When my twin granddaughters were born, they were swimming in their preemie clothes. That first year, they graduated through five sizes. Keeping the right size accessible was one of the many tasks that kept our daughter busy.
The nature of raising kids is change. Whether it’s clothes, shoes, toys, sports, or other supplies, there’s a constant rotation to keep up with current sizes, needs, and desires. Add the task of saving and storing items for siblings down the line, and it can feel overwhelming. Here are six Timely Tips to manage the cycle.
Timely Tips for kids’ clothes
“TOO SMALL” CONTAINER
Place a labeled hamper or bin in each kid’s closet for clothes and toys they’ve grown out of.
Use a separate container or bag for shoes.
As soon as something no longer fits, is no longer worn, or no longer played with, toss it in the bin.
SORT & STORE
When the bin’s full, separate the clothes from the toys.
Wash and place the clothes worth saving for a sibling in a vacuum bag.
Put small toys in zip bags.
Create a spreadsheet or keep a notebook for toy/clothes inventory, if desired. (It’s surprising how quickly we forget what we have.)
Place bags in stacking bins or underbed containers and label with gender, size, and season.
Store in the garage, closet, or under the bed. Ensure that labels are visible.
SEASONAL SWAP
At the end of each season purge items from closets/dressers that will not fit next year and add the keepers to the bins.
Do the same with toys.
Pull out the next appropriate bin for the younger sibling.
Sort again before unpacking into the closet to ensure it’s stuff they’ll need and use.
REDUCE WHAT YOU SAVE
If you discover you’re buying new for younger ones anyway, reduce the amount you’re saving to just a few favorites. Less to manage.
DONATE
Donating is the fastest route to clearing out clothes that don’t make the cut or have made the rounds through all the kids.
Fresno area—these non-profit thrift stores serve good causes and recycle clothing that isn’t sellable:
Thrift on Blackstone (mccthrift.com/559-515-6362)
Neighborhood Thrift (neighborhoodindustries.org/559-498-0708)
Multiple areas
Just Porch It (JustPorchIt.com/800-965-6519) picks up bagged items from your porch—clothes, shoes, etc. as long as they’re not wet or moldy. They also recycle unusable clothing.
SELL
For a financial return on your investment, separate and bundle gently used items to sell.
Fresno area
Just Between Friends (Fresno.JBFsale.com), a twice-a-year event where you tag and price your own items, drop them off, and earn 60–70% of sales.
Fairy God-mother’s Closet (fgcloset.com/559-207-3767) will purchase your goods with cash and you can use it in store for additional savings.
Online options
Having to sort and store so many clothes is a first world problem. But even here in the US there are those without proper clothing. Please check out this opportunity to contribute to the needs here and around the world with your talents and treasures.
Dress a Girl Around the World is a Campaign under Hope 4 Women International (a 501 (c) 3 organization) bringing dignity to women around the world since 2006. We dream of a world in which every girl has at least one new dress. We want girls to know that they are worthy of respect, and that they are loved by God.
wise words
No one has ever become poor by giving. —Anne Frank