How to Save Money on Maternity Clothes

Having 4 kids I know that maternity clothes are expensive.  And we wear them for such a short period of time so here are some of my favorite tips to spending less on maternity clothes!

• Look for non-maternity: My favorite outfit during my last pregnancy was a pair of stretchy track pants that were not maternity.  The stretchy material bounced back and I could still wear them after the baby even started taking her first steps! Look for t-shirts that can stretch with your baby bump and spring back once that baby is in your arms. In the summer time Maxi dresses and loose tops can see you through your entire pregnancy and beyond.

• Avoid the Hype: Most women will wear maternity clothes for just a few short months.  Spending hundreds of dollars on clothes that you will wear so little isn’t necessary.  Stores like Motherhood Maternity have adorable outfits but do you really want to spend that much?  To me, pregnancy has been attacked by marketers.

They tell you it’s “Maternity Clothing” and make you think you HAVE to buy clothing that is labeled that way to ensure your baby is born healthy.  Not true.  Buy clothes that will fit WITH you.  Some of the maternity clothes I did have were not as comfortable as my elastic waist pants from the non-maternity parts of the store.  You really don’t need any special underwear or pajamas.   Getting inexpensive ones in a size larger usually works well and is a lot less expensive.

• Look for Hand-Me-Downs:  Why not take advantage of a deal because someone else fell into the Hype of Maternity clothes?  Many soon-to-be Mom’s will buy lots and lots of maternity clothes, wear them a few times, and then sell them via Cragislist.  Facebook groups/Marketplace or consignment stores are another treasure trove.  You can often pick them up for as low as $3-$5 a piece !   I’ve passed all my maternity clothes on to my sisters – we now have a maternity clothes box that will go to whomever is expecting the next baby (NOT ME!).  That person will store it when they are done until the next one needs it. Any stained or too old clothes are removed and any new pieces are added once the baby is born.

• Recoup your Money: If you don’t have a family member or friend to pass any maternity clothes you did purchase on to  – then sell them when you are done.  Of course if you plan to have more children in the near future- keep them so you aren’t buying NEW maternity clothes!

•  Check the Maternity Dept. of Major Retailers: Target and Old Navy had amazing maternity departments- in-store and online. In fact my favorite maternity shirt was one from Old Navy!  You aren’t going to wear these pieces for years and years so having high end quality isn’t as important as good jeans (unless you are a serious fashionista).

• Don’t Overstock: Every pregnancy is so different.  With my first I wore “regular” clothes for a long long time.  With my fourth child- by 11 weeks I needed stretchy waist pants!  For my first pregnancy I had SO many clothes because I went overboard. I wore each piece just a few times, by my fourth child I learned my lesson and followed the tips above and spent a lot less money.

• Go Classic: Look for classic pieces that can transition through the season (as it gets warmer or cooler). You can throw a sweater over a stretchy plain t-shirt if it gets chilly.  Wear a open cardigan over it.  Use jewelry and scarves to dress up plain pieces. This way you can keep them for any other future pregnancies.