Thrifty Julia Roberts readies for baby #3

In what could be considered an extension of her love for recycling, Julia Roberts is planning to re-use much of the gear and clothing she used with 2-year-old twins Hazel and Finn with her third child, reportedly a boy due in June.  An outspoken proponent of green living who advocates — among other measures — the use of biodiesel fuel on school buses, Julia has already gone on record as saying that "all the tiny things … really do make a difference." 

Now, apparently, Julia is maintaining that mindset as she prepares for baby #3. 

According to unnamed sources, the Pretty Woman actress "kept most of what she needed from Finn and Hazel" and the rest has been borrowed from friends or purchased from consignment shops. 

Source:  Daily Express

Do you buy consigned clothes or use hand-me-downs with your children?   

Comments

Lorus on May 4th, 2007

I buy my daughter a lot of used clothing, mostly from ebay. I don’t understand the need to pay 3x more for something in good used condition.
Since this next baby arrives 7 years after her I’m getting a lot of baby items from friends. The only major new things I’ve bought/will buy is a stroller and cloth diapers.

Devon on May 4th, 2007

With my cousin, we had new and consigned clothes. Babies grow so quickly, and especially my cousin, that it really makes no sense to go out and get all new things.

Alot of babies are so big when they are born that they can’t even fit into newborn clothing, so it is easy to find brand-new newborn stuff at consignment or thrift stores.

A girlfriend of mine, her son was exactly 10 pounds at birth and he couldn’t fit into the newborn stuff she had. He went straight into 3 month clothing.

Laura on May 4th, 2007

I don’t buy at consignment stores but i sell my daughter’s clothes at them so they can be reused. I also am conscious of how much i buy her since most of the time she only has a few favorite outfits. There is so much waste in the world. I also sell books and cds to consignment stores so those items are reused instead of getting thrown away. i think it is great Julia is doing this and more people should think twice about what they buy and try to reuse what they have before buying new and taking away from more resources in the world.

Kate on May 4th, 2007

Good for Julia! Yes, every little bit counts to use the earth’s resources wisely…and consignment, resale, and thrift shopping is WAY more than a “bit” of a way to participate in caring for our planet. It’s a major way everyone can make a difference.

Not only does consignment shopping re-use already-manufactured items such as clothing, baby gear, home goods, but it also is a way to shop locally (saving fuel!), avoid transportation costs (all those trucks on the interstates!), connect with your community…and save money. Julia may not be looking at that last aspect…but most of us are!

If you think you’d like to explore the world of consignment shopping, please visit http://www.HowToConsign.com

Happy baby, Julia.

Loralee on May 4th, 2007

Ebay is a godsend with three growing children. There is no way I would be able to afford to clothe all three in name brand clothes or many clothes for that matter. My youngest son has also worn many of his older brothers clothes. My daughter (age 8)on the other hand is very particular, so she chooses what she likes on ebay. The clothes she outgrows(no stains,etc.)go to a good friend or Goodwill.

tink1217 on May 4th, 2007

I did buy some of my kids clothing at consignment shops when they were little and my daughters crib and bedding set were also bought from a consignment shop. Really it was all we could afford. My stroller was a hand me down Aprica(very nice). If I ever have another baby everything I buy will be brand new. Maybe because I didn’t get to do much of that with my other two. I didn’t splurge hardly ever. Maybe once or twice for something special like my daughters little pink Reebok sneakers when she was 6 months and her lace pageant dress for this charity baby pageant she was in. That was about it. And for my son, all I did was get a new double stroller. Once she stopped wanting to ride I sold it and bought a brand new Inglesina stroller from a lady having a yard sale in a posh part of town. She didn’t like the color and it was a gift from her mother in law(a $350 gift) and she sold it to me for $20!!

Melissa on May 4th, 2007

I am expecting my 1st baby (a boy) due in August…I’ve received SO many adorable used clothes/baby items from friends – it’s just great! I am telling all my friends/family to NOT buy any newborn items for my shower since I’ve gotten so many great ones for free At best, they only wear the outfits a few times & most are like new….

Irene on May 4th, 2007

I can’t see my baby wearing used clothes.

cindy on May 4th, 2007

Are there that many people who DON’T reuse baby clothes, etc? I can’t imagine why you’d discard everything…

HollyCate on May 4th, 2007

Absolutely, I buy consignment shop clothes exclusively. The boys’ gramdmother buys them new things for Christmas etc. To the person who said she can’t see her baby wearing used items—Most Americans “overbuy” stuff for their kids and babies—so that much of what you see in the consignment shops are near-new and even brand new! And it is so much cheaper!!! also the shop near my house has tons of baby equipment in fantastic shape.!

Cristina on May 4th, 2007

My 2nd daughter was a surprise and money was tight in the household. I hoped for a girl because our oldest was a girl and I kept alot of the clothes. I never had a problem with 2nd hand shops and would often check them out to see if anything good popped up. I went in one day and saw a babytrend sit and stand stroller. My kids where then the perfect age for that thing. I had a friend who had one but she told me that it cost around 200. I was able to find mine for 30 bucks. The only thing I wouldn’t purchase used for my babies were carseats. I didn’t want to risk getting an older model that wasn’t as safe a some of the newer ones.

LaMama on May 4th, 2007

I think it’s wonderful what Julia is doing.

I have reused clothes and baby gear with each of my children. Anything that has been outgrown or never used gets donated to Goodwill or stored away. Friends of mine, usually expecting their first baby, are overjoyed when I offer them boxes of practically new stuff.

I had a friend give me a bassinett that her son only used once, with sheets included. I ended up using it for two babies and have stored it away for future grandchildren.

I have also started telling family members wanting birthday suggestions to not buy any more stuffed animals or plastic stuff. They already have enough. I would much rather that they donate to a college fund, buy clothes, pay for a dance class, give tickets to a play or some other thing that they will actually do/use, rather than cluttering up the house.

Mel on May 4th, 2007

Kudos to Julia for not buying absolutely everything brand new again.

So many kids grow out of their clothes (especially at the baby age) after only having worn the outfit once or twice (and sometimes not at all). My niece has SO many outfits that people bought for her that she grew out of many of them before they were washed twice!

My mother always bought our baby (and kid) clothing at thrift stores–I STILL shop at thrift stores and see SO many cute brand new (seriously, tags STILL on them) baby clothing and shoes that it’s almost silly not to look there first if one wants to be thrifty.

I don’t see a reason NOT to get used baby clothing (either from thrift stores, friends, or previous kids) if it’s in good condition, washed before use, and not stained.

Jessica on May 4th, 2007

My husband and I don’t buy used clothing/gear for our 2 1/2 y.o. daughter, but when she does grow out of things we either sell them as part of a garage sale or we donate them to the Salvation Army. I’m pregnant with our second child right now, but since it is a boy I obviously couldn’t hand anything of my daughter’s down to him (except for one yellow blanket). All of his clothes are new, that’s just what I prefer, as are my daughter’s. I just have a lot of fun going to the little shops and the mall and buying all the latest little styles. When it comes to things like gear I prefer for it to be new because I’m too paranoid about buying something used and having it malfunction in some way. That’s just me though.

sarawara on May 4th, 2007

Uhm, if you are fortunate enough to have hand-me-downs from friends and family tell me why it is that you’d pay for something kids are going to wear for 3 months before they’ve outgrown it?

And if you have children of the same gender why would you re-purchase the same things?

We’re a jeans and t-shirts kind of family. And my sons are the third and fourth child to have worn all of their clothes. They are 100% dressed in hand-me-downs, and we’ve only had to buy shoes and diapers for them.

We are very green, but this just seems like common sense to me.

jashmom on May 4th, 2007

95% of my kids’ clothes are hand me downs from their cousins. My SIL and I have been passing clothes back and forth to each other for almost 5 years now. (We have 6 kids between the two of us.) We’re lucky enough that once one child out grows something, the next girl or boy can use it within the next year or so.

kristen on May 4th, 2007

there are many consignment/resale shops that not only sell used items, but also are great places to get local indie fashion… there’s one here in portland that has recently gotten a lot of local/regional acclaim for its “eco-conscience” design and wares. i think it’s called “lilytoad” and some of the designers use vintage materials to make funky kids and maternity clothes.

the last time i was in there, i was able to take in a couple bags of my daughter’s used clothes (she’s picky about what she takes!) and get credit for some really unique new stuff. it might be worth checking out..

Carrie on May 4th, 2007

For my first child, I was very particular and a little bit snobby about what I would let him where – I QUICKLY outgrew that! For my second, I reused a lot of my first son’s clothing, and I do buy a lot online on ebay. I do still have my favorite boutique brands, but pay much less than I used to, by buying gently used items.

tink1217 on May 4th, 2007

cindy, I didn’t discard stuff, I resold my “purchased new” items at consignment shops. I mean, I had a girl and then a boy so I couldn’t re use anything!! I have friends that shared their stuff when one would have a baby and then another would a few months later. Now that I am older and have more financial security I would probably not buy consignment. If I have another baby(after 8 yrs of trying) I would want everything new. But thats just me!

Alexandra on May 4th, 2007

I haven’t seen anyone answer Cindy’s question yet. I don’t mean to belittle those who are doing their part to reduce waste even if it isn’t as hardcore as I would do it. But I am curious as to how common it is for people to just throw away used items? I was under the impression that practically no one did that and that most people give old items to Goodwill, etc. anyway. If that’s true, then buying new and selling to consignment shops isn’t really that eco-friendly. I understand that this is about personal preference but it’s possible to do even more for the earth and we should be willing to make more of a sacrifice. I applaud Julia for setting a good example. My husband and I make only a small fraction of what Julia makes but we easily clear the 6 digits. Even though we could afford new items for our baby, we feel it’s the more responsible thing to purchase used items and accept hand-me-downs. That’s my personal preference but I would certainly hope that more people who could afford to buy new would join me on this one. Some consignment shops are very trendy and hip and just as fun to browse as new boutiques.

Abby on May 4th, 2007

I love buying used clothing for my daughter, I can afford so much more this way. Often the things I buy still have tags on them. I have got her so many still new looking brand name clothes. I also like doing it becuase since I save so much usually on clothes I don’t feel bad buying her a really expensive new outfit when I see one that she just has to have

JoyJoy on May 4th, 2007

I buy loads of used clothes. I am a foster mom too so sometimes their are cases where I get a child in with no clothes at all. Yes I do have to get new clothes when I am in a hurry and the child needs a whole wardrobe. I also buy them used clothes as well. I keep a lot of used clothes on hand too. My own kids rarely get new clothes except for Birthdays or Christmas presents. I make my girls clothes too. I can make them for cheaper and normaly that is what they get for new things. I think they get more excitement out of things I make rather then buy. I also take used clothes and make more clothes or items. That is what I do online to make money.

pink.lioness on May 4th, 2007

When I had my first baby many years ago, I got the following items brand new: Underwear, baby bottles, teething rings, baby shoes, cot mattress, the first push chair, baby phone and the car seat (many of those items were gifts from my parents as I was young and money was tight).

A lot of other clothes, the cot, bed sheets, nursery furniture, curtains, many toys and another (travel)stroller I bought second hand.

Almost all of that stuff went to friends and to charity shops after my son’d outgrown them, but the nicest pieces (among them a beautiful wooden rocking horse) I’ve kept for my next baby.

Danielle, Celebrity Baby Blog on May 4th, 2007

We donate all of our old clothes that are in decent condition to local charities or leave them in our apartment building for others to take. It’s not worth the effort for us to sell them because it takes more time than the money is worth for me, but I think it’s a great way to recoup some of the money you’ve spent.

I used to shop at thrift stores all the time when I was in college, mostly out of financial need, but also because I loved to wear vintage clothes.

TwinMom24 on May 4th, 2007

I often shop for used clothes, only in excellent condition! My kids grow out of their every-day school clothing so quickly, it just makes more sense to spend less on things they won’t fit into for longer than 6 months.

Because of this, my kids always have a massive selection of clothes that are top quality, good brand names. We have bought many items at used clothing stores that still had the original tags on them.

I don’t buy used socks, underwear, shoes, or hats, though.

For us, it’s not for financial reasons…. just smart shopping, I guess.

Amelie on May 5th, 2007

Good for Julia! I’ll admit I’m no fan, but I think she’s doing a fantastic thing and hopefully her actions will help others to think a little more consciously of their environmental footprint.

Judy on May 5th, 2007

When my kids were little, I traded clothes with two of my girlfriends who also had girls. We had six girls between the three of us so there were always many different sizes of clothing. It was a great way to save money.

Kat on May 7th, 2007

we’re totally into thrift stores… there’s so many around here and if you shop ahead and hit the right days, the money you save and the benefit to the environment is all too good to pass up.

And starting shopping months ahead (like shopping for the next size as soon as your child changes into the size you had stored) lets you hit the days where you can get only the best pieces… my daughter has jeans that retail for 100 dollars a pair… not many… but she does have a couple… and the rest is childrens’ place, gap, etc. And you know how much I pay… no more than 1 dollar per item.

I buy my boys’ clothes that way, too, but it’s harder to find dressier shirts now that my boys are getting into much larger sizes.

Still, there’s nothing wrong with it… and the clothes I buy for my oldest get passed to his brother… any gender neutral stuff gets saved for their sister….

REUSE people… it’s the cheapest and easiest way to start being green!

Even if you change nothing else… if you just begin by reusing clothes (take your old ones to thrift shops and/or purchase from them), you’ll help so much!

Emma on May 7th, 2007

Firstly, for a dumb english woman – could someone please explain what consignment stores are? Secondly – yeah! good for you, Julia! I have 2 boys and handed down most of the eldest’s clothes to the youngest and still do. I also buy clothes for all the family from eBay – always in excellent condition and at a fraction of the original cost. I just can’t stand paying more than I have to for stuff.

leslie on July 14th, 2007

I was just told about this blog and that one of my customers had commented on the site.

I truly appreciate that others are making the move to buying gently used clothing for children and supporting local independent moms/businesses. At LilyToad, we resell both maternity and children’s clothing and gear, and are committed to continuing the recycling/reusing circle. We also promote more than 17 local crafters’ wares in the shop and in our online store. Our goal is to support the local economy (and creative moms!) as well as recycle clothing.

If you’d like to check out some of our locally made clothing and gear, go to http://www.lilytoad.com and use the coupon code: skipidi for 10% off your purchase.

ps. to Emma: consignment is when the store takes the items (clothing in this case) and pays the person a percentage of the sale price of the item after its been sold. Resale, on the other hand, is when the store offers the person either cash or trade credit for the items.