How I Save Money on Baby Gear as a Mom of 4 (Plus My Favorite Secondhand Finds)

There’s a myth that you need to spend thousands to be “ready” for your baby. I am a mom of (almost) 4, and here’s what I’ve learned about buying baby gear without blowing your budget. 

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I was overwhelmed by the number of products out there that everyone said you HAD to have, not to mention the multitude of choices for each type of gear and especially the prices of some of that gear. 

But four kids in, let me tell you something: you DON’T need it all, and you definitely don’t need it all before your baby is here. So let me be the experienced mom to tell you my budget-friendly baby gear tips to save your sanity & your wallet as you prepare for your baby.

My Top Tips for Saving Money on Baby Gear

Tip #1: Shop Secondhand 

So many baby products are meant to last! So instead of buying all your things brand new, look for secondhand options. GoodBuy Gear is my favorite resource and the place I go first when I need a piece of baby gear. I know that I can trust the quality and safety of the products because of their safety check process. Plus, so many items are in “Open Box” condition and have never even been used!

Last year, I was searching for a 4Moms Playard & SlumberPod to take on a trip — two pretty big ticket items. Instead of buying them brand new, I was able to find both of them at GoodBuy Gear for a fraction of the price! My Playard was “Open Box” and didn’t look like it had ever even been taken out of the box, and the SlumberPod was “Gently Used” and in perfect condition as well! I was able to save hundreds of dollars by shopping at GoodBuy Gear instead of buying brand new.

Tip #2: Choose Gear That Grows With Your Child

Another way to save money on baby gear is by buying products that can grow with your child and be used for multiple phases of life and growth: 

• Look for convertible car seats with high height and weight limits to get extra YEARS of life out of them. 
• Or get a portable crib that can also be a bassinet, so you don’t have to buy another bassinet (also helps with storage because they can take up so much space).

There’s always hype around products, and sometimes it’s worth it, but other times those products are used for such a short period of time, that it’s worth looking at other options that will last you longer and be a better investment long term. 

Further Reading: The Best Convertible Car Seats

Tip #3: Don’t Buy Everything Before Baby Arrives

You don’t need everything right away! Some products can wait until your baby is older. If you are going to use an infant car seat, wait to buy the convertible car seat until they’re ready to move into it. 

Another thing you can wait to buy is a high chair. Babies aren’t ready to eat solids until close to 6 months, so there’s no reason to store a high chair you don’t need during that time.

When my first was born, I was under the impression that I needed to be “prepared” and have everything ready. Half of the things I bought we didn’t even use until she was older, or didn’t even use at all! So my advice is to wait until you actually need an item to buy it. You can do the research ahead of time and save it if that helps you feel more prepared, but don’t actually purchase the item until a need for it arises.

Tip #4: Accept (and Ask For) Hand-Me-Downs

Another great way to use secondhand gear is to look for and accept hand-me-down items. If you have any friends or family who are leaving the baby years, it might be worth it to ask if they are getting rid of any gear that could be useful for you! 

Be sure to get them from a trusted source and check for any safety recalls on the items that the previous owner might not have known about. Give them a good wash and sanitization with a sanitization solution or boiling water, and they’re good to go and live another life with your family.

Tip #5: Stick With the Essentials

In my opinion, there are essentials, and then there are the “nice to have” products. Save money on baby gear by waiting to buy the “nice to have” gear until you know you really want or need it.

My Essentials List of Brands & Gear that I Love:

• Bassinet or Convertible portable crib (4Moms)
• Infant Car Seat (and convertible seat down the road)
• Crib (I love our simple white, wooden crib from Delta Children)
• Structured Carrier (Mabe)
• Swing (Graco) and/or Bouncer
• Swaddles & Swaddle Sack (Ben+James)
• Pacifiers (get one of a few different brands to see what baby prefers)
• Bottles (same as pacifiers, but start with one and if they don’t like it, try others)
• Muslin Burp Cloths (Looxi Brand & Little Unicorn)
• Sound Machine (Hatch)

And again, I always suggest checking GoodBuy Gear before buying new. They carry all of these premium brands for an average of 50% off. It’s a win, win. 

The Baby + Kid Gear That Lasted Through 4 Kids

Some gear is not made to last through four kiddos, but many are! These are the things that have lasted us:

• Wooden Crib: These are built to last! Get one that converts to a toddler bed for even more years of use. Ours is from Delta Children and has been in constant use for 5.5 years now.
• Rocking Chair: You will spend countless hours and nights in your rocking chair, so get a good, comfortable one for you & your partner.
• Abiie High Chair: I am OBSESSED with this high chair. Such amazing quality, beautiful, and it adjusts to different sized babies, toddlers and even converts to a regular chair adults could sit in.
• BOB Jogging Stroller: If you are on the hunt for a jogging stroller, BOB is the way to go! I got ours secondhand.
• Hatch Rest+ Sound Machine: We have these for all of our kids and love them!
• Silicone Plates & Bibs: These have lasted through all of our kids and are used for every meal, every day.

Also, I would HIGHLY suggest investing in gender neutral baby gear! Because as cute as that pink swing is, are you really going to think it’s just as perfect if your next baby is a boy? 

The Baby Gear I’d Buy Again

Some items I have loved so much that I would buy again in a heartbeat (or have bought multiples of because I love them so much):

• Mabe Carrier: I loved my first one so much that I bought a second one to keep in my car, so I was never without it.
• Graco Swing: This is such a great place to put baby down when you need them soothed & content, but you have to be making dinner or tend to other children. We love this swing so much, even my 3-year-old loves it and ended up breaking it by trying to swing with his baby sister. But, I am planning to repurchase from GoodBuy Gear for baby #4!
• BOB Jogging Stroller: When it’s time to move up to a double stroller, BOB is the only brand I’d consider. They are so durable & great for rougher terrain. We live on all gravel roads, so a smooth ride is a must for us!
• Graco SlimFit3LX Convertible Car Seat: I love this seat! My 3 older kids are all using one in my car right now. They have a super slim profile so you can fit them in the car, pieces of the seat unsnap in seconds to easily wash without having to take the seat out of the car and take apart to clean a spill, and they work for so many ages thanks to its high weight +height limits and ability to convert from a rear facing seat to a forward facing seat & a high-back booster.

Toys + Gear That Grew With My Kids

Some gear is so versatile and works from the baby through the toddler years. Some of my favorites are:

• SlumberPod: Whether you’re using it with a portable crib or an inflatable mattress, this gives kids a great, darkened environment to sleep.
• Hatch Sound Machine & Nightlight: This sound machine is a workhorse! From middle-of-the-night feeds in the newborn days to using it as an “okay to wake” clock for my 5-year-old, we have one in all of our kids’ rooms and love them.
• Abiie High Chair: As I mentioned before, you can use it from a 6-month-old baby just starting solids to a grown adult sitting at the dinner table.

Gear I Regret Buying (or Wish I Bought Used)

There are some things I was convinced I needed to have, that I never really used. I wish I didn’t spend the money on them, or wish I would’ve bought them secondhand to begin with, so I wouldn’t have spent so much money on them.

• Snuggle Me Organic: I just never really used it. My babies were fine on just a blanket on the floor. I really only used it when I needed to put them on an elevated surface like a couch or bed to stay out of reach of older siblings. However, even then, I didn’t do that often.
• Ring Sling: It just was never comfortable for me or baby. I don’t love how all the weight is on one shoulder and wish I had bought a structured carrier like the Mabe from the beginning.

Why I Love Shopping Secondhand 

When I started my motherhood journey, shopping for secondhand baby gear never really crossed my mind. I didn’t realize there were amazing options out there like GoodBuy Gear that quality checks premium secondhand baby gear.

But now, four kids in, that’s the first place I go! Not only to save money, but also to help reduce waste. When you think about all the baby gear in the world and how so much of it is only used for a short period of time, I can’t even imagine the amount of waste that there is. 

GoodBuy Gear has been such an incredible resource for buying baby gear secondhand. If I ever need a “new” piece of baby gear or even when I’m looking for a piece of gear to give as a baby shower gift, they are my first stop! Everything I have bought from them, from a 4Moms Playard to a Ceres Chill breastmilk cooler, has been in perfect condition, as if I just picked it up from the store.

What I Tell Every New Mom Now

Whether you are just beginning your motherhood journey or are several kids in, you are doing amazing! In this world of so much information, it’s easy to get overwhelmed thinking you have to have it “all” when it comes to baby gear. But please let me be the one to tell you that you don’t! Baby gear can be expensive, especially if you buy everything recommended in every YouTube baby video and Instagram post. For the gear that you do decide you need, shop at GoodBuy Gear first to save money and waste.

At the end of the day, you know your baby and your family best. Trust your instincts, there is nothing picture perfect about parenthood, so don’t feel the pressure to be “perfect”. You’re killing it already by reading this blog post and getting as prepared as you can.

Meet Morgan 

Morgan Price is a mom of three with baby number four on the way. She lives in rural Washington State with her family, where life moves a little slower, but the kids keep her plenty busy. Passionate about making life more affordable, Morgan uses her Instagram to cheer on and inspire other moms. Through budget-friendly tips and real-life motherhood moments, she helps moms feel encouraged, capable, and not so alone in their motherhood journey.