How long to keep hand me downs

Posted: Tue, Oct 11 2011, 8:13 am Post subject: How long to keep hand me downs

Assuming you don't have much space to store things and that money is tight where you live, how long would you store hand me down clothing? I have a 5 year old son and a 2.5 year old daughter. If someone wants to give me hand me downs for my son that won't fit him yet, how much in advance would you suggest getting them? Only the next size up? 2 sizes up? 3 or 4 sizes up? Etc? Because with babies its a little easier- you know that barring strange circumstances, your kids will likely change sizes every few months, but with older kids, some might shoot up like weeds and others might grow rather slowly, so even if you want to get hand me downs for the next 2 years, your kid might grow into them in only a year, etc... Or not fit into them for 3 years. Or their taste in clothes may change.

Next thing is- I'm due with a boy in a little bit. Should I really be keeping my daughters clothes for so many years until maybe I have another girl- and who knows- I may not have more kids, I may have only boys, or I may not have another girl for another 10 years... and here the clothes will just be siting around.
I know I naturally have a spacing between my kids of 2 years with no birth control, so that means that clothes that my daughter is outgrowing now for sure won't be used until she has a little sister that is 2.5... and since there's not much of a likelihood I'll get pregnant with a girl at least for another 2 years, that means that any clothes my daughter outgrows now will likely sit in storage for at least 4 years...
So do I give away any clothes my daughter outgrows? Do I give away my daughter's baby clothes, etc... Or do I save those, because those I have a chance of using sooner, even if not possibly for another 2 years...

What do you do about storing baby and kids clothes long term assuming you don't have much storage space but also don't want to spend money on buying a whole new wardrobe when the time comes because you already have stuff now?

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 27 2006 Age: 30 Posts: 2549

I would keep the expensive shabbos things that are classic, not trendy. Little t shirts and leggings u can always get for 2-4$, not so expensive that it's worth taking up space.

Things stained/ripped/washed out for sure get rid of.

For your 5 year old son, I would get stuff 1 year in advance. At that age my kids fit into stuff for a year.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 6025

Daughter's things I keep things that I am particularly attached to - personal favorites, expensive classy things. Bigger/expensive things like snowsuits I try to lend out to people who would take good care of them and return by the time I'd need it again. That way they're used instead of just in storage, but I still own my good stuff.

Boy hand-me-downs I'd accept anything "special" even if it's a bit far into the future. Regular, easy-to-come by items maybe only a couple of sizes ahead.

My DD is 3 1/2 and I just started giving away her clothes, being that I'm not pg and not so likely to be soon. I actually feel good about it, especially when my SIL calls me and tells me how darling my niece looked on Shabbos in that navy dress with the lavender accents...the one DD wore 2 years ago...

Like others have posted, if there's an outfit that I especially liked or was a real classic, I hold on to it for sentimental value. You never know.....
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Chayalle