Shopping for growing boys and girls can be a costly endeavour, especially if you’re buying new clothes and shoes every few months. Parenting blogger and yoyomama.ca founder Annemarie Tempelman-Kluit shares her insights on the city’s best consignment shops where thrifty parents can find gently used kids clothes, toys and books for less.
Located near Fraser and Kingsway, Reruns has been around for almost 15 years. It’s kind of a classic kids shop in Vancouver; they stock a few new items and really good quality used clothing for newborns up to about 12 year olds. They also have a great selection of second hand toys, board games, book and DVDs.
MacGillycuddy’s has been around for more than 30 years in the Dunbar area and it’s one of those resources every Vancouver mom and dad should know about. Well established and well regarded, the shop specializes in high-end baby and kids clothing. Aspiring style stars will love the fashion-forward French designer clothing and shoes. The shop also carries pre-loved toys, books and other baby necessities; I actually picked up my crib there!
You probably don’t want to buy a $400 bike every year, right? Sports Junkies is a great place to pick up used sporting equipment if your kids are trying different activities all the time. It’s a helpful resource for parents who don’t want to buy brand-new gear every year, especially if your kids are growing out of their skates every few months! The well-regarded shop is definitely not “junky” (despite the name) and carries new and used equipment for biking, skating, hockey, golf and more.
Beansprouts on Main Street is another great neighbourhood kids shop that stocks a good mix of old and new. On the new side, they carry Tea Collection and a variety of harder-to-find labels and good quality brands with a European feeling such as Miou Kids, Winter Water Factory and Molo Kids. They also have a nicely curated collection of consignment shoes and clothes for boys, girls and babies.
Boomers and Echoes in the Westview Shopping Centre is another spot that’s well regarded in the community – a classic North Van consignment store selling quality new and used products that have been checked over. When it comes to second-hand clothes, you’ll see items for newborns up to eight year olds, as well as some maternity wear. In the new section, the focus is on a lot of eco-minded products for environmentally conscious parents. The shop also offers a gift registry and rents out equipment like car seats and strollers, which is great if you’re babysitting for the weekend.