It’s easy to get swept up in the buying frenzy that comes along with your little bundle of joy. Often, the stuff you think you won’t be able to live without never sees the light of day. Local kids’ consignment shops can be a treasure trove of baby gear for a fraction of the retail cost. We’ve asked a few of our favorite shops to weigh in on what you should buy used, and when buying new makes sense. Before you shell out those hard-earned baby bucks, check this out:
Chrysanthemum
4820 Rainier Ave S, Seattle
206-722-1031
Online: facebook.com/ChrysanthemeShop
Open 10am to 5pm Tuesday-Sunday
Christina Morehouse-Hidalgo is a vintage junkie. There are items in her Columbia City shop that she categorizes as “store decoration” because she can’t bear to part with them. She had a sit-down with a friend’s 5-year-old before selling her a dress from the 1940s. The girl had to promise not to have any Sharpie accidents while wearing the little piece of history. Fortunately, Chrysanthemum is full of vintage gems and high-quality modern clothes that Christina is willing to sell. She has “always been drawn to having kids look less cookie-cutter” and her store racks reflect this.
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Photo: Joshua Huston |
Chrysanthemum is proof that life has a way of working out. Christina grew up going to thrift stores with her mom. She outfitted her own kids in pre-owned clothes that drew compliments. When an injury forced Christina to take time off from nursing, she had time to think. Could she build a career around her love of children’s clothes? People seemed to like her style. She was already outfitting many of the neighborhood kids. Christina opened a pop-up vintage kids’ clothing store. This venture proved successful, so when the owner of the Columbia City consignment shop decided to retire, Christina took the plunge. She signed a five-year lease, giving her dream time to grow.
A year and a half in, Christina is happy to provide affordable, interesting clothes to kids in her neighborhood. She has helped several moms turn their hobbies into businesses; Chrysanthemum sells their handmade shoes and shirts. New or old, Chrysanthemum’s clothing is stylish and unique.
Top 5 baby items to buy used:
- Clothes!
- Coats/outerwear
- Diapers
- Baby carrier
- Baby books/toys
What one item should ALWAYS be purchased new?
- Car seat
What one item should every baby magically come with already?
- A good latch and a postpartum doula to feed and care for mom
Wish Upon Children’s Consignment
2425 33rd Ave. W, Seattle
206-282-0829
Online: wishuponconsign.com and facebook.com/WishUponConsign
Open from 10am to 8pm Monday-Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday, but reserve the hours of 10:00am to 12:00pm for customers over 65 years of age and those customers who are at a higher risk.
Jamie Williams and Erin Karp opened Wish Upon Children’s Consignment in 2013, giving Magnolia families a cost-effective, environmentally friendly option for kids’ clothing. Kids can hang out in the store’s playroom while parents shop for gently used clothes and toys.
Top 5 baby items to buy used:
- Pack-n-play
- Clothes
- Toys
- Books (for parents and kids)
- Small essentials
What one item should ALWAYS be purchased new?
- Car seat
What one item should every baby magically come with already?
- An owners manual
Sugarlump
2709 E Madison, Seattle
206-860-5083
Online: sugarlumpshop.com
Open Tuesday-Saturday from 12pm to 5pm
Paula Moreschi believes in neighborhood stores that instill a sense of community. She and her husband own Casita International on 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill, which sells local art, fair-trade clothing and gifts. The duo opened Sugarlump in 2012, giving neighbors a way to recycle kids’ clothing and reduce waste while dressing their kids well.
Top 5 items to buy used:
- Baby carriers and wraps
- Extra outfits kids keep at school
- Items kids wear once, such as special-occasion dresses and suits
- Hanna Andersson pajamas
- Snow gear
What one item should ALWAYS be purchased new?
- Underwear
What one item should every baby magically come with already?
- Little mittens for their hands, so they can’t scratch themselves. A lot of people come to the store asking for them because they are easy to overlook, but essential for a newborn.
