Shopping Secondhand for Kids

Everything you could possibly want for your kid is probably already made. Local thrift stores, yard sales, and Facebook marketplace are littered with used clothing and toys for kids of all ages. Large corporations do an excellent job marketing children’s items to parents. We’re shown beautiful nurseries, large baby registries, and grand baby showers. We’re made to believe kids need everything to do their best when in reality, kids and babies truly don’t need much at all. As someone who limits unnecessary shopping, I often look to shopping secondhand when I need something. Shopping secondhand is undoubtedly good for the environment but we also need to ensure it is good for our family. Not everything secondhand is good or even safe.

Secondhand Clothes 

I purchase as many secondhand clothes for my son and myself as I can. He’s growing at lightning speed and doesn’t wear things for more than a season. We, unfortunately, live in an area with very few quality secondhand clothing stores for children making it challenging. I personally don’t shop secondhand online but there are many excellent websites and apps. Facebook marketplace is a great place to buy lots of children’s clothes of all ages.

When shopping secondhand for kids I always try to look for organic, natural materials first but have very little luck in my area. I search for name brands or new ones with tags if possible. I never put much emphasis on name brands, but sometimes for kids, the quality can be better. When all else fails I look for clothes that are neutral and look minimally used. 

Kids don’t need many clothes. I find it’s easier for me to maintain fewer clothing items for my son. Kids grow fast and it’s hard to predict what size they’ll be in for upcoming seasons. If I see a good sale on something quality or new with tags I know he’ll need next year, I buy it in the next size up and hope it fits him when the time comes. I don’t think very infrequently on the off chance he doesn’t fit into it.

Secondhand Toys

Shopping secondhand for kid toys for me is tricky. We actually don’t purchase secondhand toys. Last fall we became emersed in the world of lead and other toxic materials. We discovered leaded items are all over the place, especially vintage toys. Vintage toys, like the ones we played with as children, often contain high levels of lead that are unsafe by today’s standards. The current standards of protecting kids against leaded toys began in 2008. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act requires toys and infant products to be regularly tested to mandatory standards. That means toys prior to 2008, have a high probability of containing lead or other toxic materials.

To avoid potential dangers in secondhand toys and limit new purchases, we personally chose to have fewer toys for my son. I find the more toys he has out, the less he actually plays with. Instead of toys inside, we try to go outside and play as much as we can. If you feel you need toys and want to purchase them secondhand here are my recommendations:

• Toys made after 2008 or later from a reputable source 
• From a reputable source, like a friend or family member that you know, are newer
• Avoid all vintage, including those nostalgic childhood toys

Shopping secondhand for kids is great for the environment but we also need to ensure it is good for our family. I am under the idea that kids need very little. Secondhand clothes are fantastic- look for simple, natural materials if available. Be cautious when purchasing secondhand toys and only purchase if you know they are safe. Look for toys that will grow with your child.  Less is more, especially with kids. Avoid secondhand overconsumption and purchase only what you truly need.