Looking for Opinions on Keeping Vs. Selling Baby Clothes

Updated on October 14, 2008
K.D. asks from Coppell, TX
20 answers

I am looking for opinions on whether I should save the clothes my daughter has outgrown or sell them. My family thinks I should save everything because my daughter is the first grandchild on both my side and my husbands side (we have a total of 3 other siblings that could eventually have children)and because we are planning to eventually have 1 more child (though not for a couple more years). However, I have noticed that we already have 2 large plastic bins full of clothes, and my daughter is only 23 months old! Also, in order for them to get used again, we would have to have another girl and she would have to be born in the same season as our other daughter, for the sizes to be right...however, I do have a hard time getting rid of stuff and everything is in good, if not perfect, condition. So, for those mom who have been in this situation before, should I keep or sell? If you kept your first child's clothes, did you actually use it with the next child? Or did you want to buy new stuff? Thanks for your help!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all of the advice! I've decided to sell some of my daughter's clothes, mainly the stuff that is less likely to get re-used and that doesn't hold any "memories" for us, in the Just Between Friends sale in Arlington this weekend and keep the rest. My family agrees, so at least I don't have to worry about making anyone upset! :)Thanks again to everyone who responded!
P.S. If anyone has someone they know that makes the quilt's with the clothes, I really liked that idea, and would love to find someone who could make it for me! TIA!

Featured Answers

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A.B.

answers from Dallas on

I am having the same 'problem'! My boys are 18 months apart and it was nice (and cheap) to get a second use out of them. I guess I'll wait until we're done having babies to decide what to do...I'll probably give away most of it then.

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T.B.

answers from Dallas on

I kept my son's clothes for the second baby that was born nearly three years later. However, I had a girl. I was able to use some things that were not gender specific. But the rest I ended up selling after I found out I was having a girl. Now that I am pretty confident we are done having babies. I do sell the clothes as they outgrow them.

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N.R.

answers from Dallas on

I have a 3year old and a 5 month old. If there is something that has been kept in excellent condition from my 3yr old than I have a box that I put it in for my 5 month old. I really haven't kept many clothes and I have just donated them to a church/women's shelter.

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J.J.

answers from Dallas on

I saved my son's, but ended up with girl the second time around. It still worked out though because I found someone to trade with, so I traded approximately a year's worth of boy clothes for girl clothes. It has worked out wonderfully. I'm not big on shopping so it didn't bother me not to buy my daughter new things. The grandparents still get her a few new items. So my vote is to save anything that is in great condition. This time around I am not being quite so "anal" about keeping it all pristine since it is used anyway. I used to be such a crazed lunatic about making sure he wore bibs and such. I am much more lax now unless she is wearing something really nice. We're not planning on having anymore after her so now I am deciding what should be tossed, kept, donated, or sold. Does anyone know of anyone who has a business making those quilts out of old clothes. I wouldn't have time of talents to make my own?!

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E.J.

answers from Dallas on

I have saved a few of my 3 girls outfits when they were babies so I can maybe sometime in the future make a quilt for them. So I would go through and save the ones with special meaning to you like the outfit you brought her home in. Since I had 3 girls I saved the outfits and they used most of them depending on when they are born. I am now putting away some 3T outfits and pulling out the 4T for my youngest. She has plenty of clothes for winter/summer and I don't have to go shopping for them.

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B.H.

answers from Dallas on

My girlfriend told me to get rid of stuff because she never used her older son's clothes on her younger son. I think because you are so excited for your new child, you want to buy them special stuff too.
I just can't picture the next kid wearing all the same stuff that my son wears now. We call my 9 month old son "Silly Monkey" so he has LOTS of clothes with that on there. The next child will probably have a different nickname so I won't want him to wear Jaxon's clothes that were so specific to his personality. In that case, I think the quilt is a GREAT IDEA!
To me, I actually think the best hand me down clothes are the basics like pajamas and pants/shorts/t-shirts that aren't so memorable.

B.B.

answers from Dallas on

I'm going to keep my son's clothes for our next kids, or any other kids that might join our family. I've also heard about making a quilt out of special clothes so you have a momento, without having to store the clothes in a box somewhere. I liked that idea b/c there are clothes that I just adore, and that hold memories.

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M.B.

answers from Dallas on

Even with different seasons in Texas, the majority of clothing is usually for warmer weather. My first was a boy and I kept all the clothes - in plastic bins on the top shelf of the closet. Since my second son was a boy, I was able to reuse alot of clothes. I did buy new ones for my younger son for coming home from hospital, matching outfits for pictures, etc, When the second child is born is likely the only time the opposite seasons matter - in the first few months (oldest was born in Jan - youngest in Aug). Also, since my sons were totally different sizes from day one (<7 lbs for first child and almost 9 lbs for the second), seasons aligned quickly. Also, since the clothes are very gently worn (as they are in the early years), you'll save a chunk of change by hanging onto them. Even if you have a boy, there are likely some neutral colors - yellows/greens and styles (onesies, basic knit pants, socks, etc.) that you can reuse.

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M.F.

answers from Dallas on

I'd say save the cutest stuff and sell or give away the rest. We have simply passed all of our hand-me-downs through our circle of friends. Everyone has really appreciated it and we've been able to enjoy seeing some of our favorite little outfits on friend's babies :-). Also, there might be a local crisis pregnancy place or a place that supports low-income parents...they love receiving things that can help give underprivledged new moms a good start.

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M.P.

answers from Dallas on

I am keeping all of my son's clothes so far; he is only 5 months old so I don't have as many as you do, but we want more kids in the future so I wanted to save them. What I have been doing is buying those vacuum seal bags from Target; I used one x-large for all my maternity clothes which once took up a trunk in my closet, and so far 2 medium size bags for his clothes. They are great because I just slide them under his bed to store.

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P.B.

answers from Tyler on

Just keep the ones that "mean something" or you might pass on to siblings/grandkids later.

After a year, be sure to check the stored clothing for stains that might appear after storage (even after careful cleaning).

Blessings,

P. <><

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K.C.

answers from Dallas on

I would keep all the clothes that are in good condition. I kept all my 1st sons clothes and Since my 2nd son was born I might have spent $50 on clothes for him, if that. So the hand me downs get lots of use here. My boys are 13 months apart so the season aligned great, but even if they don't align there are always things that can be used. I did just get rid of all the clothes my youngest son grew out of at a yard sale a few months ago. I had 6 rubbermaids full of boys clothes premie-6 months. We aren't planning on any more kids for at least 4 year so they will be out dated by the next child.

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S.R.

answers from Dallas on

Keep the special stuff and sell the rest to a store like Kid to Kid. www.kidtokid.com
Most likely, by the time you have another kid either you'll have a different gender, you'll have them in different seasons, or your taste will change and the clothes won't be as stylish/cute as they were 3 or more years ago.

On that note, I did save some stuff to hand down from daughter 1 to daughter 2. They were born 3 years and 4 months apart so they were mostly in different season's too.

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K.E.

answers from Dallas on

I kept all of my first sons clothes because they outgrow them so fast and I kept them so nice. Any yes my second son wears them all. My advice would be to hold onto them and see if you'll be able to use them again because you'll find with your second child people don't buy you nearly as much as they do for that first one unless you just have money to burn.

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T.B.

answers from Dallas on

I recommend converting it : ) into money so that you can buy more baby paraphernalia...that way it is not like you just sold it all off for profit...you just converted it to clothing that your kids can wear. Is that really so selfish?

If you think that others will get mad at you for selling the clothes cause they think you are selfish, then let them know that you need the storage space and offer a day that they can come look at the clothes and take whatever they like. After that you can sell the rest.

I saved my baby clothes for a long time and when people had babies I offered what I had but I never had takers...they either had the wrong gender, they were born a different time of the year, or they wanted to by new clothes. As for the rest of my family, shipping it all cost the same as buying their babies new clothes the next time I visit...and I love shopping for baby clothes.

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

Sell - or better yet, gift to the next girl in the family. To be stored at the grandparents' house.

I kept some of my son's special outfits. Most were sold or passed on to the next boy in the extended family - and some came back around for my second.

S.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

I keep outfits that have a fun memory for me, or that we had professional pics in. It is hard to get rid of stuff, but it takes up so much room! If you have a hard time you might could use them to make a quilt or something similar as a keepsake? You could also just pick a couple of nice outfits to save to either give away or save for a future child.

I've had great luck selling large lots of clothes on Craig's List, even those that are slightly stained. I just tell them that some have light stains and are good for playclothes. The consignment stores won't give you much at all for them, even cute stuff!

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E.W.

answers from Dallas on

I would save most of the stuff if you can. I gave most of my daughters infant clothes away and I regret it, I wish I would have kept them. I am now trying for a second and it would have been nice to have some of the clothes if I was to have naother girl.

Also don't get to wrapped up in having to have a child around the same time because kids grow at different rates. For instance my daughter is 2.5 years old and she still has some 12 month old clothes that fit her because she is only 23 lbs. watch my next kid be a bruiser and fit into them at 12 months or even 9 months. I hope this makes sense, it sounds good in my head but I am not sure if it came out that way.. LOL =)

Anyway, I would keep them if you can. You maybe surprised that you may need them again

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

We kept all of our clothes that were in good condition. Since I stored them in the attic, we put everything in large ziplock type bags (the really huge kind) and then stored them in plastic boxes. That was almost three years ago. Our first child was a boy. Now we are expecting a little girl. I was pleasantly surprised at how much of the newborn stuff we could reuse...it was pretty gender neutral. There were a few items of the older clothes that will work too - a few shirts, sweaters and blue jeans. It just so happens that our neighbor had a "surprise" baby and we were able to let them have our boy clothes. They plan on sending them back our way when their little one grows out of it. Whatever is still in good condition will be sold.

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

I say, save the cutest stuff. I have an 11 month old and already have 4 huge bins of clothes, and I've gotten rid of 1/2 of what she had! You're going to get lots of new things later on for the next baby, so don't save everything, but I say save the nicest stuff.

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