Unsure what's worth storing? Only keep clothes for your kids up until one year after the end of each season. This saves you from having to buy a new Winter coat or swimsuit if your kids are still wearing the same size a year from now. Once they've been outgrown, however, donate them.
What to Ditch:
- Items missing their match. You're never going to find that missing blue-striped mitten, we promise you. Same goes for the errant sock your dryer clearly ate. Get rid of the mate and move on.
- Clothes that are stained or ripped. As cute as it is, your eye naturally goes to the yellowed patch from the who-knows-what food spill. Unless they still fit and make perfectly fine around-the-house play clothes, toss them.
- Hand-me-downs you just don't like. Fit isn't the only thing to consider: if you don't like shirts that say "Ladies' Man" or "Princess-in-Training," you don't need to dress your kids in them.
What to Keep:
- Special-occasion garments. A baptismal gown is an heirloom, but even first-birthday ensembles or other memorable holiday pieces warrant saving — or being passed down to the next generation.
- Their first onesie. Keep a basic, clean onesie from the first month of life — it's a perfect way to reflect on how tiny your child once was.
- An outfit that corresponds to a beloved photo. If you have a framed snapshot that is destined to be one your kid sees their whole lives, consider saving the romper, t-shirt, or hat worn in it as a reminder.
