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It's hard to know what toys a baby will like. I spent the first half of this year buying a lot of new toys that Elliot reacted to in the toy store and then didn't care about once they got home. The last straw was when I paid $20 plus shipping for this highly rated Follow Me Fred dog that she didn't--and still doesn't--like.
Thus began my foray into toy shopping at garage sales. And it has proved successful so far. Here's the loot we got this summer:
Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Twin Stroller: $5 (Retails for $80!)
This is the very first thing I picked up at a garage sale. It's a kid-sized double stroller, complete with snack tray and toy bar. It's the Cadillac of doll strollers. I got it because many little girls get obsessed with baby dolls a few months after they turn one so this is ready if that happens for Elliot. If not? That's okay, too.
Leap Frog Learn & Groove Musical Table - $4 (Retails for $45)
Unfortunately, this table did not work. I figured it needed new batteries and didn't even ask the garage sale lady if it was broken. Rookie mistake. Luckily, Elliot loves it anyway. She walks around it and plays with the various do-dads and has no idea it's supposed to light up and play music.
Zebra Rocker - $8 (Retail price unknown)
How cute is this guy?!? It's a bouncy horse-type toy. The yellow thing on the zebra's back is to hold little babies on. It comes off when she gets older and can climb off without planting her face on the floor.
Little Tikes Xylophone: $1.25 (Retails for $24)
Melissa & Doug farm puzzle: $.50 (Retails for $10)
Corn Popper push toy: $.60 (Retails for $21)
Cookie Monster saxophone: $.25 (Retail price unknown)
These smaller toys came from various garage sales. The Cookie Monster saxophone is the best. It plays jazz music and at the beginning of each song, Cookie says, "Hot cha cha!" Unfortunately, it does not have an Off button or volume control.
Little Tikes playhouse: $40 (Retails for $200+)
Near the end of the summer, I started looking for items that she would grow into during the winter and spring when there aren't any garage sales. This little house is a bit faded from the sun but in perfect condition. The kitchen inside is super cute. Right now it's infested with spiders from our backyard. I'm trying to find a place for it inside my house for the rainy winter.
Little Tikes picnic table: $15 (Retails for $50)
I just found this table over the weekend. I've been obsessively looking for one ever since Elliot ate at one my mom found at a garage sale in Montana (it stays at grandma's). This one is in spectacular condition. A few scratches on the side, but no fading whatsoever! It must've been indoors.
Little Tikes play kitchen: FREE. (Retails for $150)
Okay, I didn't get this at a garage sale. But I had to share anyway. My neighbor's friend was clearing out her garage and gave us this cute kitchen for free. She's delivering accessories (and hopefully the missing phone) next week. This is in our garage for whenever Elliot grows into it. It's in great shape, with just a few scratches on the microwave door.
GRAND TOTAL - $74 (Buying it all new: $600+ HOLY. CRAP.)
I so want that kitchen! You rock!
I found most of these items by just following G-Sale signs in my neighborhood. It pays to live in the 'burbs.
Also? Craigslist has garage sale listings.
Travis and I have looked here many times and we never get that lucky! We live in the state with the most kids per family etc..if you get my drift. By the time a family outgrows it...it goes to the grandkids! Hee hee
I love yard sales! You got a lot of fantastic things. I have two little girls, 3 and 4, they both love playing with dolls and especially pushing them in strollers. Great find!!
I also bought one of the highly rated, expensive toys that is supposed to encourage babies to crawl and neither of them really played with it.
I have been garage sale shopping for a month or two now and I found an awesome site for my area called quanticoyardsales.com, on that site it has a link to other sites of that nature for local areas all over the place! Its been awesome and I am actually buying that exact double doll stroller today, for 10 dollars not 5 but still an awesome deal! :)
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I'm so jealous - those are AWESOME! How do you find the good garage sales? The newspaper classifieds? Some other way? I need to start hitting the garage sales apparently, because I'm very impressed with your finds!