One thing I wish I had known as a new parent was to look harder on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree or in local Buy Nothing groups before buying a whole bunch of new things. Well, hubby did most of the purchasing of brand-new items as I am more of a tightwad, but looking back, we could have saved a fair bit more.

I even found free breastmilk on Marketplace, as the mother was travelling the next day and didn’t have time to donate it. I didn’t end up using it (it may be risky without the usual vetting process at milk banks), but it was a reassuring backup as I was having trouble with breastfeeding in the early days.

Sometimes, people give away free baby food items like formula, biscuits, pouches or jars that their child outgrew or disliked.

Tushies

You can find free or cheap nappies, either disposable or reusable, on Marketplace from parents whose little ones have outgrown them. We splurged on new reusable nappies at the Pregnancy and Baby Expo, thinking that we would be eco-friendly and also save on purchasing disposables.

Some thoughtful friends gave us a packet of disposable newborn nappies in preparation for our son’s birth, and boy did that save our skins! “They are so convenient!” exclaimed my husband. We did make an effort to switch to reusables for awhile, but the constant washing was not up my alley, especially when I started back at work and had less free time and energy.

Tummy Time

Our generous friends gave us gift cards, part of which hubby used on a baby gym with balls. I think it was on sale, but you can’t beat Marketplace, where people give them away for free!

Our first baby spent a fair amount of time in the baby gym, but the second baby just wanted to do whatever her more active brother was doing, so she soon outgrew it. Thankfully, I had a friend who happily bought both the reusable nappies and the gym. Hurrah for the circular economy!

Travel Tips

My hubby also bought a brand-new baby carrier, which doesn’t get much use as our toddlers prefer toddling. Our first baby fell asleep in it when he was smaller, but as he started crawling, he began to protest when strapped in. Again, people give these things away on Marketplace, or sell them for a song instead of the couple hundred dollars they cost.

We did obtain a pram, nappy bag and car capsule via Marketplace. The first two are still going strong after over two years of use by us (on top of however long the first owner used them).

We got the capsule refunded as it was actually from the USA and didn’t meet Australian standards. However, we were able to rent a capsule from KidSafe for free, as hubby had a pension card at that time. Otherwise, it just costs $60 for six months of use, and it came with a free installation.

Togs and Tootsies

Baby fashion is a massive industry. With cheap, cute clothing available 24/7 from sites like Temu, one can be tempted to overspend on tiny things that will only last a few months.

We were blessed with an abundance of gifted or loaned baby clothes, but again, husband bought some brand-new baby singlets – turns out we could have snaffled them up for a pittance from our nearby Baby and Kids Clothing Exchange, of which there are a fair few around.

These specialised thrift shops are amazing for assisting in decluttering your home when your children outgrow their clothes and shoes. You pay an affordable exchange fee, which assists with their overheads, and you earn credit to select other things off their shelves.

When we finally popped in there some months post-birth, we found a toy vacuum for our son – exactly what I had been searching for, as he had been using a (new) toilet brush to mimic his dad vacuuming. As I was using my store credit, it felt like I was snapping it up practically free!

These shops stock baby sleepwear as well (which you can also find on Marketplace) – instead of buying a new zip-up swaddle for $30, we could have grabbed multiple ones in varying sizes for a few bucks each. You live and learn.

Toys and Tomes

Besides bags of clothes, people actually give stacks of toys and children’s books away on Marketplace. It feels like Christmas popping into our garage, because we collected a bunch of unwanted toys including blocks, vehicles, racquets, balls and so on, and kept them in storage until our son was old enough to play with them.

Someone sold us a whole stack of musical toys for $50, including a toy keyboard that would have cost that alone. They are a source of endless delight as the toddlers take turns tapping out tunes or blowing on the trumpet.

Just the other day, we scored 20 books for $5, including one that makes farm animal sounds. Our son was delighted and made a beeline for the books the moment he climbed out of bed the next morning.

Surprises

Another plus of thrifting is that you often find unexpected things that you might not have thought of. After browsing on Facebook, we obtained a baby beanbag with a washable cover and a sturdy clip to secure the newborn from rolling out. The seller mentioned that it was really useful when she wanted to shower – she simply popped her child into the beanbag.

It became less useful when our children started crawling and flipped the beanbag into what resembled a turtle shell, so we gave it to an expectant neighbour and replaced it with a child’s recliner complete with cup holder. The toddlers love relaxing in it, and sometimes I do too!

Sometimes when you buy things off Marketplace, the seller uses the opportunity to offload further, and you come away with unexpected treasures. We went to collect some bath toys and were given a free musical swing and a rocking seat with dangling toys.

Another time, we were buying a breastfeeding pillow and came away with a bag full of free clothes. On yet another occasion, the seller popped in a complimentary formula dispenser – we didn’t even know such a thing existed. It was a Godsend as we used it for every outing, including eight-hour international flights.

Tots are tiny, but in our modern society, they tend to accumulate a tonne of things – so use technology and thrifting to your advantage. Buying and selling has never been easier. Snag those bargains, then make those satisfying sales once you’re ready to move items on to the next parsimonious parent.

(Of course, with the usual safety measures just in case – meet up in public, or with your spouse as a bodyguard.)

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Image courtesy of Elias Jara.

About the Author: Jean Seah

Jean Seah is a law and liberal arts graduate with a profound faith in God. She is a passionate supporter of Freedom, Faith, Family and Life. Jean is the Managing Editor of the Daily Declaration and looks after the Canberra Declaration's social media. Jean is a devout Catholic who lives in Brisbane, Australia. She also edits and writes for MercatorNet and Ignitum Today; and has written for News Weekly and Aleteia.

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