Used kids clothes and consignment sales in the East Bay

While some kids clothes get worn right down to the threads, many are hardly touched. Snow pants, button down shirts, and newborn gowns are among the items that tend to be worn only a few times before they are too small. Hence, a resale marketplace is a wonderful thing, and in the East Bay, we have many options.

Here are eight opportunities to get involved in the used kids clothes and gear ecosystem. If I missed any stores or swaps that you love, please add them in the comments:

Peace, Love, Swap, whose photo is shown above, next takes place on March 18 at the Head Over Heels gymnastics center in Emeryville. The cost to get in is $5.00 in advance or $7.00 at the door, plus stuff to swap. You bring stuff between 11 am and 12 pm and the swapping begins at 12.30 pm. Questions? Here are answers.

Hannah’s on Solano. This resale shop is located in a kid-friendly destination in North Berkeley next to Cactus Taqueria, Zachary’s Pizza and Pegasus Books. In addition to used kids clothing, Hannah sells new raingear and gift items like tutus and small toys. Bring your cleanest hand-me-downs to offer up for store credit or cash.

Ruby’s Garden on Telegraph Ave in Temescal. This boutique has a hip aesthetic, and more new stuff than used, but still offers access to some lower-priced barely worn items. They will buy some of your gently used clothing for store credit only. Bonus: easy parking and proximity to Bakesale Betty’s.

Grove Street Kids on Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley offers a large selection of well-curated used clothing for kids and pregnant women. The owner will also buy back your high-quality cast-offs for store credit or cash. She also offers a small selection of gift items.

Twins By the Bay Annual Garage Sale. The date for this has not yet been announced, but last year it took place in May, so keep your ears open. I’ll announce it here on 510Families.com when it gets scheduled.

Berkeley Parents Network is a great place to list and find bundles of clothes. Putting them into collections by size makes the most sense, for example “Boys clothing size 6.” If you are open to receiving a package of hand-me-downs sight unseen, also consider online marketplace ThredUp.com where you can send off a box of stuff such as “Mostly Tops”, “Mostly Bottoms” to someone who wants it and receive a new one. Details are here.

The Twin Valley Mothers of Twins Club’s Used Clothing & Equipment Sale is held twice a year (next event on March 10) and features items from approximately 200 sellers. If you’re looking for maternity wear, clothing for newborns to teen, car seats, single and double strollers, swings, bouncy seats, baby carriers, cribs, high chairs, safety gates, this is your mega resource, for one day only at the Alameda County Fairground in Pleasanton. All items offered for sale go through a quality control process, so it’s like a fancy garage sale. More details here.

Kindercycle hosts swaps for baby clothing and gear, sometimes specifying 0-2 and sometimes a broader age range. The venue rotates, so signing up for her email list will keep you in the loop. Next swap for Kindercycle is Sunday March 18, 2012 from 3pm – 5pm at the South Berkeley Senior Center 2939 Ellis Street (at Ashby); AGES: Newborn – 6 year olds PLUS maternity clothes.

What did I miss?