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Original poster

Did you keep your baby's baby clothes?

32 replies

M24L · 05/08/2022 00:42

Literally the title.

I have 2 DDs one is 9 and one just about to turn 1.

I kept everything from DD1 hoping to have another child, 8 years passed and I finally had another DD. BUT I didn't use any of DD1s stuff for DD2 we Literally started again from scratch.

I'm now currently clearing out DD2s wardrobe for the second time before changing everything to 1 year and above and the attachment I have to her stuff feels slightly ridiculous. I already have 2 black bags full of 0-6 hid away in the cupboard.

I would like another baby but I am not in any rush and with previous circumstances I dare say I wouldn't use the same stuff.

I just feel like when you get rid (wether it be passing it on to someone, charity etc) it's like closing that chapter and I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye to the baby stage yet haha.

So, what did you all do?

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 05/08/2022 00:50

Why didn't you use any of older Dad's stuff? I'd definitely start now.

Clear out all older child's clothes up to 12 months except anything that rouses strong positive emotions and then limit it to one or two items.

Go through the 12-18 stuff and fit it in alongside her current clothes.

Don't buy 18-24 without go through Dad's stuff and thus onwards.

It's such a waste to keep years and years of clothes to sit in bags never to be looked at or used

Anxiousanddramatic · 05/08/2022 00:52

Saved my first borns and I'm in the process of turning them into a quilt
I have a 4 month old now and saving her clothes to do the same
They felt too sentimental to give away or get rid of
I will be keeping 1 or 2 baby grows to show my grandkids one day.. yes I'm as sentimental as they come

whatwhhat · 05/08/2022 01:07

I have saved the first outfit they were in, their christening gown, and the birthday outfits (like a tshirt or dress with one or whatever age they were).

I kept my dd1 clothes. Found out next child was going to be a boy so got rid of everything not listed above. Had a surprise third who was a girl so didn't have a stash of clothes for her..... but I'm kind of glad as I quite like getting bits for them and I think the clothes would have been dated. As soon as she grows out of it it's given away so that I don't be some blind to it.

I think saving everything means you won't appreciate it. When I look at their first outfit I truly get taken back to when they were fresh newborns... if I had to search through ten boxes to find it I just never would look at it or appreciate it.

Me and some friends passed on baby clothes to each other so I basically give one of them all my girl stuff. Found out I was having another girl so got all her stuff with quite a few of what I gave her back (babies spit up/ have poo blow outs so would never give baby clothes expecting everything back- or returned poo stained 😅)

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Clothing Families
Original poster
M24L · 05/08/2022 01:09

@SleepingStandingUp It was a mixture of things tbh, we didn't find out with DD1 until very late on so didn't get to experience the whole going out baby shopping the planning etc also DD1s clothes were 8 years old so styles etc were different to what the current is. Money was also very very tight back when DD1 was born so this time around we were able to afford more stuff.

I did use 2 of my favourite knitted outfits I loved DD1 in for DD2 but that was it.

@Anxiousanddramatic this is such a lovely idea, I might do that because that means I could pick my favourite outfits etc out and then they could use it (when DD2 is old enough). Win win situation.

OP posts:
Anxiousanddramatic · 05/08/2022 01:14

I just look back at their baby pictures and seeing them in little outfits and things they learnt that day or silly things I like to remember
I cut a square out of the pretty patterned or important ones and then I got some extra fabric (pinks,blues) to fill up the spaces and I'm not finished but I will be lining the back and I like to think that they can give the quilts to their babies one day
And I've only saved clothes from a year and under nothing after that
Good luck

OneLittleLady · 05/08/2022 06:37

i only kept the first vests they were in straight after being born and the babygrows my nana bought for them ( boy/girl twins) i dont and didnt have the space to keep much else tbh but i do have the balloons my mum bought for them flattened out and the tiny cardigans and hats they were in in NICU

Nekomata · 05/08/2022 06:41

I think you have to do the Marie Kondo thing of thanking the clothes for all the happy memories and passing them on to someone else or getting rid of them.

MintJulia · 05/08/2022 06:54

I sold all my 0-6 months as a job lot for £20. The 6-12 stuff I gave to one of the childminders at nursery when her partner walked out leaving her with a 5 month old and no financial support. Everything after that went to the local Cancer Research shop.

I've kept my ds' newborn hospital bracelets and his first soft toy, but not clothes.

TheBatwoman · 05/08/2022 07:18

We kept a special outfit each as much for the size as anything - shows just how tiny our twins were. Then we had quilts made out of some favorites for them to use as they got older and then donated the rest.

TheBatwoman · 05/08/2022 07:21

For context we are not planning on having more (she says with a hint of sadness). Plus there is absolutely zero chance I can have any surprise babies, so no practical reasons to keep any ‘just in case’ baby clothes.

thesunwillout · 05/08/2022 07:24

I threw or donated mine at various stages.
I kept alot of lovely things.

Dd is 20 and I really must go thru that suitcase.
Oh dear 😆

ImustLearn2Cook · 05/08/2022 07:25

I’ve kept all the nicest baby, toddler clothes and threw away all the stained or worn out clothes. I can’t part with them yet. Dd is 8. I have given away nice clothes from her 3,4,5 etc years to friends with younger kids. But the tiny baby and toddler clothes I want to keep. I feel very attached to them.

lilacflowersinthegarden · 05/08/2022 07:26

Can’t throw out a single bib. Blush

MikeWozniaksMoustache · 05/08/2022 07:26

Most of her smaller stuff we have sold to afford the next size sadly. Kept a few sentimental things but can’t afford to hoard it.

KangarooKenny · 05/08/2022 07:27

My kids are in their 20’s and I’ve got a bag containing some clothes, blankets and sheets. Hopefully they will be used for grandchildren one day.

SleepingStandingUp · 05/08/2022 07:33

Thing is OP how long can this carry on for? You going to be storing 15 years of clothes each for the next 50 years until after your death they have to go through bags and bags of mouldering clothes and bin them all? At least if you pick some favourites and pass them on, they get to keep living . And I wouldn't worry about whether they're fashionable or not, no one is going to judge a 2 year old for not being in the current trend

IceStationZebra · 05/08/2022 07:37

I kept some baby clothes but only my favourites - and only enough to half fill a small carrier bag. Everything else got sold, donated or went to the rag bin if stained/torn/stretched.

Why don’t you re-use clothes? If you’ve kept everything then surely things like babygrows, vests etc haven’t gone out of fashion…

KohlaParasaurus · 05/08/2022 07:41

I kept a few bags of special garments for ages, some of which all my children had worn, but gradually gave them all away to younger friends who were having babies and all I have left now is the christening robe which had been through a few generations of my family.

RockAndRollerskate · 05/08/2022 07:41

Oh wow. I must seem heartless compared with all PP 🙈

I’m really minimal. I used all of DS1s stuff for DS2 and then gave every item to my sister for her baby!

I didn’t save one scrap of clothing. I don’t have the room to store it but not sure what you’d do with it anyway? though I love the quilt idea.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 05/08/2022 08:46

I kept one or two each of the tiny things, and one each of their first shoes.

TheChosenTwo · 05/08/2022 09:12

The only thing I kept is one babygro that they all wore when they were born in hospital.
Everything was either passed on to my nieces/nephews as my sils fell pregnant soon after me each time or donated to charity. Some things which were stained beyond redemption were just binned. It was nice to have a reason to wash and get rid of everything quickly, I hate clutter and hoarding things ‘just in case’.

Hugasauras · 05/08/2022 09:20

I kept all ours with DD1 (and all the baby equipment too) and am now using them all for DD2. It's saving a fortune! After that they'll be sold but we aren't having any more kids.

NuttyNutNut · 05/08/2022 09:22

I kept about 2-3 little outfits that meant alot to me either because it was the first thing they all wore or because it was knitted by someone I knew.
They mean a lot to me and I hope one day a grandchild will possibly wear one of them.
Our oldest is leaving home soon so I've had them a while. Sometimes I get them out to to show the dc and marvel at how tiny they all were.
Happy memories 😊

Hugasauras · 05/08/2022 09:26

Oh I plan to keep some favourites for a quilt or to be made into a teddy bear.

faithtrustandpixiedust · 05/08/2022 09:52

I kept practically everything from DD, the loft is full of her stuff, it's came in really handy though SIL has just had her first DC and has borrowed bits and I'm now pregnant with our second so when she's done with it we will use it again. I love the fact that it's all getting used again.
This DC will be our last so when we are done with everything I'll need to sort through it all, DSis isn't planning a family for a few years yet but she's asked me to keep some bits so she can have them so they won't go to waste, everything else I'll probably donate.