Last updated on August 6th, 2024 at 10:02 pm
When I was pregnant with my first the costs for baby stuff hit me like a truck. I swear things get marked up just because the word baby is associated with it! Clothes, though? It’s amazing how clothes made with very little fabric can cost as much as items for adults.
But here’s the good news, you really don’t need to empty your wallet to keep your bundle of joy looking adorable. I’ve scoured high and low for the best frugal parenting advice, thrifty baby clothing solutions, and smart shopping techniques to make dollar-stretching a bit more doable. Through this journey, I discovered a treasure trove of baby clothing bargains and cheap baby clothes alternatives that can help save your wallet from a lot of hurt. All of these methods are ways I have tried myself and are very simple ways to make a huge difference.
So, let’s dive into these cost-effective ways to save money on baby clothes!
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17 Ways to Save Money On Baby Clothes
1. Shop at Consignment Stores
Consignment stores are a great way to find gently used clothing at a fraction of what you would purchase those items for in a retail store. Many times I have even found adorable clothes with tags still on them!
Plus, shopping at these stores can be a great eco-friendly way to find clothing for your baby while reducing waste and helping the environment.
Consignment stores are my go-to over thrift shops for a simple reason: quality. These stores are very choosy about what they purchase from buyers, so you know you are getting good quality clothing. Don’t get me wrong, thrift shops can be treasure troves if you’ve got the eye and patience to sift through. But because they accept any donations, you have to look carefully to make sure the items aren’t too worn.
2. Check Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace can be another great place to find gently used baby clothing. There are so many people on the platform trying to sell all sorts of different baby items at a fraction of retail costs. And many of these people will sell clothes in bundles allowing you to get a great deal on a lot of clothes. These bundles often require you to buy their entire load of a single size which may include items you don’t want, but you can still get an amazing price and pass along what you won’t use to someone else.
And because the sellers are local, you can easily arrange a pickup agreement and avoid any shipping fees.
Always exercise caution when purchasing from online sellers. It is important to check reviews and the seller’s profile before agreeing on a purchase to avoid any scams.
3. Join Local Buy Nothing Facebook Groups
Another great way to utilize Facebook is through local Buy Nothing Facebook groups. These groups are centered around the goal of helping connect people who are looking to get rid of unwanted items but don’t want to go through the hassle of trying to sell. Often times they are just people wanting to pay it forward to others in their community by giving away gently used items.
You can save tons of money on baby clothes by saving a neighbor a trip to the donation bins and picking up their used items. Similar to Facebook Marketplace, you will likely be required to take the entire collection of a size or several sizes and pick through what you can use yourself. If you are willing to put in the work, you can definitely find some treasures!
4. Join Kids Swap Meets
If available in your area, swap meets can be another great way to exchange baby and children’s clothes with other local families without spending any money. The idea is to bring any clothing your children have outgrown that is gently used to one location to “swap” with other families. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!
When attending these types of events, it is often recommended (and sometimes required) that you bring items to contribute to the group. If this is your first baby, you could also bring any hand-me-downs that others have given you that won’t fit the correct season for your baby or just aren’t your personal style.
The best way to find out about these sorts of groups is through local Facebook pages, community centers, churches, or even through word of mouth!
5. Accept Hand-Me-Downs
Hand-me-downs are by far one of my favorite ways to get gently used clothing for my kids. You know the person giving the items to you, you can trust them, and it doesn’t feel scammy, and it’s free. If you have a friend or family member that offers you a bag of clothes, take it!
You definitely don’t have to keep everything that is given to you. Just sort through what you want and pass along to generosity to the next person. Utilizing hand-me-downs is a great way to save money on baby clothes and reserve room in your baby budget.
And now that I have passed some clothes on to my sister-in-law, it’s fun to see other children wear the clothes my son wore and think of the fond memories I had when he was that little.
So, I say, embrace those offers of pre-loved outfits with open arms. Who says your little one needs all brand-new clothing to shine? Trust me, opting for these budget-friendly baby clothes treasures can leave your wallet feeling much better!
6. Sale and Discounts
Keeping an eye out for sales and discounts through your favorite retailers is a great way to get your baby clothes on a bargain. Trust me, after the little one arrives, you’ll soon figure out your go-to brands and which ones you can skip. But buying these items at full price can definitely break the bank.
If your favorite store has a loyalty program be sure to sign up to get added bonuses and discounts. This can help you afford high quality clothing that would have been to expensive if bought at full price.
7. Utilize Cashback Apps
Cashback apps are a great way to save money on baby clothes you are already going to buy! My personal favorites are Ibotta and Rakuten.
Ibotta typically is known for grocery cashback, but it also is a great resource for online shopping discounts. Check out the app here and see if there are any retailers you already shop at that you can save some money.
Rakuten is another favorite of mine that works great for online shopping. Just download the browser extension on your computer and any you go to shop at a location that Rakuten has discounts for it will alert you. Then they send you a check in the mail every quarter of the money you saved. What could be simpler than that?
8. Take Advantage of Clearance Finds
Another great way to save money on baby clothes is to take advantage of the clearance section of your favorite stores. I’ve come to see the clearance section as a hidden gem for budget-conscious parenting. Those racks often hold the key to stretching your baby clothing budget further than you thought possible. I’ve made it a habit to hit up those aisles every time I’m out shopping. It’s like a treasure hunt; sometimes, I score big with discounted baby apparel that’s just a few sizes too big. Perfect for the coming year or season.
This approach has not just helped us save money on baby clothing but also turned shopping into a fun, frugal adventure. Plus, it frees up funds for other essentials, proving that smart shopping for baby attire isn’t just about snagging deals—it’s planning ahead and making every dollar count.
9. Buy Ahead With Caution
Buying ahead can definitely be a money saver but be careful not to waste money in the process. I’ve gone through the thrill of scoring deals on baby clothes for future seasons. It felt smart, until my son’s growth did not go how I predicted and suddenly the clothes I bought him at the end of last summer did not fit this year.
I quickly learned it’s better to err on the side of too big rather than too small. Too often, I’d snag discounted baby and children’s apparel, only to find those pieces unwearable by the time the season rolled around. So don’t make the same mistake as I did and proceed with caution!
Limit buying ahead to a few select items that can cover multiple seasons if possible. This could mean shoes, jackets, T-shirts, and dress pants. Pretty much anything that is not tied to a short time of the year.
When you purchase these items, make sure to store them away in an easily accessible place so you don’t forget about them. For my son, I kept a small canvas bin like this on the top shelf of his closet with the next size up of clothes and slowly added to it as I collected them. Once it was time to switch sizes, I pulled down the bin and then filled in the wardrobe gaps as need.
10. Stick with the Essentials
I’ve learned you really don’t need closets full of baby clothes. In a blink, they suddenly have outgrown the clothes you just took the tags off a couple weeks ago. This is especially true for babies under 6 months.
My trick? I kept it simple. A couple of onesies, cozy sleepers, and a few outfits for going out. That’s it. Babies often outgrowing stuff before they wear it more than a few times. Plus, if you’re okay with keeping up with laundry, this minimalistic approach works wonders. Yes it may take some more work, but it helps in stretching your baby clothing budget further while keeping your little one just as adorable.
11. Comparison Shop
I know it’s easy to get fixated on your favorite retailers when purchasing clothes for your new baby, but make sure to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. Many stores carry a lot of the same items, albeit in different colors and patterns. But in general you can find sleepers, onesies, rompers, etc. in just about any store.
For example Carter’s baby apparel. I love their clothing and shop their sales frequently online. But brick and mortar stores like Target, Walmart, and The Children’s Place all carry this brand regularly. Meaning you could probably find the same outfit you are eyeing at several locations at different prices.
Make sure to shop around before hitting that purchase button. It can save you money on baby clothes and introduce you to more brands than you considered before.
12. Extend the Life of Baby Clothes
I had to learn the tough lesson that baby clothes can last quite a bit longer with the right care. At first, I mixed all the laundry together, but I soon realized that separating items by color and material type saved me from many headaches.
I made it a routine to use baby-safe detergents which were not only gentle on fabrics but also kind to my baby’s skin. As for drying, depending on the type of fabric I ditched the dryer heat and mostly air dried many of the more quality outfits that I had purchased. Many clothes kept their shape and color better. And when it came to storage, I kept everything folded neatly in a cool, dry spot, ready for round two, or even a hand-me-down moment.
13. Ask for Larger Sizes at Your Baby Shower
Baby clothes are a popular gift for a baby shower, so why not tell your guests exactly what you’d prefer and request larger sizes of clothing! You can do this several ways:
- Be direct on your baby shower invite for what you are asking more
- Include specific sizes of clothing on your baby registry
- Ask the host to spread the word for you to your guests about gifting larger sizes of baby clothes
Often times guests like to add a clothing item or two to their baby shower gift, so chances are you will likely get a pretty good start on your baby’s wardrobe at your party.
And be sure to have a way to organize these clothes by size after your baby shower. These clear storage bins were great to organize in the closet and be able to see the clothing in the next size up. I was able to use them again once my son outgrew a size to pack everything away in storage for the next child.
14. Wait to Buy Clothes Until After Your Baby Shower
And we just mentioned that you may receive a lot of baby clothes at your shower, so avoid purchasing an entire closet full before the event. You may receive plenty of clothes to last the first year and therefore you can save money on baby clothes by not shopping too early.
And you never know what hand-me-downs you could get offered so be patient for a while before you splurge on all the cute clothing at Target!
Once you take an inventory of what you have, then you can fill in the gaps with several of the other strategies on saving money on baby clothes we’ve already mentioned above.
15. Registry Discounts
One of the best parts of baby registries is the discount you get within so many days of your due date! This coupon is usually around 15% off, and you can use it to buy whatever you need for your baby towards the end of your pregnancy.
Using a registry discount combined with a sale or other coupons can be a great way save money on baby clothes! My personal favorite is the Amazon baby registry. It has a 15% that can be used multiple times up to a set combined value, giving a potential savings of several hundred dollars. Many retailers only let you use the discount on one transaction.
Plus Amazon is known for having an amazing selection of baby products, so you are sure to find darling clothes at a fraction of the price. Prime shipping will get your items to you quickly depending on your location. You can click here for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime!
16. Buy Gender Neutral Baby Clothes
Opting for gender-neutral baby clothes proved to be a game-changer for me. I discovered this strategy could significantly stretch my baby clothing budget. Not only did it offer affordable baby clothing options, but it also gave me to the chance to reuse more outfits for any future siblings, regardless of their gender. Plus in a lot of the newborn and smaller baby clothing of onesies, sleepers, and knotted gowns, I found a lot of the gender-neutral options to simply be cuter!
By choosing pieces that weren’t gender-specific, I unlocked a whole new level of budget-friendly baby clothes. It became easier to accept hand-me-downs and to pass on clothes to others. Making smart shopping is not just a way to save on baby clothes, but a practice in sustainable parenting.
17. Sell Your Clothes to Consignment Stores
I learned quickly that babies outgrow their clothes faster than you can say “onesie.” So, I sold their gently used gear to consignment stores. This didn’t turn me into a millionaire or save money on baby clothes to begin with, but it certainly helped stretch my budget for future clothing needs. Here are a few of my favorite stores:
- Once Upon A Child: This chain offered me cash on the spot for my baby’s barely worn outfits.
- ThredUP: An online option that let me send in clothes for consignment without leaving my house. Perfect for busy parents!
- Kid to Kid: This was the easiest for me to sell at and offered the best instore bonus for selling my clothes for credit to buy at their store.
Hopefully you have a few of these in your area you can try out! By rotating out what my child no longer needed, I managed to keep our wardrobes updated without overspending.
And there you have it! Those are my top tips on how to best save money on baby clothes. While it may seem overwhelming, clothing your baby on a budget can really be simple if you know where to look. Plus it’s important to remember that your baby won’t know the different between the consignment store hand-me-down and the trendy baby boutique onesie.
What matters is the warm comfort these clothes provide and the love you show by caring for them. By following these tips to save money on baby clothes and you can you can use what money elsewhere in your baby budget!
