Sunday, April 19, 2009

Buying Baby Clothes? Money Saving Tips & More

By Paula Heron

Babies grow very quickly so consequently baby clothes don't last long before they are outgrown. To avoid costly mistakes and to help you save money it is a good idea to plan shopping trips for baby clothes around the growth of your little one. Here are some ideas to bear in mind for your next trip to the baby store.

* Buy a larger size: Everyone says how fast babies grow and it's true. If you buy clothes that are a perfect fit they will not last more than a couple of weeks or so because they'll soon be too small. If you buy a larger size, the amount of time your baby can wear them will be extended and you will save money.

* It is a good idea when choosing clothes by age, such as 9 months or 12 months, to work out the time of year when your baby is old enough to wear them. It's no good buying summer clothes to fit a ten month old baby if it will be the middle of winter when they will fit!

* When picking baby outfits look for ones that are easy to put on and don't require removing for diaper changes. Those beautiful outfits with buttons down the back may look good but they can test your patience when you are struggling with a crying infant. It is far better to choose clothes that open down the front and have poppers or zips for easy diaper changes.

* It is a good idea to have at least three or four changes of baby clothes per day in case of messy spills. Babies are notorious for spilling food down their clothes or being sick or dribbling down themselves so having enough changes of clothes is essential.

* Save money at the clearance rails: You'll be able to save a lot of money by checking out the clearance rails. Nearly every store has these especially when the new season's clothes are coming in. Also, if you wait for a big sale you can save even more. Occasionally, some stores markdown their clearance items even more at the cash register.

* Don't be too proud to accept hand me downs from family and friends. This can save you a lot of money and as babies from birth to about nine months do not wear their clothes out many will be nearly new. You may also find that some of the outfits haven't even been worn as often parents are given far more clothes than their baby needs.

* Make some cash from old clothes: Selling the clothes your baby has outgrown is a great way to earn a little extra money. There are many places where you can turn outgrown baby clothes into cash, for example eBay, garage sales, thrift stores and online. You might not make a lot of money and certainly not what you originally paid for them, still, you'll at least get some of your money back.

These are just some of the ways you can save money when shopping for baby clothes. I'm sure there are many more. So before you go on the next baby clothes shopping spree it's worth remembering some of these ideas.

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