What to Do With Old Baby Clothes: 10 Sustainable and Practical Ideas
Baby clothes hold so many memories. Tiny onesies, first outfits, favourite pyjamas — it can be surprisingly hard to decide what to do with them once your child has outgrown them.
Many families end up with boxes of baby clothes stored away for years, unsure whether to keep them, donate them, or repurpose them.
If you're wondering what to do with old baby clothes, here are 10 thoughtful and sustainable options — from passing them on to another family to giving them a completely new chapter.
Quick Answer
If your baby clothes are still in good condition, the best options are to sell, donate, or pass them on so another family can use them. Clothes that are too worn to wear again can often be repurposed into keepsakes, craft projects, or upcycled items — and even the most worn fabrics can be recycled rather than sent to landfill.
1. Donate to Daisy Chain Clothing for Store Credit
One of the easiest and most rewarding options is to donate your outgrown baby and kids' clothes to Daisy Chain Clothing — and receive online store credit to use when purchasing the next size up.
This creates a simple and sustainable clothing cycle:
- Children's clothes stay in use longer
- Families save money on the next size up
- Fewer items end up in landfill
We carefully hand-check every donated item before listing, so your clothes reach families who will genuinely love and use them. Find out more about donating to Daisy Chain Clothing.
2. Pass Them On to Friends or Family
One of the simplest options is to give baby clothes to friends or relatives who have younger children. Babies grow so quickly that many items are only worn a few times — passing them on allows another family to get plenty of use from them, and it costs nothing.
3. Sell Them Online
Some parents choose to sell bundles of baby clothes through online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or local parenting groups. While this takes more time and effort, it can be a good option for larger bundles or higher-end brands where the return is worth the effort.
For a completely hands-off selling experience, donating to Daisy Chain Clothing for store credit is far simpler — we handle all the photography, listing, and selling for you.
4. Keep a Few Special Pieces
Not every item needs to go. Many parents like to keep a few sentimental pieces — a coming-home outfit, a favourite jumper, a special occasion outfit. These can be stored as keepsakes or turned into memory items later (see ideas 5 and 9 below).
5. Turn Them Into Keepsakes
Baby clothes can be repurposed into meaningful keepsakes that preserve the memories attached to them:
- Memory quilts made from favourite fabrics
- Fabric toys or soft animals
- Framed fabric pieces
- Small pouches or accessories
These items allow the fabric — and the memories — to live on in a completely new form.
6. Upcycle Fabric That's Too Worn to Wear
Some baby clothes simply reach the end of their wearable life — stained, faded, or damaged beyond donation. But that doesn't mean the fabric has no value.
At Daisy Chain Clothing, clothing that is too worn to be worn again can sometimes be repurposed into new handmade items as part of our Next Chapter collection. Pieces of fabric are carefully transformed into small accessories such as bookmarks, hair ties, and other keepsakes — giving the material a new chapter instead of becoming waste.
7. Use Them for Craft Projects
Old baby clothes can be wonderful materials for home craft projects. Ideas include:
- Patchwork blankets or quilts
- Fabric bunting for a nursery or party
- Soft toys or stuffed animals
- Appliqué projects
- Sewing practice for beginners
The soft, often high-quality fabrics used in baby clothing make them ideal for craft projects — and it's a lovely way to involve older children in a creative activity.
8. Save Them for Future Children
Some families choose to store baby clothes for younger siblings. If you plan to do this, store clothing in labelled containers by size and season so they're easier to find later. Vacuum storage bags are great for saving space and keeping items fresh.
9. Create a Memory Box
A memory box with a few special clothing items is a lovely way to preserve early childhood memories. Parents often include:
- First outfit or coming-home outfit
- Hospital hat
- Favourite pyjamas
- A tiny pair of socks
A small, well-curated memory box is far more meaningful than a large box of everything — choose the pieces that genuinely hold the most memories.
10. Recycle Worn Fabrics Responsibly
If clothing is too damaged to donate, reuse, or upcycle, check whether local textile recycling programs accept fabric waste. In Australia, services like Upparel and Textile Recyclers Australia offer home pick-up, and retailers like H&M and ZARA have in-store recycling drop-offs.
Textile recycling helps keep materials out of landfill and allows fibres to be reused — even the most worn garments can have a future beyond the bin. For more detail, see our complete guide to recycling old kids' clothes in Australia.
Giving Baby Clothes a Second Life
Baby clothes are worn for such a short time, but the environmental impact of clothing production can be significant. Choosing to reuse, donate, or repurpose these garments helps extend their life and reduce waste.
At Daisy Chain Clothing, we believe every piece of clothing deserves the chance to be worn, loved, and appreciated — sometimes even beginning a completely new chapter.
Browse our preloved baby and kids' clothing — or explore our Next Chapter upcycled collection — and be part of the story. 🌿
🌿 Have outgrown baby clothes in good condition?
Donate to Daisy Chain Clothing and receive store credit to use on the next size up. We handle all the photography, listing, and selling — you just send us the clothes. Every piece that gets another wear is one less piece heading to landfill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with old baby clothes in Australia?
If they're in good condition, donating to Daisy Chain Clothing for store credit is the easiest option — we handle everything and you receive credit for the next size up. For straight donations, charity shops like Vinnies and Salvos are a great choice. For stained or damaged items, textile recycling services like Upparel are the most sustainable option.
Can I get money for old baby clothes?
Yes — you can sell bundles through Facebook Marketplace or eBay, or donate to Daisy Chain Clothing for store credit. Store credit is a great option if you're buying the next size up anyway, and it's far less effort than managing individual listings yourself.
What can I make from old baby clothes?
Old baby clothes can be turned into memory quilts, fabric toys, bunting, pouches, and accessories. At Daisy Chain Clothing, we repurpose worn fabrics into handmade items through our Next Chapter collection — including fabric bookmarks, hair ties, and scrunchies.
How do I store baby clothes for future children?
Store clothing in labelled containers by size and season. Vacuum storage bags are great for saving space and keeping items fresh. Include a note of what's inside and the size range so you can find things easily when the time comes.
What do I do with baby clothes that are too worn to donate?
Worn, stained, or damaged baby clothes can be recycled through services like Upparel or Textile Recyclers Australia, or dropped off at H&M or ZARA in-store recycling points. At Daisy Chain Clothing, we also repurpose worn fabrics into handmade items through our Next Chapter collection. See our full recycling guide for more options.