The Kids' Brands Worth Buying Secondhand This Fall

Best for: the piece you want in the photo

Boden is where you go when plain won't do. The prints are the draw, and they're printed well enough that they don't crack or fade the way cheaper graphics do.

What to look for this fall: cardigans, printed long sleeves, and anything for picture day or holiday photos. Their cardigans are the ones that photograph properly, which matters more in September than it does in July.

Why it holds up in resale: heavier fabric weight than most, and the seams are finished properly. Boden pieces routinely come in looking barely worn.

One tip: it's spelled Boden, not Bowden or Borden. Worth knowing if you're searching for it on our site.

Best for: sleep, and anything touching skin

Bamboo fabric is the whole story here. It's softer than cotton, it breathes better, and it has a stretch that makes getting a squirming baby dressed marginally less of a wrestling match.

What to look for this fall: sleepers, pullovers, and the seasonal prints. Fall and Halloween prints tend to land in September and leave quickly.

Why it holds up in resale: bamboo keeps its softness. A Kyte sleeper that's been washed thirty times still feels like a Kyte sleeper, which is not true of most fabrics.

Best for: the middle ground

Not as heavy as Hanna, not as playful as Boden, but consistently well made and there's a lot of it. Baby Gap is the brand that fills in a wardrobe rather than defining it.

What to look for this fall: pull-on pants, sweaters, and jackets. Their elastic-waist pants hold their shape better than most, which is the whole ballgame for a kid still working on buttons.