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Buy/Sell/Trade (BST) - A Beginner’s Guide

· CVB Admin
So you're ready to buy your first (or fifth) carrier secondhand. Welcome! The babywearing “BST” world (Buy/Sell/Trade) is where many experienced wearers shop, and it's a fantastic way to try carriers at a lower cost. But it has its own culture, etiquette, and lingo. Here’s how to get started with confidence.

What Is “BST”?

BST stands for Buy, Sell, Trade. It refers to the informal secondhand marketplace within the babywearing community. These days, it’s mostly hosted in dedicated Facebook groups, with some overlap into Facebook Marketplace and babywearing-specific sale pages. While you may find carriers there, many secondhand platforms like Vinted explicitly don't allow baby carriers to be sold secondhand.

Where to Find BST Communities

Most babywearing BST activity happens in private or closed Facebook groups. These come in a few flavors. We will link some groups here. These are ideas of groups, but the list is by no means exhaustive. We are not affiliated with or endorsing any of the groups listed here, merely informing you of their existence. Over time, we will try to keep this list updated, but know that groups do grow, change name, close, and other things over time so we cannot guarantee this list. If you find an issue with any of them, feel free to let us know.
Search Facebook for terms like “[brand name] BST,” “babywearing buy sell trade,” or “[region] babywearing” to find active groups. Many require you to answer membership questions and agree to group rules before posting or commenting. Read these carefully, as violating them can get you removed.
Facebook Marketplace: Carriers occasionally show up on Marketplace, but buyers should be more cautious here. Sellers may not know specific babywearing safety standards, recall history, or authentication details the way BST group communities do. Ask lots of questions. Cross-reference any find with the brand’s official info before buying. Some of the BST groups are also chatter groups and you can post your find and ask if it’s a good deal, what to ask the seller, etc., in those groups.

Other spots worth knowing about

  • Brand or maker “swap” pages, if the manufacturer runs one
  • Dedicated selling apps or sites used for preloved sales
  • Your own lending library group, if members trade among themselves!
    • Cache Valley Babywearing allows BST on specific threads in the members Facebook group

Before You Buy: A Quick Glossary

BST posts are full of shorthand. Below are some you’ll commonly see. Note these are not alphabetical, but rather grouped by ones that are more commonly seen near each other in posts among the community. We recommend using the search function if looking for something specific.

Term: Meaning
(D)ISO / CISO: (Desperately) In Search Of / Casually In Search Of
FS (FSO): For Sale (For Sale Only)
FSOT: For Sale Or Trade
FT (FTO): For Trade (For Trade Only)
(B)NWT: (Brand) New With Tags
NWOT: New Without Tags
EUC: Excellent Used Condition
VGUC: Very Good Used Condition
GUC: Good Used Condition
HTF: Hard To Find
HSA: Highly Sought After
OBO: Or Best Offer
MMARO: Make Me A Reasonable Offer
BIN: Buy It Now (usually used on posts where people are making offers, like MMAO below)
MMAO: Make Me An Offer - many BST groups have rules about MMAO posts (they usually have a starting bid, then increase by a certain increment, and sometimes have a buy-it-now price)
DOND: Deal Or No Deal - many BST groups have specific DOND rules, but they vary more by group so check for specifics
Waffle: Raffle (but Facebook doesn’t like raffles). Typically, you pay once the minimum number or all spots have been filled (usually this information is in the post), but if you want to participate in a waffle be sure to ask any questions prior to claiming any spots
PPFF (FF): PayPal Friends & Family (or just friends & family payment)
PPGS (GS): PayPal Goods & Services (or just goods & services payment)
CONUS: Continental US (usually in regards to shipping)
pmpp: PM PayPal (will send email in direct message)
SSC: Soft Structured Carrier

How Buying Works

  1. Watch the group for a while before jumping in, or scroll through old posts. Get a feel for pricing and pacing.
  2. Comment to claim. When you see something you want, follow the group’s rules on how to claim (usually “sold” followed by your paypal email or “pmpp”) rather than just messaging the seller. In most groups, this creates a valid claim and prevents disputes and disappointment.
  3. Move to messages to arrange payment and shipping. If you put “pmpp” in your comment to claim, you generally are responsible for sending your PayPal email to the seller within a certain amount of time.
  4. Recommendation: Pay safely. Use PayPal Goods & Services (not Friends & Family) whenever possible if you don’t know the person. It costs a small fee but protects you if something goes wrong. There are a few “feedback groups” specifically for putting feedback from babywearing BST transactions, and you should also check for any feedback there. Ask the seller to put insurance on the package for the full value of the transaction.
  5. Ask for verification of the label and receipt of package drop off (meaning they need to go to the counter to drop off the package, not just place it in a drop box). This ensures there is proof the package was dropped off in case anything happens.
  6. Once the package arrives, it’s polite to confirm receipt and consider leaving feedback in a feedback group (this builds trust for future transactions).

Safety Tips: Before You Buy

  • Inspect closely. For ring slings, ask if they are original rings or have been swapped. At best, in the US ring swapping for another person or selling an item that has had a ring swap is a legal gray area. (Altering babywearing items that have been used by removing stitching and restitching it voids previous testing that was valid for CPSC compliance.) If you choose to buy a sling or any other carrier that has had alterations including the rings swapped (or added from a wrap conversion), check that rings are the correct weight-rated type (not decorative) and free of cracks or integrity issues. For wovens, check for thinning or thread shifting, holes, fraying selvedges, or broken threads. For soft structured carriers, check buckles, straps, and stitching at stress points. If you aren’t buying in person, ask for pictures of any/all of these things.
  • If you are trading, highly consider doing a PayPal-backed trade. Each person in the transaction sends the agreed upon amount of money to the person they are getting a carrier from using Goods & Services. This protects the person receiving the carrier in case the sender doesn’t send it, it’s in a different condition than listed, etc.
  • Some popular brands are frequently counterfeited. Compare tags, stitching, and labels against official product photos, and when in doubt, ask in a chit chat/chatter group before purchasing.
  • Buy from reputable sellers. Look for sellers with positive feedback or references in the group.
  • Be wary of sellers pushing you to pay outside the group/off-platform quickly. While PayPal is the most common payment method, some individuals prefer Wise for international BST or will offer Venmo. If they request Zelle or other unprotected peer-to-peer payment platforms, these can be signs of a scam.
  • Check for recalls. It doesn't happen often, but some carriers and wrap batches have been recalled for safety issues. Search “[brand] recall” before buying.

How Selling Works

  1. Take clear, honest photos in good light, including any flaws up close.
  2. Disclose everything: stains, scents (including detergent, pets, campfire, etc.), smoking, repairs, fading. Trust is everything in this community, and a reputation follows you.
  3. List key details: brand, size, material/blend, condition, price, and shipping included/excluded.
  4. Honor claims in order. Follow the rules of the group (as mentioned above, many require “sold” followed by a PayPal email or “pmpp” and a message from the buyer to the seller with the email address).
  5. Communicate promptly. Slow responses are one of the most common sources of frustration and distrust in BST culture.

Etiquette Notes

  • If you claim something, follow through. Flaking on a claim (ghosting) is considered poor etiquette and will absolutely affect your reputation and likely get you removed in babywearing BST groups.
  • Be patient. Many sellers are also parents juggling a lot. A slow reply doesn’t necessarily mean disinterest. Most groups have a guideline for how long someone has to respond, and shipping is often required within 3 business days. However, more grace can be given for slowness often if communication is good. Reach out to an admin of the group in which the transaction started if you have issues with communication or something being shipped.
  • If you're unsure on the rules of a specific group (how to claim an item, rules for an event like MMAO or DOND, etc.) always defer to the group's rules. They're usually featured/pinned and can be found in the group files.

Ready to Dive In?

To avoid being overwhelmed, we recommend you start by joining one or two general BST groups and simply observe. You’ll quickly pick up on pricing, pacing, rules, and the community’s rhythm. And remember that our lending library is always here if you want to try a carrier type before committing to a BST purchase!

Have questions about a specific carrier or help with figuring out your first BST transaction? Reach out to us anytime. We’re happy to help you shop safely and confidently.

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