Argh - DH won't let me get rid of the baby stuff!

[AtlanticWaves]

Over the last couple of years I have kondoed our flat (my stuff and the DSes - DH is generally fairly streamlined).

Now as we're approaching Christmas, and the boys are getting bigger, we need more space and there is a fair amount I think we can get rid of.

Except, that DH is resisting getting rid of the baby stuff (cot, nappy bin, clothes that no longer fit our 3 year old, a high chair. He only agreed to the pushchair as it was in a horrible state and I said I'd never put a baby in it)

We have been umming and ahhing for over a year about whether to go for DC number 3. But my health has never been fantastic (frequent migraines) and recently it took a bad turn from sheer exhaustion of having 2 bad sleepers, so I said that I was really sorry, but I can't go through pregnancy and sleepless nights again.

Only DH wants to keep all the stuff "just in case". We have no loft or cellar where we could leave the stuff. And it's bugging me that it's taking up space I could use (especially whilst I need to hide presents before Christmas!).

Any ideas?

We've had almost exactly the same debate recently, and decided to get rid of everything except a few sentimental baby clothes/toys.

My argument was that if we did have DC3, we would get loads of hand me downs as all our friends were having babies, plus could buy things secondhand so we wouldn't need to spend much and ultimately in the meantime the space is worth more!

It's helpful sometimes to look at how much storage space in your city would cost and ask if it would really be worth spending that for x years....

His point is that we don't need the space urgently. Which is kind of true. But also we have one cupboard in particular which is full to bursting and I'd love to trim down. Technically we could move the stuff elsewhere but it just irritates me.

I suppose also I want the decision to be done and dusted - I'm fed up of going back and forth over whether we have another one, when I'm feeling stretched to my limit with 2...

Nope, get rid of it, I'd be really annoyed at his suggestion of "just incase" despite you giving your very valid reasons why you're not keen - I'd actually ask him does he not care about your health? Also baby stuff loses a lot of value so you're only clogging up your house with stuff that isn't worth much whereas the space it would free up would be worth so much more in terms of quality of life/living space.

Sell it and put the money aside for future number three a nice holiday.

Clutter is a weight on the soul!

Sorry cross posted with MonkeyJumping but echo their sentiments. Like you said there is so much more attached the baby stuff - I think you need to have a sit down with your DH, he's not being very respectful to you.

Thanks everyone. It's helped just writing it down.

I suppose keeping the stuff just makes me worried that I'll give in and have another one.

Which is why I actually got rid of all the baby clothes up to 18 months because I was determined not to have another. And then DS2 got a little bit easier and I was tempted bloody hormones

Beware people who do clear out usually get a bfp shortly after ime. .

I'd sell it and agree to keep the money in a separate account for spending on DC3 if you change your mind.

Then have a nice holiday in a few years with the proceeds!

I think at the very least you can pass the nappy bin on. That can't have any sentimental associations, and they are bulky buggers.

The stuff really isn't worth much at all. A 100€ ikea cot (barely used for 2 other DC who preferred cosleeping!), a 70€ nappy bin (ok expensive but really good), and a load of clothes that wouldn't fetch any money at all.

Probably all in all it'd cost 500€ to replace.

Actually putting it like that is a good argument for DH! He hates spending money though - which was one of my arguments for not having another DC - they cost a lot!