As soon as the baby shower invitations hit the mail, expecting parents start clearing out space in the nursery for baby’s new threads. And it doesn’t stop there; birth announcements invite the generosity of friends, family and other well wishers who hear the news.
It’s not impossible that half to three-quarters of a first baby’s closet might be filled with clothes. Girls in particular receive a bevy of outfits, and not just in the form of dresses–bonnets, bows, booties, baby bunting….ever tried to not buy something pink for a baby girl? It’s not easy!
But many of these outfits never get worn. Babies come in all sizes, not always fitting into the 0-3, 3-6, 6-12, 12-18 month size charts. Throw in variable weather and parents tastes, many outfits just won’t work. In addition, parents develop preferences depending largely on how easy it is to dress baby and perceived comfort (not all cottons are equal!).
All of this leads to the question, what to do with the unworn clothes? You have a few options:
New With Tags
- Return Even without a gift receipt, most stores will give you a store credit for their brand (or brands they carry). Be aware that last season’s clothes will garner a lower price.
- Regift You may be better off wrapping up an item for someone else’s shower. Just be sure to consider the size and season of the new baby so it doesn’t go unworn a second time!
- eBay or Craigslist NWT attracts full price, as long as you’re ready to become a seller in the online resale world.
Washed But Never Worn
- Consign
- LOCAL: Local consignment stores accept clothes limited to specific brands for upcoming seasons during designated time periods. Contact them first before showing up with your bin of clothes or many could be rejected.
- ONLINE: A less limiting option is a new online consignment store called www.thredUP.com. There’s no limits on seasonality or timing, however they aren’t currently accepting clothes sized under 12 months.
Lovingly Worn
- Pass on Consigning certain items may not be an option, depending on the brand, how worn the item is, or other restrictions like seasonality or your timing. If you know of someone who could use them, passing the clothes on may be the best option.
- Donate There are many organizations such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and local women’s and children’s shelters that would be delighted to have your baby’s clothes.
If you’re preparing for a baby shower, you can find adorable baby shower invitations on www.looklovesend.com as well as coordinating baby thank you cards and birth announcement cards that can be customized with photos. All invitations and cards are printed on premium quality paper and customer satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
