How to buy second-hand baby clothes and bundles online in Australia

To buy second-hand baby clothes and bundles online in Australia, shop by the size printed on the label rather than by age, read every photograph and the condition wording before you pay, wash everything before the first wear, and check that any nightwear still carries its fire hazard label. For a shipped order, pay through a platform that holds your payment until delivery is confirmed or a confirmation window ends, so you are not sending money to a stranger first.

Babies outgrow clothes quickly, which makes second-hand buying practical. It works well when the listing is clear and the buyer knows what to check.

Where to buy, and what to compare

Wherever you shop, compare how payment works, who pays the fees, how postage is handled and what happens if the parcel does not arrive. On Gettit, baby clothing has its own category, with separate places to browse baby clothing, sleepwear and the wider kids’ clothing range. A seller may be an individual member rather than a shop, which affects the rights you have, covered at the end of this guide.

Sizing: age, height and the label

Baby sizes are given by age, by height or by a code, and brands do not all measure the same way. The same printed size can fit differently from one brand to the next. Three habits take the guesswork out.

• Use the size on the label as the starting point, and ask for a photo of the label if the listing does not show one.
• Ask for a measurement, such as length or chest width, when you are buying for a specific child.
• For a bundle, check that every piece is in the size the title says, because mixed bundles are common.

Buying a size up for the next season is a common choice, which is another reason to look at measurements rather than the age on the tag.

Reading condition

Product Safety Australia tells second-hand buyers to check listing information, photographs and reviews carefully, and to make sure they understand descriptions such as ‘as new’, ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘fair’ or ‘used’. If you are not sure what a word means, ask the seller to clarify before you buy. Its own worked example describes a buyer who did not look at every image the seller provided and found visible damage only after the item arrived (see the ACCC’s second-hand buying guide).

Ask questions in the platform’s chat. A seller who answers plainly about a flaw is giving you the information the ACCC says buyers should look for.

Washing second-hand clothes

Wash second-hand baby clothes before the first wear and follow the care label on each piece. If a label is missing or unreadable, choose a gentle wash and check the first garment before washing the rest. Washing does not repair damage or restore a missing nightwear label, so run the checks above first.

Safety rules for children’s clothing

Children’s nightwear is covered by a mandatory standard, so it is the item to check most carefully. The nightwear for children mandatory standard applies to safety testing and labelling of nightwear in sizes 00 to 14 unless stated otherwise. It covers items such as pyjamas, nightdresses and nighties, nightshirts, dressing gowns, bathrobes and infant sleep bags with sleeves or arm openings. Nightwear in the covered range is classified into one of four categories, and each category needs a fire hazard label. Categories 1 to 3 need a low fire hazard label and category 4 needs a high fire hazard warning label.

What that means when you buy second-hand nightwear:

• Look for the fire hazard label on the garment, and ask for a photo of it if the listing does not show it.
• Read which label it is. Product Safety Australia says not to buy nightwear labelled with high fire danger if your child will be near open flames and heat sources.
• Remember that a low fire danger label does not mean fireproof. The guide says garments with a low fire danger can still be flammable and no nightwear is fireproof.
• Choose well-fitting nightwear, because loose-fitting nightwear has a higher risk of catching fire.

These points come from the regulator’s children’s nightwear guide. The standard also lists garments it does not cover, such as baby wraps and swaddles and tee-shirts or leggings that are not sold as nightwear, so check the specific item against the page if you are unsure. The guide also lists related recalls, including a wearable blanket and a baby snowsuit, so it is worth searching the regulator’s recalls database for the brand.

What a bundle listing should show

A bundle is easy to misread, because one pretty photo can hide a mix of sizes and conditions. A good bundle listing shows:

• The size, and the number of pieces, in the title
• The brand of each item, or the main brands
• A photo of the whole bundle and a clear photo of each piece, or a flat lay where every item is visible
• Close-ups of any stain, wear or repair, with the flaw described in words
• The size label on at least a few pieces, and the fire hazard label on any nightwear
• A condition word for the bundle, and a note on any item that is in worse condition than the rest

Gettit’s community guidelines ask sellers to use their own photos of the actual item and to describe faults, wear and missing parts. If a bundle listing falls short of that, ask for more photos before you buy, or report the listing.

Postage on shipped orders

On Gettit, shipping is carried out by Australia Post. The seller gets a prepaid, tracked label, and the buyer pays for postage, with the cost shown before they pay. Baby clothes usually travel in a satchel: small satchels suit light flat items, medium satchels suit clothing and shoes, and large satchels suit bulkier soft items or a few garments. A genuine Australia Post satchel is one flat price for anything up to 5 kg. The FAQ on satchel sizes has the detail. When you buy a bundle, check that the seller has picked a satchel that suits the number of pieces.

The held-payment flow

On a shipped order, you pay through Gettit and the payment is held, not sent to the seller. The seller ships with the prepaid label. When the parcel arrives, check it against the listing and tap confirm. If you do not confirm and do not raise an issue within the 48-hour confirmation window after Australia Post’s delivered scan, the order completes and the seller is paid. If something is wrong, raise a dispute before the window closes, while the payment is still held.

The buyer pays the item price, postage and a buyer protection fee of 7.5% of the item price plus $1.50. Gettit Protection is Gettit’s own purchase guarantee for shipped orders paid through the platform. Gettit Protection covers an item that does not arrive and an item that is materially not as described, up to the amount you paid. It does not cover change of mind, or minor variations that are consistent with a used item and its stated condition. That is why a clear listing matters: the description is what ‘as described’ is measured against.

Free local pickup is different. It has no fees, but it is paid directly between members and is not covered by Gettit Protection. For baby gear that you collect, read how to buy second-hand baby gear safely, and if you are the one selling, see how to sell baby clothes online.

What the law does and does not cover

Product Safety Australia states that most consumer guarantees do not apply to private sales between two people where the seller is not a business, including sales made through online marketplaces. The only guarantees that apply are title to the product, undisturbed possession, and no hidden debts or charges. Under the Australian Consumer Law, consumers have a right to a remedy when a business seller fails a consumer guarantee. Gettit is a venue that connects buyers and sellers. It is not the seller, and it does not own, store, inspect or authenticate the items listed.

Gettit facts

Sources

1. Product Safety Australia (ACCC), Buy safe second-hand products online, on consumer guarantees in private sales, reading condition terms and what to check before buying. productsafety.gov.au
2. Product Safety Australia (ACCC), Nightwear for children mandatory standard, on the garments covered and the fire hazard labels. productsafety.gov.au
3. Product Safety Australia (ACCC), Children's nightwear guide, on fire hazard labels and well-fitting nightwear. productsafety.gov.au
4. Product Safety Australia (ACCC), Search consumer product recalls. productsafety.gov.au