs/pack-n-plays. If you do get a used car seat, make sure you know its history and check the stickers to make sure it has not expired. Otherwise, used is your friend. Especially for clothes: everything will get spat up on, pooped on, covered in food or dirt or all of the above. Then in about 2 weeks your kid will have grown so much that nothing will fit. Why pay $ for new clothes in that scenario?

FLBiker

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2015, 01:12:09 PM »
We really wanted low chemical crib / bedding so we bought them new.  We would have bought the crib secondhand if we could find the one we wanted.  Other than that, everything was secondhand.  We will be given an infant carseat by the hospital, so that will be new, but we may get a used convertible from my brother.  Otherwise, we'll buy that new, too.

Distshore

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2015, 01:15:02 PM »
All of the above.  We even took a second-hand car seat from friends we know; and have the history etc.  I would only do that with people you absolutely trust.

I just received 1 year's worth of hand-me-down clothing for little boys (size 3 months to 12 months).  There's so much of it that I can't even keep/use it all and am bagging about half up for donation.  If you're in the NYC area PM me; perhaps you would like to take it?  All washed (ALL free and clear) and ready to wear. 

My 7 week old little one has already gone through size newborn, 3 month and is now in 6 month so try not to buy anything; half the time it gets worn once, maybe twice.

GuitarStv

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2015, 01:23:03 PM »
We borrowed damned near everything.  Toys, books, clothes, bedding.  I spend six dollars buying a few new pacifiers, and we ended up buying a car seat . . . that's it.  They grow and change fast.  Don't spend money on stuff if you can possibly avoid it, because what's perfect one week won't be the next.

mm1970

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2015, 01:25:15 PM »
Hey all,

Just wondering what your take is on pass-me-down items for newborns, infants, toddlers, etc...

Are there certain things you explicitly will look for as pass-me-downs from friends or family who have kids who have grown out of whatever stage(s)? Is it worth it? What items is it better just to buy new vs used vs get as a pass-me-down? Presumably Baby Showers and Registries will take care of some of these items. But just wanted to get a consensus on what others do or have done.


TIA!
anything and everything.  I have two boys, 6 years apart (read: I got rid of everything in between)

I got as hand me downs:
baby swings
baby carriers (slings, moby)
baby clothes
baby blankets
breast pump (both times) and bottles
maternity clothing
toys
Co-sleeper
stroller
car-seats (from friends)

the only thing we bought was a crib (x2) because nobody was getting rid of one.  But we donated ours when we were done.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2015, 01:28:17 PM by mm1970 »

jeromedawg

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2015, 03:09:57 PM »
Thanks all! I've started slowly decluttering around our place to make space for the anticipated baby-stuff. It's a bit overwhelming thinking about all the potential things we'll need. But it also feels good clearing up some space (especially in the kitchen as of late). I have a bunch of crap to sell/donate/give-away though so will have to get on that soon.

bonjourliz

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Re: Pass-me-downs and baby items
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2015, 07:43:32 PM »
Car seat and breast pump new, everything else secondhand if possible.  The best $$ we spent on our baby was for a new camera. 

Congratulations on your new baby!! 

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!