Nothing Hand-Me-Down About This
Join me for a long-overdue shopping trip for my second daughter, nearly one year in.
My second daughter is turning one next month1, and I’ve only bought her one outfit. Ever.
This feels slightly uncool to admit, especially as someone who bought a new outfit for every day of the week for my first, but what else were we going to do with all those hand-me-downs? Not to mention, after making the decision two years ago to pause my career (read: single-income fam), we’ve been on a budget.
But her wardrobe wasn’t just inherited from her older sister. We were also lucky enough to be gifted pre-loved pieces from generous friends who dropped off bags or mailed boxes from their now-toddler daughters. Aside from the “coming home” outfit I purchased for the hospital and a few gifts from family, we’ve been swimming in secondhand from the moment I announced my second pregnancy.
Having another baby girl can be incredibly cost-effective and convenient in that regard, but it’s also been surprisingly emotional. Over the past year, I’ve found myself teary-eyed more than once while sorting through our stash, realizing that they no longer fit either of them. Socks the size of my thumb, bodysuits once stretched over dumpling-esque bellies, and tiny sweaters that still carry our stories in the fibers of their knits.
I’ll go ahead and put it in writing that we do not plan to have a third child, so tossing these clothes in a donation box instead of storing them “just in case” feels incredibly final. Because it is.
I can recall one moment in particular from a couple months ago: my baby asleep, my toddler at my side to “help,” and me knee-deep in bins of clothes I’d meant to sort weeks earlier. It was too late. I realized I’d missed the window to reuse one of my favorite outfits from my firstborn. And just like that, it wasn’t ours anymore. The end of an era…again. I hugged my little “helper” and made a silent vow to be more present. Everyone was right about time.
To be clear, I’m not against secondhand. And no one is cuter than a little kid in vintage. But maybe, instead of being the second one in our family to wear something, I wondered if she could finally be the first. Maybe I’d even splurge a little. We also have a photoshoot coming up (!), and if there was ever an excuse to pick up a few new things for our 10-month-old, this felt like it.
Shopping is a time consuming task for anyone, especially moms, so I figured I might as well make the most of it and turn it into a newsletter, too. So, get in, lady. We’re going shopping for my baby girl.
Ten Outfits, One Baby, Many Situations
1. Safari Chic 🦒
The situation: A mid-morning outing to the zoo with no agenda other than fresh air, a stroller walk, and the hope that no one fully loses it before lunch.
The mood: Confident but playful. We’re on an “adventure,” even if it mostly involves pointing at animals and asking for snacks.
The outfit:
2. Coffee Shop Casual ☕
The situation: A local coffee shop where everyone behind the espresso bar knows our name, ordering the usual with one hand while the other keeps my baby from spilling my cold brew…wouldn’t be the first time.
The mood: Functioning, but barely. Awake-ish. Held together by the next two cups of caffeine. Cheers!
The outfit:
3. Farmers Market Fit 🍓
The situation: Strawberry samples, repeat laps around the stalls, and at least one stop for fresh flowers.
The mood: Optimistic, and on a mission.
The outfit:
4. The 2pm Getup 🛋️
The situation: We’ve been out all day, and now we’ve got nowhere to be and plenty of time to
wasteplay. Expectations are low, the desire for comfort is high.The mood: Unhurried. Ease over everything.
The outfit:
5. Little Dog Person 🐶
The situation: Some babies go out to get fresh air, but mine goes out for the dogs.
The mood: Deep commitment to greeting every bulldog, doodle, and boxer like their new best friend.
The outfit:
6. Ballerina’s Fairy Sister 🧚
The situation: Watching her big sister twirl across the ballet dance floor while radiating big fairy magic and taking notes.
The mood: Imaginative and theatrical.
The outfit:
7. Coastal Kiddo 🏖️
The situation: Mom’s braving it to the beach with two, and vaccumming the sand out of my car is a future-me problem. For now, it’s all about jellies-to-barefoot energy, salty air, and collecting seashells by the water.
The mood: Laid-back. A little windswept, but in a good way.
The outfit:
8. Best in Play 🤪
The situation: The adults are trying to have a conversation after Stay and Play while the kids bop around like monkeys on the loose. What’s new?
The mood: Cute enough for first impressions, comfortable enough for the floor.
The outfit:
9. The Birthday Girl 🎈
The situation: A day built around her, even if she doesn’t fully grasp why. Cake for breakfast, photos on film, and at least one crying meltdown (from me).
The mood: Celebratory but tender, hearts and bellies full.
The outfit:
10. Night Shift 🌙
The situation: There’s pasta sauce on the floor, and someone definitely has the zoomies, but we’re going to look chic after bathtime no matter what.
The mood: Cozy yet slightly unhinged. Godspeed to all.
The outfit:
Thank you for window shopping with me! I know from experience that this season of dressing my daughter without debate won’t last forever, so it’s been fun (and, um, time consuming) to lean in here. Now please help me decide! Which one’s your favorite?
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March 21st, if you want to do a wellness check
Elin 😭😭 this really did it for me. Tugged at my heartstrings in the intro (the emotional labor of baby cloths is SO real!!) and then got me ready to shop for the cutesttt clothes, including some new-to-me kids brands! Unfortunately we must have those pjs.
My pro tip? Keep 10-15 of your favorite newborn outfits and then get a 20” baby doll. It’s not therapist approved but I love changing the outfits on my daughter’s giant (slightly creepy) 20” Madame Alexander doll using all her actual newborn clothes. -Signed, a mom who also decided to stop at two. Sigh. Hahaha.