Hand Me Downs, Sales, Thrift Shops and Special Buys

One of the more expensive areas of being a parent is buying clothing for your child. We have tried to be as frugal as possible with this and have some tips to share. We have some definite favorite brands that we look for because the fabrics are evironmentally sound and ethically manufactured. But, organic cottons and other brands who do not treat their kids’ clothes with formaldehyde and flame retardants can get expensive. Luckily, with email alerts to sales, local stores that do great sales on their own, and family and friends who gift us with hand-me-downs, we have done well thus far.

Hand-me-downs
If you are a new mom and someone offers you hand me downs, say yes. Say it without hesitation and with a “Thank you!” You could get one bin/bag or several with which to outfit your kid. Most little kids clothes (especially those is sizes like 3-6 months) are barely worn out by one kid, so you are getting clothes that are practically new. Plus, it’s eco-savvy to keep clothes going for as long as they can last. Our first and foremost way that we have gotten clothes for the Tomato has been through hand-me-downs. A neigbor and a sister’s sister-in-law have been very generous with all sorts of clothes. We have been especially thankful for the winter coat, tons of socks and great pajamas that have been passed our way. Tomato’s girl clothes are now being passed along to my niece. So, in some instances, they are being used by their 3rd, 4th or even 5th kid. By using hand-me-downs, you also make a small impact to gently state that maybe manufacturers can make less and produce less and therefore be simpler in their practices. At least, that is my small hope in doing this. So, the next time that someone offers you kids’ clothes, be polite, be enthusiastic and be thankful. They have been where you are going and understand how it is. A friend recently gave us a bag of clothes and had the best statement, “Sift through and see what you like and feel free to pass along things that don’t work.” So, there is no pressure here either. The kids don’t have to wear everything that they are given and you can be discerning as to what fits into your tastes.

Carter’s Store Sales
This has been our next great resource for kids’ clothes. Carter’s has adorable, high quality clothing that can be worn again and again and show little to no wear and tear. The stores and the website have sales every week. Most weeks are 40% off, some are 50% off the whole store, there is a great frequent shopper program, Wednesdays are 10% extra off for grandparents, and there are always coupons to print. I don’t think that we have ever bought anything at full price here. We have a ton of stores in our area, Target carries their Osh Kosh B-Gosh line (watch for sales on their site) and we are able to go here after we sort through hand-me-downs and see what holes need to be plugged. They do not spray their fabrics with formaldehyde or flame retardants, so you don’t have to worry about your kid’s clothes off-gassing. It’s definitely a reassuring feeling for this mom.

Zulily
I’m not a Guilt Groupe person, but man do I love me some Zulily.com. Zulily is a daily deal site for moms and babies. They carry a large number of clothing, gear and toy lines and even some items for the home. We have used it to find great deals on Kate Quinn Organics, Sage Creek Organics, Two Owls, among other eco-friendly brands. You can sign up and get the daily email with the brands that they have for sale that day and see what captures your eye. I used to subscribe to Totsy.com and minisocial.com, but have since unsubscribed from those. Zulily is the one that has the most consistent brands, strong sales and connections. Once you sign up, they offer an incentive program to have others sign up through your invite. Click here to sign up through me and then invite others along. Be mindful that once orders are placed, shipping can take at least two weeks, so order early if you are ordering for any special occassions.

Thrift Shops
I can’t say that I took advantage of the good finds from thrift shops before I was a mom, but I am certainly enjoying the thrill of the hunt as a parent. We have a number of great Junior League shops in nearby fancy towns (so you may end up with some higher label gear) and some great consignment shops, like Once Upon a Child. At Once Upon a Child, a national chain of thrift stores, you can sell your gently used items and earn a credit at the shop. Just drop off your bag at the front and shop while they sort and decide which items they would like to buy from you. Then, they will ring you up and you pay the difference. They are always looking for good seasonal items and will take clothes, gear and even playpens, swings and such. Anything that they don’t buy, you take home (and then can pass on to a new mom or use my favorite service of pickupplease.org). Every once in a while they will do a Saturday grab bag sale during which everything you can stuff in a bag is just $10. We have gotten great Carter’s jeans, t-shirts and fleece sweatshirts there this winter to help fill the gaps in any hand-me-downs. It is well worth your time to drop by this and other thrift shops. Take your time, know that you may not come out with anything and be discerning. Don’t just buy stuff because it’s inexpensive. We’re not going to these stores to break the bank, just to help find gently used clothes at low prices.

Special Purchases
Sometimes it is okay to splurge on your child’s wardrobe. A cute winter outfit, a great summer dress or adorable overalls that you know he/she will wear more than once are all spots on which to think about spending. Our favorite go-to high quality spot to shop is Hanna Andersson. They carry clothes made of Oeko-Tex 100 certified organic cotton and the quality can’t be beaten. Clothes that Tomato has worn 2-3 times a week for the last 6 months still look fresh out of the box. Sometimes higher prices do equal higher quality, and this is such a store. But, Hanna Andersson also does great sales a few times a year and if you put your favorite outfits up on a Pinterest board, then you can see if those items are on sale when you need to.

Does anyone else have any good clothing tips for new moms? If so, feel free to share below in the comments. Happy shopping!