Having a baby is no joke—physically, emotionally, and most worryingly, financially. Having baby number two is double the cost that you, as parents, will have to spend. Nevertheless, it is part of having children.
Speaking of growing up, your little bundles of joy grow quickly. In just one blink, your babies have already outgrown their beds. They’ll soon be outgrowing all their clothes and ignoring their favorite toys.
So it makes you wonder if it’s worth buying new clothes, baby crib bedding sets, and many more essentials for your future kids when you can reuse your old ones. So let’s see if your baby crib and bedding sets and the like are worth storing and saving.
Bedding Sets
Worth keeping. Save as many as you can!
Bedding sets are the same as baby clothes—the more, the merrier. In addition, blankets, pillows, moisture-absorbing sheets, and sleeping items are useful to have.
Kids drool, pee, and poop anytime and anywhere. So it never hurts to have spares. These hand-me-downs are worth saving because they prevent you from having to purchase even more baby bedding sets.
Maybe you received tons of baby crib bedding sets for girls during your shower, but you have a bouncing baby boy the second time around. No problem! Simply style your nursery to contrast your beddings for a more gender-neutral theme.
Baby Clothes
Definitely for keeps. Our kids are so cute in their tiny outfits, aren’t they?
We can’t help but dress them up into plump old grandmas or pumpkins. Sometimes, we even go out of our way to buy matching clothes to “twin” with our little one.
But alas, time flies by when you take care of your baby. The designer clothes you wore together last month or so are already too small for your growing infant to fit in.
What can you do with your baby’s already-tiny clothes? Do you throw them away?
No, especially if you’re planning to have another baby along the way. You can never have too many clothes. Of course, this saying also applies to your little one.
Maybe you’re happy with just one baby, and that’s perfectly fine. But we still suggest that you keep it for your siblings or friends who also plan to have babies.
Baby clothes are pricey compared to adult clothing. So, saving or donating your baby’s old onesies or little pairs of socks will help you and your loved ones financially.
Pro Tip: If you are only just starting a family, you can buy unisex clothing and attire for babies. So anyone can wear their adorable hand-me-downs.
Stuffed Animals
Depends. If it’s machine-washable, easily sterilized, or unused, then it’s for keeps.
Unless they’re unused or kept away for safekeeping, we don’t encourage you to reuse your baby’s stuffed toys.
Babies drool on them, throw them on the floor, etc. Imagine the billions of tiny bacteria just growing within the stuffing.
Plus, only a shocking number of plushies in the market are machine-washable. Sure, you can always hand-wash them, but we all know how babies are sensitive to cleaning agents. So if you don’t wash them properly, you’re endangering your baby’s well-being.
There are also portable or mini UV sterilizers available to ensure those stuffed animals are 100% baby safe. However, if the budget is tight, stick with washing them well or throwing them away.
Pro tip: Wash and sterilize your little one’s things regularly—not just the toys but also their utensils, beddings, and other items.
Baby Utensils
Yes, these are safe to reuse.
Back in the day, baby feeding bowls and utensils were made of hard plastic that could easily break or get scratched. In addition, bibs were made of cloth and could easily get stained.
Your baby’s first few months of eating solids were quite messy, weren’t they? Thinking about those days when your whole kitchen and your baby were covered in food just makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.
Now, there are food-grade silicone plates, bowls, straws, and even bibs that are BPA-, lead-, PVC-, and phthalates-free—reusable for your next bundle of joy, niece, or nephew.
No more endless washing of bibs and purchasing of new plates. Silicone is far more convenient to clean than both plastic and cloth.
Pro Tip: Do your research about the best silicone products for your baby or any product. There are many scams in the market, and these bad products can harm your infant’s health.
Baby Gear and Devices
If it works, then it’s worth saving.
What are examples of baby gear?
- High chairs
- Baby bathtubs
- Non-plush toys
- Car seats
- Strollers
- Baby carriers or wraps
- Diaper bags
- Portable changing pads
- Baby monitors
- Nightlights
- White-noise machines
We can also include cribs here, but it deserves a whole section of its own.
Car seats are out of this list due to safety concerns. We don’t recommend you recycle car seats because loose straps caused by cleaning chemicals might endanger your child. Car seats also need to be replaced every few years (between 6–10 years from the date of manufacture) due to regular wear and tear, and to comply with the latest regulations.
Nevertheless, these godsend products are must-haves on your list. Of course, they’re all crazy expensive, but if you have a friend or family member who is just giving these away, then you’ll be able to save some money.
Tread lightly, though, since many of these baby gear are recalled every year. Plus, not all gear will work for your little one.
Take baby carriers, for instance. Most carriers are structured to position babies in a certain way.
However, it might be uncomfortable for your infant, and they might prefer baby wraps to carriers. In the end, you’ll waste money and leave your carrier in storage, gathering dust.
Baby Health Essentials
We’re 50-50 on this. We’re talking about your baby’s health, after all.
We say yes to:
- Tweezers
- Soft-bristle hair brushes
- Nail clippers
We can’t say this enough but make sure they are sterilized first and know whether or not the first user had some sort of disease or infection. If so, don’t risk it.
We say no to:
- Ointments and sunscreens
- Bulb syringes
- Medicines
- Thermometers
While some of these are perishable, all of them go into your little one’s nose, mouth, or butt.
Pro Tip: Always have a first-aid kit on hand!
Baby Crib
Yes, hand it over! This tops the list of our favorite hand-me-down newborn baby essentials for your nursery.
Baby cribs can dent your savings, but you can get many years of use out of them.
Recently, many baby companies have created multi-purpose cribs that convert into toddler beds, a daybed, or beds suitable for ages up to 4. Other baby cribs can turn into a full-size bed in minutes!
Let your second baby nap on the baby crib bedding sets for girls or boys on the baby crib. As long as the baby’s crib meets all the latest safety standards, getting a preloved crib is safe and practical!
Be Smart and Practical with Ashtonbee!
Save tons of money with secondhand baby items, but never put your baby’s health in danger. With this list of acceptable secondhand items, you can rest easy knowing that your baby will still get the best of everything without burning a hole through your pockets.
In case you’re looking to buy brand new, check out our selection of baby items here at Ashtonbee. All of our items are guaranteed safe and high quality, so you can reuse them over and over again. Shop today!
