New parents don’t have all the money in the world, and I know my friends didn’t either when they had kids. Before my friend had a baby shower, I inquired about gifting thrifted items. My friend was touched that I asked before buying. The lesson here is you need to ask before buying, y’all. I want everyone to learn what to know before giving used items as baby shower gifts.
Ask the New Mom’s Opinion
As mentioned above, I reached out to my friend before wrapping anything up. This touched her heart, and she felt grateful that I asked because she hadn’t thought to request thrifted items if her guests found similar gently used items.
The point I’m making is to ask for an opinion. Parents are nervous about used items because they don’t know if they’re in working condition or need to be cleaned. This is where you need to talk with them about buying secondhand.
Choose Used Items Wisely
The most important thing I learned about thrifting is choosing your items wisely. Not everything you pick up from the store will work for a newborn. I know it’s tempting to ask about gifting your used stroller or crib to parents-to-be, but it’s best to steer clear of furniture, as the regulations on crib safety change annually.
Instead of furniture, ask your friend about secondhand baby clothes—they may be more open to the idea, especially since you can wash them before giving them as a gift. Clothing’s a better option, especially since your expecting friend might need bigger sizes.
Don’t Go Overboard With Wrapping
The only point of thrifting is not to waste. In addition to that, we need to be careful of what type of lavish gift wrap we use when wrapping the gift. Many parents won’t care, and some might think negatively if they notice gently used items wrapped in silk packaging.
Go simple and stick with plain wrapping paper, gift boxes, and newspapers. Sticking to simple wrapping methods can cut down on waste, and you won’t receive harsh criticisms from party guests either—keep it simple, y’all.
You Aren’t Being Cheap
Secondhand shopping is an eco-friendly practice that your friend will appreciate the heck out of. Some might stick their nose up at the idea, but in reality, money is tight when buying new furniture.
Keep this in mind when buying used items. Your friends will be shocked at how much reused stuff they receive versus brand-new items, especially since many items they need are clothes and diapers. You could even take your friend shopping at a later time for more items if they need them.
My list of things to consider before regifting baby gifts lets everyone know they need to think before buying. As you plan out the right gift, ask your mom-to-be friend about any necessities they would like to receive from a thrift store instead of brand new.
