If you’re swimming in unwanted children’s toys, there’s a solution that’s good for the community and the planet, too. Photo: Eden McQuiggin.
Overwhelmed by the amount of baby stuff you “have to have”? Or do you have a small mountain of the same must-have items gathering dust in your garage?
There’s a group for you.
Buy Nothing – Baby, Children & Maternity (Wollongong & Surrounds) is a brand-new Facebook group started by Wollongong mum Eden McQuiggin.
Eden, her husband and their two kids recently arrived in town from Canberra and she was disappointed to find that Wollongong ‘buy nothing’ pages targeted at the carers of young children were thin on the ground.
She decided to start one herself.
“It’s not just for mums; it’s for dads, grandparents, anyone who wants to give their children the world but maybe can’t justify the cost,” she said.
“It’s also a great opportunity to move on good-quality items that your kids have outgrown or didn’t use.”
Eden said the value of the group went deeper than just an exchange of goods.
It can be a way to build community and support families through tough times.
“In Canberra we had incredible stories of grandparents who would have to take on care of their grandkids and have nothing,” she said.
“They would get all these wonderful resources through the group and they were able to pass those on later.
“Or you might have parents of a child with gut issues looking for a specific style of bottle or formula, and by posting on the page they connect with other parents who are going through the same thing.
“I would pick up things from people who live on my street or just around the corner, and you might not become best friends but that’s someone to wave and say hi to when you’re walking around the neighbourhood.”
It also helps reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
Eden said for new parents especially there was a lot of pressure to buy all the latest gadgets and toys – but as any experienced parents knew, kids could be fickle.
“I got my children a massive tub of Duplo and they just had zero interest in it,” she said.
“On the other hand I found a very slow-moving electric motorbike I never would have bought, but I put my hand up for it and the kids love it.
“It’s amazing how often you reach out and ask for something and so many families will say, ‘Oh, I have that sitting in the shed doing nothing’.
“The industry pushes that you need to buy all these different things to be a good parent, but that’s just not true.”
Creating a circular economy of toys, clothes and gear can also help families save a buck when the cost of living is high.
It also takes the stress out of purchasing items that are likely to be damaged or destroyed by sticky little fingers.
“If something is preloved it helps me stress less when my kids get a stain on something or drop a toy,” Eden said.
“Especially baby and daycare clothes; you know they’re going to get messy.
“It’s a great way to try things out without committing to a purchase.”
The ‘buy nothing’ concept is a global one that sprang out of an original group in the US.
The idea is to encourage people to use social media for the old-fashioned act of sharing with their neighbours.
Most buy nothing groups are only limited by location, but Eden said there was merit in having a group dedicated to maternity, babies and kids.
“Families are spread across regions and in that birth-to-five age there are so many things you’ll need, use intensely for six months or so and then it’s just sitting in your house,” she said.
“This is a place to try out different solutions, to hear from other parents and rewrite the way we have been taught to think about what our babies need.
“You can take it slow, ask questions, figure out what works for your parenting style and your children – and if you do buy something you didn’t need someone else can use it.”
Eden said the group would be moderated in a hands-off way, to keep listings honest and the conversation positive and caring.
If you’re keen to bag some freebies – or offload some unwanted kit – join the group here.
