Lotty Earns on How to Score Second Hand Baby Essentials

I’ve just got back from bagging a brilliant freebie for my new(ish) baby and let me tell you, it’s absolutely thrilling. There is nothing I love more than getting a luxury item, brand new (or close to) that I’ve had my eye on for nothing. Baby essentials don’t need to break the bank.

Since giving birth in April of this year I have become a second hand baby stuff expert. I am obsessed with hunting for freebies and cheap items on Gumtree. I spend hours a week scouring the boards. And if you follow me on Twitter, you will no doubt have heard me bragging about my finds. 

When pregnant, people would see my new baby essenitals checklist and tell me not to buy brand new, as I’d be wasting money. I could kick myself because I didn’t listen. The thing is, I wanted the very best for the unborn child I wanted so much. I just didn’t fancy other people’s second hand baby clothes etc, that have been pooped all over.

But I couldn’t have been more wrong. What I learned very quickly, from buying some expensive items before giving birth that were never or hardly used, is that sometimes as a new parent, you *can’t* use them, or very often, your baby just rejects the item.

Every pregnant mum will go through a “nesting” period. You are met with a strong urge to clean, buying all the things you need for the first few weeks to create a cosy, homely environment in the run up to your due date.

I assumed I was going to breastfeed. I bought all the stuff you needed. Think nursing pillows, bras, outfits with easy access, pads, gels etc. Plus I came so close to forking out £400 on an Elvie pump (but ended up with a cheaper one). As I’m sure you can guess, things don’t always work out like you think they will. I couldn’t breastfeed, so all that stuff (opened and packed for the hospital) is now sitting around gathering dust.

And then there’s the new baby essentials the baby simply refused to use! I spent over £100 on a fancy sling, which I put her in once and she kicked off until I took her out five minutes later. It’s now sitting on the top of the wardrobe.

Second hand can be interpreted as old, worn, unloved and not big on quality, but that’s not the case. I now only buy pre-owned baby items, finding the creme-de-la-creme (it’s out there). I have a boujee baby!

I’m talking about designer baby clothes that are brand new for a few quid. And second hand prams that would cost £1000 new, but bagged for £80. My trick is to set the search on Gumtree to cover all the family friendly, local areas which gives you the benefit of getting the really good stuff for free or cheap. Plus, there’s the added bonus of potentially meeting other mums with similar aged babies. I still chat to one mum who I bought a toy tractor off. I recognised her in a baby group and went over to say hi.  

Also, if there are specific things I intend on buying, I set up alerts from Gumtree. It means when they pop up, I can nab them quickly (because they go fast!). I’m keeping an eye out for second hand baby furniture and quality clothing brands such as Boden and Joules.

Check out this for a shocking statistic. Gumtree has found out from English councils that almost 30,000 tonnes of household items were sent to landfills in the last two years. Yikes! That’s horrible for the environment as well as your pocket. So much unnecessary waste.

And let’s not ignore the fact it’s been a tough year (or two) for a lot of people, including financially. It might be tempting to spend too much on new things to make up for it. But buying second hand means you can give gifts to your loved ones, but without the dread of the financial hangover in January.

With Christmas around the corner, instead of mindlessly buying more baby essentials I won’t be able to use, I’m going to sort through the mountains of items my baby no longer fits in. Honestly, these things have been used once or twice because she grows so quickly. It makes it easy to join Gumtree’s Waste-less Winter, by giving them away. 

As much as I’ve told my family and friends a million times not to buy my baby anything for Christmas, I KNOW I’m going to be ignored. I will have to find space for everything she gets. So it makes sense to do a clear out, because I’m determined I’m not going to be that mum that hoards a shop’s worth of toys in every corner of the house!

Sticking unneeded items on Gumtree means they won’t go to landfill. Plus oher parents can save some cash on baby essentials they need and I get to make room for other bargains and freebies I spot! It’s a win all around.

Charlotte Burns is a consumer editor and writer, and runs the award-winning financial blog LottyEarns.co.uk