As future mommies, there’s a lot we look forward to when we daydream about what life with children will be like. The little hugs and kisses, watching them discover new things, and, of course, the clothes. Closets and drawers of tiny, chic, stylish baby outfits for every occasion. Your baby will grow you and no doubt challenge you, but when you dress him or her in something that you find too adorable for words, life can feel just a little bit more like the pictures you had in mind of the great parent you would be. You know, before you were busy raising kids.
A reality I learned quickly is the outfits add up, and they barely make the rounds until it’s time for a new size. With my logged Instagram hours naturally going through the roof as a new mom, I stumbled upon the sartorial rabbit hole of consigning kid’s clothing on Instagram. Time I used to spend at the mall or lining up for a local consignment sale has been traded for quality time with my husband and DVR while I scope out new finds for my daughter on Instagram while she’s peacefully tucked into bed.
How to Find Kid’s Consignment on Instagram
The hardest part of your search for kid’s clothing deals on Instagram is likely finding a page that fits your child’s style and size. Many moms have pages where they list their children’s clothes, which can be great if your child falls right behind and you enjoy similar brands. Many consignment stores also post to Instagram and will sell and ship via PayPal. @Shopmcadoodle, @tadpolesresale and @hissyfitsresale are some favorite consignment stores amongst friends who also sell online. By far I’ve shopped the most with @amysevolvingcloset, who takes consignments and sells on Instagram to raise funds for her impending adoption of a little boy from Burundi and also funds other families’ adoptions. Since Amy’s Evolving Closet lists her own clothes as well as consigns for other moms, there is a great mix of brands and sizes, as well as good representation of both genders. If you have a favorite consignment store, ask them if they have a page they post new arrivals or take orders on!
Looking for new stores or brands you like? Try a hastag! Top hashtags for Instagram consignment are #kidsconsignment, #instashop, #boutiqueresale, #shopmycloset and the brands you may tend to shop for your little one, such as #miniboden or #babyGapconsignment.
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Tips for a Good Buying Experience
It can be a little different trusting your money and time to an Instagram page, but there are a few things I’ve learned that help ensure a fun and easy shopping experience:
Know thy acronyms: These are common, such as EUC (excellent used condition) or NWT (new with tags) to quickly describe the condition of a product. Make sure to ask if you want clarification on a post.
Questions are fine! Want to know measurements, see a detail shot or anything else? “Want with question” is a way to reserve your pick while the seller clarifies something for you.
PayPal: Stay protected as a buyer by trying to use PayPal invoices instead of gifting money as payment. Look out for your invoice and pay promptly! Some sellers will bump you if an invoice is not paid in 24 hours, and it’s the polite thing to do so the items from a sale can get processed and shipped promptly.
OBO: Most prices will be set unless an item is labeled as OBO (or best offer) or auction. If a post is older than 30 days, you may ask the seller if you can make an offer slightly under the listed price. Anything before then can be a little aggressive.
Ring the alarm: Consignors will often post a preview of items to come with a time they will be posting. If you see something you have your heart set on or know it is an ideal size, set your alarm and actively watch the sale so you can pounce!
The items can go fast and sometimes posts get on top of each other, but remember that it’s just kid’s clothing! Once the moment has passed, the loss of a good find to something else will go down easier if we all remember to be polite.
Trying to make the most of your consignment hunt? The typical best practice is to buy 1-2 years ahead in the size you anticipate for your child that season, then pull out your finds when it is time for the season and fill in with retail. I especially like shopping consignment for holiday clothing, as those tend to be the pieces that get the least wear.
Consigning Your Finds
Have adorable clothing with more life left after being outgrown? You can consign them on Instagram to bolster your new wardrobe fund! Use hashtags to start your own page, or partner with an existing shop like Amy’s Evolving Closet to list your clothing with a wider audience at a split. (This is also the case at consignment stores, where you’ll also benefit from slightly higher prices since someone has made it their intention to drive over and shop.) I save clothes for consignment by going through our drawer at the end of a season or size and putting quality clothing and name brands to the side after checking for wear and stains. To get the most return, you’ll want to store them until it’s time to shop for that season the next year.
Consignment makes our wallets a little more green, and I love the “green” thought of recycling kid’s clothes as well! Do you have a favorite way to shop or post consignment? Share it in the comments below!
