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Original poster

Sad because I disposed of 3 bags of baby clothes

26 replies

gracedentssketty · 18/05/2022 15:00

My youngest is 18 months, DH doesn’t want any more and I’m almost 44 so too old really.

sorted out all the baby clothes and sent 3 large bags to charity. Have kept a selection back to have a patchwork quilt made from but am in tears.

obviously no point holding onto them and at least there will be plenty of use made of them (they were in pristine condition) but I am sad that their little snuggly clothes have gone

OP posts:
PrawnToast5 · 18/05/2022 15:02

I get it. My youngest is 1 and born extremely prematurely. Both of us nearly died in pregnancy so not going to have another, just feels a bit sad to get rid of ask the clothes lol.

PrawnToast5 · 18/05/2022 15:02

All*

Letsbekindplease · 18/05/2022 15:06

Now you’re making me sad!
I just went through all old baby clothes and they are sitting downstairs waiting to go to charity. I didn’t even think about getting a quilt made. What a lovely idea! Might have to look through the bags again and do this

breatheintheamazing · 18/05/2022 15:14

I had a quilt made for my eldest and it's lovely - From love keep create - I went for a single bed size and that needed 90 items so actually by the time you throw out stained clothes and ones that were just plain tops etc for nursery that used up pretty much everything I kept from age 0-2
Also had an animal made from her really tiny newborn clothes and a Xmas sack from her Xmas outfits from age 0-5

BooseysMom · 18/05/2022 15:16

I wanted a second but I was nearly 41 when I had DS and we didn't have another. I sold lots of stuff at the NCT sales. I regret selling some of his very first toys but I did keep hold of alot of stuff and now have two drawers of soecial toys and clothes! He'll prob never want any of it but I can't bear to part!

Alovelydayatlast · 18/05/2022 15:24

I have 7 prams /buggies still..
Ds is 7...
Won't mention the other stuff.
😬

Iamsosadijustwantout · 18/05/2022 15:26

I just want to say a BIG thank you xx these sort of baby clothes came to me when I was 16, pregnant and homeless. A bad home life when I was so young and struggling! Things like this was a bloody godsend until I got on my feet with a job/housing/childcare etc. I always give my clean children's clothes to charity as I was so thankful for everything I got given.

SpaceMaaaaan · 18/05/2022 15:28

It is sad. I like to think someone else is going to get the pleasure out of the things I've donated. Seeing as I've bought them all off ebay anyway I'm always surprised there's much left in sellable condition!

Wowzeroony · 18/05/2022 15:29

Iamsosadijustwantout · 18/05/2022 15:26

I just want to say a BIG thank you xx these sort of baby clothes came to me when I was 16, pregnant and homeless. A bad home life when I was so young and struggling! Things like this was a bloody godsend until I got on my feet with a job/housing/childcare etc. I always give my clean children's clothes to charity as I was so thankful for everything I got given.

That's lovely. You've spurred me on to sort out and donate my kids stuff.

89redballoons · 18/05/2022 15:45

It is upsetting!

My DS2 is five weeks old and nearly grown out of his first size stuff. With DS1 I put everything aside for the next baby. DH is adamant this is our last and while there are lots of practical reasons why that's a good idea, it is a real wrench to give it all away and acknowledge the tiny newborn days are over for us.

It's lovely to hear that people do benefit from these donations, though.

Original poster
gracedentssketty · 18/05/2022 15:46

@Iamsosadijustwantout thank you, it makes me feel happy to know they will hopefully go to people in need, even though I’m sad.

I hope things are brighter for you these days x

OP posts:
Original poster
gracedentssketty · 18/05/2022 15:48

@89redballoons - yes, this is how I feel too. My eldest has some additional needs and if we had another I’d be concerned that I didn’t have enough time to help him, my other DS and then another child on top

plus all of the usual extra nursery fees, back to square 1, room at home etc etc!

OP posts:
Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 18/05/2022 15:52

It is sad, DS is six and we stuff have the cot, the pram, the clothes (and I don’t want anymore!)

Ive not had any difficulty recycling toddler stuff - wonder why the baby things hit so hard?

houseofboy · 18/05/2022 15:58

I can't even bear to think of sorting it. I know on a practical level we should but still getting used to the idea of not having anymore after DH said he was done. I justify we are keeping it in case my DB and his partner want it!!

Original poster
gracedentssketty · 18/05/2022 15:58

@Allmyarseandpeggymartin i wonder if it’s because they remind us of when our hormones were mental. I really miss my little babies just lying asleep on me in their tiny baby grows

OP posts:
AliasGrape · 18/05/2022 15:59

I definitely know this feeling.

I had DD at 40, and we are very unlikely to have another. Well we’re not having another and that’s that but I started typing it as ‘unlikely’ because I’m not fully ok with it yet!

She’s nearly 2.

A lady I know does a lot of work for a charity that supports vulnerable mothers and newborns. I pretty much gave away all her newborn and 0-3 stuff whilst I was still hormonal and all over the place. I think I was trying to draw a line under it and force myself to be on with her being an only.

Since then I’ve found it hard to part with anything! We do have another baby girl in the family now so in a way it’s easier to pass onto her as I still get to see some of the stuff. I do keep hold of ‘a few’ special things each time (ie I’ve got 3 boxes full still that I can’t quite bring myself to let go of yet).

We also need to say goodbye to the pram but I’m not there yet. I’ve just recently given her Moses basket to the same charity I mentioned - that was hard and she never bloody went in the thing anyway!

DorritLittle · 18/05/2022 16:05

It's very difficult and I sometimes 'grieve' items I have given away (even though I keep quite a lot back!) but think it's part and parcel of letting those days go. It is lovely to think that those special clothes are being reworn by other children.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 18/05/2022 16:07

@gracedentssketty Yes probably. It’s a huge build up isn’t it too- trying to conceive, 9 months of pregnancy, really surreal at first too - we are going to be sole carers for this tiny little bundle.

Its a really unique time in your life, a milestone, it’s probably tied up in that too.

girlmom21 · 18/05/2022 16:08

OP get rid as you go - the stained ones or ones that are a bit too tight or whatever. It makes it feel like you're being practical rather than emotional

Knittingnanny2 · 18/05/2022 16:13

I’ve kept a few bits, not clothes though ( just the first outfit and shoes) and found it all useful to bring out for visiting grandchildren. Just a few things that didn’t take up too much space in the atticYes I could have bought it again but they’ve enjoyed playing with daddy’s /mummy’s old fisher price toys etc, looking at the books they enjoyed me reading to them etc.

ronswansonstache · 18/05/2022 16:21

I just wanted to say I had one of those keepsake blankets made from DDs 0-3 month clothes and it's one of my favourite possessions! I think you'll feel better once you have it xx

BooseysMom · 19/05/2022 09:04

i wonder if it’s because they remind us of when our hormones were mental. I really miss my little babies just lying asleep on me in their tiny baby grows

Yes that's def it with me! I really miss the early days. As stressful as they were, they were so special too, and even more so as we only did it once

Whydotheyallhaverubbishwheels · 22/05/2023 21:30

89redballoons · 18/05/2022 15:45

It is upsetting!

My DS2 is five weeks old and nearly grown out of his first size stuff. With DS1 I put everything aside for the next baby. DH is adamant this is our last and while there are lots of practical reasons why that's a good idea, it is a real wrench to give it all away and acknowledge the tiny newborn days are over for us.

It's lovely to hear that people do benefit from these donations, though.

Sorry to drag up an old thread but what you said @89redballoons has really hit home to me. My second andast baby is 8 weeks old and I need to start getting rid of the clothes which are too small but Im finding it really hard. I just wondered how you're feeling about it all now?

AnAngelAtMyTableWithMe · 22/05/2023 21:32

aw bless you, I felt the same, I actually kept a fair bit of special or cute outfits

89redballoons · 23/05/2023 22:40

Whydotheyallhaverubbishwheels · 22/05/2023 21:30

Sorry to drag up an old thread but what you said @89redballoons has really hit home to me. My second andast baby is 8 weeks old and I need to start getting rid of the clothes which are too small but Im finding it really hard. I just wondered how you're feeling about it all now?

Show quote history

@Whydotheyallhaverubbishwheels oh you poor thing, it's such a bittersweet feeling.

To be completely honest, I kept on at my DH about having a third in a semi-joking way, and a couple of months ago he said he was actually more on the fence now than he was this time last year. We're going to reassess how we feel properly at the start of next year. So that has kind of taken the edge off my sadness at DC2 growing out of his tiny baby stuff.

Also, though, DC2 is currently 13 months old and in a particularly cute phase - he has just started to walk by himself and is saying his first words - so I'm not particularly nostalgic over the newborn phase at the moment, either.

I did give some tiny baby clothes away to a good friend who had a little boy and it has been nice to see him in some of them. I've kept the really special ones that were gifts or hand knitted, and probably won't ever give them away no matter whether I have another baby.

There's no rush, really. I think a lot of my feelings about this were post-birth hormones and they do settle.

Good luck Flowers