{31 Days} Preparing for Baby # 3 – Clothing
Welcome to my {31 Days} series this year! We will soon be welcoming baby # 3 and I realized that there is a lot I need to do before that happens! You can find all the posts in this series here. Thank you for following along with me.
When we were pregnant with our first child, I was so
excited! Everything had to be perfect,
from what baby gear we got to the clothes that we wanted her to wear. Now, we are pregnant with baby number three,
and while we are still extremely excited, what we want for our baby this time
around has changed dramatically from that first pregnancy, and even from the
second!
When we were pregnant with our first child, I was so
excited! Everything had to be perfect,
from what baby gear we got to the clothes that we wanted her to wear. Now, we are pregnant with baby number three,
and while we are still extremely excited, what we want for our baby this time
around has changed dramatically from that first pregnancy, and even from the
second!
I wanted to wait on clothes until we found out what we were
having. I have this crazy need to know,
and I am less inclined to buy gender neutral clothing. I love to buy the cute little girl and boy
outfits. When we found out we were
having another girl, I was incredibly happy.
I then thought about the items that we had saved, and
realized that most of it would not be a help because my oldest was a spring
baby, and this new baby will be a fall baby.
I also knew that I would want to save as much money as possible on
clothing, because they grow out of it all so quickly.
having. I have this crazy need to know,
and I am less inclined to buy gender neutral clothing. I love to buy the cute little girl and boy
outfits. When we found out we were
having another girl, I was incredibly happy.
I then thought about the items that we had saved, and
realized that most of it would not be a help because my oldest was a spring
baby, and this new baby will be a fall baby.
I also knew that I would want to save as much money as possible on
clothing, because they grow out of it all so quickly.
Here are my tips on clothing for babies (and really any and
all children!).
all children!).
Tip #1 – Look at what you already have
Now, as I said above, this isn’t going to be the best help
for me, however, there are some items that will work, and I definitely will
use, especially in the cold winter months.
I am less concerned about gender specific clothing at home in the
winter. If I can use Jack’s 0-3 month
navy blue Gap sweatshirt, I will use it!
At a certain point, the clothing will match the age anyways, typically
once they get to 2T. Since I still have
a lot of Emma’s clothes from the past couple of years, I know that I will be
keeping these for the newest little one.
for me, however, there are some items that will work, and I definitely will
use, especially in the cold winter months.
I am less concerned about gender specific clothing at home in the
winter. If I can use Jack’s 0-3 month
navy blue Gap sweatshirt, I will use it!
At a certain point, the clothing will match the age anyways, typically
once they get to 2T. Since I still have
a lot of Emma’s clothes from the past couple of years, I know that I will be
keeping these for the newest little one.
Tip #2 – Hand-me-downs
There is something to be said for hand-me-downs. They are brilliant. I think that we all can remember growing up
and getting clothes from older siblings or from friends who wanted to get rid
of some clothes. I was lucky enough to
have an older cousin that helped keep me clothed through college, in fact some
of my favorite items were ones that she would buy, wear once, and then pass on
to me. Score!
and getting clothes from older siblings or from friends who wanted to get rid
of some clothes. I was lucky enough to
have an older cousin that helped keep me clothed through college, in fact some
of my favorite items were ones that she would buy, wear once, and then pass on
to me. Score!
We had the same good fortune this time around. One of our friends was getting ready to have
a yard sale, and said that she had saved all of her daughter’s clothes since
birth – a daughter she also had in the fall – would I like to look through the
stuff? Absolutely! What happened was eventually outfitting my
newest little one in clothes for the next two years of her life. We were incredibly blessed to have so many
clothes gifted to us, and it certainly took a large strain off the finances,
especially when we are trying to save every penny for those dreaded hospital
bills.
a yard sale, and said that she had saved all of her daughter’s clothes since
birth – a daughter she also had in the fall – would I like to look through the
stuff? Absolutely! What happened was eventually outfitting my
newest little one in clothes for the next two years of her life. We were incredibly blessed to have so many
clothes gifted to us, and it certainly took a large strain off the finances,
especially when we are trying to save every penny for those dreaded hospital
bills.
Tip #3 – Consignment Stores
I think consignment
stores have made huge gains in the kids’ area recently. It could be that I have seen several stores
pop up in our community over the past year.
I think the consignment model is great, especially for baby
clothes. You have an abundance of baby
clothes that you need to get rid of, and you need a bunch of new things for
your baby in larger sizes. So off you go
to the consignment store with a bag full of clothing where you can trade it in
for credit at the store or get paid cash for it.
stores have made huge gains in the kids’ area recently. It could be that I have seen several stores
pop up in our community over the past year.
I think the consignment model is great, especially for baby
clothes. You have an abundance of baby
clothes that you need to get rid of, and you need a bunch of new things for
your baby in larger sizes. So off you go
to the consignment store with a bag full of clothing where you can trade it in
for credit at the store or get paid cash for it.
What I have found is that most stores are very selective
about what they accept for clothing, so you rarely find anything with stains or
rips. And the prices are amazing. If you need something for baby or children
(or yourself!), you should definitely look at consignment stores for those needs.
about what they accept for clothing, so you rarely find anything with stains or
rips. And the prices are amazing. If you need something for baby or children
(or yourself!), you should definitely look at consignment stores for those needs.
If you don’t have a consignment store in your area, another
good place to look would be on Facebook.
There are often buy/sell groups that are set up in your area. And if you still can’t find something, start
one of your own!
good place to look would be on Facebook.
There are often buy/sell groups that are set up in your area. And if you still can’t find something, start
one of your own!
Tip #4 – Goodwill or Salvation Army
Depending on where you live, you could have a great second
hand store close by. Sometimes these
stores are hit or miss, but I have found some great deals over the years. And what is better, they aren’t specific to
just baby clothes, or kids’ items. You
can find everything from baby gear to furniture to electronics and kitchen
items. It is a great place to go to look
for something you need, and find it at a relatively cheap price.
hand store close by. Sometimes these
stores are hit or miss, but I have found some great deals over the years. And what is better, they aren’t specific to
just baby clothes, or kids’ items. You
can find everything from baby gear to furniture to electronics and kitchen
items. It is a great place to go to look
for something you need, and find it at a relatively cheap price.
We are very blessed to have been gifted so many nice things
for this new baby, and really do not need anything at the moment, which is
amazing. But, if you are looking for
clothes for a new little one (or an older one) I would try these places first.
for this new baby, and really do not need anything at the moment, which is
amazing. But, if you are looking for
clothes for a new little one (or an older one) I would try these places first.
Where do you go to
look for baby or kids’ clothes? Do you
buy second hand?
look for baby or kids’ clothes? Do you
buy second hand?
What a great series! I think that these are excellent tips for new moms as well as moms with the older kids, consignment shops in thrift stores are great places to score gently used clothing! If you have something particular in mind, eBay and ThredUp are also great places for deals! Can't wait to read more!