Alternatives to Buy Nothing for inexpensive baby items?

I am not sure if your Buy Nothing structure is similar to mine, but the page I belong to lets a person ask the community for items they are seeking. Like, "ASK: 8" flower pots."

I've asked for stuff and it's prompted people to go through their closet and get out snow pants, once-used hiking boots, etc. I don't compete with anyone, because it's my ask that is being fulfilled. 

Which buy nothing good for you in? The whole point of buy nothing is not to be first come first serve, there are some groups that are unofficial groups that do tend to be first come first serve for example, the Eastbay families buy nothing. But the local groups, should all have an emphasis on simmering and be a little smaller as a way to get more items. Like another said also encourage you to post specific asks on the group. I’m a Bay Area buy nothing admin and we have a group page so I know the admins are all about the rules and letting things simmer. Perhaps joining the OG smaller group would help. 

Second hand stores. There’s one on MacArthur near 35th St (I think it’s called Kelly’s Corner) and Mommy’s Trading Post in Alameda.

I’m active in my local Buy Nothing and there is a rule that posts have to “simmer” for 24 hours. I think it is a national Buy Nothing rule.  When people gift too fast the admins remind them. Maybe reach out to the Buy Nothing admins in your group? Also I agree with the other poster - doing an Ask also yields good results sometimes 

I would recommend using Buy Nothing more proactively and posting something like:  ISO (in search of) baby clothes 2t and 3t.  Girls or neutral clothes fine.  While it is true that sometimes people can hop on offers very quickly, the ISO posts I have done have yielded a lot of great things, from legos to winter ski clothes to more.  I would also consider writing on ads where people offered what you are looking for something like "If anyone else has other baby clothes in this size, I'm interested."  In my Buy Nothing group, people will sometimes remember that when someone offers something and tag your comment.  

If this doesn't work, consider Facebook marketplace with a longer lead time, garage sales in your community as spring approaches (esp ones that list baby and kids items), or posting a note on next door or a local FB parent group that you are looking for someone willing to partner on hand me downs.  Originally through a local facebook group, I connected with a parent whose child was just older enough that when she was ready to hand off clothes we were ready for them and she started just reaching out directly when she had a new batch. 

Finally, when I had a baby late in life a lot of my friends had already passed that stage.  But a surprising number had a box or two in the basement that they offered to me.  Might be worth extended a broader ask to people who might not live locally.  Friends from college have enjoyed seeing pictures of my little one in favorite raincoats, dresses, or outfits as they came to my daughter.  Just a few ideas.  I know it can be feast or famine and it adds up if you have to buy things (I've leaned heavily on Old Navy for those times I had to buy).

Agree with the first response and would add that if you’re not on a more local group you should try to find one. I’ve found Buy Nothing East Bay Families to be overwhelming, but my neighborhood group (Bella Vista neighborhood Buy Nothing) is much more manageable and easier to give and get what you need sometimes.

Ditto the specific requests above. Also highly recommend Craigslist FREE section and Freecycle.org. If there are specific items you’re looking for, save the search and then set it to notify you so you have a chance of responding faster.  Unfortunately a lot of thrift shops don’t really deal much with second hand baby and kids items but we’ve managed to get almost everything we’ve needed (material-stuff) for free or nearly free. 

I’ve had better luck with my local buy nothing group over the larger east bay families one. Keep trying! I also think if you stay active and give nice stuff in the local group people will appreciate the effort and might be more likely to pick you or respond when you post an ISO. 

Craigslist, offer up, and the marketplace on this site are also worth checking. I’ve had better luck at consignment and thrift stores further afield, so I recommend anytime you go on a car trip somewhere, check out what they have. Once upon a child in Vacaville is a good spot. Good luck!

I've used Kidizen for used clothes and baby items and Thredup for both my clothes and baby clothes. Thredup is a bit cheaper in terms of clothes and can have some really excellent items. Kidizen sellers will usually offer discounts if you let stuff sit in your cart for a day or two. Buy nothing has been hit or miss for me. Lots of flaking, and I haven't really been able to get rid of anything on my local buy nothing group, which is kind of surprising to me!

Facebook Marketplace can be helpful, but you have to really go on there every day and save items that are similar to get the algorithm to show you stuff when it comes up.

Also, look for big garage sales! I once found some really great quality stuff at a big neighborhood garage sale in Oakland.

I use Kidizen and Poshmark to buy my kids' clothes

Mommy Trading Post in Alameda has second hand items :)

Mommy's Trading Post, Lauren's Closet and Toy Safari in Alameda have collectively saved me a small.fortune in kids stuff. They're magically all on the same block. We will make a morning out of a new park and a stop at the stores.

Are there any moms/parents groups in your area? That was a big source of free and/or inexpensive items when my kids were little. Members would offer bags of clothes, outgrown toys, etc. Some folks feel safer offering things in a closed group vs "out in the open" on facebook, etc.

I've been very happy with the BPN marketplace. I'm not sure why it wasn't on your list. You might try BPN to see if the pace is slower.

There is an app called Olio which allows you to post and see posts of people giving stuff away near you. It is mostly food oriented but has other types of items as well. I think it's more popular in SF vs. the East Bay but would be great to see more adoption in the East Bay.

Original poster here:

I’m in an OG Buy Nothing group but I think I just have a lot of competition with parents of kids of similar ages, and the simmer policy exists but isn’t really enforced (and I can’t blame our mod, it’s a lot to handle.)

My ISOs aren’t usually too successful, but maybe I’ll try again.

Thank you all for the suggestions for other options too! I’ll check those out.

Be sure to join your local neighborhood Buy Nothing (downtown, cleveland heights, etc). Those groups are much smaller than the Buy Nothing East Bay Familes, which at this point is unweidly and impossible. Also how old are your children? It helps to find someone with a kid who is slightly bigger than yours and just have a regular hand me down situation. Lots of parents are looking for an easy way to offload their stuff.

Also Salvation Army! There is a $2.99 day coming up on Jan 26. and also Poshmark and Mercari you can get great deals on bundles of clothes.

And if you are looking for misc stuff like toys and house stuff, go to the Creative Reuse Depot or several variations thereof. And I found some great toys at Dollar Tree ($1.25 for balls and matchbox cars). You can also go trolling in some of the more kid friendly neighborhoods for people with giveaway boxes. There are a ton in Berkely and in Cleveland Heights for example. 

There is also the Public Library. You can check out toys at the library (and reserve them online) like magnatiles and doctors kits and dolls and balls etc. Room to Bloom has free clothes in their pantry. And Olive's Closet children's thrift store has all items $1-$3.