Lending out baby stuff?

hello_im_tash

My DD is 6 months old and I have a friend who is exactly 3 mos. to the day younger then her. I have always boughten high quality clothes for her from The Gap, Roots, Children's Place etc and Robeez and Pediped shoes. My friend asked me today if she could borrow her clothes and shoes as she grows out of them. I know we will be having another child so I will be needing these things back. I have heard not to lend stuff and she is a friend that I really get along well with, I don't want to cause tension if something gets ruined or lost but I don't want to cause tension by saying no. What do you ladies think?

MrsG NC

I'm not lending anything out since we hope to have another within the next 2 years and we may possibly need these items again. I can see how this may be a sticky situation though since she is a friend and it could easily be awkward. Do you have anything that you are less fond of than others? Maybe you can loan those things out to be polite. Or, just flat out say, I'm sorry but we are saving these for baby #2. 

MRS TP

I hate lending stuff. 

I always get the "you didn't lend me that" or "I didn't borrow that" & I never get my stuff back. Or if I do, its the box & no dvd, or the hand wash only shirt that has went through the dryer.  --  It's a bummer 'cause if I borrow something I always return it in the same or better condition.  --  I guess it would be how attached you are to your DD's things.  Would you be upset if you didn't get them all back?  Or if a few were stained/ruined?

hello_im_tash

Yeah, I always try really hard to take care of my stuff and because she is our first everything is still in A1 shape. And I have an emotional attachment to a lot of it too because she is my first, even her little sleepers are so precious to me because she is growing so fast. I know they won't seem that important in the future but right now I just feel like I want to keep them so I can see then whenever I want. It's such a hard situtation....haha! I have no doubt that she would try her best to take care of it too but with babies you never know when I shoe is going to fall off unnoticed or a onsie gets left behind in the mall washroom. BAH!

Kara5109

DH's cousin is pregnant and he is already talking about "lending" her a lot of our stuff. I have no problem giving away a lot of her clothes if she has a girl, but I don't want to depend on her giving us big items back if we ever have another baby. Plus, we live 2,000 miles away so he has no clue how expensive it would be to ship these items.

MrsQueale

Keep your favorite outfits. Keep a little log of what you lend, if it is important.

I personally wouldn't lend clothes if I planned on having more kids. Some people don't take care and remove or prevent stains. I kept my favorite outfits from #1 and gave the rest away.

KoalaBear103

I'm only lending stuff to my sister. We've each purchased a lot of stuff for the other ones child. She's expecting #2 so I'll send everything back to her. When I'm expecting #2, I'll get it back. 

hello_im_tash

Kara5109:

DH's cousin is pregnant and he is already talking about "lending" her a lot of our stuff. I have no problem giving away a lot of her clothes if she has a girl, but I don't want to depend on her giving us big items back if we ever have another baby. Plus, we live 2,000 miles away so he has no clue how expensive it would be to ship these items.

Yeah I hear you! My DH is always offering our stuff to people, some of them we don't know that well. I am always like "STOP OFFERING OUT STUFF". And then like you said the problem of getting it to her and getting it back would be difficult!

TexasMamaM

As M is outgrowing her stuff, I'm making three boxes. One of stuff that she's never worn that I could gift, one of stuff that I'm keeping, and one of stuff that I am lending/donating. M is our first, but I'm hoping she's a one and only (gotta convince the H!). My thoughts on the stuff I'm not saving is that the chances of us having another girl in the winter are fairly slim, so i don't know that I'd get to use it again... But if it did happen, I'd be okay buying that stuff again.

hello_im_tash

TexasMamaM:

As M is outgrowing her stuff, I'm making three boxes. One of stuff that she's never worn that I could gift, one of stuff that I'm keeping, and one of stuff that I am lending/donating. M is our first, but I'm hoping she's a one and only (gotta convince the H!). My thoughts on the stuff I'm not saving is that the chances of us having another girl in the winter are fairly slim, so i don't know that I'd get to use it again... But if it did happen, I'd be okay buying that stuff again.

I could do something like that!

beccs98

I'm lending our clothes out to my mom's best friends son. They had a little boy in November (so a couple of months younger than Charlie).

I'm making a note of all of our clothes that I'm giving (in an Excel file) just so I remember and also putting Charlie's initials in the tag so it's easier for them to remember. 

Even though I'm taking note of everything, I don't think it'll be a big deal if she loses something or something gets ripped/ruined. I buy nice stuff for Charlie, but it's not the end of the world if we don't get a onesie back, you know?

hello_im_tash

beccs98:

I'm lending our clothes out to my mom's best friends son. They had a little boy in November (so a couple of months younger than Charlie).

I'm making a note of all of our clothes that I'm giving (in an Excel file) just so I remember and also putting Charlie's initials in the tag so it's easier for them to remember. 

Even though I'm taking note of everything, I don't think it'll be a big deal if she loses something or something gets ripped/ruined. I buy nice stuff for Charlie, but it's not the end of the world if we don't get a onesie back, you know?

Yeah, it's true, I think I need to get over my attachment to the clothes...haha!

rlyttle

Give her a few outfits that you don't mind getting rid of and call it a day. I don't want to get rid of my DS clothes, but there is some of it that I wouldn't mind parting with. Just tell her that you want to keep some of it for you next baby, but don't mind sharing some. She should be happy with anything. Maybe take her a bag of a few outfits and buy a few new things for her. I'm sure she would be trilled

snansley

We loaned out a lot of DS's newborn clothes to a good friend.  Honestly some of the Carter's stuff will be flat worn out after two kids so I am fine if it doesn't come home.  I also buy a lot of DS's clothes either on consignment or on sale.

My BFF sent me a huge bag of her son's pajamas. Best loan ever.  We will loan out gear as necessary.

MrsFv20

I have had people offer to lend me clothes and quite honestly it's a pain in the butt. Especially when they don't want to mark their name on the tags because they plan to try to sell them later!

I can understand borrowing a few very cute outfits for pictures or something but honestly you can get clothes for so cheap at consignment sales. I would say nicely that you would prefer to hang on to everything for future babies but that you would be more than happy to go consignment sale shopping with her, or to babysit while she goes. To me it's just not worth the headache, if you want the clothes back.