Outgrown baby clothes: donate, sell or recycle?

Nov 11, 2026

Pile of outgrown baby clothes folded next to a cardboard box, graphic still life – Treelys®

Outgrown baby clothes pile up fast: a newborn changes size several times before their first birthday. Before you box them up in the loft or throw them away, there are four options: keep them for a future child, pass them on, sell them or drop them at a textile collection point. Even a stained or holey bodysuit can go there, as long as it is clean and dry.

Sorting through your baby’s things is also a small rite of passage. You see how far you have come, you make space, and you extend the life of items that were often barely worn. Here is how to get organised without spending your weekends on it.

Outgrown baby clothes: what to do first?

Starting with three piles is enough. The first gathers everything in very good condition that could serve another child, yours or a friend’s or relative’s. The second holds what is still wearable but shows signs of use. The third brings together what is worn out, stained or damaged.

Each pile has its destination. The first is kept, given away or sold. The second is given away or swapped. The third goes for recycling. None of it ends up in the general waste bin.

Sort at every change of size rather than once a year. A small ‘too small’ box in the wardrobe is all you need to gather everything as the weeks go by.

Keeping clothes for a future child

If you are thinking about another child, keeping the most useful pieces makes sense. Focus on the basics: bodysuits, pyjamas, sleeping bags, cardigans. Very seasonal outfits are less worth storing, because a second baby will not necessarily be born in the same season.

Storing well to avoid nasty surprises

Wash every piece before putting it away, as milk stains turn yellow over time.
Dry the laundry thoroughly, since damp encourages mould and odours.
Store by size, in labelled boxes or bags, somewhere dry and out of the light.
Avoid damp cellars and overheated lofts.

Before reusing these clothes, wash them again. Our tips on detergent and temperature are in our article on washing baby clothes.

Also keep a few spare outfits in the next size up. They will come in handy for the nursery bag or the childminder kit, which often takes a battering.

Passing on and giving away baby clothes

Passing clothes on is the simplest option. A colleague, a neighbour or a cousin who is expecting will often be happy to receive a bundle sorted by size. Be honest about the condition of the pieces, so the gift does not turn into a sorting chore for the other person.

Charities, reuse centres and some social services also accept baby clothes. Needs vary a lot from one organisation to another. It is best to call before dropping anything off, to find out which sizes and items are really wanted.

Giving fits into a broader approach: buy less and pass more on. That is also the spirit of our guide to second-hand baby gear, which separates what can safely be passed on from what calls for caution.

Selling outgrown baby clothes

Selling makes sense for pieces in very good condition, sought-after brands and outerwear. Snowsuits, coats and barely worn shoes often sell well. Basic bodysuits, on the other hand, sell poorly one at a time.

Sell in bundles, by size and by season, rather than piece by piece.
Photograph items laid flat, in daylight, showing any flaws.
State the exact size, the fabric and the season.
Set a modest price: the aim is to keep things circulating, not to recoup what you paid.

Car boot sales, clothing sales run by parents’ groups and consignment shops are other outlets. Local sales have the advantage of bringing together sellers and buyers with children of the same age.

Swapping between parents

Swapping works particularly well for children’s clothes, as children change size every few months. Some parents set up swap groups at a nursery, a school or in their building. Everyone brings what is too small and leaves with the next size up.

This system also saves a lot of purchases. It ties in with the approach described in our article on products that grow with your baby, to buy less but better. And it eases a line in the first-year budget that climbs quickly.

Recycling worn or damaged clothes

For pieces too worn to be used, a textile drop-off point is the right destination. Refashion, the French textile industry’s producer responsibility organisation, states that clothes can be dropped off ‘worn, damaged, out of fashion, in good condition… but clean and dry’. Holey, faded or stained textiles are accepted, as long as they have been washed.

The drop-off rules to know

Put the clothes in a securely closed bag of 30 litres maximum.
Only drop off clean, dry laundry.
Tie shoes together in pairs.
Leave out textiles that are dirty, damp or soiled with paint or chemicals, as they can be neither reused nor recycled.

Bed linen, towels and muslins also go to collection points. Refashion reports around 47,000 collection points in France. According to the figures published on its website, 55% of the items collected are reused second-hand, and most of the rest is recycled.

Should you cut clothes up into rags?

It is a good solution for a few cotton pieces. A holey bodysuit makes an excellent duster or a square for wiping surfaces. Keep a small stock, then drop the rest at a collection point.

Extending the life of baby things, beyond clothes

The same logic applies to all baby gear. A well-maintained item lasts longer and is easier to pass on. Our advice on caring for play mats, potties and baby baths is gathered in our guide to caring for baby products.

Getting into the habit of sorting, passing on and looking after things means cutting household waste without any dramatic effort. It also means more space, at home and in your head.

Key takeaways

Sort at every change of size, into three piles: very good condition, wearable, worn out.
Keep the basics for a future child, washed, dried and stored somewhere dry.
Give away or swap what is wearable, sell what is in very good condition in bundles.
Drop the rest, clean and dry, in a closed bag at a textile collection point, even if damaged.
Throw nothing in the general waste bin.