When the ultrasound technician confirmed that we were having a girl at our 20-week anatomy scan appointment, I burst into tears. I really wanted a girl, even though I wouldn’t let myself speak it aloud. I picked the nursery colors–aqua and pink–in that very moment and knew I would surround her with strong female role models from the very beginning; there was actually talk of a Jane Goodall mobile on the drive home.
And I was excited about all of the hand-me-downs we would receive from my niece and a few other friends. They generously gave me so many of the things their children out-grew and in the process, saved me hundreds of dollars.
Not all hand-me-downs are created equal though. I found that onesies are cheap and stain easily; for that reason, it’s easier to buy a 5-pack than to sort through cardboard boxes, searching for a few tiny t-shirts. Shoes are hit or miss. But, in my experience, there are a few things that never fail.
Hands Down the Best Hand-Me-Downs
- Large Wooden Toys
- Recently, my daughter was given a gently-used wooden doll house with a few accessories. It looks like it will last forever. She plays with it every morning while I drink my coffee in newfound peace. The other day I heard her inventing “conversations” between the little dolls. I wouldn’t have thought she was ready for such a “big girl” toy, but she is loving it.
Hours of Hand-Me-Down Entertainment - Outdoor Fun
- Our neighbors have three young boys who are always playing outside. They have a garage full of Little Tykes cars, trucks, and bikes, and my little one likes to borrow them. One day, the parents gave us one of the cars because their boys didn’t use it anymore. Well, my kiddo uses it for every walk around the block or to the playground. We’ll pay it forward when she outgrows it by finding another neighbor in need of something for their toddler.
- Boxes of Books
- Many years before I had a baby, my aunt gave me a box full of board books. She saved them from when her kids were small, and now I get to read them to my little girl. They are scattered throughout my house in bins and on shelves. Some books are even the backseat of my car. Because I had a library right away, my toddler reads anytime and anywhere.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash - Coats for All Seasons
- In the two years of her life, I have never bought my daughter a coat. Thanks to hand-me-downs, she has an adorable navy blue and white polka dot spring jacket, a hot pink puffy winter coat, and a fleece zip-up–and that’s just in this size range.
If you have these kinds of items taking up space in your home, pass them to a friend, neighbor, or donate to a place like Veterans of America. ( I like that particular organization because it’s easy to arrange a donation pick up and because of my personal veteran connection.)
Which hand-me-downs do you most appreciate?
