Is There a Good Way to Say 'No Thanks' to Hand-me-down Clothes?

Just tell her what you told us. You don't have room to store just in case she wants them back (seriously I don't give something like that with the anticipation of getting it back) and you are set for clothes for six months.

Just tell her the truth. Just like you told us. Don't have the room to store and we're set - thank you soooo much for the offer!!! I just can't accept it right now.

You did a good job here. Thank you, but we are set for now. we also have no room for storage, and I would feel terrible, if you wanted then back and I had not kept up with them.
Thanks you for thinking of me.

I also had lots of offers of clothing in the beginning. No space, but as she got older and was growing so fast, I did accept a few offers, especially since they told me, I could pass them along if we did not need them and once she outgrew them. I just went through them and organized them by size and what I thought we would use.. Then I either offered them to others or donated them. I felt like I cleaned out her clothes every 2 months at least for years. They grow so fast, and here the weather is always differerent in each growth cycle.

Just say:
"Sue, thank you for thinking of Jr., but we're pretty set for the next year and I have SO very little room. Please feel free to bless someone else with what you have!"

I've never heard of giving hand me downs back. If those are the terms, I would decline too!

"Thank you so much for thinking of me. I'm pretty well set for right now. I need to know if you want them back or can I give what I don't want to other girlfriends?"

Then depending upon how she really answers, even though your hunch is probably accurate, decide then. Don't decide ahead of time.

Think of this as a great practice opportunity for your communication skills, that you are working on. If she wants the clothes back, then take at least one item you like, and return it all right away so she can pay it forward to someone else. And be honest...you don't have the space to store clothes you hope your son will grow into... Or give her a huge thanks, and you get to regift a bunch of boys clothes to other new mommies who would be delighted to have hand me downs. Either way, you win.

Unless your son and nephew are the exact same size, shape build and most important - Season, chances of the clothes fitting later are nill. Everytime I ever saved an adorable outfit for my kids, it never fit. I mean never.

Um... just say no.

But don't say, "No way will I hang on to these for you until you need them again!"

Say, "It's sweet of you to offer Jeremy's clothes to us, but I need to turn you down - we have plenty of clothes for Sam already, and I don't want to act like one of those hoarding people on the TV show."

Be honest, and tell her you're so appreciative of her offer, but right now you are really well stocked and isn't there someone else she can trade with who needs them more. Also ask her if she will want them back, and if she says yes, tell her you're really worried about being able to keep track and get things back to her.

Just say "That's so nice, thank you so much! I'm good on clothes, not so great on storage space. I really appreciate your offer, though!"

I would just say, "Thank you so much for thinking of us. That is really thoughtful of you. We are set right now though." She can always donate them to Goodwill if she can't find a home for them. Besides, your situation could change at some point and you may welcome the opportunity to take more clothes.

Say "Thank you so much for the offer if you have an outfit or two that you don't want back that will fit him now, I wouldn't mind a few but right now he is all set on clothes. I don't have anywhere to store any excess items." This lets her know you are appreciate her offer, are ok accepting or not but she shouldn't expect items back.

I never got any hand me down clothes that were expected to be returned. Baby equipment yes, and that was easy. Clothes would be too difficult with a lack of storage and a pain to keep track of what is what. Not to mention that some of those items could be stained or torn.

Hand me down clothes that were not to be returned I accepted with a smile and thank you. Kept what I wanted and donated the rest.

Sometimes hand me downs are given and sometimes they are expected back to go to someone else. I don't see what th big deal is. I always knew who and where all my son's clothes came from so there was no issue tracking them down. But if this stresses you out (I love hand me downs even when they need to be given back...I am just more careful with them) then say he is pretty much set for the next year. I reccomend you rethink how you feel though...hand me downs are fun.

I would thank her so much for thinking of you, but let her know that your son is set for the next six months and you don't have much storage room, so if she has someone else that would benefit from the clothes, to please pass them on and thank her again for her offer. It's hard to keep track of the specific clothing that you got from one person mixed in with all of your child's clothing. If she insists on "gifting" you with these clothes, leave them in the tub and don't use them, just store them in the garage or basement or whatever.

Say "SIL, we are pretty set for clothes for now. Please pass them to the next family and thanks for the offer. I appreciate you thinking of us."

If I pass clothes on, I only pass on what I do not expect back. To loan clothes is different than to pass clothes on.

I think you can be honest.
My son had tons of clothes when he was born-from 0-12 months. When people asked if I wanted their kids' clothes I just said 'oh wow, thank you do much for thinking of us, but if I try to add any more baby clothes to this closet it will explode! I'd rather they go to someone who really needs them-we are just overwhelmed by baby stuff right now!'
People understand that-especially city people with limited space!

My sister in law is always giving me a bunch of stuff...I just tell her that there's no way I could store any more clothes (they're usually too big and kind of out of style since her kids are all grown up).

I tell her that all of our drawers and closets are busting at the seams, but thanks for thinking of us.

I think you should tell her thanks but we are all set. If she insists, add other facts. There is no way I would EVER borrow clothes. What a nightmare.

i don't get people who want hand-me-downs back. seriously. so many people are squiffed out about HMDs anyway (i'm not, i accepted 'em cheerfully) but if a) they're so special that one wants to preserve them forever or b) finances are such that one is afraid one won't be able to afford 'new' HMDs for the next kid, one should surely just hang onto one's clothes.
:)
save yourself the grief!
and no need to turn yourself inside-out over it. just say 'you are so wonderful to think of us! but we're all set for the next couple of months, and have no space to store bigger/smaller/precious/ things right now. thanks anyway!'
keep it simple. keep it honest.
:) khairete
S.

Been there, done that. I NEVER use the stuff people give away or lend. I just keep it in plastic storage bins in the basement, attic, or garage. When they want it back, it's ready to go...presto!

The last thing I want to deal with is hearing about the bad condition the clothes are in when they come back, or like you said, worrying about trying to track the stuff down.

Lastly, if you refuse a gift of used clothes, it can get pretty ugly...as these people for some reason take offense and think you're trying to say something about the cleanliness of their home, their taste in clothes, or that it ruins their chances of being "generous." So on that note, don't say anything. Just take it with a big smile and a happy "Thank-you" and store it where ever you can and where it won't get damaged. In time, you can ask if they want em back because you're going to donate them to the Good Will. They might freak out on you, even then, but at least they can let you know if they want them back before you get them out of your hair.

Accept them graciously and pass them on or toss them....Why would you wish to hurt someone's feelings?

Hi Boz,
I think it is great that you have a very helpful SIL. I don't think she will be very offended if you say something like. "Wow, that is so nice of you! I wish I had a use for them unfortunately I am pretty much set for clothes. Now I know where to go if I every need baby clothes. I'll call you if I need any baby clothes." This way you leave her feeling she is doing a great thing and you MAY need her in the future.

You could also just be honest with her. You are thankful of her nice gesture and you truly don't need the clothes. I'm sure she will appreciate your honesty. Just tell her that you're thankful of her thinking of you to give the clothes to, but you don't need them because you have already purchased clothes for your child. If you say it with sincerety as opposed to in a condescending tone she will not be offended. I'm sure she can find someone who needs the baby clothes.
I hope I helped. Good luck!!

A.

I would take a couple of outfits and then just put them aside so when she asks for them back you'll have them handy. Otherwise be prepared for hurt feeling the rest of the time the two of you are in the same family.

Hard as it is, she's family.

Tell her thank you and that you appreciate her thinking of you. Ask her if you may pass what you don't need on to other friends or if is going to want items back for potential future children. If she wants things back, after a week or so explain that you are concerned about the potential for stains or damaging the clothes and that after looking through the stash you have already collected you are set for this year. If she doesn't want things back, take what you need and pass everything else on to others.

I use lots of hand-me-downs and have only once ever had someone say they wanted something back and those were hand-made preemie clothes. We used those minimally and carefully and returned them as soon as possible.

I would ask. Hey Sis do you want them back after I use them? Because if you will want them back--I cant promise to do that as he will be taking them to day care, grandmas, etc and I wont have a good handle on where they are. But if I do not have to worry to get them back to you--Heck yeah I want them!

I would personally look through them. :) While you think you have clothes now, your little guy will be running through all the muck on the planet...stuff you never knew existed. :) I would just clarify that if she wants them back then you don't want to borrow them. My boys make such a mess of their clothes by constantly digging in dirt...I would never want the responsibility of having to return them. :) I also would not want to burn a bridge b/c while you might now want them now, just wait! clothes get so expensive. :) have fun..good luck.