How Long To Keep Baby Clothes and Equipment

Written by Meredith on May 29, 2008 | Comments (0)

how-long-do-I-keep-baby-equipment-and-clothing.jpg You've had one baby.  Or two.  Or three.

How long should you keep the baby clothes and equipment?

When is the right time to sell or give away your baby's stuff?

Here's advice from a mom who's moved every 2 years!


 

Don't be so quick to pack things away for posterity!

Baby things aren't always meant to last.

Those carefully washed pastel onesies?

They might be dotted with mystery stains two years later. (True story!)

 

Why It's Sometimes Better To Sell Now, Buy Later:

  • Safety standards improve.  The top-of-the-line car seat 2 years ago may be only so-so now.
  • Plastics can become brittle and/or degrade. The clips on my baby's crib cracked after two years in a hot attic!  My Avent bottle nipples crumbled from dry rot. 
  • Styles change, and so may the sex of your baby!  If you can afford it, it's nice to have a fresh look.  Especially if you buy from a consignment sale!
where-to-give-baby-clothes-away-to-needy-pregnant-mother.jpg

Giving Your Baby Things Away:

I'm a big believer in what-goes-around-comes-around.  Unless you know you'll be pregnant again soon, why not let someone else use your equipment?  Crisis pregnancy shelters and churches can find someone who needs help right away.

The cool thing about mom karma?  I've always been the recipient of better items than I gave away.

how-to-save-heirloom-baby-clothes.jpg

What Baby Items You Should Keep:

  • The going-home outfit with hospital bracelet.
  • A special toy or rattle, including a photo of the baby holding item.
  • Heirloom clothing, wrapped in a favorite cotton baby blanket.
  • Large furniture like cribs, changing tables, and rocker--IF you plan to have more.
  • A photo of the nursery, if you have to move.

Here is an excellent article on preserving baby clothes and other keepsake textiles.

how-long-should-I-keep-my-babys-car-seat.jpg

How Do You Know If Baby Equipment Is Too Old To Keep?

Sign up for free recall alerts from the Consumer Safety Protection Agency.  Check your baby equipment for recalls.

Newer cribs have smaller spaces between slats.  Here is a checklist of crib safety standards.

Car seats are meant to last about 5 years.  You can check the age of your car seat by finding the manufacturer's info on the back.  Here are more tips on the life expectancy of your car seat.

Slings and strollers last a long time.  You may need one even for older children on long trips.

Clothing is usually safe to store.  Check older children's clothing for drawstrings and flammable fabrics.

Article Tools
Print
RSS
More articles like this here:

Tags:

Archives
© 2004-2008 The Fun Times Guide to Pregnancy ™

Leave a comment

Tag Cloud


Photos

  • Here are online resources to help you understand what a placenta previa is and what you should do if you have a placenta previa diagnosis.
  • Here are free ecards and e-greetings to help you tell friends if you're having a boy or a girl.
  • Here's a list of creative ways to announce the sex of your new baby to friends and family after the ultrasound results.
  • These maternity t-shirts make it easy to announce It's A Boy or It's A Girl.
  • How many bottles of water should I drink before my ultrasound? when can I go to the bathroom before my ultrasound?
  • Here's how to survive your first ultrasound, including how much water to drink before your ultrasound!
  • What do I do about skin tags and moles growing during pregnancy?
  • Mole growth is a common side effect of pregnancy, but you should still watch for signs of cancerous mole growth like these.
  • The Social Security Administration will graph your baby names for popularity across decades.
  • Bad Baby Names is a funny pregnancy book about what NOT to name your baby.
  • Are old-fashioned names now too trendy for your baby?
  • The best baby name book is the Baby Name Wizard by Laura Wattenberg. She gives cool yet not overused names and a great analysis of baby name trends.