So Why Am I Having Trouble Giving Up The Baby Stuff?

[Miller1412]

I know I'm finished having kids, DH and I have made that decision and I'm ok with it.

Now it's time to clean out the storage area and get rid of the baby stuff, but why is it so hard?

I must admit I'm a bit of a saver, but I'm dreading giving the stuff up. DH has a cousin that needs it and I am giving it over, there's just a part of me that's having a hard time letting go!

What is my problem????

 

[KathyTX]

It's hard to really shut that door, isn't it?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I have 4 children and am done having children, but I do have a hard time parting with all the baby stuff. I've gotten rid of some stuff, but have more to get rid of and it's hard. My baby door is closed, but to padlock the door is not an easy thing to do. I'll have to wait for grandkids--hopefully in about 10 years or so.

 

[Servants of Evan]

My DW is going through the same thing. Our attic is a testament to that fact. Evan is our one and only, and we've had a few medical issues spring up that really nessecitates that be the case -- but it's still so hard for her. Candidly, I think that despite the lack of sleep, my wife was probably never happier than the first few weeks of our son's life. I believe it was fulfilling in a way nothing else could be -- here was a little boy who was pulled from within, and who truly needed her for every waking moment. The fragility of new life, and the one woman who could care for him better than any other.

It's tough to give that feeling up...

 

[RangerPooh]

While DD is 11 months I am having difficulty parting with baby clothes and toys (swings and such) that she's already outgrown. I know a few people with newborns who could probably use the stuff but to me it's saying goodbye to her being a baby. Plus, I wnat to keep if for the next little one, a few years down the road. I guess the hard part is that it's shutting a chapter in your life.

Recently DH approached me about conceiving child number 2 and I started to get sad. I realized that number 2 would probably be the last child and then there would be no more babies. I told him about my feelings and he agreed to wait a while as he hadn't thopught about it in that way.

 

[YourMajesty]

Part with what you can and save some. I parted with most of mine gradually over the last few years. Youngest DS will be six and it looks like we won't have a thrid (getting old). We just took down his crib...which stayed up in his room along with a full bed! I still have plenty of stuff stashed away that I couldn't let go.

 

[aprilgail2]

I sold all of my stuff on ebay and financed a Disney Cruise with my daughter with all the money I made getting rid of that stuff!

 

[Tiffann4k]

I had a tubal ligation almost 6 years ago and I still have most of my baby stuff from 6-7 years ago....crib, clothes, cloth diapers etc. I never got rid of it because I knew one day I would have my tubal reversal and hopefully have more. If we get to the stage that my reversal wasnt sucessful then I will probably get rid of all the baby stuff.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I sold all of my stuff on ebay and financed a Disney Cruise with my daughter with all the money I made getting rid of that stuff!

Thanks for making me laugh! There's always a practical one in the bunch!

 

[mtemm]

we knew we were done when we had the twins. my friend got pg a year later and I sent her everything I had, joyfully, until it came to my boppys. For some reason I just couldn't let them go...sniff. maybe hang on to one special thing?

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I too couldn't get rid of it. But I made the decision easily after Katrina. I donated everything but the crib..(saving it for future grandchildren )

 

[mickeyfan2]

Maybe you are like my friend. She had is rough financially when the kids were little and saved everything to "help" her kid when they get older and have kids. The youngest is 18 and the mom still has baby stuff. The kids have told her they don't want any of the stuff but she still won't get rid of it. She had her tubes tied, so she knew there would be no more kids.

 

[dizagain]

Or...you could get rid of it all except for a few special toys, books, and clothing items only to discover #3 is coming after your other two are 12 and 10!!!!! Oh well - everything is so much cooler looking now and I'm sure I wouldn't actually use most of that stuff we had anyway. Looking forward to some shopping and the going through the boxes we do still have...especially the books!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I donated everything but the crib..(saving it for future grandchildren )

Me too!!!

Why is it so hard? As long as you "hold on", you can't go forward.

Don't sweat it. You will do it when you are ready!!!

 

[A4Disney]

I know I'm finished having kids, DH and I have made that decision and I'm ok with it.

Now it's time to clean out the storage area and get rid of the baby stuff, but why is it so hard?

I must admit I'm a bit of a saver, but I'm dreading giving the stuff up. DH has a cousin that needs it and I am giving it over, there's just a part of me that's having a hard time letting go!

What is my problem????

I don't know because I have the same problem LOL...We have four and our family is complete also.My youngest will be three the end of March so recently I went through all of the baby stuff and had big bags to bring to Once Upon A Child along with some other items like the bouncey seat(that was my favorite it was the ocean aquarium one with the swimming fish)I was so bummed doing this and then I went to drop the stuff off and the place was closed for vacation so I still have it all!

 

[EthansMom]

I really dislike clutter, so I don't still have the baby stuff (and my DD is only 22 months). I've saved one or two outfits and replaced the kids' favorite stuffed animals with exact duplicates so I can save the originals. Otherwise, I've gotten rid of everything as it's outgrown.

I can understand wanting to keep the baby stuff, but styles/safety will change a lot between your children and grandchildren. Not to mention, you'll want to buy new clothes and toys when your grandbabies come along.

If the styles are pretty current, you could take your stuff to Once Upon a Child and get cash for it. Like another poster said, you might be able to pay for a vacation with the money -- heck, I'd rather have a vacation with my kids than a garage full of stuff any day.

If you take your items to Once Upon a Child, they have an option to donate any items they can't take. At our Once Upon a Child, I think the donated items go to a shelter and/or foster parents. So, you could drop the items off and then just come back for your money.

If your styles aren't terribly current, you could donate it to someone who really needs it. With my first child, I donated many items to a pro-choice clinic for unwed teens. Also, if you call around, you may be able to find a women's and children's shelter that would be ecstatic to have your items -- many women who are abused leave their homes with nothing but their children.

Your baby items could be doing so much more than sitting in your house: they could be putting a smile on the face of a new mother, they could be making money that you could use to put smiles on the faces of your children...

 

[lillygator]

I have the same problem...I have about 5 or 6 of those huge plastic bins filled with my girls clothing that are "so cute" I can't part with them. I think I am going to start selling some on Ebay and use the $$ for Disney!

 

[Disney Doll]

I don't have kids, but I have had to part with some things that have had sentimental value in the past.

I generally donate them to an appropriate place...such as a woman's shelter. It makes me feel better to know that my stuff will be helping someone else, so I don't feel as bad about letting it go.

 

[SC Minnie]

When we moved I got rid of just about everything. I kept the crib and highchair (they were expensive and can be used for grandkids someday). I made a box for DD of 'keepsakes'. It has the outfit she wore home from the hospital, her first halloween costume, and other 'special' things-- I still add to that box. I gave everything else to my cousin who was expecting.

 

[froglady]

I gave away all of the furniture (except bureau, which isn't really "baby") and saved all of the special/handmade items. I also saved the Thomas and Brio trains for grandchildren. I tried to save DD's Barbie things, but the plastic just doesn't hold up. I did save her American Doll things, and a few of her favorite stuffed animals. (Also some of DS's)

I found that re-evaluating every couple of years helps. The things that I absolutely couldn't part with 5 years ago don't look quite as attractive after being stored.