| You've recently had a baby. It's been a few | | | | pants into shorts are some quick fixes to |
| months now, and the baby has outgrown | | | | pinch pennies. |
| virtually two full wardrobes. Sure it's | | | | |
| expensive, but there's a whole other issue at | | | | Another way to use up material from old baby |
| hand. What is a mother to do with all of this | | | | clothes is to make stuffed animals. Do you |
| extra baby clothes? | | | | have a favorite t-shirt of your baby's that |
| | | | his or her little arms just don't quite fit |
| There are a number of ways to deal with this | | | | right in anymore? Using the material to make |
| problem. First of all, there is the donation | | | | a little stuffed bear is a great way to |
| route. If you don't have close friends with | | | | preserve that memory for yourself and pass |
| similar aged babies, you can put aside | | | | something very special on to your baby. The |
| certain things for when they do, or in the | | | | same thing can be done, if a hobby persists, |
| event that you have another. The rest of the | | | | with socks and jeans as well. Soon all of |
| clothes can go to the Goodwill or Salvation | | | | your friends will be begging for little |
| Army. These are also a great place to find | | | | stuffed dolls made out of your baby's old |
| gently used baby clothes for incredible | | | | clothing. |
| savings. | | | | |
| | | | If you are in fact creatively inclined, |
| Special occasion attire like baby's coming | | | | another great way to reincarnate your baby's |
| home outfit, first Christmas, and Baptism can | | | | clothes is by creating a memory quilt. Save |
| be saved in a special place for passing on to | | | | bits and pieces of your baby's clothing and |
| a next generation. A great way to do this is | | | | use it to create a full sized patchwork quilt |
| by creating a memory box. Get a small trunk | | | | for when your baby gets their own big bed. |
| at a craft store and decorate it however | | | | That kind of sentimental value also makes a |
| you'd like. Fill it with small mementos like | | | | great gift for a graduation or a wedding (if |
| the baby's hospital bracelet, first outfit | | | | you can wait that long to show off your handy |
| and blanket. As the baby gets older you will | | | | work). |
| have more things to add to it. This is a | | | | |
| great way to preserve memories that your | | | | If you're planning on having another child, |
| child may not have the foresight to think of | | | | you have a built in way to get rid of all of |
| now, but will appreciate very much later. | | | | the extra clothes. You can put away the |
| | | | clothes that your baby grows out of in a |
| Using material from old baby clothes to make | | | | storage area. Just make sure you launder |
| new baby clothes is a great way to save money | | | | everything when it comes back out for round |
| and get a little more use out of the items | | | | two. Sure, it stinks to get hand-me-downs, |
| that your child quickly outgrows. Making | | | | but it is unlikely your infant will notice, |
| t-shirts into cute patchwork dresses, and | | | | let alone care. |