Consignment Mommies - $ Baby Items for Thrifty and Savvy Moms

What is a Baby Consignment Sale?

Typically, a week or weekend long event where consignors sell their items and receive 50-80% of the final item price for sold items. Sales are generally run by an owner or organizer and can be "for profit" or as a fundraiser for a school, church or other organization.

Kids consignment events offer new and gently used items for infants through teens. All items are sold at a fraction of the retail price. You will almost always find large selections of clothing, shoes, baby equipment, toys, bikes, riding toys, books, DVD's, games, etc. Events are fun, friendly and organized by local communities. They are a great way to be thrifty, eco friendly and part of your community!

consignmentmommies.com is a fantastic resource that lets you search for consignment stores in your city! Happy thrifty shopping!

Below is a sample of items you may find at a consignment sale!

On-Campus Childcare

One of the hardest thing for a fulltime college parent or even a fulltime working parent is managing childcare while in class or at work. Many colleges offer on-campus childcare or are affiliated with volunteering services that care for students' infants or toddlers at no cost or at reduced rates.

Be sure to see if your college has or is partnered with childcare services in your community.

Here are a few examples of colleges that support campus childcare:

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, AL (Child Development Centers)
University of Alabama, AL
Edmonds Community College, WA
Central Washington University, WA

photo credit - http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/bbb/images/preschool_teacher.jpg

Free Prenatal Classes

Prenatal education can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. It can help:
✩ Decrease preterm deliveries
✩ Decrease low birth weight and very low birth weight
✩ Reduce NICU admissions
✩ Increase early and consistent prenatal care

If you enrolled for a state health care plan for pregnant women, like the one I presented [ here ], then you will have access to classes offered by hospitals or women's wellness centers. Cost is covered for you and many times you are offered incentives to attend (giftcards and coupons for baby items). The state WANTS you to have a healthy baby :), otherwise the costs for them would be astronomical and they are trying to avoid that. Preterm babies cost an arm and a leg to care for. I think its great that they offer prenatal classes and I think if you have the opportunity you should definitely take advantage of it. It will be beneficial for you, your baby, and your state.

If you don't have time to attend a class in person, here is a great online option that is also free and highly comprehensive (offered by babycenter.com):

✓ Other FREE online pregnancy classes:

Childbirth Class Online from About.com