Affordable Maternity Clothes- Save Money and Stay Stylish
We have baby number three on the way and the time has come for me to pull out my faithful maternity clothes. But after two previous pregnancies, some of my favorites are looking a bit worse for the wear. Whether this is baby #1 for you or #12 (Congratulations either way!), you’re probably needing to update the wardrobe too. Here are the best ways to save money and find affordable maternity clothes!
Make a Plan
“Affordable” maternity clothes are clothes that are reasonably within your means.
Take an honest look at your budget and see what money you have for maternity clothes. If you have $200 to spend, that wardrobe will look differently than if you had $1,000. Ignore Instagram and find what makes sense for YOU financially. Once you have your numbers, get committed to following these few tips:
- If you don’t love it, leave it. Your body is going to change A LOT during pregnancy and for most of us, that can already be hard emotionally. You want to feel like YOU in your clothes, especially as your body and your world is changing. Even if it is 1,265% off, if you don’t love it, don’t buy it.
- Think practically about what you need. You don’t need 12 different t-shirts with cutesy pregnancy sayings (unless that’s your thing). You need pants you feel comfortable in, tops that make you feel pretty, tanks and shorts that help you beat the heat (if you’re having a summer baby), and some cozy, around the house clothes. Most jackets and coats can be worn open over your bump and odds are, you already have loads of accessories.
- Plan a maternity capsule wardrobe where you can mix and match what you get. Think beauty and utility.
- Avoid Shein and Temu. I tried Shein first pregnancy and the clothes did not last. One pair of pants ripped along the side on the first wear. Since then, I’ve also found out that there are high traces of toxins in their clothes as well. Save money and keep you and your baby healthier by staying away.
Especially if it’s your first pregnancy, shop your closet first.
For your first baby, it’s probably going to take quite a while before you start to show. This means that you’ll probably be able to get away with non-maternity wear at least through the first trimester. Try to have things in mind though that will help you if one day you wake up and you can’t stand anything touching your stomach.
Take a little bit of time and look through what you already have to find your baby doll tops, flowy tanks and comfy, stretchy pants. If you have maxi skirts, wear them high at your natural waist and utilize your dresses too. You’d be amazed how far dresses and skirts can take you into a pregnancy.
**To save the most time & the most money, shop online at Thredup**
I promise this will be worth it all. Just go ahead and shop at ThredUp. As great as some of the other tips will be, this will be the easiest way to save money on maternity clothes. ThredUp is an online thrift store that has thousands of maternity clothes options in just about every style for every occasion. Both pregnancies, this is where the bulk of my maternity wardrobe came from and it was WAY EASIER than scouring the entire internet hoping to find things I liked and could afford. Not only are the clothes already at a great price point (and you can even search clothes by brand and by the condition you want, like new with tags or excellent), but most of the time they have a sale going on on top of it all. If you use my link here, then you’ll also get another 45% off and free shipping on your first order. Save yourself a lot of hassle and just check it out.
Poshmark is another great online thrift app that offers options for maternity wear, but sometimes they can still be pricey depending on the seller.
Clothes Mentor also has online maternity options available.
Check your local consignment & thrift stores for an affordable maternity clothes section.
I’m going to be honest and say that this can be a hit or miss. But, one of my favorite thrift stores in my area actually has a maternity section and the clothes are $3 a piece. Ot, just hit up Goodwill and look for high waisted dresses, maxi skirts, baby doll tops, and size up in other tops. It’s also pretty easy to spot maternity jeans on the rack in goodwill. Just look for that oh-so-alluring tummy panel.
A lot of consignment retailers like Once Upon A Child or Clothes Mentor also have affordable maternity clothes available at their in-store locations. Just call your local store ahead of time and make sure that they have a maternity section.
Check your local mom’s groups!
Whether it’s a FB mom’s group or an in person mom’s group at your local church, odds are there’s a woman in your circle who is done having kids or kind of tired of some of her maternity clothes. Put your feelers out there and ask if anyone is ready to part with their old maternity clothes. You never know!
Host a maternity clothing swap party.
There’s no better way to get new-to-you clothes than by spending some time with other women you love. Invite everyone to bring a side-dish and their maternity wear that they don’t need or want anymore. Have fellowship and fun and find clothes that you like. It’s a win-win, really.
Check your local Buy Nothing groups.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Check your local buy nothing on Facebook. (You may also come across a lot of used baby gear that could save you some money as well! One of my friends did this and they got practically everything they needed for their baby.)
Head on over to Facebook Marketplace.
A lot of times, women will try and sell their entire maternity wardrobe at once. If the lot looks like it’s your style and it’s in your price point, this a great way to get a lot of stylish, affordable maternity clothes for a little money. Just make sure you ask questions first: Any rips or stains? Non-smoking home? Etc.
For the best deals on NEW maternity, shop online and off-season
What season will it be in 9 months when you’re about to have this baby? Whatever time of year it is, I promise you this, those clothes are online and on sale right now. Go to the retail website and then either search the clearance or go into maternity and sort by sleeve length (short or long sleeve) to find whichever season you need. You can also sort the prices from low to high to make sure you find the best deals.
For baby #2 , I got some basics online from the clearance section of Maurices maternity line. I’m talking prices as low as like $4. Head to Walmart’s Maternity Shop, Old Navy maternity, or GAP maternity. Also check out Kohl’s maternity, Macy’s maternity and see what you can find.
