Let’s be honest. Babies are expensive. They require stuff. And their stuff adds up quickly. It’s one of the reasons I’m on the hunt for second-hand baby clothes with baby number two on the way.
We have most of the essentials. But there’s definitely a difference preparing for a baby as a second time mom from the first time around. You know more about products, you have a better idea of what you’re looking for, and how long you’ll use things for (i.e., a swaddle or bassinet is used for just a few months).
As they say, all babies are different. One baby might like one kind of bottle and the next might hate the same ones. Your first baby might have loved being worn and your next might not!
In our case, our first child is a boy. Now, we’re expecting a girl. While I’ve tried to sort out his old clothes to see what could be reused, I realized that our daughter will be born during a completely different season. It’ll be mid-to-late October when she is born and we’ll be entering the cooler time of year. My son was born in June and his early days were spent beating the summer heat in Texas.
Used Maternity Clothing Resources
Honestly, I didn’t expect to be expecting right now. With our son, we faced infertility and it took us five years to conceive. I really didn’t think that I would get pregnant again when my son was 19 months old. I had sold or given away most of my maternity clothes!
Another thing that was on my mind was that I would be very pregnant in the height of the Texas summer, something I was able to avoid last time. I made a mental list and I needed maternity shorts, tank tops, short-sleeved shirts, and a swimsuit!
Here are my favorite online shops for second-hand maternity clothes:
Maternity Traders
I found Maternity Traders after doing a Google search for online consignment and second hand maternity clothing. I was able to find five shirts on the site for $7 each. Plus, they have a first-time customer discount, so it was even less, and I hit the threshold for free shipping. Maternity Traders will also buy your used maternity clothing for resale.
Poshmark
Poshmark is one of my favorite apps to browse for gently used clothing. With the right search terms or brand names, you can find all sorts of listings. I like to look under Motherhood Maternity, Isabel Maternity by Ingrid & Isabel for Target, and Liz Lange for Target. I found five gently used Motherhood Maternity tank tops for $5 each.
If you find multiple items from the same seller on Poshmark, you can create a bundle and make an offer (read: discount), or if the seller sees that you’ve created a bundle, they can make an offer to you as well (discounts and/or reduced or free shipping).
The Mama’s Maternity Boutique
This is a Facebook group where moms from around the country buy and sell maternity clothing. Pricing is set at the seller’s discretion. I was able to find a pair of Isabel Maternity leggings through the group. Listings vary — some moms are purging their entire maternity wardrobe, while some might be selling just one or two items. It’s first-come, first-served, and if you’re looking for particular items, you’ll need to watch the group daily.
The Stylish Bump
The Stylish Bump is an online maternity resale shop that I found through The Mama’s Maternity Boutique Facebook group. They have all kinds of listings! Listings are updated regularly, so it helps to check at least once a week if you’re on the hunt for something specific.
Collin County Consignment Stores with Second Hand Baby Gear
Sometimes you can also find used maternity clothing at kids’ consignment stores. Their selection is typically limited, but it’s worth taking a look. Last time around, I found maternity jeans for $8 and maternity shorts for $6.
Kids’ consignment stores also have a ton of gently used clothing options for babies up to teen sizes. You can also typically sell your gently used kids’ clothing to them for store credit or cash. If you’re lucky you can also find gently used and second-hand baby gear, such as strollers, high chairs, and activity centers. I found a Northern States baby gate that retails for $160 for $60 at Kid 2 Kid Frisco in perfect condition.
Kid 2 Kid Frisco
5580 Preston Rd Suite 103, Frisco, TX 75034
Once Upon a Child McKinney
2960 W Eldorado Pkwy STE 30, McKinney, TX 75070
Once Upon a Child Plano
7200 Independence Pkwy #260, Plano, TX 75025
Kid 2 Kid Allen
190 E Stacy Rd Suite #1308, Allen, TX 75002
Collin County Group Consignment Sales for Second Hand Baby Clothes
A great resource for gently used baby clothes, second-hand baby gear, and assorted baby stuff is group consignment sales. Collin County has a handful of group consignment sales coming up soon.
Before my son was born, I went to a Just Between Friends sale and was able to purchase gently used clothing for the first several months. Since new babies grow at different rates, I was hesitant to buy too many newborn sizes or 0-3 month size clothes before his arrival. However, I did purchase a variety of sizes at the JBF sale at a fraction of the retail cost. I remember leaving the sale with a big bag of baby clothes for $75.
You can also be a consignor at these sales to sell your gently used baby and kids’ clothing. Be sure to check out each consignment group’s website for details about becoming a consignor.
Just Between Friends
Frisco/McKinney/Allen
August 5-8
Plano
October 9-11
Divine Consign
Plano
August 23-25
Rhea Lana’s
Frisco
August 30 – September 3
Where to Find Second Hand Baby Clothes Online
Facebook Marketplace
Probably the easiest place to start looking for second-hand baby gear is on Facebook Marketplace. You can find everything from baby clothes to high chairs to diapers and strollers. Facebook will serve you results that are geographically close to you first, then offer results that may be farther away, or from sellers willing to ship items. I found two new (never worn) maternity swimsuits on Facebook Marketplace for $12—a tiny fraction of retail! I also found the highly coveted Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair and accessories for $75, when it retails for over $299!
Mercari
I recently discovered Mercari. It’s a buying and selling app, and you can find all sorts of baby items on there. I was able to find a Baby Jogger City Select double stroller on Mercari with free shipping at a third of the retail price. You can like items in the app, which will save them for you. You can also purchase directly or make an offer on an item. I also like that you can save specific search terms if you’re looking for a specific item.
Good Buy Gear
Good Buy Gear is a buying and selling website for second hand baby and kid gear. You can purchase items directly from the website, and the items ship from either their Denver or Dallas locations. If you’re in the market to sell your gently used baby gear, they will pick up your items (for a small service fee deducted from your first sale), process them, and list the items for you. When your item sells, you’ll receive cash or store credit. Good news: they service Collin County!
Facebook Groups
There are buy and sell Facebook groups of all kinds. There are local garage sale groups and there are brand name B/S/T groups. With my son, I had a Solly Baby wrap that I loved. I found a Solly Baby B/S/T group with only Solly Baby items for sale. If you have a particular item or brand name that you’re looking for, Facebook Buy/Sell/Trade groups can be a good resource.
Have you sought out second hand baby clothes? What are your favorite resources for finding gently used baby gear in Collin County and beyond?