When Jen Kinka was in the throes of motherhood, she was looking to solve a few issues.
First, she needed a solution to the perpetual kid problem of constantly outgrowing clothes and toys.
Second, she was looking for a more sustainable way to raise children without breaking the bank.
Third, she was looking for a community — a support system for parents.
“I wanted to build a place where people feel like they can walk in, with no judgment, everyone doing their best,” Kinka said.
Nesting House was born in 2010: A local baby and children’s marketplace where parents can buy and sell gently used clothing, shoes, toys, books, and baby gear; and a community space where new parents meet, where mothers receive breastfeeding support, and where parents of neurodivergent children make connections.
Sixteen years later, Nesting House has two locations, in Mount Airy and Queen Village. It also has two showrooms for larger baby gear items such as strollers and cribs, and a universal baby registry that lets you add used gifts from Nesting House.
The business is diligent in its quality care checks, only accepting items that can last through multiple families before they are considered “hand-me-downs” and are no longer sellable.
Kinka said Nesting House has all the back-to-school essentials stocked, including everything you need for your backpack and everything you need to pack a lunch without having to use plastic.
New parents can also test-drive strollers, wagons, car seats, and nursery furniture in both showrooms. Kinka said customers’ opinions toward thrifting have changed dramatically since Nesting House first opened.
“I remember people not really responding super well to it in the beginning. We had to explain ourselves,” she said.
Today, the stigma of buying used is long gone. Online clothing platform ThredUp projects that U.S. online resale will reach $40 billion by 2029.
“Now people are hungry for it,” Kinka said.
