5 Best Kids Clothing Shops Near Raleigh

Best Second Hand Clothing Place to Shop ~ Name Brands, Barely Used!

1- Frog in My Pocket Consignment Sale: Frog in My Pocket has maternity clothes, toys, equipment, baby clothes and kids clothes. This sale is really awesome if you are looking for equipment! I got a stroller (that you mount your car seat on top of for $35 that retails at $70. It has great prices, it goes all weekend long, and Sunday is half priced all day! Also, new moms have early shopping times.
http://frogpocketkids.com/

2- Kids Exchange Consignment Sale is Black Friday For Mommies: It has everything you need or can imagine for kids! If you consign you get to shop early. Sundays are half priced. But keep in mind that mommies get competitive. Also, people come with self-made carts to rack up all of the things they will need until the next sale. There are things new with tags and gently used. This one had everything from couture to superstore brands.
http://kidsexchange.net/

3- Children's Orchard: This store is awesome for gently used clothes. I found a barely used flower girl dress with no stains and perfect beading. You can consign your kids' stuff for cash there. They only take stuff that is fairly recent style too so your child's clothes will be up to date!
http://www.childrensorchard.com/

4- Kid to Kid: This store is great for finding name brand clothing and gently used shoes. I found a pair of new-looking Sperry's for $8 dollars. They definitely have cute boy clothes there.
http://kidtokid.com/

5- Guardian Angel Thrift Store: I have found a great selection of baby clothes. They also typically have preemie sizes and a great selection of children's books. I also found a lot of my maternity clothes there with great prices! This is a hidden jewel for sure!
http://guardianangelthrift.org/

Places I don't recommend for kids clothing: Good Will and the thrift stores on 401 near the down town area. They take everything and a lot of the donations are more than gently used.

10 Best Inventions Known to Mommyhood

There are a few things that saved our anxiety levels and our budget so far that are all necessary to show.

1- The Angel Care Monitor: While it is expensive, we got ours hand me down and it tells us when she is breathing. Our baby was born totally healthy but there were times, like when she had RSV that we needed to hear the beeping to know she was ok in her crib alone.

2- Mommy Hook: This one was awesome because every time I need to carry groceries, clean out my car, or go pretty much anywhere I use it. It saves me from making more than one agonizing trip  when my little one needs to go down for a nap or is asleep.

3- Cloth Diapers: First, who needs bloomers when you have cloth diapers? Second, you  can get them second hand! I know that sounds weird but and you can always bleach and/or boil them. Plus, they have velcro or snaps. Third, you don't ever have to buy disposables so it helps out your budget tremendously! Lastly, you can get them in one size so they can grow with your baby!

4- A Carrier: Nix your Baby Bjorns ladies! When my little one was born I was far too overwhelmed to get to know my Moby wrap. Now that I understand it, I will forever use it on any future children. It is ultra supportive and she loved feeling that supportive hug like in the womb. Also, since she is more mobile and self supportive, we have moved up to an Ergo. These two carriers have been awesome to keep my hands free when she needs to be held and provide her with the necessary physical need while I am getting other things done (cleaning, shopping, etc.). 

5- Swaddling Blanket: We swaddled my little one until almost five months. It was the only way she would stay asleep for longer than an hour by herself in her crib. Also, when we swaddled and coslept she would not roll around in the bed. While she hated the swaddling process, she loved being in the swaddle.

6- Wubbanub: We don't go for long periods of time without this little guy. "Ralphie" the giraffe is a permanent part of my six month old's life. 

7- Receiving Blanket/Old Fashioned Cloth Diapers: This is simple but necessary. When Clara has exploded her diaper they are great to put her on to catch everything and keep the surface under it clean. There have been many times where we are at home and it happens. It is a quick catcher.

8- Johnson and Johnson's Bedtime Bath/Lotion: Every night, as part of her bedtime routine, she gets slathered with bedtime lotion. Not only is it soothing for her, it is soothing for me. 

9- Puj Baby foam bathtub: This given to us and was one of the best gifts ever. We used it until she was consistently sitting up and it fits perfectly in the bathroom sink and is supportive. 

10-White Noise Maker: This has been a God send. We live in a small apartment with thin walls and we can watch any movie without her waking up. Also it has become a sleep association so that she uses it at naps as well.

There we have it. My top ten list of things that made all the difference in our sanity for the first few months and beyond.