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Original poster

Do you keep all your children's baby clothes?

33 replies

mollipops · 22/01/2003 05:26

The "keeping things your kids make for you" thread got me thinking about this one - I know there are those who hoard all the baby things, clothes, booties, wooolens, baby toys etc. My neighbour was amazed that I could give anything away, as she has kept everything (her girls are 8 and 10!) I have kept the little dresses that dm and dmil gave dd when she was a baby, plus a couple of fave outfits, the handknits, and a couple of ds' cutest outfits too. But the rest gets recycled to the salvo's or some I sell on online auctions (no I am not flogging my site - since I live in Australia I don't think it would be worth the postage, not to mention the exchange rate!), which is definitely more for fun than profit. Toys too have been given away or "traded in" at a secondhand toyshop.

So do you keep ALL their tiny baby clothes? And shoes? And toddler things too...?

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Bozza · 22/01/2003 09:25

Yes I have kept every single item of clothing belonging to DS (including vests, hand-me-downs, bibs etc). But that is because he is a first baby and I am hoping (but not yet got agreement from DH) to have another. I know a lot of people say they want new for their second kid but I feel sad at the thought that all these lovely little clothes will not be worn again and I would love to get them out for another baby.

Theoretically I think you have got the balance about right and when the time comes that I decide my family is complete I will aim for something similar. DS is not yet two, I don't think I have gone overboard with buying clothes for him and I have 10 nappy boxes full of clothes already. I can't begin to imagine how much stuff your neighbour has got.

Shoes - I have kept his first pair of shoes and trainers - but, since I wouldn't put another child in hand-me-down shoes I have put the others in a shoe bank, where they are remodelled and sent to a developing country.

Batters · 22/01/2003 11:54

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Mines · 22/01/2003 13:41

I'm another giver away - lots of friends locally with babies 6 - 9 months behind mine make me feel a bit selfish about keeping them!

I also take old toys down to the local charity shop. A bit of a struggle, that one, as I'm in there about once a week, generally, and the sight of DS's toys sitting on the shelf unloved and unbought brings a lump to my throat (sob).

Have been known to buy them back and spend ages persuading DS he wants to play with something he finds very boring

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Katherine · 22/01/2003 15:40

I've got all my baby things still and its driving me mad (hoping that no.3 will be along soon if all continues to go well). No 3 will definitly be the last so then I can pass things on to friends or charity. I've got so much stuff given and bought that I've got suitcases stashed everywhere. I plan to keep a few treasured items such as first shoes but everything else can go. Someone esle might as well have the benefit. I also have the problem that loads of people give me things for them to grow into. The loft is full of carrier bags and its hard to keep track of it all. Once the baby stuff has gone I can have a good sort out and make this stuff more accessible too.

Lara2 · 22/01/2003 19:53

I've given practically all of it away. Have kept a very few special things and a box for each child with some tiny first clothes in, along with their hospital bands and cord clips.

Bron · 22/01/2003 21:15

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janh · 22/01/2003 21:29

Bron, our Sainsburys has one in the car park alongside the bottle banks and clothing bank - big square blue thing - and 2 or 3 local shops have them outside (those look like litter bins, with a lid and a plastic bin liner).

janh · 22/01/2003 21:37

mollipops, I have everybody's first shoes, the hats they came home from the hospital in, a few adorable little dresses - hoping for a granddaughter one day! - plus the cot cards, wrist bands etc (DD1 was under 6lbs and her wrist band fits my thumb) and a lock of hair each. It all just fits into a baby's Nike shoebox. (Well, not the shoes, obviously! )

When DDs 1 and 2 were little though I had the statutory bin liners full. Didn't seem to be a problem with the boys.

anais · 22/01/2003 23:05

Hello, my name's Anais and I'm a hoarder...

Yes, I've kept everything so far BUT I do intend to sort through and get rid of some of it. I intended to reuse some of it for 2nd baby, but I got a daughter the second time around, and the boys clothes weren't a lot of good (although the first pics of dd taken in the hospital she is wearing a blue babygro!). And now I'm keeping all the boys clothes and the girls clothes for my 3rd and 4th babies I will probably never have Getting rid of the clothes will be admitting that I won't have any more babies, and I'm not ready to do that.

megg · 23/01/2003 13:36

We were cleaning out the loft and came across all of ds' old clothes etc. Whereas I throw the artwork away I've kept everything even one shoe where he's lost the other. Dp says if we're not having any more babies then I should chuck it but I can't bear to. I'm either not shutting the door on another child or I'm turning into a hoarder.

Bozza · 23/01/2003 13:56

Bron - lik JanH my local shoe bin is in the Asda car park recycling area. I think this is particularly good with DS's shoes because although they are a bit scuffed they are not all that worn because they only last a couple of months at the moment. I even cleaned all the play dough off the bottoms.

Furball · 23/01/2003 15:10

I've started sorting through DS'(now 18 months) newborn and early clothes. The very first babygrows we gave to the hospital. Luckily DH has just discovered a chap at work who has a 3 month girl and we've sold a lot of vests and unisex clothes to them. I kept 1 x 11 Lb babygrow, a hat,socks and mitts and 2 x cardigans my mum knitted. The rest I will give/sell to people I know. As he didn't really have alot, but as they grow so rapidly in the first year it soon mounts up. It is hard not to get attached though. Especially as we only have DS, we have deceided that one is enough, but making that decision to clear out his old things made it so black and white.

Tortington · 23/01/2003 17:45

nope - not a thing, gave em away to anyone and everyone, used some knackered ones as cloths - never got sentimental about it as i didnt like any of them much as babies

tallulah · 23/01/2003 18:23

I kept all of mine for ages because my kids were so close in age that saving for the next one became a habit. However, as my youngest will be 12 in September & off to grammar school I think it's probably time to get rid of (some?) of the prams & buggies in the garage!! the cot & highchair in the loft (really) may come in for my grandchildren...
My DD is almost 17 & I've still got some of her baby clothes. I can't bear to part with them. (Soppy or what?)

I also have everyone's first pair of shoes.

rosehip · 23/01/2003 18:26

Only kept the coming home from hospital outfit and lots of photos showing lots of outfits!! Intended on having a car boot - never got round to it and gave it all away - from dedigner to next.
I would have definitely had to of moved house if not as there was sooo much.

robinw · 23/01/2003 18:33

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GillW · 23/01/2003 19:57

My mother kept the African cradle I'd slept in (they moved to Kenya when I was 6 weeks old) and we used it for DS, 36 years later.

sb34 · 25/01/2003 20:28

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robinw · 25/01/2003 21:48

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Clarinet60 · 25/01/2003 23:10

LOL custardo!

I kept everything for DS2 and I'm bagging everything up and giving it away as he grows out of it. (Apart from a few key items that are too cute to lose and which I will keep until I'm a little old lady. The boys will then get a shock one day when they clear out all my stuff).
Even so, the bags of stuff left is taking over the house.

jasper · 26/01/2003 20:56

robinw do you know of any charities looking for childen's clothes?

I have loads I would love to find a good home for and I usually end up puting them in the clothes bank at Tesco but always wonder if they actually get used.

robinw · 26/01/2003 21:22

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susanmt · 27/01/2003 10:09

My FIL kept some of dh's baby clothes and my children both wore them - and the (worn very thin) terry nappies were great burp cloths etc!!. The best bit was that dh was born in 1070 (same as me) and was conceived in the summer of luuuuuurve, and some of his baby clothes are womdrefully psychedelic - esp the baby sleeping bag which both of ours slept in till 3 months!
My Dad has kept a lot of things, and when we visit my children sleep inthe cot I slept in and play with the toys I played with, which I think gives a great sense of connectedness (??? is that a word??) with the past.
In fact, the week I suspected I was pg with dd (first child) my Dad phoned me, he had been cleaning out the garage and said 'do you want a cot?' - he was thinking of our self catering cottage - and we got all defensive and said 'no!!' as I had had 2 m/c and we didnt want to tempt fate. SO he painted it and kept it and now ds sleeps there!

susanmt · 27/01/2003 10:10

Actually, dh was born in 1970, not 1070!!!

GillW · 27/01/2003 11:41

"dh was born in 1070 (same as me)" and "Actually, dh was born in 1970, not 1070!!!" - so you WERE born in 1070?! lol

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