LA Kids Consignment Sale

Xmas came early this year. There is this thing called LA Kids Consignment sale that happens twice a year in LA. It's a phenomena that moms take seriously. This year's fall sale had 450 families' stuff for sale. The lady who runs this staffs it with volunteers. Consignors and volunteers get first crack at stuff at a presale. The general public gets to buy stuff at least a day later. For young babies who only keep the same gear for 3 months maximum, this is the way to go. I got about every toy (there were literally 2 things I didn't find) Myles needs and/or will want from now til February. March is the next sale, so I plan to turn around and sell back anything he's grown tired of at that time and get him the next half year's provisions.

I'm posting this not just for friends and family - I'm hoping that anyone googling this sale can find this and have a good idea going in what they can get. Additionally, any new mommies who are planning on shelling out cash on all new stuff - do yourself a favor - don't! Certain things you should never buy used: car seats, cribs and anything sanitary that's hard to wash or undesirable to get used. The rest is up for grabs. Babies change more in their first year than adults do in a whole decade between age 30 and 40! They are in and out of stages so fast your head will spin, not to mention emptying your pockets.

This is a picture of pretty much everything we got at the presale.

Including these two big activity center toys that will be his Xmas presents. I've hidden them outside in my office (as if Myles cares) and we'll bring them out at xmas. I've seen the Leapfrog Laugh and Learn table around a lot, but I wasn't hip to the doctor's office styled maze cubes until a couple of other mommies told me how much their kids like them, and for years and years. The other toys are being parceled out a bit at a time. Mark said no more than 1 a week, but some he's not even ready for anyhow, so they are buried in the toy chest until whenever.

The prices on these things were amazing. I'd pre-researched what I wanted to buy (got to see all the stuff the night before the presale when I volunteered) but when I got home with the stuff, I re-researched and it appears that on average, I got most things for a third of the retail price. The Leapfrog table is about $49 - I got it for $12. The doctor's office cube is $75-$90 - I got it on the high end for $25. And that was only because the other 11 for sale were gone by the time I got there on the 2nd shift of the presale. First shift dibs were given to those who volunteerd for two shifts, or those who consigned and volunteered an additional shift. Had I been allowed into shift 1, there were several of these from $15 to $17. Still a steal - solid wood toy that'll last for as many as 4 years, in terms of both durability AND interest.

This Fisher Price toddler rocker cost $13.

Infantino spinning top - $3, regularly $15

Vtech baby cell phone is $39. Mine was $4.50

$22 (new) Mozart Munchkin cube was $4

Vtech Driver $21 new, was $4

Infantino Activity Triangle $23 - I got it for $6

I also got a couple of crib bumpers for half price on Sunday (last day of the sale is half price), although only clothes and linens are still around on Sunday. The place gets cleaned out quickly! Didn't find a halloween outfit, but they have all sort of cribs, strollers, changing tables, toys and everything else you'd ever want. Great, great sale. Angelenos, get on the mailing list at www.lakidsconsignment.com

I'd already done some shopping on Craigslist in the past, but this is a one-stop shop. No back and forth with a bunch of sellers.

And Myles LOVES his new steering wheel. Out of everything, it was the only toy he saw that day. Went immediately to it and starting honking the horn and smiling, so we've hit a home run. It's great because he wasn't that interested in sitting up before. He could do it, but unless you sat with him and turned on a kiddie tv show, he wasn't interested in sitting up and would keel over intentionally to a more comfy position. Now, I put him in a wide-legged sit, and he'll sit alone, unsupported with the steering wheel for awhile.