Frugal Family: Consignment Shop for Children’s Clothing and Save

It is time to pack away your youngsters’ winter clothes and bust out the spring ones.

But if your children are like mine, they grew by leaps and bounds from last year and nothing fits. With two toddler girls and a baby boy due this summer, I can’t afford to outfit my little ones by shopping at department stores and mall shops alone. Fortunately, myself and fellow parents don’t have to venture far from home to find wonderful consignment shops offering name-brand children’s items at bargain prices.

This week I highlight the best places to score gently used children’s clothing in the area. I recently visited the five stores below, found adorable pieces for my kids and saved a bundle. This mommy was thrilled!

Most of the items for sale in these shops look like they were barely worn, and some articles of apparel even have their original tags still attached. Visit these locations to shop for children’s clothing, shoes, toys, books and baby items, including swings, bouncer chairs, bassinets, crib bedding and more. Most of these stores also purchase new and next-to-new clothing, toys, books and baby items, so you can trade in what you no longer need and get what you do!

1.

Deal: This shop features a mix of new and used clothing and accessories for newborns through size 12. The store is full of name-brand fashions, as well as shoes, toys and everything needed to welcome a baby to the family. I found my 21-month-old a beautiful, brand-new Gymboree Easter dress for $7. I saw this dress at the mall last year for $45.

4 Kids offers $5 off any purchase of $20 or more. Click here to print the coupon and head to the store on North Main Street, just north of the Acme shopping plaza. The store is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

2. Babyland

Deal: I walked into this welcoming store and quickly found clothing to prepare for the arrival of our first son. They carry a ton of items for newborns and infants. A number of the items I purchased were still brand new. The majority of rompers and pajamas I bought were between $2 and $4 each. I also found my older daughter’s Easter dress here for only $6. I discovered that Babyland has clothing for babies to teenagers and even carries a nice selection of maternity apparel.

The store is located at 2303 Cleveland Ave. NW in Canton. Babyland is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday.

3. Once Upon a Child

Deal: Located on Dressler Road, Once Upon a Child has a large selection of children’s clothing. While I found their prices not quite as good as those offered at privately owned consignment shops, I did buy some nice items for my kids. My best finds were two matching GAP dresses and two matching Osh Kosh jumpers. It was neat to find the same two items  in both the sizes I needed for my girls. The dresses were $7, and the jumpers, which still had the tags on them, were $6.

4. Two E’s in a Pod 

Deal: Two E’s in a Pod opened in December in downtown Hartville. I visited the store with my daughter for the first time Saturday and instantly was impressed. Owner Emilie Ketcham is so friendly and helpful. Her store is beautiful, with its hardwood floors and chandeliers. The upscale consignment shop for children’s clothing offers very reasonable prices. I found my oldest daughter a lovely 5T Chaps dress for $8, and the baby, several pieces from $1.50 to $4. If everything in the store is not new, it sure looks like it is. Two E’s in a Pod sells clothing and accessories for newborns to size 5 toddler, as well as some toys, baby equipment and maternity clothing. Brands for sale include Gymboree, GAP, Carters and Children’s Place.

The store is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

5.

Deal: Goodwill on South Main Street is a great place to donate your used clothing, but it also is a fun place to search for play clothes for your children. You can’t beat finding one piece of apparel for $2 or a complete outfit for $4! I purchased several name-brand items there last week that still have plenty of wear left.