Suggestions for Gearing up on Baby Gear
Erin has probably posed her question to the right group of mamas. Any suggestions for non-Big Box-baby stores? We're certain you have some:
I've recently moved to Portland, am due August 7 and am starting to hit my "nesting" phase big time (even though we don't have a house yet!). I'm looking for recommendations for great stores in PDX for nursery items-strollers, gliderm chairs, changing tables, bedding, wipes, blah blah blah. I'm trying to avoid the big stores like Babies R Us, Crate and Barrel and whatnot. God knows what would happen if my baby had a catalogue nursery (insert eye roll here). ha ha! Any suggestions are much appreciated!
I really like Segal's for Kids in Beaverton.
Posted by: Kaci | May 19, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Goodnight Room has two locations - one on NE Broadway in Portland and one in Bridgeport Village in Tualatin. They have a vast selection of unique (though sometimes pricey) nursery items. A good place for ideas at least. Tidee Didee Diaper Service also has an informal showroom with nursery furniture and lots of other items. And there's always the multitude of quality resale shops around town. If I had to do it over, I would have started there when I was pregnant with my son.
Posted by: Amanda | May 19, 2007 at 11:22 AM
I'm a big fan of Craigslist for those items you don't mind having lightly used (prob. not car seats, for example). So many baby "necessities" don't get used very much, or at all.
Posted by: christine in NE | May 19, 2007 at 11:28 AM
I totally second craigslist for changing table, rocking chair, anything for the nursery. Why pay full price for something you won't keep long?
Posted by: Zinemama | May 19, 2007 at 12:19 PM
i just discovered burlington coat factory, out at janzen beach--although the location over by washington square may have it too--has a HUGE section of baby stuff. gear, clothes, all those funny things you'd never think you need, but are nice to have (ie sunshade for stoller)and lots of discounted strollers, furniture, car seats, etc. and really, goodwill is always a good place to find clothes, shoes and books.
Posted by: deadyaya | May 19, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Segals -- hands down-- for the big stuff. Contrary to popular belief, they are not more expensive across the board. We got our crib there, as well as my upholstered glider/rocker. Prices were competitive, quality was excellent, and the customer service -- WOW. When we bought the crib, I asked what the policy was on returns. An older gent behind the counter said, "You call me" -- he's the owner. And he meant it. He helped me find a rocker that would fit up the stairs in our 1927 house (I did measure the doorways first!)
When we bought our next stroller, we went to Segals to test drive them. We wanted the Zooper Twist, but they only carried the Waltz, a higher end stroller. I knew what it was selling for on the internet. I asked, they special ordered, and it cost me the same amount as I could get on the net, but it was in the store on Monday (we went in on Saturday).
Yes, it's a pain in the butt driving all the way out there, but soooo worth it. Their staff knows their stuff.
Posted by: Susan in OR | May 19, 2007 at 02:16 PM
Segals -- hands down-- for the big stuff. Contrary to popular belief, they are not more expensive across the board. We got our crib there, as well as my upholstered glider/rocker. Prices were competitive, quality was excellent, and the customer service -- WOW. When we bought the crib, I asked what the policy was on returns. An older gent behind the counter said, "You call me" -- he's the owner. And he meant it. He helped me find a rocker that would fit up the stairs in our 1927 house (I did measure the doorways first!)
When we bought our next stroller, we went to Segals to test drive them. We wanted the Zooper Twist, but they only carried the Waltz, a higher end stroller. I knew what it was selling for on the internet. I asked, they special ordered, and it cost me the same amount as I could get on the net, but it was in the store on Monday (we went in on Saturday).
Yes, it's a pain in the butt driving all the way out there, but soooo worth it. Their staff knows their stuff.
Posted by: Susan | May 19, 2007 at 02:17 PM
Don't forget consignment stores sometimes have great stuff - usually smaller things, but swings, pack n' plays, moses baskets, bedding, toys - often you can find great stuff there. A used pack n' play, which is usually barely used anyway, will be less than 50% of what you'd pay new. My favorites for bigger items are All About Kids on NE Glisan and Just 4 Kids in Hollywood on 41st (?).
Posted by: molly | May 19, 2007 at 07:24 PM
I got my car seat, crib, and stokke highchair at Segals plus a lot of other little stuff like bibs and first aid kit and mustella bath stuff. I got my glider/rocking chair at Good Night Room. I agree about not wanting to buy at babies-r-us, but did end up getting a bouncy chair from Target during the first week of after baby madness (the whole oh-my-god-she-won't-stop-crying craziness). Target isn't that much better then babies-r-us, but at least the stuff is a little more design centric/modern.
Posted by: Emily Flippin Maruna | May 19, 2007 at 08:15 PM
i second segals. the staff is incredibly knowledgeble. they brought up several things to consider when buying a crib and twin bed - things i would have never even thought of. they will install your car seat free of charge even if you bought it elsewhere, they supply diapers in their family friendly bathrooms, and have a great selection of pretty much everything. their customer service is unbeatable
Posted by: martha | May 19, 2007 at 08:16 PM
I tend toward the thrifty side, especially watching how fast babies transition from one piece of gear to the next! So here are my tips:
First, there is a really great, large children/baby consignment sale - the next one takes place in August - called "Just Between Friends." I think you have to sign up for the mailing list to get a ticket, but it is *very* worth it. Go to http://www.portland.jbfsale.com/ for info. I was at the last sale, and there was excellent quality gear- cribs, strollers, baby gates, bouncy seats, boppies, toys, and clothes clothes clothes.
Second, I definitely recommend craigslist! I furnished my entire nursery beautifully for about $300, glider included. I got a lovely little vintage dresser for $30, changing table and matching crib for $120 (from a wealthy grandma who'd set up a nursery for her new grandchild - so the stuff was hardly used - pristine! - and she threw in all her sheets), cradle for $60 for those early days when our daughter was in our room, glider for $30 (a dutalier, no less). The only furnishings I got new were an organic cradle mattress (couldn't shake my hormonal fear of off-gassing a brand new infant), and a bookshelf/cabinet, because we needed more storage at the last minute - modular pieces at Target.
Third, if you want to feel more like you're "shopping" and don't want to hassle with craiglist, try the many, many thrift and secondhand shops. There are so many families in Portland, excellent used baby gear is everywhere!
Congrats on your new baby - my daughter was born in August last year - autumn in Portland is the perfect season to bring home a wee babe.
Posted by: Amy | May 19, 2007 at 10:31 PM
Try looking on www.etsy.com. . .and search for just about anything! Probably not for the furniture - but they have everything from vintage curtains to nursery bedding - I love it. I did the playroom in Vintage "Dick and Jane" and found almost all of it there!
Posted by: Jay | May 19, 2007 at 11:21 PM
We really enjoyed our experience at Segals. The store was quite a drive for us from SE Portland but was well worth it. What I really enjoyed was the set up of the store and the displays, everything was very spacious and not as overwhelming for the senses as the larger stores. We did purchase a full nursery set, a rocker, and bedding set, and stroller & car seat combo from them. Over a year later I had some problems while converting the crib to a toddler bed and needed replacement screws- they sent them out that same week with no additional charges.
Posted by: Nikki | May 19, 2007 at 11:58 PM
I also love Posh Baby in the Pearl. Really unusual stuff. I did not shop there when I was furnishing a nursery almost five years ago, but would have if I knew about it and had a little more cash:)
Posted by: Rosanne | May 20, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Natural Furniture is a great place to get a dresser as a changing table or a changing table, rocking chairs, bedside tables, etc, and you can use them for more than just the baby phase
Posted by: amy | May 20, 2007 at 10:55 AM
One great thing about Segals that hasn't been mentioned yet is that they have certified carseat installers on staff, so you can go in anytime and have your carseat either inspected or installed free of charge. You can even bring one in from someplace else and they will install it for free, but with such a great selection on so many things, why buy someplace else? Weekends can get a little hectic there, but still worth it for peace of mind and great customer service.
Posted by: angie | May 20, 2007 at 05:17 PM
Hey mamas, I was trying to figure out where to post a request to see if anyone has a Kettler bike seat gently used to sell me. I would like to pay under $60 for it, but mostly i just hate to buy items made of plastic new if i can reuse one instead. please email me: lisa@allenfoster.org
Posted by: Lisa | May 20, 2007 at 08:31 PM
When you're ready to paint the nursery, check out a Miller Paint store. The people know what they are talking about and they make a great low VOC paint called Acro. There is a coupon in the chinook book for buy one gallon get one free - that more than pays for the price of the Chinook book.
Posted by: meg | May 20, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Segals for Children, most definitely. We got our crib and glider there (the owner delivered it himself and even helped my husband get it upstairs, after hours!). We were given our carseat, not purchased at Segals, but they gladly installed it. I love the sales help there, and also love knowing that they never sell a product they wouldn't use on their own kids/grandkids. They're patient and extremely knowledgable on all their products, and always available when you're in there (unlike other stores..hello? anyone here?). Prices are reasonable, too. I shopped around a LOT and found them to be very competitive.
Good luck!
Posted by: Laura S. | May 21, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Segals, definitely. The products are the best, and the customer service is out of this world, and the salespeople will actually talk you out of buying something if they think you don't need it. Don't want to drive yourself crazy assembling a crib? For a pittance, their guys do it for you, in a fraction of the time it would take you, with the experience of thousands of cribs already under their belt.
And if you're interested in recycling and saving money, you're in the right town. There are lots of resale shops and events. Even though you are due in August, go ahead and get a "first time mom" pass from:
- Just Between Friends, which was held at Oaks Park this spring,
- from Pass It On, which was held at the fairgrounds in Hillsboro, I think, and
-from the Full House Moms (by members of a mothers of multiples group) resale, which was at a school on the west side - whitaker maybe?
The first time mom pass lets you in a few hours before everybody else, so you get your pick of the big items.
There was an article in Mothering, many many years ago, which talked about how much baby gear you really don't need, especially at first.
Unless you have tons of space, I'd recommend trying to acquire it as you go. Example: baby swing. It takes a lot of space, and your own baby may not like or need one. (mine did, much to my chagrin).
Posted by: catmom | May 21, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Yes, Segals is great, but all the way out in Beavo-land! Most big items you can get online with free shipping. Babybecause.com and Babyuniverse.com carry everything.
I also love the consignment stores like the children's clothing exchange on SE Division and one other one on SE 24th and Clinton (can't remember the name). These places have great clothes and baby carriers, strollers, bouncy seats, ect. There is also a new consignment store that opened up on NE Killingworth near Denver upstairs in a house and is also worth checking out. Don't forget ebay either.
Good luck!
Posted by: alice | May 21, 2007 at 09:49 PM
If you are ever in Sellwood (SE Portland) check out Sweet Peas for used clothing. Actually I have found new clothing there as well. Almost everything there is $2-$4 with the exception of some hand made specialty items. They also have maternity clothes! And they often have toys as well though that one is a hit and miss. I have found some amazing cute clothes there and their stock changes constantly. It is a consignment store so bring in all the items your little one outgrows and get store credit or cash!
Congratulations on the new addition - you'll LOVE Portland for its family friendliness!
Posted by: Melissa | May 22, 2007 at 01:51 PM
For used gear and furniture, I like Children's Exchange in SE. For clothes, slings, and cloth diapers, there is no place like Milagros in NE!
Posted by: pauline | May 22, 2007 at 03:17 PM
The Just Between Friends Children's & Maternity Consignment Sales Events are amazing. You can find anything & everything for babies, kids, maternity & nursing. They happen twice a year (usually the end of April and the end of September) and from now on they will be held at the Portland Expo Center.
This is one of the best events I can think of for parents looking for bargains to know about. Not only can you SHOP to get great deals on clothes, toys, equipment, etc. for your kids. You can also make money by SELLING (consigning) the items your kids no longer need. You can even VOLUNTEER and get into the exclusive pre-sale to shop before the general public to get the best deals. You just have to register ahead of time if you want to consign.
The next sale dates are:
Public Sale Dates: April 25-26
Exclusive Pre-Sale: April 24
Half Price Day: April 26
Location: Portland Expo Center
Once you discover Just Between Friends, you won't want to miss a sale again.
Check out all the details at http://www.portland.jbfsale.com
Posted by: Brooke | December 22, 2008 at 10:31 PM