Consignment shops featuring baby and maternity items abound in our area. You will be buying very nearly new items, and it is easy to update your basics with a few knockout items without breaking the bank. Additionally, maternity consignment is a good way to recycle clothes you don’t want to save for a future pregnancy or know you won’t wear again.

Following is a list of resources for buying and selling pre-owned children’s and maternity clothes. If you are interested, call to confirm that the store is accepting items for consignment. Some accept items by season, and others only take items as needed.

A Wee Change
(925) 930-8442
1555 Palos Verdes Mall, Walnut Creek
Brand name apparel and gear for children up to 12 and maternity clothing on consignment. Dance wear, dress-up wear, new and unique gift items and toys. Consignment hours are by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

Baby & Kids
(925) 686-0660
1637 Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill (near Melo’s Pizza)
This small storefront is located in an unremarkable strip mall, but despite the drab parking lot, they had surprisingly cute baby clothes. I found some good deals on nearly new items from Zutano, as well as brand new items like tights and socks.

Bearly Worn
(925) 945-6535
1619 North Broadway, Walnut Creek (across from library)
This children’s and maternity resale store offers good prices for mid- to high-end brands of children’s clothing, and a small selection of maternity clothes on consignment. It’s a small space jam-packed with “treasures.” The items there are in great condition. You might also browse through their small selection of gear, such as car seats and strollers.

Berkeley Parents Network
http://parents.berkeley.edu (notice no “www”)
Almost every mom I talk to who is familiar with the Berkeley Parents Network is a huge fan of the site. There is a great deal of information on this community site, posted bulletin-board style by topic. You can sign up to receive weekly newsletters, one of which includes a buy and sell component.

Child’s Play
(510) 653-3989
5858 College Avenue, Oakland
Children’s and maternity resale clothes, plus toys, furniture, and baby equipment, including walkers and booster seats. According to one mom, they have quite a large used toy selection.

Crackerjacks
(510) 654-8844
14 Glen Avenue, Oakland
Crackerjacks is an established children’s consignment store that also offers a huge selection of new and used maternity clothes. The store purchases used clothes outright, giving the seller 50% of the used selling price.

Craigslist
http://www.craigslist.org
If you haven’t yet discovered Craigslist, then you are in for an online treat. Craiglist is a community website that, among other things, is a great spot for buying and selling baby and maternity stuff. (You can also search for a new job or get a new apartment, but that is beyond the scope of this article.) There is a search component of the site that allows you to quickly search sellers in your area that might have just what you are looking for. You can also post a “wanted” ad and have people respond to you.

Maternity XChange
http://www.maternityxchange.com
Maternity Xchange is a “mobile maternity consignment shop.” Once you register on their site, there are various dropoff areas to bring your clothes. The sales also revolve in locations around the Bay Area, and so you can wait for the location closest to you. They also carry a small amount of new baby clothes, diaper bags, and baby blankets at discount prices and made mostly by local designers. Consignors receive 50% of selling price, and you’ll have the choice to donate your clothes to charity or take them back if they don’t sell for four consecutive sales.

Small-Fry Shoppe
155 D Railroad Avenue
Danville CA 94526
925.838.8885
[Relocated behind Pascal's in Danville] This friendly children’s consignment shop has a great selection of very clean, good brand clothing, toys, books, videos, shoes, etc. The store offers a 50% split to consignors, and they ask that you bring clothes freshly laundered (duh) and laid out flat, not folded (oh!). They are an "all-brands" store, with condition being the important factor.

Snickerdoodles
(925) 820-4956
442 Hartz Avenue, Danville
This consignment shop carries high end kids’ clothing and maternity wear. Brands include Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity, as well as Motherhood Maternity. Call for an appointment to consign. They also may carry consigned baby furniture, car seats, toys and games, etc, but my impression is that they focus on clothing.

They Grow So Fast
(925) 283-8976
3413 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
This children’s and maternity consignment shop has a large selection of well-organized high-end brand name clothing. The owner is selective and you will need an appointment in advance to consign your items.*Bonus: It shares a building with the kids’ haircutting salon, Ponytails, and is in the same complex as Paw Prints, a business that will imprint your child’s hand and footprints into plaster as a special keepsake.

Waddle and Swaddle
(510) 540-7210
1677 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
http://www.waddleandswaddle.com
This boutique and resource center mainly carries new items, but they also carry one rack of pre-owned baby clothes for sale at a good discount. Some of the brands they had when I looked were Janie and Jack, Gymboree, and Gap, though I’m sure it’s hit or miss, depending on the day. There is also one rack of used maternity clothes for sale.