Hand me down clothes

[BiffChipsandKippers]

I have 3 DC- DS 6y, DD 2y and DS 6 months.

Have often bought second hand clothes as obviously better for the environment, cheaper etc but also because I like certain styles/brands which are quite expensive but wear well so last long time. So by buying second hand I save money, can access the quality clothes I like and help the environment. Win win. It is also completely normal in my circle of friends to pass clothes around when finished with them- I have been both a giver and receiver of such favours.

Currently trying to decide whether to keep all of DS6's clothes for DS 6 months- obviously there is the storage issue....I can store them but it's a little annoying. Also I do worry about any resentment you get DS will have re all of older DSs hand-me-downs. They are all nice clothes and good condition/quality, but they are (or have been) DS6's and do reflect his interests. I was the recipient of pretty much 100% hand me downs myself as a child and was totally happy with this, however my sister received the same and still harbours resentment about it now. What would you do?

Keep them and decide nearer the time whether you will use them. Or let your second child decide which ones they want to wear - at the time that they fit them. That’s what I’ve done and to be honest it wasn’t the items I would have expected. If you have space. If you don’t, then keep the best.

I would keep them or if you know a child nearer to your eldest age pass them on to come back.

I used to pass on my DSs clothes to a neighbor and he loved it but they were in addition to his own clothes.

Totally depends on the kid. As a rule, my DS2 couldn't care less, he likes not having to go shopping TBH. Although as he's got older, there's stuff that I know not to bother keeping as they're not his style (rolls eyes) so I pass that stuff straight onto whoever I think needs it/it will suit.

I’d keep the best things that are in properly decent condition, and things that may well be needed for “the phase”, and pass the rest on. This is assuming you can afford to rebuy later on. So I’d keep good coats, great condition trousers, good jumpers. Then a selection of eg Spider-Man T-shirts or whatever, for when they’re going through that phase. And a few good long sleeved tops that have washed well.

I think 6 years of storage might be a bit excessive. You would be be storing 5 different sets of clothes.

You would be better of selling and buying second hand of stuff appropriate to him.

My girls are 1-2 clothes sizes apart, age 10&11. The younger one will go through DD1s outgrown stuff and choose what to keep. (Its not all suitable due to different body shapes, leggings are often worn/holey, they have different opinion on colours, and bizarrely some of DD1s stuff is sometimes too small due to the body shape issue)

Plus hand me downs are more likely to be resented when kids are a bit older. Also if they have no choice in it. Set aside a certain amount of space and keep some. But I wouldn’t keep everything.

I wouldn't store anything for 6 years, they're going to smell fusty and be in the way. Donate them and get stuff nearer the time you'll actually need it.

My DD2 has 90% hand me downs but I have no qualms about buying nice things that are 'her'. She likes dinosaurs and green clothes vs pink and unicorns. And leggings and tights are usually wrecked.

I have a 5 year age gap between my sons and I kept everything that was in good condition and stored it in plastic boxes under the stairs (luckily we have a big storage cupboard). The jeans and trousers have now gone to the charity shop as my youngest hates skinny jeans. So far my youngest hasn't noticed that its his brothers old clothes and is loving the Spiderman t-shirts. I have got him some new clothes but the coats have been great and saved a fortune.

Your dd will also get use of her big brother's clothes, so definitely keep them.

I, too, have alternating boys and girls, and they were all happy with their hand-me-downs. The younger ones would often be eyeing up something their next sibling up wore and comment on how much they were looking forward to wearing it!

There's 6 years between my dc. I kept clothes that I had liked seeing dc1 in, that were in good nick. I kept loads tbh, from tiny baby on, despite at that point intending to have only one dc (I had ishooos). But when dc2 turned up they were all worn. Have kept some favourites from then but much fewer, because my friend had a baby a year later and it made me happy to see her dc in them. And I'd worked on my issues. A bit.