How do you decide which baby clothes to keep?

[McNuggetsAndMcFlurries]

Sorry, I had no idea where to post this. We don't have much storage space so I need to let go of some baby clothes but it's hard. My baby is almost 5 months old and I'm currently trying to sort his newborn stuff out. How do you decide what to keep for future children? I also want to get one of those keepsake bears made of some of my favourites but I don't know how to decide which ones for that either 🤣 next will be 0-3 clothes as he's going into 3-6. I know I can't keep everything. I know there's people who could use this stuff. Help me 🤣

For my son I kept most things in vaccum bags, unless they were stained beyond repair or something I'd been bought that I wasn't personally that keen on. Then when we found out we were having a girl 3 years later I went through them again and only kept things that I'd happily pop a girl in (which in fairness was still 90%) 😂 Now thay DD is growing bigger I've kept one or two newborn sleepsuits that both she and her brother wore and all the rest have gone to charity as soon as she's outgrown them.

I agonise over this, too.

I kept everything from ds1, stored them at my in-laws and haven’t been able to get access. I have had to start all over again for dd.

Dd is now 5mo, and I pass everything on as soon as she grows out of it, even hand knitted things. I would rather clothe other little ones and support other mothers, than fill the garage with binbags of lovely things that I didn’t want to let go.

So, where to? There is a baby bank that I volunteer with where packages are put together according to age group and matched to families. There are companies that sell baby clothes (dotte) - I gave some really nice pieces to a friend to sell there. If I know someone has a slightly younger child then I always ask if they would like something.

There needs to be more of a culture of exchanging clothes rather than hoarding them or donating to charity shops. I am thinking of starting up an exchange at work. At this age, some of the pieces are barely even worn.

I don’t know anything about the keepsake teddy, though. Sounds very sweet.

I kept everything pretty much, until we were sure we weren't having another. Then I kept the ones I have fond memories of, just half a dozen that were the one he first wore, the one he came home from hospital in, one I just loved, etc. I'll probably keep them. I want to remember how small he was, not have them turned into a bear.

Just kept outfit they came home from hospital in and Christening outfit.

I kept the sleepsuit my dd came home in and thats pretty much it. I hate clutter

Vacuum bags and throw out ones with stains or those that ended up not being practical.

With DD we kept everything that was still in usable condition and vacuum packed it in the attic. We were planning another baby but not for a few years.

Then we found out DC2 was a boy so I kept everything that I would use for him and passed the rest on to friends etc. kept about 3 items as keepsakes I think.

DS we get rid of stuff as soon as he outgrows it - either to friends or on free Facebook pages.

I feel a bit mercenary but I plan to sell it all except christening gown as it’s an heirloom…

I've kept everything usable from both DC (1 boy 1 girl). I cannot wait to have another so I can sell it all.

We kept only sentimental items from our twins, but for full disclosure we are almost certainly not having any more and can 100% guarantee we won’t have any surprise babies, so haven’t kept anything in case.

I've got their coming home outfits and christening outfits. I gave everything to the local Refugee charity after ds2 grew out of things. The thought of another mum dressing her baby in my outfits made me really happy.

With dd I kept everything then found out our next was ds so got rid of it all to a women's centre. Just kept the white vests and sleepsuits and socks
With ds we just got rid of everything as I was almost certain I didn't want another and if I kept it I may of thought about it.

I’m giving it all away as she outgrows it, fairly certain that we’re one and done.

I gave away neatly all but the really precious and memorable ones I’ve turned into a quilt. It’s absolutely lovely and it’s clothes from both of my boys.

I vacuum bagged everything useable from DS1, used it for DS2 then handed everything onto DSis except the jumpers DMIL knitted for DSs which have gone to DBIL for his son.

After DC1, knowing I would definitely have another, I kept everything. After DC2, i packed it all away again, assuming I'd have a third.
However with 18 months of reflection, I probably won't, so I've kept a neutral collection in each size and got rid of a lot.
Although I still can't bring myself to do 0-3

I'm saving my absolute favourites for a keepsake blanket and have sold or passed on everything else.

Kept everything from 1st one, lots of it got used again for second one then if it had any life left in it, I moved it on to charity shops. Some things were too stained so they went in the bin.

I kept a kallax box with some of the blankets and things they had when they were tiny that I loved and I like to look at them from time to time and remember how tiny they were x

DC1 I kept most of it as I knew we wanted another.
DC2 I knew I was done, kept a couple of favourite things, and moves the rest on.

I have a bigger gap than planned and some stuff already seemed dated.

We’ve kept basically everything except for things badly stained (even slightly stained stuff we’ve kept for messy stuff) or that weren’t convenient. Didn’t see much point throwing things away when there was a reasonable chance we’d end up buying them again in a couple of years. It’s a bit of a pain because DD is 2.5 and we’ve got loads. But DD2 is due in May though so once she starts outgrowing stuff we can start getting rid of it finally, and it will pay off in not having to buy new clothes.

A keepsake bear sounds like a lovely idea. Has anyone ever had one done?

We’re just donating a load of our babies’ stuff. With two there’s just so much of it!

I had a cushion cover made of 3X3 squares double sided, so snippets of my little ones most worn outfits. I love it.

That sounds lovely @Putdownthecake. Such a lovely idea. I quite like the idea of a cushion cover as something practical that you can use and have on display too rather than just sitting in a keepsake box. Great idea.

Thank you @handroid2049 . I love it as its on his bed but as he gets older it could quite easily accompany a more grown up chair in the corner of the room. The rest of his clothes have been donated to charity