Kids grow fast, which makes shopping for kid's clothes—and adding to the "donate" pile—a second job for parents. For those caregivers looking for a deal on children's clothing or a way to pocket a few extra bucks while they declutter, plenty of great options are available online.
Hanna-Me-Downs
Hanna Anderson clothing is high-quality stuff—and it's pricey. Last year, the clothing company started a resale program called Hanna-Me Downs, where customers can sell the threads their kids have outgrown for cash or store credit. Sellers list their items and set their own price—or let the site do it for them. Once an item is purchased, sellers get a prepaid, pre-addressed shipping label and must send items out in three business days.
Pro: Shoppers get nearly 50 percent off retail prices.
Con: The inventory is limited to Hanna Anderson products only.
Kidizen/Tea Rewear
This popular app/website is specifically for maternity and children's clothing. Parents can start by setting up a "shop" to list and post pictures of the items they wish to sell. Like Hanna-Me-Downs, once an item is sold, you'll be given a shipping label, and Kidizen keeps 12 percent plus $0.50 of the sale. Kidizen has built up such a loyal customer community that Tea Collection has partnered with the site to offer parents a place to resell their clothes.
Pro: If you're short on time, you can work with a "Style Scout" in your area to sell your clothes.
Con: The Style Scout will take half your profit.
Out&Back
Kids wear outdoor and winter clothes for only a few months out of the year, only to have outgrown their barely used hoodies and jackets when the cold weather comes around again. Out&Back knows this, and their resale process works similarly to trading in your smartphone: Answer a few questions about what you're selling on their site, and you can either ship your items with a prepaid label or drop them off at a select location. Once they've confirmed the condition of your articles, you'll receive payment through Venmo, PayPal, or a gift card.
Pro: The trade-in process works fast, especially if you live in an area where you can drop off your items.
Con: Those drop-off locations are currently limited to seven states.
The Swoondle Society
Paid memberships support The Swoondle Society. When you sign up, you request a prepaid, reusable trade-in bag to fill with the clothing you wish to sell. What you send is credited using a point system determined by factors that include brand, condition, size, and demand—Level 1 through Level 5. You can use these credits to purchase similarly classified clothing. For example, If the clothing you sold was assigned a Level 2, you can swap for other Level 2 items.
Pro: You can upgrade your trade for a small fee.
Con: Membership is $20, entitling you to five trades and one monthly order shipment. Additional trades and shipments are extra.
Toycycle
On Toycycle, users can buy and sell clothes and unload unwanted toys and gear. There's no need to take pictures, which is convenient for sellers but possibly misleading for buyers concerned about the condition of what they're purchasing. If you live in the San Francisco area, curbside pickup of your items is available.
Pro: If you're unhappy with what you ordered, Toycycle will refund you.
Con: The first bag of items you sell is free, but there are fees for additional bags and boxes. Also, a variable payout scale will cut into your profits.
Poshmark
While looking for a gently used Louis Vuitton bag for yourself, you can also browse the popular resale site and pick up a few new outfits for your kids. And if you're cleaning out your closet, you can list the clothing your kids have outgrown for free and set your own price. The site will keep 20 percent of the selling price or (or charge a flat fee of $2.95 for sales under $15).
Pro: If you're already a secondhand shopper, you're already familiar with how the platform works.
Con: You also know that brands matter on Poshmark, so you won't get a good return selling low-end clothing lines.
ThredUp
While Poshmark bills itself as a "marketplace," ThredUp is a consignment shop. It is very clear about the type of clothes it accepts for resale: "Anything with excessive signs of wear does not make it to our site." Most people who sell their children's clothes on the site say it accepts, on average, half of what is sent while the remainder gets recycled, or you can have it sent back to you for a small fee.
Pro: ThredUp does everything from photography to shipping to buyers.
Con: Your payout varies on how much your items sell for, and you'll be charged a $14.99 fee when what you send in a Clean Out Kit is sold.
Swap.com
Many buyers and sellers who've sold items on Swap.com have reported experiences to those using ThredUp: Both platforms are consignment shops with rigid criteria for the items they accept. Here, however, you can sell your child's toys and games in addition to their clothing.
Pro: Through their SureSell guarantee, you'll make some money even if your item doesn't sell.
Con: Many complain it takes a long time to process items.
Vinted
Unlike most other platforms listed here, Vinted is slightly more geared toward sellers. Listing your items is free, and you'll receive the full selling price when they are sold. Just be prepared to do most of the work. Plus, if you want your items to be seen, you can increase their visibility on the site with an "Item Bump," which puts them at the top of users' feeds for three to seven days.
Pro: Sellers can list items for free.
Con: Buyers must pay a Buyer Protection Fee, a fixed $0.70 plus five percent of the item's price.