Recycling baby clothes
Monday, June 4th, 2012
Do you recycle baby clothes? If not, why not? Everyone is talking about going green, stopping waste, getting better mileage… why not get better mileage out of baby clothes? Little tikes outgrow them long before they can wear them out. And if you hadn’t noticed, babies and their clothes are expensive.
Chat with your friends and relatives about starting a clothes swap. Once through the washing machine, you’re good to go. It’s very helpful to rotate clothes from a larger baby to a smaller one, especially if you live in a cold climate in the winter where snowsuits and other gear are a must. Check with your local secondhand clothing store or resale shop. They often have “gently used” clothes at extremely reasonable prices. Often, if you bring in clothes your tots have outgrown for sale, you will receive credit for purchasing whatever you need in the next size up. Whatever you can’t sell at the consignment shop, you can donate to the Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters or other local charity.
For larger items like strollers, high chairs, etc. you can try looking for or listing them on one of the popular for-sale-by owner web sites. But don’t get a used car seat if you can possibly buy a new one.
Save the fancy new duds that the grandparents give you for special occasions and use the recycled ones everyday. And if you have a few special outfits that you really love and are sentimentally attached to, consider taking them apart and making them into a quilt that you can use and then pass on to your grandchildren.
