Baby Clothes Deal

Highlights
Haunt garage sales and thrift shops
Host a clothes swap
Consider cheaper brands and buy big
Watch for post-purchase price drops
Register (or drop hints) for gifts
Make the Web work for you

Tiny dresses, pants, shirts, overalls, and one-piece outfits can bust a family budget faster than you can say "Baby Gap." And of course, kids grow like weeds, so those cute outfits have a short life of usefulness. What's a parent to do?

Secondhand clothes are a great way to save dough, especially when kids are young and not yet fashion-picky. Make sure to check these guidelines on clothing safety from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. But if you're also dying to buy cute new duds, coupons, overstock sales, and other methods can land you new kids' clothes for a lot less. Read on for more ideas!
Haunt garage sales and thrift shops

To get high-quality baby clothes for a fraction of retail prices, search the classified ads in your local newspaper or online for people selling them by the box load. Garage sales and children's thrift stores can also be gold mines, with items selling for as little as 25 cents apiece. You might get lucky and find brand-name clothing in mint condition.

And while everyone loves to find those perfect, worn-once items, don't hesitate to buy a few gently used outfits as well. That way you won't mind if your baby gets them dirty at daycare or during playtime. You can also use iron or sew-on patches to cover spots or other small imperfections.

"You can get one-piece outfits really cheap at yard sales, but they're usually yellowed or stained. I tie-dyed the ones I bought that weren't perfectly white, and they're adorable." — Narshkite

"The best part about going to resale shops is that when your children outgrow the things you buy, you can take them back to the shop and basically make your money back." — Lori Ward
Host a clothes swap

Have a "freshen up your kid's wardrobe" party where you ask friends and family to bring old clothes their children no longer wear. Toss everything into the middle of the room and do a big trade. Everyone usually goes home with something new and it's absolutely free.