5 Lessons I Learned About Buying Second Hand Baby Clothes
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Time to read 3 min
Shopping for your baby’s first clothes is one of the those joyful milestones that make parenthood feel real. Nesting instincts kick in, and you find yourself hanging up 55 teeny-tiny white babygrows on the airer and wondering how something so small could possibly need so much. But let me tell you—what I thought I needed and what I actually used were two very different things!
Take it from me—here are five lessons I’ve learned to help you shop smarter, save money, and make more sustainable choices for your little one
"Did you know your baby will go through at least seven clothing sizes in their first two years? That’s a LOT of tiny outfits!"
Enjoy 20% of thelittleloop this month using the discount code FRIEND
1. Babies Grow at Warp Speed
Did you know your baby will go through at least seven clothing sizes in their first two years ? That’s a LOT of tiny outfits! While it’s tempting to stock up on clothes in every size, many of them may only get 5–10 wears before they’re outgrown.
Top Tip : Stick to the essentials for each size and consider preloved clothes to save money. Buying secondhand not only lightens the financial load but also helps keep perfectly good clothes in circulation.
Did You Know? At thelittleloop , you can shop high-quality, nearly new babywear and take advantage of our 1-click buy-back guarantee , so you can return items when your baby outgrows them.
2. Newborns Don’t Need Occasion-Wear
In those early weeks, your little one’s wardrobe MVPs will be sleepsuits, vests, and leggings. They’re soft, practical, and—most importantly—easy to change at 3am. Although, it’s likely that you’ll be tempted by miniature versions of grown-up outfits and styles with cute buttons, these often stay tucked in the wardrobe, unworn.
Lesson Learned: Focus on basics that are soft, easy to put on, and practical for those inevitable outfit changes. Look for:
Front-fastening sleepsuits with zips, poppers or magnets
Soft cotton vests and leggings.
Footed sleepsuits to keep tiny toes warm.
Footed trousers so you can do away with teeny socks
"Before babies are eating solids or on the move, there’s barely any wear or tear on clothes so secondhand snowsuits, party outfits, or coats are often practically new."
3. Not All Sizes Fit from Day One
It’s easy to think you can skip newborn clothes and jump straight to 0–3 months. But unless your baby is on the larger side, those 0–3 month outfits will swamp them!
What to Do Instead :
Have a few newborn-sized essentials on hand (even if they’ll only last a few weeks).
If you’re unsure, buy preloved newborn clothes—practical, sustainable, and easy on the budget.
4. Those First Purchases Won’t Always Work for Baby
Many mums have been there—spending £55 on a gorgeous snowsuit only to realise the baby doesn’t fit into it until April. Seasonal mismatches and the unpredictability of babies mean that many items will sadly go unworn.
Top Tip : Hold off on buying bigger ticket items until your baby is here and you know their size and even then, consider rental or preloved options. Before babies are eating solids or on the move, there’s barely any wear or tear on clothes so secondhand snowsuits, party outfits, or coats are often practically new.
5. Your First Baby’s Clothes Won’t Always Work for Baby #2
You’d think you could reuse your first baby’s wardrobe for subsequent children, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Different genders, seasons, or even your child’s own preferences (hello, pink-loving toddlers!) can leave you needing to build a whole new wardrobe the second time around.
Sustainable Solution: Trade in the clothes you no longer need and use the credit to shop preloved items that suit your current needs. It’s the savviest way to restock your wardrobe without costing you—or the planet.
Charlotte Morley
Charlotte Morley is the founder of thelittleloop and a busy mum of two. Frustrated with the waste of managing kids’ fast-changing wardrobes, Charlotte created a sustainable solution for parents. Thelittleloop is now a growing community of families embracing circular fashion to reduce waste and share the joy of preloved clothes. Follow thelittleloop .
Enjoy 20% of thelittleloop this month using the discount code FRIEND
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