https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 04:14:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-73532 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:45:42 +0000 Clementine 73532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we're very lucky because 95% of our baby clothes will hand-me-downs from my nephews. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-73413 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:41:17 +0000 SugarplumsMom 73413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a 'family bassinet' that's been passed around in my husband's mother's side of the fam that we're looking forward to using. Our LO will be the 20th baby to use it! I've never heard of anything like this before and completely delighted for our baby to be a part of it. It means a lot to me because regardless of the cultural differences, I feel like our baby will be accepted and loved.</p> <p>But other than that, we're buying everything ourselves (my Mom's bought a ton of it, first grandchild). I live abroad, all my friends and family live far away, so no baby shower. And although I've gotten a few things already when we last visited, I'm not expecting anything more (though we'd really appreciate it).</p> <p>As for borrowing ... to be honest, I'm not much of a borrower. I just feel uneasy doing it. I've had bad experiences in the past with people borrowing things from me and either not returning it or not taking care of it. I know baby things are different, but I wouldn't feel comfortable about anyone borrowing my baby items since I'd want to use them for our next baby.</p> <p>I know I sound super stingy but it's a whole other story if I knew I didn't need them - in that case, I'd be happy to give them away to anyone that wants them. But if it's things I've been taking care of in hopes to use again, then I wouldn't feel right lending it out.</p> <p>As for secondhands, people where we live seem to be REALLY good at recycling. The majority of the people that's lived here stay in the same place throughout their lives and whenever they get something new, they'd actually take the time out to put whatever it is they no longer need on a Craigslist-type of site. It's not uncommon to see people giving things away, just as long as the buyer comes and picks it up. It's not unusual to find a bag of baby clothes for $15 or even a leather sofa for $20.</p> <p>So there's definitely that option for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-73351 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:22:13 +0000 Cchoi4 73351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got a TON of stuff from SIL. She has two boys and saved EVERYTHING - two cribs (we only have one baby!), jogging stroller, regular stroller, umbrella stroller, dresser, changing table, books, sleep sacks, blankets, hats, socks, rocker, TOYS (bins and bins of toys), bottles and various feeding supplies...when I think about how much money SIL saved us..it's crazy. I still feel guilty for only sending her a bottle of wine as a thank you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-18417 Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:16:37 +0000 torontomommy 18417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. D: It's actually not that bad shipping stuff from T.O. down there. We do it every Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-15139 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:33:49 +0000 hreichard 15139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get a lot of clothes from my cousin and some toys from her too. My friend Jackie at work also gives me toys and clothes from her son. Then another coworker has a little nephew and she gives me clothes. So they have saved me a lot of money. Plus there is a really nice consignment shop not far from the house called Kids Klothes. Everything looks brand new and i havent paid over $5.00 for an outfit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-15124 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:17:49 +0000 808love 15124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Almost everything came from my coworkers, friends or the showers. I've only bought 2 pieces of clothing. It was totally the trash bag thing...only it was designer, barely worn, cute clothes, blankets etc. I am so grateful. I've passed on much of it already and baby is only 9 months. I really hope to be able to pass it forward. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-15112 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:23:23 +0000 MsMini 15112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't received anything yet, but both of my SIL's, and a friend of ours offered us their old baby stuff that they are done with (which I appreciate so much). I can't wait to see who actually falls into our lap, because every bit helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-15108 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:20:08 +0000 Mrs. D 15108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@torontomommy: thanks, but wouldn't the shipping from Ontario to home override the cost savings? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14964 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:16:31 +0000 Meridian 14964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL has 2 kids (2 yr old boy and 6 month old girl), so I'm pretty sure we'll get handed down a ALOT of stuff!! Not to mention, the husbands uncle has 3 little girls under the age of 5, so lots of clothes, toys and equipment! Phew! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14947 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:53:30 +0000 torontomommy 14947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. D: I can always send you stuff too. Us P.A-ers gotta stick together :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14884 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:57:01 +0000 Mrs. D 14884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we've already been passed on a bunch of stuff, and have been promised more soon. My cousin and his wife have a daughter who will be almost a year when ours comes, and they've promised us so much. We are ever grateful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14881 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:53:57 +0000 looch 14881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No one passed anything down to us, but I do give away my son's clothes that I don't need any longer. I save the best stuff for his baby clothes quilt, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14843 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:14:17 +0000 duetletterpress 14843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we got tons of clothes from my sister in law and from a good friend. both had girls born the same time our little one was so the clothes were all seasonally appropriate. we saved a ton of money and are very grateful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14796 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:26:09 +0000 tequiero21 14796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i got some maternity clothes from my cousins and SIL, but so far, no baby stuff. they all have newborns or less than 2 year olds, so don't think i'll be getting any from them. same with most of my friends. either no kids, or kids are all young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14795 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:25:19 +0000 winniebee 14795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What generous friends and family you have!</p> <p>I'm not sure if we'll be getting any stuff. Most of my friends and my sister are not done having children yet. But, one of my friends (who is pregnant with a boy, her last!) promised me a little girl's wardrobe should we have a girl! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14778 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:38:59 +0000 torontomommy 14778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have only bought one new outfit for my LO. My brother and SIL gave us everything that they had from their kids...crib, change table, clothes and everything else we got as gifts at my shower. There is also a woman in our building who's been giving us clothes her LO has grown out of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14761 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:58:58 +0000 loveisstrange 14761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm still pregnant and just found out the gender 4 weeks ago, but I've already had people give me stuff or sell it to me very cheap. I have a friend who has a 10 week old little girl and she is going to give me all of her 0-3 and 3-6 month stuff before they move back to the states in March.</p> <p>Because we are living overseas, we have to buy the "big stuff" on our own though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14755 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:14:36 +0000 Red 14755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have loved hand-me-downs but none of our friends had young children. I've been giving most of my LO' s clothes to my SIL who has a little girl who's 4 months younger than mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14700 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:49:47 +0000 sorrycharlie 14700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>our nephew is 2 y/o and my SIL and BIL threw EVERYTHING OUT! MIL was so ripped..DH is one of 3 boys, so the likelihood that we'll have a boy is pretty good.</p> <p>My SIL's response was that we'll get our own stuff at our shower.</p> <p>Kind of irritating, though, because if we didn't have to register for $100 swing, $50 bouncer, $275 travel system, that's that much money we could put toward something else! Sigh.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14698 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:39:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 14698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with buying second hand though if no one has hand me downs for you. We have gotten quite a few things for more than half off what they would have cost new. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14675 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:55:24 +0000 Becksabee 14675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SO's cousin gave us two big bags of seconds ranging from 0-18 months. It was so helpful! My sister also gave us a few boxes of toys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14659 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:15:46 +0000 Andrea 14659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, have not gotten one thing! None of my friends had kids yet and our only relatives around here had their #2 at the exact same time as our #1. I will definitely give all our stuff away once we are done with it, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14651 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:38:54 +0000 HLK208 14651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of ours who is super clean gave us a pack and play, bouncer and about 8 giant bags of clothes that her son only wore once or never at all! Imagine, she only gave us a quarter of the clothes that she had for her son. They were all really nice, baby gap and nordstrom baby clothes. We were so grateful.</p> <p>We didn't ask for any but she came over with everything anyway. It was super helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14643 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:20:18 +0000 Boogs 14643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>95% of my LO's clothes &amp; toys come from his older cousins. I've been very lucky with my sister's generosity because she's saved us thousands of dollars and continues to do so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-a-lot-of-baby-clothes-or-toys-from-a-friend-or-relative#post-14627 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:11:42 +0000 mrbee 14627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister gifted us with a bunch of stuff that her son wore. That was hugely helpful and a big money saver!</p> <p>My boss at one job actually gave me two huge trash bags filled with baby clothes and toys. I told her a family member had just had a baby, and she brought in these huge bags the next day. I remember cracking those bags open, and realizing that there were thousands of dollars worth of stuff in there. I was so overcome in that moment, because I was dirt poor at the time and couldn't afford anything like that!</p> <p>I've seen over time that more and more moms are paying it forward, and giving all of their old baby clothes or toys to a friend or relative for free. One of the biggest pieces of advice I give to new parents is to not buy any clothes firsthand... either buy them secondhand, or ask a friend or relative if you can borrow or buy their baby's old clothes!</p> <p>Did you get a lot of baby clothes or toys from a friend or relative? And either way, would you ever consider lending or giving away your baby's clothes and toys to someone else? </p>