Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

How do you part with your kids stuff???!!

My DD is 4 and I have packed away and saved EVERY toy, piece of clothing, and anything else that's ever been hers. We always knew we wanted another child so I saved it all but now that we are having a there is simply no need to save all the girlie toys and clothes but I can't bear to let them go. I am generally not a saver or collector of things but I have so many memories attached to her things and I just hate the thought of letting anything go.

How do you do it??? It's killing me to say good bye to any of her things.

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

Haven't BTDT but perhaps it would help you to give the stuff to someone you know and care about who has/is having a little girl? I know this helped my sister, and she loves seeing my DD wearing stuff that belonged to my niece and playing with her old toys, it brings back those sweet memories for her. It's also funny hearing my niece (now 5) say "hey, I used to have one JUST like that"

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

I too have saved EVERY SINGLE THING. I can't imagine ever having to give ANY of it away. Ever. Ugh. Maybe unless I had another DD and got to use it one more time (which easily could not happen). Let's just say I have loads of stuff that I have no plans toget rid of for many many years.

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

In our case it worked to our advantage bc I had another but once my youngest grew out, I knew there was no reason to hold onto everything. I took the most sentimental clothing items (ie, first Xmas outfit, coming home outfits, christening outfits, etc) put them in a storage bin & put it in the attic.

The remaining went to friends or families in need. Even though I did not want to part with these items, I knew I had no use & I felt better knowing someone who truly needed would get these items that I took such great care of. The first box was the hardest, after that it got easier. At one point I had 6 boxes of saved things in my attic & dh was like WHY?

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

I am totally like that...but part of it for me is that I'm not sure I will ever be able to accept being done having kids!
We moved and I passed on my infant seat because it was getting close to the expiration date and I wanted someone to get some use out of it before then. I also had someone ask for clothing for a child in need, which helped me, because i had to part with some of my girl clothing and I knew I needed to do it because it was a good cause and i was helping someone in need. I think it's easier for me if I are doing it for a cause...maybe you can find an organization that needs baby clothes, etc. I know that knowing it is going to someone directly helps me to part with things.

Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

I have a DD and am having a DS now and I gave everything away to friends who are either having a girl or just had one. It was bittersweet but I thought about how much joy everything will bring to them. I also saved some of my absolute favorite outfits that I just couldn't part with!

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

I live in a coop so things must go. I just remind myselft that we have a ton of pictures and its really JUST STUFF anyway. So enjoy reminiscing while packing and then donate or give to a friend who might want.

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

Posted by Kissy331

In our case it worked to our advantage bc I had another but once my youngest grew out, I knew there was no reason to hold onto everything. I took the most sentimental clothing items (ie, first Xmas outfit, coming home outfits, christening outfits, etc) put them in a storage bin & put it in the attic.

The remaining went to friends or families in need. Even though I did not want to part with these items, I knew I had no use & I felt better knowing someone who truly needed would get these items that I took such great care of. The first box was the hardest, after that it got easier. At one point I had 6 boxes of saved things in my attic & dh was like WHY?

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

Not very well!

I had two girls, then a boy. We didn't find out what we were having, so I didn't start the purge early. While preparing the nursery for #3, I left out some pink and girly washcloths, burp cloths, onesies, etc. Well, let me tell you, like a day after coming home with DS I happened to walk past the nursery, saw all the pink and BROKE DOWN! (I was even upset that I had a boy and I'd never get to use tiny baby girl things ever again ) Those post-partum hormones got the best of me, so I think it's maybe somewhat better to do now. But then again...months later I finally got around to bagging up and donating alllllllll my girl clothes and I bawled, BAWLED through the whole thing, I'm talking hours. So you know what, scratch the previous opinion.

Keep the sentimental things (I know, they're all sentimental!); donate the rest, and cry the whole time...it's very cathartic!

Now, the boy is 2 and I donate his things right after he grows out of them--that should avoid a messy scene later. Also, the girls are 7 and 5.5 and their stuff just isn't that cute anymore so I think I'm finally good!

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

honestly, there was no choice for us. i saved his take home outfits (nb and 0-3) and a few items that were my favorites and I just could not part with. i packed everything else up (sold some) and gave most to my sister for my nephew who is 10 months now. It is a great feeling to see him wearing it all i recognize every piece. I feel its better to let someone else get use out of it than let it sit taking up space.

toys I have a hard time with. we packed up "baby" toys and they are in the attic. we will use them again with #2 since most "baby" toys are gender neutral.

i think the thought of letting things go is worse than the actual act. once they are gone, you realize its OK. save the most important items and then let the others go to a good home. more room for new items and you will feel less weighed down

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

Idk! My girls are just out of their nb stuff. Its too short now. I'm keeping everything just in case we have another or for my sister if she has a girl.

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

It's tough. The toys I'm okay with, it's the clothes, the blankets, etc.

DD2 is a year old so I've given away a year of both of my girls things and it's crazy but must be done.

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

DH doesn't understand how hard this is for me. I am SOOO grateful I had another DD because I get to reuse all of DD1's stuff and it brings back such great memories. But now that DD2 is growing out of things, DH is pushing me to purge. My mom (God love her!) has offered to make me a quilt with pieces of their baby clothes. That is helping. I'm choosing which outfits I truly love and will use those for the quilt. Stained clothes I'm just tossing.

As for baby toys, I'm slowly giving them to charity. I've allowed myself one SMALL bin of toys I want to hold on to bc I just can't let go (certain rattles, stuffed toys they had in their cribs etc).

I hope to convince DH to have a 3rd baby in a few years, but he's ADAMANT that he is done and we need to get rid of these things. It's really hard.

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

Thank you everyone for all of the great suggestions. Glad I am not alone. DH thinks I am nuts but it really is so hard. I am going to be crying my eyes out trying to do this,

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

Lack of space will solve the problem every time

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

I had bins and bins of boys clothes. I think my husband counted about 12 bins (could have been more). All sets were matched up, socks were bagged up according to size, etc. Everything was neatly organized by size and season and labeled accordingly.

I went through every single item. It took a few days. I tossed the stuff that was stained. And then bought those vacuum seal bags from Bed Bath and Beyond.

We are probably not having a 3rd child, but you never know. I just wasn't ready to part with everything, and I don't have any close friends or family members to donate to right now, so I still saved most of it, but now it just takes up less space.

My husband might think I'm crazy, but he knows not to mess with a hormonal pregnant woman in her 3rd trimester.

Re: Help! How do you guys do it???!!!

I keep a few of each thing. But honestly, I don't need the stuff and it's just taking up space. We are loving how much room we are clearing up as we continue to give stuff away as DSs get older.

I also only give away to friends or people I know are going to use the stuff. I won't put it in one of those bins, I want to know that someone else is getting good use of it.

Message edited 1/2/2013 10:48:50 AM.