Wondering how to Save baby clothes for your next child? In this post, I’ll walk you through some of the ways I used to preserve my oldest son’s baby clothes for his little brother.
Saving baby clothes will help you save money when your next child comes. The cost of those cute onesies can add up over time if we’re not careful.
We all know that baby’s only wear their clothes for a few months before they outgrow them. So why not store those clothes in a safe place for the next child to use?
Before we talk about how to organize and store baby clothes, let’s first look at which clothing items you should save for your next child
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What clothes should you save for your second baby?
Jackets
You should save jackets for your second baby. This is because kids’ jackets can be quite expensive. Especially if they’re thick winter jackets.
Colored clothes (onesies and footie pajamas)
I suggest saving all the colored outfits for your second baby. These include onesies and footie pajamas. I say colored outfits only because white clothes tend not to last on babies.
Between the messy diaper explosions, crawling, and playing with dirt, white outfits will end up looking discolored at the end of the day.
If you’re planning to wait years before having another baby, then the white clothes may get naturally discolored over time anyway. It’s best to let them go.
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Pants & shorts
Any pants and shorts that haven’t been permanently stained should be saved for the next child. Do not save white pants or shorts unless they look brand new.
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How to organize baby clothes
Organize baby clothes by size
I like to organize baby clothes by size because it just makes my life easier. Baby clothes are sized in 3-month intervals (e.g. newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, etc.). So that’s how I also like to group them for storage.
I arrange all the shirts together in one storage container based on their size. For example, all the 0-3 months shirts will be together, and so forth.
After doing the shirts, I then proceed to the footie pajamas and arrange them by size as well. When that’s done, I move on to shorts and long pants, all arranged by size.
It might feel like overkill, but it really helps to know where every shirt, pants, shorts, and pajama is when your second baby arrives. You won’t need to dig through a pile of clothes to find what you need
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Organize baby clothes by gender
Another way I like to organize baby clothes is by gender. If you had a boy and a girl previously or were gifted some hand-me-downs then you may have a mix of clothes to sort through.
Go through each piece and separate the girl’s clothes from the boy’s clothes. Put them in two separate bins.
I also like to keep gender-neutral clothes separate as well. This way you’ll always have some extra clothes available no matter the gender of the next child.
How to organize and store baby clothes without a closet (for small spaces)
If you live in a small apartment, you may not have a closet big enough to help you organize your baby clothes. We live in a 2-bedroom apartment, so it’s hard to find space for two kids and two adults to keep everything organized.
Below are some of the tools I use to organize and store baby clothes in a small space.
Underbed Storage drawer
This is a great option for people with little to no closet space. It helps you make use of the empty space under your bed using the drawers. Your clothes and items will be organized neatly rather than just being shoved underneath haphazardly to create clutter.
I personally like The Storage Max Under Bed Storage Drawer. This brand is great if your bed is lower to the ground. You can also use it under the baby’s crib as well. For more storage, get two and stack them on top of each other if your bed is higher.
Storage Chest (aka Hope Chest)
Another way we organize our baby clothes without a closet is with a storage chest. Our large storage chest goes on the foot of our bed.
It was custom-made on Etsy, and It holds a huge amount of items. We put our winter clothes, baby items, blankets, etc. in it.
I recommend this beautiful handmade storage chest from Etsy. A well-made wooden storage chest can be expensive but they’re worth every penny. It’s something you’ll use for years to come and pass down to your children.
How to store baby clothes
Now that you’ve gone through the process of organizing all your baby clothes, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to store baby clothes.
Store baby clothes by size and gender
Just like we grouped together our baby clothes by size and gender, we will store them the same way. Every newborn item will go in one drawer. Every 0-3 month girl item will go in another drawer, and 0-3 month boy items in a different one. Repeat for the next size.
Doing this will make it easier to find the clothes again when you need them for your next baby.
Best storage containers for baby clothes
Getting the right container to store baby clothes is critical to preserving every item. Flimsy containers won’t last long and will cost you more money in the long run.
Below are some containers I use to store not just baby clothes but some of my clothes as well. I grouped each category based on which one would be best for small spaces and large spaces.
Rubbermaid storage container (perfect for small spaces)
If you’re looking for a baby clothes storage container that’s flat and easy to hide away, then the Rubbermaid storage container is right for you. This one is great for storing baby clothes because it’s stackable and can fit under the bed to hide them away.
IRIS USA 32 Qt. Plastic Storage Bin (for storing large items)
The Iris USA 32 qt. storage container is great for storing large amounts of baby clothes. I also use it to store some out-of-season items as well as toys for the kids. It is deep enough to fit a wide variety of things for storage.
All the storage containers that Iris USA makes are manufactured in the USA. Everyone knows I love to supporting businesses that makes their products in the USA.
Storing baby clothes in vacuum-sealed bags
Another option for storing baby clothes is in a vacuum-sealed bag. They’re great for anyone who lives in a small space or has limited storage options.
Most of the baby clothes I’m saving for my next baby are stored in vacuum-sealed bags under the bed.
My all-time favorite is the space saver vacuum-sealed bag from Amazon. I get the variety pack so I can store items of different sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you store baby clothes in the attic?
You can store baby clothes in the attic as long as they’re in a sealed container or a vacuum storage bag. Moisture is the biggest thing to watch out for when storing baby clothes in the attic. Any amount of moisture in the clothes can lead to mold growth and damage.
I recommend using a vacuum-sealed bag like the space saver bag from Amazon to store baby clothes in the attic.
Conclusion
Saving baby clothes for your next child is a great way to save money for other necessities in your children’s lives.
Reusing old clothes also helps the planet because the clothes won’t end up in landfills (source).
There are many ways to organize and store baby clothes for your future children. You can use storage containers, vacuum-sealed bags, a hope chest, or an under-the-bed drawer. These options are also great for people that live in a small space.
I hope this article has given you ideas on how to store, organize and save your baby clothes for your next child.
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