Can we talk about how fast children grow in the first few years of their lives? I know everyone is warning you that as a new mom you will blink and your baby will suddenly be a toddler, but it’s really one of those things that you have to experience to really understand how insanely fast it goes. With this in mind, seasoned parents don’t often warn you about how this will affect the lifespan of your children’s clothes. All of a sudden, as your baby continues to grow, there is a revolving door full of clothes and the next thing you know is that you are overwhelmed with kids clothes of all different sizes! So I started googling where to donate kids clothes to see how I could give them a second life.
Fast fashion vs. sustainability
I admit: I love buying new clothes for the kids. But lately I’ve been having more and more problems shopping at fast fashion retailers. On the one hand, the price is right, and since these clothes are likely to get stained (you know how that is!) There really is no need to invest in high quality, sustainable pieces while the kids are small. On the other hand, I am all too aware of the ethical implications, from their manufacturing practices to their inevitable contribution to landfill.
In an effort to have some balance in my life, I made a rule: I allow myself to buy fast fashion 50% of the time, but I will always pass on the clothes (which are not completely trashed). The other half of the time, I buy second hand from some fabulous Instagram accounts (see the list below!) That have higher quality, more conscious options.
I would like to know what are you doing with them? Of course, throwing them in the trash isn’t an option, but sometimes we just don’t have anyone in our inner circle who needs them! I was there as a mother of two, so I searched the rabbit hole for used children’s clothing to find used children’s clothing companies that I could both donate and buy. These options were very helpful to me in deciding what to do with the clothes my kids had outgrown. Hopefully they will help you too!
Download Markid.io
This app really was a lifesaver! Markid.io is an online community of parents who buy and sell used clothing. Aside from being a great source of cash for the clothes your kids outgrew, you can also find a variety of new products that you may need.
Drop them off at your local donation container
Do not forget the classic donation stations such as GoodWill, Red Cross and Planet Aid, which always accept used children’s clothing and safely go to a loving new owner. Visit their websites to find a donation container near you.
Donate to Baby2Baby
It can be difficult to know where to start when donating your clothes, but I love using Baby2Baby. They make it super easy to donate clothes to children living in poverty. You can find out more about its impact on their website.
Find your local Facebook mother group
Another great way to swap out used clothing is by finding a local mothers group in your area. My personal favorite for all of the LA moms out there is Moms Helping Moms. Just post a few photos of the clothes you’d like to exchange or give away on the Facebook page and see who bites. It’s also a fun way to connect with new mom friends.
Sell on the Facebook marketplace
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with the good old-fashioned Facebook Marketplace. Experience has shown that every time I post on the platform, I get an answer within a day! Don’t be afraid to be out there selling to millions of people on Facebook every day. It’s super easy to do too.
Start an Instagram account
Why use someone else’s platform when you can create your own? While this option is a lot more work, it allows the creativity of creating your own shop – with no processing fees! If you have other mommy friends who want to sell their own items, why not get them involved and start a little side business together. Here are some of my favorites that I shop from on a regular basis:
Create a quilt from your favorites
Are you the sentimental guy who has a hard time getting rid of baby memories? Well, now you can hold onto her forever. A friend recently told me about a company that sews old baby clothes into a quilt as a special keepsake that will serve a purpose years later. A quick Google search will show you the range of stores that offer the service, but this Etsy shop looks great.
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These are just a few of my favorite ways to get rid of old baby clothes, of course, but let’s face it – there are so many things you can do. From mothers groups in your area to the numerous online buy / sell platforms, there are many options to choose from that will either make you money, feel good, or make some friends – or all of the above!
