Not only is there always the issue of making sure your tiny tot has enough clothes to warrant the multiple outfit changes required during a day, but a very real question is what to do with the items baby has grown out of?
For the most part, I thought it would be easy to rid Munchkin’s closet of her too small apparel. I had banked on friends and family having girls to gift the items…but no one had a little girl. All boys. Seriously?! Now what am I supposed to do with this stuff cluttering up the closet and drawer space? That’s prime realty! I set out to find a new plan, a person or place who would graciously accept the new (or barely worn) and clean items I had either spent loads of money on or someone else had spent loads of money to buy. Everyone knows babies aren’t cheap. Unless the items are in bad shape (stained, irreparable, or modified in some way) I would never suggest throwing it away. It hurts my heart to see good items casually relegated to a dumpster.
Donate to Charity
An option I came across was searching for local charities via Charity Navigator. It lists charities by category or rating (among other things). In light of the hurricanes and earthquakes plaguing the country these past few months, it also provides avenues of donation to those causes. In most cases, up to a certain amount, donations are tax-deductible. Even if you choose not to claim the deduction on your income tax, the feel-good vibes of donating used items can be enough to make a difference in your own heart and the receiver’s.
Resell or Exchange them
Another idea is to resell your items to local businesses like consignment shops or thrift stores. These stores will pay you a small sum of money or provide in-store credit based on the items. This can be a great option if you’re hoping to “exchange” outgrown clothing for bigger sizes of comparable pieces. Even in rural areas, there is a good chance you can find a place to sell the unnecessary clothing. Considering inquiring if a particular clothing shop also buys toys, etc. Even if they don’t accept anything other than clothing, it’s worth a shot they might have information on who would buy other items.
Re-Gifting
Re-gift! As hard as I tried, there were a few brand new outfits Munchkin never wore. We simply ran out of time before she grew or the weather never cooperated with said outfit. It can be hard having a baby late spring/early summer depending on when your weather pattern turns from comfortable into hotter-than-Hades miserable summer. The cute sweater sets just aren’t practical when temperatures are pushing 110 degrees in the shade (no exaggeration). However, with friends scattered around the country (I was military when my daughter was born so many of my colleagues have since moved) they might have the opportunity to be stationed in locales with extremely cold or hot seasons so those tiny sweaters could be an awesome addition to a new baby’s wardrobe. I urge you to reach out to families expecting a new baby for any re-gifting purposes; one baby’s discards are another baby’s party outfit!
