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Buying
Gently Used Baby Clothing
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by:
Mark Freeman
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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.
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. They 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 you don't want to pay $30 for a sleeper!
The answer is shopping around for gently worn using
baby clothes and checking with friends
and relatives for outgrown hand-me-downs. Yard sales are a great source
in the spring and summer months. You'll often find great clothes that
are barely worn in sizes for the next couple of years. Check the
newspaper for upcoming yard sales - baby clothes
are often one of the advertised items.
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. In addition,
you can often sell the same baby clothes BACK, or
trade them in on the next size up when baby
outgrows them.
How about 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 http://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.
Don't overlook church and community thrift shops as sources of good,
well-cared for baby clothing. If there's a Junior
League thrift shop in your city, you'll find beautiful clothing
for baby at bargain basement prices.
When you do pick up used clothing
for baby, 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, you'll have one
of the best-dressed babies in town - without breaking your piggy bank.
About The Author:
This article provided courtesy of http://www.baby-shower-invitations.net
Copyright Mark Freeman - http://www.baby-shower-invitations.net
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