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Original poster

When did you feel ready to get rid of baby clothes?

32 replies

Touchtoomuch · 13/07/2021 10:01

I appreciate this is probably a non-problem but I'm trying to get rid of some of my baby's clothes. I'm finding it really hard. The reality is I probably won't have another baby but I can't seem to let stuff go. I never thought I was sentimental and my boy is now 20 months old. But I'm really struggling to find things to get rid of to a friend who I know will appreciate them.

OP posts:
Letsallscreamatthesistene · 13/07/2021 10:04

When he grew out of them tbh. I despise clutter.

RaginaFalangi · 13/07/2021 10:08

I kept a few things from each size, but got rid of the rest as soon as they were out of it.

80sMum · 13/07/2021 10:10

I still have some of my DCs' baby clothes and toys - and my youngest DC is 38! It's hard to let go. Grin

Hitchingmyskirt · 13/07/2021 10:10

As soon as my second child grew out of them. I knew I only wanted two children so I saw no need to keep them.
That said, I never felt sad packing all their clothes away after they’d grown out of them like I know some people do. I just gave myself a pat on the back for surviving that age and keeping them healthy/growing.
I literally had no emotional attachment to the clothes I gave every single item away.

PieceOfString · 13/07/2021 10:11

If you have a special outfit that you really loved him wearing you can have it made into a teddy bear. I didn't do that cos I wasn't aware of it, but I would have loved that, and would have made it a nice way to move on and mark that time.
duckduckgo.com/?q=make+baby+clothes+into+teddy+bear&ia=web

Original poster
Touchtoomuch · 13/07/2021 10:13

I think it is more that I feel like I'm letting a second child go. Maybe I'm strange in feeling how I do. I hate clutter but I can't seem to let it go yet.

Thanks @PieceOfString I'll check that out.

OP posts:
Youdiditanyway · 13/07/2021 10:14

I’ve kept a few special babygrows and there’s at least 2 that have been used on all 5 DC. Maybe keep the very special ones then ask someone who isn’t bothered to just be ruthless with the rest on your behalf.

Twizbe · 13/07/2021 10:15

I have a friend who didn't get rid of the baby stuff until her son was 8. It took her a long time to move on from not being able to have a second.

What might help is sorting it into 'would keep no matter' and 'could donate'. You don't have to donate it yet but might help to move to the next step.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/07/2021 10:20

Just keep a couple of special things, OP.

I still have a very few from dds, who are now 40 and 43! Inc. a tiny newborn flannelette nightie with bunnies embroidered on the yoke. We were in a very hot climate at the time, babygros were too warm.

They will go only after I do.

whatswithtodaytoday · 13/07/2021 10:21

Mine's 2.5 and I definitely don't want another, and I still have them. I think when I get the chance I'll get rid of anything I don't love, but will keep anything else until I'm past the age to have another? I know it's ridiculous!

TwoZeroTwoZero · 13/07/2021 10:22

I sent them to the charity shop as soon as the youngest outgrew them.

reallybloodytired · 13/07/2021 10:24

I find it really hard.

I will when I am ready. If I’m never ready I’m never ready.

Isababybel · 13/07/2021 10:31

The moment my baby grows out of them, they go straight into a charity bag. She is only 11 months, has never had a ridiculous number of clothes in any given size but i have filled up so many bags up to now! You must have so much room to store all of these clothes?! We don't, so i am a bit of a compulsive declutterer.
I have kept 1 newborn vest and 1 sleepsuit that she came home in, but thats it.

FairFuming · 13/07/2021 10:35

When I broke up with my H, I kept a few special things but tbh I was just ready to admit that it's unlikely I will have a 3rd baby now and I needed to space they were taking up.

elliejjtiny · 13/07/2021 10:39

My youngest is 7 and I got rid of the baby clothes a couple of months ago.

roadwarrior · 13/07/2021 10:45

My youngest is 10 and I still have some of her baby clothes. I got rid of a lot, but there are some very special ones that I just can't part with.

piglet81 · 13/07/2021 10:46

I understand, OP. My son is 6 and I haven’t quite given up hope of another, but I know it’s really unlikely now and I’ve finally started getting rid of things. There’s a local organisation that looks after refugee families and we’ve given the pram etc to them, which makes me feel much more positive about the whole thing.

Faranth · 13/07/2021 10:54

I think it is more that I feel like I'm letting a second child go.

This is how I feel and DD is 4!

I always wanted more than 1, but can't for health reasons. Realistically, by the time I'm well enough I'll be too old.

I've bags and bags of clothes in the loft. DP wanted to charity shop them when we moved house last year and wouldn't drop the subject. I couldn't take it anymore and became a shouty, snotty, crying mess.

My friend has given us lots of clothes as her DD has grown out of them. I remember the first time she did it, she said she had come to terms with having no more children. Her DD was about 4 I think.

I think it's pretty normal, if you're the kind of person that keeps clothes, that it's hard to let them go. It's not just clothes.

mutedrainbows · 13/07/2021 10:54

I've donated loads, sold some of the nicer bits, and kept quite a lot as well. Another baby may be possible in a few years and if it does happen, we'll just buy new. I've just kept my favourites and the items that someday my dd might pass down if she has children!

It is hard though. I sold one of her newborn outfits and a few weeks later, the mother sent me a photo of her new baby wearing it 😭 I actually found it much easier to sell items, because I could see the person who was buying it and it made me happy that it was going to another baby!

FlatteredFool · 13/07/2021 10:54

Still working on it. My youngest is 6Grin

malteserheist · 13/07/2021 11:09

When you're ready you're ready. Being able to let go of the hope for a second child is a big deal, don't be so harsh on yourself. Lots of these replies are from people who weren't in your position.

There is absolutely no harm caused in giving yourself time.

My mum kept some of her favourites (probably a box worth) plus some that fitted my dolls for dressing up.

When she was dying she gave them to me and used them as a prompt to share her memories and experiences with me. I'm really glad she didn't get rid of them all as that experience made me feel more connected to her and was a comfort after she was gone. I still remember those conversations and how it felt.

Obviously that will hopefully be a long long way off for you, but my point is that sentiment has value and may one day have value for your son too.

Sentiment is an important part of being human. As long as you're not keeping so much stuff that it drowns you and prevents you living now, what's the harm?

wendz86 · 13/07/2021 11:23

I kept a couple of sentimental bits , rest went to my sister as she had her daughter 10 months after me.

WaltzingToWalsingham · 13/07/2021 11:28

I felt the same way, OP, and I've three DC! I still find it difficult even now, and mine are all well into the school years. I find it easier to give things to a friend rather than a charity shop, because it feels less final (even though I know my friend probably passes everything on within a few months).

In a fever of enthusiasm for decluttering, I gave away almost all of my DC's baby toys and books, and that I do regret. They had so many memories and feelings attached to them. I try to keep their old favourites now.

BirdIsland · 13/07/2021 13:32

@Touchtoomuch I feel the same as you - getting rid of things is giving up on the idea of a second. I know this is my reality, but it breaks my heart, and giving away the clothes DD wore means accepting I won't have another baby to put them on.

Don't worry too much about if, if they're not in the way just keep them until you're ready. Your friend will get her own baby clothes. There is more to this emotionally than decluttering.

FlippertyFlip80 · 13/07/2021 13:52

I kept almost all of my baby clothes hoping I'd have a third. When the kids were about 3 or 4 I got rid of boxes of them but kept quite a few still.

Every year or so, I look back through them and clear some more. I will always keep one Kallax size box of clothes for each child. First outfits, one first nappy each, first couple of pairs of shoes and a few special outfits.