How do you declutter toys/books/clothes, without thinking "that's another little bit of their past gone"?

[carla]

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By thinking about how my life in the future is going to be enhanced by the space that has been cleared

keep a special box for each child. put the really special things in there. such as a few samples of early toddler art work. and maybe a favourite baby outfit for each.
also you can take photos of them with their favourite toys and keep the photo, then give away the toy.

this week we managed to give more toys to charity shop than arrived in our house at christmas - decluttering success!

and for things you feel too sentimental about to throw, put in a box in the loft. and 6 months on, when you and the children haven't missed them, give them away then. it's less painful that way.

I am doing scrapbooks as of now for dd and ds any other stuff i do a carboot sale in spring and donate takings to charity.

I had boxes of stuff sitting around that I couldn't bear to part with for the same reason Carla. Trouble is, there comes a point (especially if you haven't got a loft) when you just can't keep it all anymore. I had to have a clear out last year when we moved to a smaller place but I have kept a few special things like first shoes and favourite rattles.

Once I'd got over the first hurdle of actually parting with things it got easier and I'm now quite ruthless! I'm going to have a massive de-clutter next week when the kids are back at school.

It also gets easier as they get older. Their outfits aren't so 'cute' for one thing and they start collecting piles of annoying plastic rubbish and old comics that you can't wait to see the back of!

I know exactly how you feel - I have hung on to stuff that I know should reall go. Finally on Sunday, I bought some scrapbooks for her paintings, arty things and threw some away. Have scrap-booked her birthday cards and we agreed on some toys and books that should go to a charity shop.

dh was amazed - he knows what a hoarder I am.

have managed to get rid of lots of baby toys this week without problems but nearly cried when DP sorted out the tupperware cupboard yesterday (we are sorting everything as we're moving house soon). all those little pots which I used for making baby food! I feel really stupidly sad about throwing them out now the youngest is way past purees.

DP says he feels very sad throwing out old planks of wood which could be used for shelves though. we are a right pair .

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I have a bag and a box of toys in the hall that are going to the charity shop tomorrow. They've been there for nearly a week. But they ARE going tomorrow. Honest. I think.

It doesn't help when you watch the Yard Sale bit of Toy Story 2 - I keep thinking that the toys are going to be upset, never mind the dses!

Really must get a grip. They are definitely going.