Anyone raising children knows how quickly perfectly good clothes can become too small. Buying secondhand can be a smart way to stretch a family budget, particularly when many shirts and jeans are barely worn before they are outgrown. In 2026, the National Retail Federation reports that K-12 families expect to spend an average of $250.29 on clothing and accessories and another $174.01 on shoes. National Retail Federation That makes used kids items tempting, but some purchases carry risks that a bargain price cannot reveal.
