Need to Get Rid of Baby Gear? Here’s How.

If your house is brimming with baby gear, you’re not alone. The average Babylist registry has 125 items on it—that’s a lot of bottles, bibs and burp cloths.

But there will come a time when you’ll want to part with some (or all) of that baby stuff. And whether you’re a minimalist who’s in a constant state of purging or you’re done having kids and looking to do a massive cleanout, selling your used baby gear is a great way to recoup some cash.

The baby gear resale market is booming, but it’s also finicky—and it takes a good amount of time and effort to catalog, list and sell gear and other items. Going in with a game plan and a little knowledge around what sells (and why) can help save you time and earn you the most money.

Baby Gear Resale: What You Need to Know

It can be overwhelming to look around at all the baby gear in your home and think about selling it. The process also takes some time and effort—two things that may be in short supply when you’re a parent. Before you dive in, learn some basics of baby gear resale.

Start simple

A good place to start when you want to sell your baby gear is with the big stuff. Gear like strollers, baby carriers, high chairs and playards generally sell quickly and will get you the largest return. BIG bonus points go to anything from a high-end brand name. (Think Nuna, Bugaboo, UPPAbaby, Stokke, Babybjorn etc.) Clothing is often the toughest sell and yields small profits.

A note about selling car seats: Car seat experts and manufacturers generally discourage buying a used car seat, since buyers can’t guarantee that the safety hasn’t been compromised (even the best car seats aren’t safe after a crash). So rather than trying to sell your old car seat like your other gear, you’d be better off checking to see if the manufacturer accepts trade-ins or waiting for Target’s annual car seat trade-in event. If you do choose to sell your car seat, just make sure it hasn’t been in a crash, isn’t expired (yes, car seats expire) and is in working order.

Condition matters

The condition of any item you’re hoping to sell is important, but especially when it comes to baby gear. Your gear will sell the quickest—and for the most money—if it’s well taken care of and functioning properly. It’s worth your time and sometimes even a bit of money to clean any gear you’re hoping to sell, especially higher-end items. If the item has multiple parts, be sure they’re all accounted for. And never sell anything that’s broken, doesn’t meet current safety standards or that has been recalled.

Photos do, too

This one might seem obvious, but if you’re selling your item online, it’s worthwhile to spend a few minutes taking high-quality photos. Be sure they’re clear and include both close-ups and full product shots. An uncluttered background helps, too. And be honest—if there’s a flaw with something you’re selling, don’t be afraid to show (and explain) it.

Make bundles

Smaller, lower-priced items may not sell individually—but group them into a themed bundle and things start looking up. It makes things easier on you and increases the likelihood that your stuff will sell. Examples: a few newborn swaddles; a zero to three months clothing bundle; a feeding bundle with bottles, a bottle warmer and a microwave sterilizer; breastfeeding supplies; etc.

Consider seasonality

The time of year you’re selling your gear matters, especially if you live in a seasonal climate. Don’t try to unload winter gear in June or a water table in December if you’re looking to maximize your profits.

Where to Sell Used Baby Gear

There’s no shortage of places to sell your used baby gear. These are some of the best and where you’ll likely have the most success.

• Facebook. Both Facebook Marketplace and local Facebook swap/yard sale groups are good places to list your gear. (For the latter, try asking other parents which groups they like best and then ask them to invite you in.) If you’re selling higher-end or specialty clothing, check out Facebook’s Buy/Sell/Trade Groups (BST for short), organized by clothing brand.
• Online resale marketplaces. Sites like GoodBuy Gear, OfferUp, ThredUp, and Ebay are all online marketplaces that either specialize in used baby gear and clothing or have dedicated sections for these types of items.
• Consignment and thrift stores. If you’re selling clothing, brick-and-mortar consignment and thrift stores are a good option. Just keep in mind you won’t yield a large return.

How to Price Used Baby Gear

Pricing baby gear for resale is tricky. Go too high and you’ll likely get little interest, but go too low and you could be leaving money on the table. A pricing strategy can help you maximize your profits.

In general, you should price used baby gear at about twenty to thirty percent of the original price. Keep these tips in mind:

• Always factor in an item’s age and condition. Newer + better condition = a higher price point.
• Price name-brand, higher-end items and/or gear from trending brands on the higher side. (But don’t forget that you spent a lot of money on these items to begin with—so keep that in mind when you’re considering your profits.)
• Selling something that you had to put together, like a play kitchen or an outdoor playhouse? Cash in on all of that time and effort and up the price.

It’s also helpful to do your homework when trying to figure out pricing. Pricing is often influenced by where you live, so spend some time digging on the site or group where you’re planning to sell your stuff to learn what others are selling similar gear for in your area—and to see if they’re getting any traction.

Baby Gear with the Highest Resale Value

Ready to bump up your Venmo balance? This is the baby gear with the highest resale value.

Playards and Travel Cribs

If you’re looking to unload a playard or a travel crib, you’re in luck. Both of these items are usually fairly easy to sell across all price points—and will hold their value better than some other baby gear you may have lying around. That’s because it’s pretty easy to keep a playard or a travel crib in good condition, and many parents are looking to pick up a second one either for their own use or for the grandparents’.

Two products stand out in this category: travel cribs from Babybjorn and Guava Family. These travel crib playards have some of the highest resell values of any baby gear around. They’re well-made, durable and always in demand. They’re pricey, but if you’re thinking of investing in one, know that you’ll likely get a good return.

High Chairs

Feeding kids can be messy—and expensive. High chairs are another category of gear with strong resale value. And there’s one that always leads the pack: Stokke’s Tripp Trapp. This iconic seat has been around since the 1970s. More like a piece of furniture rather than a baby seat, this chair lasts forever (literally, as it holds up to 300 pounds) and is often passed on through multiple generations, so it holds its value well. Other high chairs with strong demand and higher resale value include clip-on chairs and booster seats.

Strollers

Minus furniture, a stroller is likely the most expensive item of baby gear that many parents own. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely you’re going to recoup close to what you spent if you resell your stroller. Lots of new parents (and especially first-time parents) are pretty picky about what they want, and many don’t mind paying full price because they look at a stroller as an item of gear they’ll use regularly and for years.

But, strollers do sell (especially if they’re considered a“best stroller” pick). And if they’re priced right, they’ll sell quickly. And there are two exceptions within the category: jogging strollers and travel strollers. Assuming they’re in good condition, joggers and higher-end travel strollers tend hold their value much better than everyday strollers, especially well-known brands.

Here’s what to keep in mind for stroller resale:

• For everyday strollers, higher-end brands like UPPAbaby and Nuna will generally get you the most money and will sell the fastest. They’re expensive but hold up well, so many parents jump on them when they see them at a discount. Just remember to consider any wear and tear and price them appropriately.
• A jogging stroller in good condition will likely get you more money than a traditional stroller. When a good one pops up on a resale marketplace, it often sells quickly. That’s because jogging strollers are pricey, and many parents don’t want to commit to a brand new one before they figure out if they actually enjoy running with their child. BOB and Thule are two popular brands.
• Higher-end travel strollers like a Bugaboo or Babyzen also tend to move quickly and yield a decent profit. Many parents feel they don’t need a travel stroller, but if they come across a good one at a more affordable price, they’ll jump on it.
• Create a package deal if you can. Have a stroller + a snack tray, toddler seat, cup holder, rain cover, parent organizer and ride-along board? Bundle it all together and sell it as a package deal.

Bouncers, Baby Seats and Activity Centers

Products like bouncers, baby seats and activity centers fall into the “when you need them, you really need them—until you don’t” category. Because of this, they often move well in the resell marketplace. You won’t make a huge return on most, but they’ll usually sell quickly and easily. The one exception? The Babybjorn Bouncer. It’s a high-end item that always does well in resale, so price it accordingly.

Other High Resale Baby Gear

Bassinets can be a tough sell, minus one: SNOO. There’s an entire Facebook resale group dedicated to buying and selling this smart bassinet secondhand, The Big SNOO Buy/Sell/Chat. Baby wraps and carriers also tend to perform well, especially those from popular brands like Ergobaby, Babybjorn, Solly, Artipoppe and Tula. And don’t forget about play kitchens! If you’ve ever assembled one new, you know it’s not for the faint of heart. A preassembled play kitchen in good shape always moves quickly.