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01/15/2002 Entry: "Dilemma"

There have been a couple of comments down below about keeping baby clothes. I'm honestly torn over the issue and could really use some advice.

On one hand, we could really use the money I'd get for selling his outgrown clothes to the local baby thrift store. Sam is growing like a weed; he slept horribly last night, and I think it was due to the fact that his sleeper was too tight. We don't have much storage space at all to keep baby clothes that aren't in use, and I'm not even sure if there's a point to keeping them, since Eric and I haven't decided whether there will be a baby brother or sister for Sam in the future. (I'm leaning toward yes; he's leaning toward no.)

On the other hand, should we decide to have another baby, these clothes would come in handy. Some of them are practically brand new (which is why the thrift store seemed like a good idea). People aren't nearly as generous with second babies, so a future baby's closet might be more bare. Plus, as Jenne reminded me, getting rid of the baby clothes is always an invitation to fate to step in...

I'm already keeping a few of the things that have extreme sentimental value - a sleeper here, a pair of booties there. Should I hang onto more of it?

Replies: 12 sandcastles

Ok like you need MORE input, especially since you sound like you have your mind made up, BUT here goes anyway!! I keep EVERYTHING. And it is stupid! The only reason I do is because I can't bear to part with those cute little clothes. That being said, I have a ton now, because everyone has been in different sizes at different seasons. So I have 0-3 in summer and winter clothes etc. I say sell them. People ARE generous the second, and the third time around. Collin has a tremendous amount of clothes right now because that is all he got for christmas and he is in some of the clothes Dillon was in at this size. SELL SELL SELL!! Oh yeah, keep the sentimental ones ;)

Posted by Bekki @ 01/16/2002 10:04 PM EST

As mynx says, I am a big believer in passing it on. If you really could use some spare change, go ahead and sell the clothes, IMO. If you get pregnant again, you can get the fun of shopping for bargains for the new baby! ;) But if the money's not that big of a deal, maybe you could pass them on to a pregnant/new mommy friend who could possibly pass them back to you if you need them?

Posted by jennifer and the bean(s) @ 01/16/2002 11:35 AM EST

I held on to all of my daughters stuff. Then I had another. I didn't use very much of it at all. Even though the second baby was a boy I still think that some where in my head I felt that this child just needed to have some of his own things. Allot of what I had for my daughter was unisex since she was 9 months when I found out about #2.

Posted by Rebecca @ 01/15/2002 11:08 PM EST

I got so many of Jeannie's clothes on eBay, that I was thrilled to sell them again when she'd grown out of them. I didn't realize, of course, that I would be getting pregnant again a mere 6 months later. While I do regret selling off a bunch of Jeannie's 0-3 and 3-6 month sized clothes, I realize now that Holly, born in the summer, wouldn't have been able to wear many of them anyway since she was born in the summer and Jeannie in the winter. I'm glad I saved all the other clothes though. I don't have to worry about Holly's wardrobe as much as Jeannies.

Hey... maybe it's true. As soon as I sold Jeannie's clothes, I got pregnant. lol ;o)

Posted by hilary @ 01/15/2002 10:44 PM EST

I would keep them..but I am just thinking of the future..I would at least keep them for a few years and see if there is a baby number 2 on the cards.
I have kept everything for my daughter (she is my first) and I know that I am going to keep all her stuff, so that when she has a baby, if she is struggling for money, she can go though the stuff i've kept and sort out what she might want. Some of the things I guess will date, but a lot of it won't.
Good luck deciding.

Posted by Merrilee @ 01/15/2002 10:11 PM EST

Food for thought, all. Thanks.

I have to say, the thought that Sam's sleeper was affecting his sleep is just hypothesis on my part. When I put him down, the sleeper looked fine, but when I looked more closely in the morning, the neckline seemed tight. In any event, it's not as though we can't get new sleepers without the thrift money; last time, though, I got $50 for a laundry basket of his clothes. Considering that most outfits in the store go for around $2, that money could go a long way.

I'll probably keep more than I was going to, but thrift most of it anyway.

Posted by Carrie @ 01/15/2002 06:26 PM EST

Hi Carrie,
I found your site through Emily and I really love it- all your colors are so great, and the unifying sandcastle theme. (Not to mention your wonderful writing....) I just wanted to weigh in on the clothing issue- I'd say pass it on. Keep the Baby Clothes Karma moving! I have a daughter, Margaret, 5 months, and I'm so tempted to hold onto everything, but I'm just keeping a few little things. I trust that people will come through for my next baby, especially if I'm generous with the stuff I have now. :)

Posted by Helen @ 01/15/2002 06:07 PM EST

Are things that bad that the baby is sleeping in too tight sleepers and you could use the money you get from selling his clothes?

Here is some advice, get a part time job at night when your husband can watch the baby. You will be easing the financial burden and giving your husband a chance to really bond with your son.

There are so many parents that feel that being with the baby at all times is the best thing. I can't see how it can be all that good for the baby, when the lack of income makes things so stressfull that all the parents do is argue.

Posted by Lisa @ 01/15/2002 04:50 PM EST

I would have to agree to keeping a few more clothes than you originally intended, especially if they are unisex. Also, I don't know how many clothes you DO have, but if you kept enough to last you a couple of days (like, 7 to 10 outfits per time frame --0 to 3, 3 to 6), that wouldn't be too terribly many, and could do for you in the future, though you might get sick of doing laundry. :)

Posted by Kristin @ 01/15/2002 04:16 PM EST

CJ is a boy, 4.5, Meredith a girl, 19 mos. When I read your post I instinctively thought "oh no, what if Carrie and Eric have more kids?"... There are a handful of things that belonged to CJ (mostly newborn gowns and onesies) that Meredith wore. Honestly, she did not wear all *that* much of CJ's clothing. But, I tell ye, the things we already owned that we have used the most have been things like the high chair, exersaucer, changing table, etc.

I will qualify though and say that most of the clothes Meredith has are handmedowns from Jennifer and others on my lists. So, if you do sell Sammy's clothes, and you DO get pregnant again, just send out a distress call and I bet you'll get boxes of clothes. :)

Posted by mynx @ 01/15/2002 02:37 PM EST

Please excuse my non-sensical sentence above... Lillian didn't sleep well last night, my brain is fried!

Posted by Rachel @ 01/15/2002 01:32 PM EST

How about hanging on to some of it, and selling the rest? If you are to have another baby, it very well could be a girl. Then is little blue outfits, with choo-choo trains on them, wouldn't be that practical to have held onto. Also, if you do get pregnant again, you will have several months to get ready, save money, and aquire baby clothes.

Posted by Rachel @ 01/15/2002 01:31 PM EST