Rosenrot

Kreuzberg has plenty of second hand, and almost none of it is cut for people under one metre tall. Rosenrot is the answer to that: a small shop on Eisenbahnstrasse, just behind the church on Lausitzer Platz, given over entirely to children, babies, and the people expecting them.

It sits a few doors down from Markthalle Neun, which makes it the easiest detour in Berlin. You come for the market, you leave with a winter jacket in size 98.

What they carry

The second hand side covers the whole range: Erstlingswäsche for the first weeks, baby and children's clothing from size 56 up to 146, children's shoes, and maternity wear, which is genuinely hard to find used in this city. Then books for every age, board games, and baby toys.

There is new stock too, and it is chosen rather than filled in: natural fibre textiles from Cosilana and Reiff Strick, the wool and silk kind that survives three children, and stroller footmuffs by Heitmann in lambskin or microfibre.

There is also a play corner, which means you can actually look at the rails.

Selling your kids' clothes here

This is the part worth knowing, because Rosenrot buys outright, it does not take commission. Call first to check they have room, because they do fill up. Then bring one Ikea bag maximum per person and leave it in the shop. They go through it within 24 hours. You come back one to three days later, and you get cash on the spot for whatever they keep, and the rest back.

They will not call you, so do not wait by the phone. Clothing up to size 146, shoes up to 35/36. Books and games yes, Lego and Playmobil no. No strollers and no bikes either, there is simply no room. Donations are welcome if the condition is good.

Go if

You have a child who grows out of everything in four months, or you are pregnant and not willing to buy a full new wardrobe for six months of wear. You want wool and silk basics without paying new prices for them.

Skip it if you are shopping for yourself. This one is entirely for the small ones.