would you/do you dress your kids in 2nd hand clothing?

Question

i mentioned to a friend that my mom used to get us clothing at goodwill and yard sales even tho we had money for store bought things. we wore from all 3 really i explained.
she was floored and flipped that kids should never wear 2nd hand things.
there is nothing wrong in my eyes. most things kids wear is grown out of so fast they wear it only a few times.
i don't see a reason to pay $10-20 a shirt and $20 for pants for an infant/toddler/child to wear a few times when you can get 2nd near new things for pennies on the dollar.

i got over 40 pcs of clothing for a 2t girl on ebay for $50 total w/shipping and her mom spent $300 for clothing for her bday!


what makes ppl pay outrageous prices for clothing when you can get tons for cheap going 2nd hand... (you can just get specific things from store to "fill in" what you don't get 2nd hand)

i just got an email from someone off craigslist - 1 full bag of 3t $10, 4t and 5/6t bags (contractor size) $20 ea, new and near new!! can't beat that!!!!

Answer 1

I'm a thrift store and yard sale queen! I'm always impressed with what I can get for the price of "second hand" clothes as you call it in your question. I just call it good common sense. Children grow out of things so fast and get things dirty- it's good to know that you didn't spend an arm and a leg on the clothes. Unless you tell people the clothes your children wear were "second hand", they wouldn't even know it! Everything is so expensive, it's always a good feeling to know you can spend your money on other things for the family like groceries and filling up the car!

Answer 2

I think that parents should do what they are comfortable with, taking their own circumstances into consideration. I would not criticize you for your choices or your friend for hers.

I do tend to agree with you, though, for several reasons.

1. Kids DO grow out of clothes way too fast. It doesn't really make sense to spend a ton of money on something that will be worn only a few times.

2. You can find many stylish clothes in almost new condition at thrift stores, yard sales, and eBay, so you might be able to buy more clothes and nicer clothes this way than if you bought them first hand.

3. It's better for the environment. More clothes are being reused, and you're not supporting the production of as many new items when there are plenty of great, gently used, items available.

4. If they're going to shrink, they probably already have. How disappointing to buy something brand new that fits perfectly... until the first time you wash it!

5. If your child stains something beyond repair it not as disappointing if you've only spend $2 on it.

6. You can save more money and put it toward your daughter's future.

7. You will teach your daughter the value of money and deemphasize a focus on material things as status symbols.

8. On the other hand, if she really wants a certain item that is pretty expensive, you might be able to afford it if you have saved money on the basics.

Keep up the good work.

Answer 3

I completely agree. My mom used to get us things second hand all the time. Of course she also bought at the department store but jeans, winter coats, belts just to name a few were picked up @ yard sales etc... I see nothing wrong w/
it we weren't deprived we had new clothes they looked good we could care less. Half the time we had holes in the knees a week or two later.
The problem now is ppl are trying to keep up with the Joneses.
Everyone's trying to beat out everyone else. I guess they feel ashamed or something. Kids today are spoiled rotten and think they are entitled to Polo and Roca Wear. Kids grow toooo fast and don't take particularly good care of there clothes. If u shop wisely u can get next to new way cheaper than in the stores. I say go for it!!!!

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with second hand clothes. I have clothes for my son who is 2 from his older cousins when they were his age. I don't actually go to the good will or anything. But when I buy his clothes, I catch all the sales. I might pay 10 to 15 dollars at the most for a brand new outfit. Brand names I do not buy. I shop for him at Value City, Burlington Coat Factory, JcPenny and Sears. Oh, I forgot Walmart and Kmart too! I catch sales. It's that simple. I'm not rich and I'm not gonna blow money like I am. He's 2 they don't know any difference in brands. For that matter I'm 20 and could care less what brand something is, as long as it's cute, I look good in it, and it's affordable. That's all that matters.

Answer 5

As long as the cloths are in good shape there is absolutely no reason your kids shouldnt wear second hand clothing. We should teach our children to respect the environment and not be wasteful. I also dont have a problem with adults wearing used clothing that is in good shape. Why should we waste money on new things when something just as good is sitting there waiting to be used. Just because someone else couldnt use it is no reason to throw it away. Some people just have more money than sense I guess.

Answer 6

I dont think theres anything wrong with it. Nobody knows anyway. I havent done the thrift shop or anything like that even though we really dont have a ton of money but we accepted hand me downs from my cousin and also a family friend when my son was born and that alone along with his baby shower gifts literally kept him clothed until he was a year to a year and a half old. Lots of people shopped bigger sizes and things. I'm especially lucky because I have the family members who would never dream of buying second hand so there hand me downs were all barely worn name brand stuff, some things even had tags on it. When we were done, we handed down all the good stuff we had to a coworker whose teenage daughter was pregnant and you will see her son wearing the clothes sometimes and honestly nobody besides me knows they werent brand new. I havent really shopped on ebay before but I would have no problem with it.

Answer 7

I think that the people who have a problem with their children wearing second hand clothes probably are very big on outward appearance and on being able to show what they have and can afford. They want people to see their kids wearing those $50.00 pairs of jeans and $30.00 shirts.

It is all about outward appearance to some people, but the funny thing is, if you know where to look, you can buy name brand used clothes that doesn't look second hand. There are numerous used clothing stores, including as you said ebay. I have found Guess, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy clothes all at second hand stores. No one out in public would every know that they came from a second hand store. Buying second hand means you can buy twice as much.

I personally do it all the time.

Answer 8

I don't have a problem buying second hand clothing for anyone in my family. Kids out grow clothes so quickly, they get stained and ruined so easily that i don't see the point of buying brand new all the time. Yes i do buy new things for my daughter, her jeans are all bought new because shes hard to fit right now but her shirts etc come from consignment stores yard sales eBay etc etc. When i bought clothing for my son most of it came from a cute little consignment shop here that specializes in children's clothing. I bought his whole layette for less than 25 bucks. I buy myself and my husband clothing from consignments eBay etc etc as well. Ive never been concerned with whats on the label of my clothes, as long as its clean looks good and fits right then why should it matter where i bought it or who made it?

Answer 9

I absolutely dress my kids in second hand clothes! Its ridiculous to pay ( this is just an example) $10 for a shirt when you $1-$2 for the same shirt in excellent condition.

Wearing hand me downs doesn't have to be a poor thing. I buy most of my kids clothes used but you could never tell.

Why pay $25 for ONE pair of pants when I can buy them for $5 a pair used. My daughter is so tall and skinny that she only fits in a certain brand of jeans, $25 a piece brand new.

Answer 10

most of my little baby stuff both my boys wore was hand me down. i am 5 weeks along with my 3rd baby and i have already recieved 2 bags full of used clothing from my sister. I fully plan on using it even though my boyfriend is making great money and we could definatly afford the nicest clothes but why? now i have more money to spend on a great carseat and more money to put into savings for all the other baby costs that occur. there's nothing wrong with second hand. I did go through the clothes and get rid of anything that was stained or torn or just plain ugly to me but there was tons' of very cute stuff, most of it new or nearly so. some even had tags on it!!