Reusing Your First Child's Clothes and Objects

In most families, the fact that older siblings pass down their clothes to the youngest members is seen almost as a tradition. This practice has many benefits, including promoting solidarity among siblings.

The first pregnancy entails new expectations, feelings, and experiences. Then, a few years pass before you find out you’re pregnant again. The emotions overwhelm you and you start making plans, including financial ones. This second pregnancy might have you asking yourself if reusing your first child’s clothes on your second child is a good idea.

If you expertly kept your first baby’s clothing in good condition, why not reuse it with the new baby? Passing down clothes and toys is very common. Older siblings often feel protective and important for giving their things to their new brother and sister.

Planning to have a big family implies keeping many things for your next child to enjoy. In some cases, also friends and family share their treasures with the new family members.

Some items should be discarded for hygiene reasons, but others can be used by the family’s new baby. The important thing is that the baby has everything he or she needs to be comfortable, including both material things and affection.

There’s nothing wrong with reusing your first child’s clothes on your second child if it’s in good condition.

Is reusing your first child’s clothes a good idea?

It’s actually an excellent idea! Babies grow very quickly, meaning they grow out of clothes just as quickly.

Thus, you should definitely take out all your first child’s clothes. You have to fully inspect their condition and usefulness.

Babies barely damage clothes and, usually, we as parents exaggerate and buy a lot of clothes for them.

If you bought a lot of clothes, they’ll probably only use each garment 2 to 3 times, so they’ll likely be in good condition. This means you’ll be able to use them later on!

When the new family member arrives, it’s recommended to wash the used clothes with mild detergent and put them out to dry in the sun. This way, they’ll be ready to be re-used and enjoyed by the new baby.

Regarding booties, crochet ones are easy to preserve. Crochet booties are quite practical and comfortable for babies. This type of footwear can be passed down. All you need to do is wash them well. If there’s a loose thread, just trim it.

On the other hand, we don’t recommend passing down soled shoes from one child to the next. This is because each child’s feet are different.

If you only put them on your child as part of an outfit, there’s no problem. However, when they begin to take their first steps, it’s best that you buy them their own shoes.

Other objects that can be passed down from older siblings

Can you only reuse your first child’s clothes on your second? The answer to this question is no! There are countless equally important objects that you can reuse, and not just clothes.

Reusing your older siblings’ clothing and items can save you money. Some other elements you can reuse are:

Bathtub or potty

These tools are very useful for babies. Bathtubs and potties are usually always made of plastic, so they can be reused.

Wash them very well with plenty of boiled water to eliminate any bacteria.

Apply a good disinfectant after the boiled water to complete the deep cleaning. Then, dry them well to prevent mold.

Strollers

Before reusing a baby stroller, you have to thoroughly inspect it. Remember that your baby’s safety will depend on it.

The backrest should always remain rigid. The brakes and wheels must be in good condition. If you deem it necessary, you can grease them.

Crib

The crib is the piece of furniture you can get the most out of. You must inspect how worn out the mattress is to decide whether you need to replace it or not.

You can change the color with a good coat of paint and you also need to check that the brakes are in good condition if the crib has wheels.

Toys

These are the most passed-down objects. Deep cleaning toys is very important, since babies experiment by putting things in their mouths. We recommend using boiled water for this, plus a good sponge to remove stubborn dirt.

Also, stuffed animals must be thoroughly inspected. Search for holes and sew them immediately. These types of toys are perfect homes for mites, which is why we recommend washing them in the washing machine often.

All in all, reusing your first child’s clothes and objects is a great idea. Not only will this allow you to save money and contribute to the reduction of solid waste, but you’ll also instill in your children the habit of saving and sharing with their siblings.