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Rent - or trade - your kids' clothes online

The average amount families spend per year on each child's clothing ranges from $630 to $1,250, depending on household income and the child’s age, according to the 2010 USDA Expenditure on Children by Families report. But you could cut that expense by as much as half if you rent or trade in your kids’ clothes.  Take clothing rental site Good Karma, for example. For $47.98 per month (or $575.7
Good Karma / Today

The average amount families spend per year on each child's clothing ranges from $630 to $1,250, depending on household income and the child’s age, according to the 2010 USDA Expenditure on Children by Families report. But you could cut that expense by as much as half if you rent or trade in your kids’ clothes.  

Take clothing rental site Good Karma, for example. For $47.98 per month (or $575.75 per year), you get seven complete outfits from brands like Carters, Gap and Gymboree, plus seven sleepers and seven onesies. For $64.98 a month, you get higher-end brands like Tea Collection, Mini Boden and Ralph Lauren. There are larger and smaller packages available and sizes range from newborn to 24 months. The monthly price includes shipping.

Wooky Baby / Today

If you’d rather piece together your child's wardrobe, check out Wooky Baby. Most items are available for $8 a month — not a deal for basics, but great for full outfits, costumes and formal attire. You can also choose to purchase at a reduced price. For instance, the three-piece outfit shown here retails for $29; you can buy it for $16, or rent it for $6 a month. Sizes range from newborn to 3T.

If you want to outfit your child in high-end brands like Dior, Baby CZ and Lotusgrace for a special occasion, head over to Fanciu. There you can rent a $230 Lotusgrace purple silk party dress for $35 for four days. Like women's dress rental sites, the clothing arrives just prior to event date and must be postmarked for return the first business day after. Clothing is available in sizes 2-12.

ThredUP / Today

You can sell your kids’ like-new clothes for cash at ThredUP. They'll send you a free empty bag with a prepaid shipping label, and you stuff that bag with your kids’ old clothes and leave it for your mail carrier. There are a few catches. Clothes must have been purchased within the last two years, and you only get cash for those items ThredUP thinks it can sell. You get more for premium brands and sizes that are in demand. Plus, you can’t get your items back once you’ve sent them.

You can also purchase items at 50 percent or more off the original purchase price through ThredUP, and, while browsing, I saw a lot labeled "NWT," or new with tags. Sizes range from newborn to 18.

OutGrowingIn / Today

And if your kids actually wore their clothes more than a few times, you can swap them at OutGrowingIn. You list your boxes of clothing and every time another member picks one of your boxes, you get to pick a box of clothing from the site. You just pay $3 plus shipping.

For $24.95 per year, you can see the brand information of what's in the boxes, search by brand and set up alerts for a specific size or brand. Since you only get a box once someone else has picked yours, members have an incentive to post pictures of the box contents and provide details regarding the clothing.

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