It’s a joy to see your child grow up, as they graduate from a baby bouncer to a bike. But they go through a lot of gear in the process—a large expense considering the limited use they get out of most of it. Fortunately, buying used or leasing high-quality baby gear is easier than ever—not to mention, much eco-friendlier than buying new—and you can find cribs, strollers, baby clothes, and baby rockers in a variety of brands and designs at a fraction of the price. We spoke with some local companies leading the way in the used gear market to help you navigate buying used, leasing, and more.
UnaUna
Inspired by a conversation with other NYU Stern MBA students, UnaUna founder Aaron Rozzi wanted to cut some of the high costs of raising a family. UnaUna, an online company which launched this past spring, is based on a sharing economy-style premise. Unlike many other used baby gear companies UnaUna —which means “hermit crab” in Hawaiian and represents a baby outgrowing its “shell”—allows customers to lease brand new and used baby gear and furniture at largely discounted prices. The store offers strollers, cribs, dressers, and mattresses with plans to continue expanding its inventory of brands and items. All leases range from 1-4 years, and to fit families’ budgets and time, UnaUna has a variety of flexible payment options. In addition, UnaUna offers more personalized options like a baby gift registry and a request form for specific baby gear. When families are finished with a product, they can return the item back to UnaUna, where it will be inspected, cleaned, and re-listed for the next family. unauna.com
ReCrib
Founded in 2001, ReCrib is an online marketplace that specializes in helping parents buy and sell gently used baby and kids gear such as high chairs, large toys, dressers, bouncy seats, bicycles, and strollers from the best brands on the market. Daniel and Michelle Lehmann, the husband-and-wife founders of ReCrib and parents-of-two, were moving apartments and cleaning the out their closets when they discovered baby furniture still in perfect condition. They were interested in selling two cribs but found that there was no go-to marketplace for used baby gear, which sparked the idea for ReCrib. When an item sells on the site, ReCrib receives a 20 percent commission and the rest is yours to keep. To sell or purchase an item, families simply create an account online and then can search for an item by brand or zip code. A key feature of this online service is that items are listed for a maximum of 30 days, which means the offerings are always current. The company is rapidly expanding its services across the United States, and recently began servicing Los Angeles. recrib.com
Little Swappies
Founded by NYC mom Lauren Patterson, Little Swappies is a community where gently used baby and kids clothes, books, and toys are exchanged at swap events throughout the Tri-State area. Her mission is to give parents a feeling of understanding that their gently-used items are going to a good family. Patterson hopes to dispel the illusion that used clothes, for kids and babies, are “gross.” The swapping events are held about every two months, and feature different themes and partner stores. Admission tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. In the first hour of the event, after dropping off the minimum of eight gently-used items that will be hand-checked for quality, attendees can mingle with other families. Food and drinks are provided for adults, and activities like face-painting and free babysitting are available for the kids. When the space has been organized—with an orderly “boutique feel”—guests can browse goods and pick up to 20 items as well as shop the partner store that is present. Seasonal items like winter coats or winter boots and costumes for Halloween are some of the most coveted used gear. Leftover goods along with items that are not of re-sell quality will be recycled by Little Swappies. Check out their website for information on purchasing tickets and upcoming events. littleswappies.com
Skiptee
Skiptee, whose name is a play off of the Icelandic word for “trade,” is an online used baby gear store that launched last fall. Co-founder and father Michael Katz wanted to create a sophisticated marketplace where high-quality used items are bought and sold through easy, secured transactions. Skiptee prides itself on putting every piece of baby gear through a rigorous checking and cleaning process, which Katz compares to the process of certified pre-owned cars. The service is also convenient, as users simply schedule a time for their gently used items to be picked up, free of charge. After the item is taken off the family’s hands, and it has passed the checking process, users will receive credit that can be used for Skiptee purchases anytime. While the store sells mainly used gear, with car seats and strollers among the most popular items, many of the items are also brand-new, as items may come from baby showers and birthdays that were simply never used. If a customer can’t find an item, he or she can request the baby gear online. Skiptee plans on expanding its services beyond the Tri-State area and hopes to include bikes and sports equipment in the future. skiptee.com
