What To Do With Old Baby Clothes And Furniture

 

First-time parents usually buy way too many clothes and furniture for their babies. Such a buying spree typically happens during the first few months after the baby was born because most parents think their children need all those things. But, soon enough, most parents will realize that babies grow very fast. Thus, unused and ill-fitting items can accumulate in no time.

Don't worry if you find yourself in this position. Even if your baby bins and cabinets are bursting with baby toys and stuff, or your storage is filled to the brim with old baby clothes and furniture, there are many things that you can do with all those items.

But, first, you must ask yourself if you're ready to part ways with such sentimental belongings. If your answer is yes, read on to find some tips on what you can do with old baby clothes and furniture.

 

1.      Declutter Your Baby's Things

The first step is to declutter your cabinets, storage bins, attic, and even garage from old baby things that you no longer use. Check out all the items and determine if they’re still fit for someone else to use. So, inspect all the old clothes, accessories, and furniture to see which ones are tattered, damaged, unusable, and dirty.

No matter how beautiful and expensive the baby clothes and gear originally were, you don't have a choice but to throw the damaged ones away. That said, you may not be able to toss oversized items into regular trash bins. For large baby items, surf online if you're looking for a rubbish service that caters to your area.

 

2.      Go Ahead And Donate

Even if you’re a first-time parent, you don't need to buy many clothes and stuff for your baby. Aside from the cost, your child can only use baby items for a few years or months. To prevent you from acquiring too many baby clothes, you need to know how much you need.

As your baby grows older, you can dispose of their old stuff by giving them away to friends or relatives who are expecting parents, or to charitable institutions, such as orphanages or churches. Please don't feel lousy donating your child's old items because you're giving them to a good cause.

 

3.      Sell Them

Taking care of babies can be expensive, so, as parents, you should always look for ways to save money on baby stuff, like diapers, clothes, and other needs. One way to earn a few bucks and declutter your home is by selling old baby items online. If you’re a member of parenting and baby forums or groups, you can post the baby things you're selling on the message boards.

 

4.      Consider Swapping

If you’re a part of a community organization or have a lot of friends in the neighborhood, you may want to consider swapping. If a friend has a younger baby, you can give them your child's old things, such as toys and shoes, in exchange for books or items you think you or your child needs.

If you received gifts that you don't need during your baby shower, perhaps, you can check with the store if they're willing to exchange the items with those you need. By the way, if you’re swapping with close friends and family, you can exchange your baby's used things for services. Maybe, you need your friend to look after your baby on a weeknight in exchange for some old toys.

 

5.      Try Freecycling

Freecycle is a new buzzword that entails giving away things to a person who needs them most. Freecycling can be done with anything that you need to discard and not just baby stuff.

There are many freecycle networks online wherein you can post the things you need to dispose of and wait for someone within your community who needs what you have. This act is much like donating, but instead of giving your items to an organization, you’re giving them to a particular person you most likely don't know personally, except within the bounds of the freecycling network.

 

6.      Test Consignment Arrangements

If the baby items you’re planning to get rid of are almost new and are in excellent condition, you may want to take them to your nearest consignment store. The store could sell your used items for a fee or share of the profit. The good thing about dealing with consignment stores is that you can use the money you earn from the sale to buy the stuff you need. Just remember that since consignment stores mainly sell used items, you'll have to part with your things at low prices.

 

The Bottom Line

You can do many things with old baby clothes, toys, furniture, books, and stuff. You can donate, sell, swap, consign, and freecycle such items and free your home of clutter. If the baby clothes and gears are ancient, damaged, or unusable, you should consider throwing them away. If you find it hard to discard oversized heavy items, call a professional rubbish removal service.