Dressing Baby In Gently Used Baby Clothing
Kevin Hart
Remember that adorable outfit you bought for your newborn - the one that cost you nearly $40, and got worn three times before it no longer fit? For such tiny things, baby clothing is expensive - and as fast as babies grow, they seldom see much wear. For parents on a budget, those are potent arguments for cutting costs where you can when dressing baby.
While designer duds for baby DO make sense though - and by designer, I mean the elite in the baby design field: OshKosh and Baby B'Gosh, Carters, Sweat Pea and other top-of-the-line baby clothing manufacturers. These manufacturers concentrate on the little details that cheap clothing manufacturers skimp on - little details that make a major difference in fit, appearance and comfort. You want to take advantage of nice, flat seams that don't irritate, and nylon snaps that don't scratch or pull through fabric.
But do you want to pay $30 for a sleeper!
To avoid this inflated prices shopping around for gently worn used baby clothes and checking with friends and relatives for outgrown hand-me-downs makes sense. Yard sales are a great source in the spring and summer months. Buy six, twelve, eighteen months ahead of yourself, keep reminding yourself that the little bundle in the corner is getting bigger by the day - even by the hour!.
Another great place to buy designer baby clothes at rock-bottom prices is a good consignment shop. Strike up a relationship with the owner, and she may even put aside items that she knows you'll love and give you a call to let you know what she's got. If you are careful you may find that you can often trade them in on the next size up when baby outgrows them. I find this especially true for young gents.
What would you say if I told you there was a place to get gently used baby clothing for the cost of the gas to go pick them up? Freecycle.org is a national movement of community bulletin boards who are committed to the concept of 'one man's junk'. Check www.freecycle.org to see if there's a chapter near you, and join up. Seldom a day goes by that someone doesn't offer a few bags of baby and children's clothing in various sizes. The quality varies, but the younger the baby, the more likely that the clothing is still in excellent shape.
It goes without saying that when you do pick up some gentle used baby clothes, launder it as soon as you get it home!
Pretreat stains if there are any, and wash with a gentle laundry soap meant for baby. Add borax to the water for extra whitening power, and be sure to rinse at least twice if you use bleach. By the time you're done, the neighbors will be wondering just how you can afford to spend so much on designer clothes!
About the author: About the Author: Kevin is the owner of "Babies Worldwide", a website that provides informational and guidance for those with new born and infant children. Visit the website at: http://www.babies-worldwide.com/. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached. Kevin lives in Ireland and is a postgraduate of the Open University