Quick Answer
To sell used baby and kids' gear in Ottawa, take clothes, toys and baby gear to Once Upon A Child (2016 10th Line Rd in Orléans or 471 Hazeldean Rd in Kanata), which pays cash or store credit on the spot with no appointment, or list on Fliku, Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace for more. Health Canada bans selling baby walkers, drop-side cribs, inclined infant sleep products and some other items, and you should never sell a car seat that has been in a collision. Check recalls before listing.
Babies outgrow things faster than parents can use them. By the time you have worked out how the stroller folds, your child has moved on to a bike. In a city like Ottawa, with many young families, there is always someone looking for a good used crib, a high chair or a snowsuit in a size you no longer need. The challenge is selling it safely and legally, because baby gear comes with rules that most other items do not.
This guide covers where to sell in Ottawa, what you cannot sell, how to price and how to present your items.
What You Cannot Sell
Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, Health Canada prohibits selling some children's products at all, even second-hand and even if you give them away. According to Health Canada's guidance on second-hand products, these include baby walkers, traditional drop-side cribs, inclined infant sleep products, infant self-feeding devices and polycarbonate baby bottles that contain BPA. Beyond the banned list, you should check that a product is not recalled, is not missing essential parts and meets current Canadian safety requirements. Helmets and car seats must never have been in an accident.
For car seats, Health Canada and Transport Canada say that all car seats sold in Canada must meet Transport Canada requirements and carry a National Safety Mark, should never have been in a collision, must be complete with the manual and should be checked against recall lists. Check the expiry date printed on the seat, and do not sell one that has expired. If you are unsure of the seat's history, do not sell it. Our baby gear guide covers the same rules.
Where to Sell in Ottawa
| Where | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Once Upon A Child, 2016 10th Line Rd (Orléans) and 471 Hazeldean Rd (Kanata) | Clothing from preemie to youth 16, books, toys and baby gear | Pays cash or store credit on the spot; no appointment needed |
| Independent kids' consignment and thrift shops | Clothing, toys and gear | See local guides for the latest list; policies vary |
| Fliku, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace | Strollers, cribs (if legal), high chairs and bundles | Free listing; you keep the whole price |
| Neighbourhood parent groups on Facebook | Bundles by size and quick local sales | Fast, friendly and free |
| Seasonal consignment sales | Large volumes of clothing and gear | Check for dates each spring and fall |
Once Upon A Child buys approved items in store and pays you a lump sum rather than a percentage when items sell. Offers are lower than private sales, but it is fast. SavvyMom lists consignment stores for babies and kids in Ottawa, and the Fabrick Collective guide to kids' thrift stores covers independents. Policies change, so check before you go.
What Sells Best
- Strollers and travel systems: popular brands sell within hours. Check brakes, folding mechanisms and harnesses.
- High chairs, bouncers and swings: clean and complete, with all straps and trays.
- Cribs and bassinets: only if they meet current rules, are complete and are not recalled. Never sell a drop-side crib.
- Snowsuits, boots and winter gear: huge demand in Ottawa from October to January.
- Clothing bundles: sorted by size and season.
- Toys and books: bundles by age range. See our toy selling guide.
- Bikes and ride-ons: see selling a bike in Ottawa.
Winter Gear: Ottawa's Biggest Category
If there is one thing that Ottawa families buy used again and again, it is winter gear. Children need snowsuits, boots, mittens and hats in the right size every year, and many are only worn a season. List snowsuits and boots in September and October, before the first snow, and price them reasonably. Wash everything and check zippers, seams and waterproofing. Photograph the item flat and give the size and brand. Boots are fit-sensitive, so state the size and measure the insole length if you can. Mittens and hats are best sold in bundles.
Pricing Baby and Kids' Gear
Most used baby gear sells for roughly a third to half of retail if it is in good condition, with less for older or heavily used items. Popular brands hold value better, and complete sets sell faster than single pieces. Look at current Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace listings for the same model before you set a price. For clothing, price by the bundle: "girls 4T to 5T, 20 pieces, $30" is quicker than twenty listings. For the general method, see how to price used items for a fast sale.
Before you list baby and kids' gear
- Search the Government of Canada recalls site for the brand and model
- Confirm the item is not on the banned list
- Never sell a car seat that has been in a collision or has expired
- Make sure all parts, hardware and the manual are included
- Wash or clean everything and photograph it in daylight
- State the age, size and condition honestly
- Meet buyers in a safe place and let them inspect the item
You can search the Government of Canada recalls and safety alerts site by product name and model number.
Cleaning and Presenting Baby Items
Parents want baby gear to look clean and cared for. Wash fabric parts, wipe down plastic and metal, and let everything dry fully. Remove stickers and sticky residue and straighten straps. Photograph items against a plain background in daylight, and take close-ups of any wear. A short, honest description beats a long sales pitch. For items you cannot sell, a charity shop may take clothing and toys, though many decline cribs and car seats, so phone first. See our donation guide for how charities decide.
Selling Safely
For small items, meet in a public place. For a crib or a stroller, you may be at your home, so keep the item near the door, have someone with you and take payment you can verify. Do not share your address in the listing before you have agreed on a time.
Use the Ottawa Police Safe Trade zones when you can: parking spots at Ottawa Police stations at 466 Metcalfe Street (behind 474 Elgin), 211 Huntmar Drive in Kanata, 245 Greenbank Road in Nepean, 4561 Bank Street in Leitrim and 3343 St-Joseph Boulevard in Orléans. They are not monitored around the clock and the police do not take responsibility for the transaction, but they are a far better choice than a dark parking lot. Meet in daylight, bring a friend, and confirm any e-transfer in your own banking app before the item leaves. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists current scams, and our guide to avoiding scams explains the common ones.
Strollers: What Buyers Check
Strollers are the most commonly sold baby item, and buyers inspect them closely. They test the brakes, the folding mechanism, the wheels, the harness and the canopy. Before you list, clean the fabric, wipe down the frame, lubricate squeaky wheels and check every buckle. Include the rain cover, cup holder and any adapters, because buyers pay more for a complete set. If it is a travel system, say whether the car seat is included and whether it has expired. Photograph the stroller folded and unfolded, the basket and the wheels. Popular brands can sell within hours, particularly in spring when families are out walking again.
Cribs, Bassinets and Sleep Products
Sleep products are among the most regulated items in the baby category, and many parents prefer to buy them new. If you want to sell a crib, check first that it is not a drop-side crib, which cannot legally be sold, and that it meets current Canadian requirements. Look up the brand and model on the recalls site, make sure every bolt, slat and piece of hardware is present and keep the instructions if you still have them. Photograph it assembled, state the brand, model and age and say that it is complete and not recalled. Inclined sleepers are banned, so do not list them. Mattresses are a separate question, and many parents prefer a new one.
Kids' Bikes, Ride-Ons and Outdoor Toys
Ottawa families ride, and kids' bikes are among the most sold items. State the wheel diameter, the frame height and whether it has training wheels, check the brakes and tires, and tighten loose parts. Ride-on toys, scooters, balance bikes and playsets sell well in spring and early summer. Clean plastic toys before photographing them, because clean plastic looks nearly new. For helmets, only sell one that is in good condition and has never had an impact. See our bike selling guide for more detail on pricing and safety checks.
Maternity Clothes and Nursing Gear
Maternity clothes are worn for a short time, which makes them excellent value second-hand, and parents often buy them in bundles. Sort by size and season, wash everything and photograph the bundle laid out. Nursing and feeding items need extra care. Breast pumps are generally not safe to resell because of hygiene and the way they work, and bottles and pacifiers are best sold new. Check Health Canada before listing anything that touches a baby's mouth or sleep space.
Timing Your Listings Through the Year
Baby and kids' items follow the seasons and the school year. Strollers and outdoor toys sell best in spring. Snowsuits and boots sell from September to December. Back-to-school clothing sells in August, and party and holiday items sell in the weeks before. Newborn gear sells steadily all year, because babies arrive in every month. If you are clearing out after the holidays, January is a good time to list gifts that were doubled, and clothing that no longer fits. Listing a few weeks before demand peaks puts your items in front of buyers who are planning ahead.
A final point: be patient and kind with other parents. Many people buying second-hand baby gear are stretched, tired and trying to do the right thing. A clean item, an honest description and a quick, friendly reply make the whole experience easier for everyone, and it often leads to a bundle sale, because a happy buyer will come back for the next size up.
Selling baby or kids' gear in Ottawa?
List it free on Fliku and reach local parents. No fees.
List Kids' Gear on FlikuFrequently Asked Questions
What baby products are illegal to sell second-hand in Canada?
Health Canada prohibits selling baby walkers, traditional drop-side cribs, inclined infant sleep products, infant self-feeding devices and polycarbonate baby bottles that contain BPA. You also should not sell any product that is recalled, missing essential parts or that does not meet current Canadian safety requirements.
Where can I sell used baby clothes and toys in Ottawa?
Once Upon A Child in Orléans (2016 10th Line Rd) and Kanata (471 Hazeldean Rd) buys clothing, toys and baby gear and pays on the spot, and independent consignment shops take items too. You can sell bundles for more on Fliku, Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.
Can I sell a used car seat in Ottawa?
Yes, if the seat meets Transport Canada requirements, carries a National Safety Mark, has not expired, has all its parts and manual and has never been in a collision. Check for recalls before you list it. If you are unsure of its history, do not sell it.
How do I price used baby gear?
A rough guide is a third to half of retail for items in good condition and less for older or heavily used ones. Check current listings for the same model and price slightly below the closest match. Bundle clothing by size and sell it by the lot.
When is the best time to sell kids' winter clothing in Ottawa?
September and October, before the first snow, when families are buying snowsuits, boots and mittens. List in a bundle by size and mention the brand and condition.
