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"borrowing" newborn/baby clothes from friends?

butterbeansmamabutterbeansmama
in Parenting

I have not needed to do this in the past, but if we have a girl this time, two of my good friends who have had baby girls in the past 2 years have offered to let me use the clothes that they still have.

I'm fine with this and grateful for there offers and will probably take them up on it, but...... what happens if something like a pooplosion or a really bad spit up happens and ruins the outfit? Am I responsible for paying them back for that outfit? If it were me loaning clothes - I wouldn't care and just toss it, but I'm not sure what the norm is.

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Re: "borrowing" newborn/baby clothes from friends?

  • juniper19juniper19 member
    When you lend someone baby clothes you do it with full knowledge that some may not make it back.  Anything that is too special to lose shouldn't be lent at all.  So you wouldn't owe anything.
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  • MelandJeffMelandJeff

    I would never do that unless I was desperate financially and could not afford to buy my own clothes... I think 1 out of every 5 outfits of Ian's didn't get ruined from formula or spit up or babyfood, or whatever. I would be soooo stressed out about ruining someone else's outfits.

     

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  • nettienettie
    My friends always said not to worry about it when they let me use their clothes. I said the same thing when I lent mine out. Unless the person is really up tight I think most people understand they are babies / kids and things happen..
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  • JOEBunnyJOEBunny member

    I don't borrow clothes.  I make it clear up front that I  can't be responsible for returning items and that if they have any concerns about this, they should keep them.  I have one friend I get a boat load of clothes from and I do return most of them to her, so she can donate them to a shelter in her community, but she isn't worried about how they come back to her or if all of them do.

    I also only give clothes.  Never lend. 

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  • jettagurljettagurl member

    I'd say something the next time it comes up like, "Please be sure to not send things you really want back.  I'd hate for something to happen to one of your favorites."  

    As for me, I don't "borrow" anything baby related (aside from like a bathtub/diaper genie/etc that can be totally cleaned/bleached) because you just can't predict what may happen.   

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  • MominatorMominator
    Borrowing baby clothes is weird to me. In my circle of friends, we just hand down, that way there are never any expectations of things getting returned or not being ruined.
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  • butterbeansmamabutterbeansmama

    imageMominator:
    Borrowing baby clothes is weird to me. In my circle of friends, we just hand down, that way there are never any expectations of things getting returned or not being ruined.

    I don't know, maybe they did say "give", I can't really remember, but I was planning to give back whatever I had left (if not ruined), once the new baby grew out of it anyway.

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  • izzybellaizzybella member

    imagejuniper19:
    When you lend someone baby clothes you do it with full knowledge that some may not make it back.  Anything that is too special to lose shouldn't be lent at all.  So you wouldn't owe anything.

    This. I did this with a friend (we traded clothes) and I took out all the special outfits, and things that meant a lot to me and gave her the rest. She sends back everything that's in relative condition and if something gets destroyed I don't mind. 

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  • jen5-03jen5-03 member

    I borrow clothes for DD. She wears them, outgrows them, I give them back so she can sell or donate them. Most of the clothes are in same or better condition when I give them back (better because I made the effort and got out stains that were already in them), but a few things were stained. It's to be expected that a few things will be ruined.

    But poo and spit-up.... really? They don't ruin clothes. I use cloth diapers that have been pooped on a million times and they are still white. Use cold water first to rinse things out, then use a stain remover (zout, oxy, whatever), then dry in the sun.

    - Jena
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  • JillShariJillShari member
    I have lent out the clothes from my DS#1 to at least 2 other moms, so they have been worn at least by two other children, but they both hand them back to me with extras that they aquired because I knew we were having another child, but never knew if they'd work (gender and time of year).  So, I figured that instead of them sitting around and possibly not need them again, why not let someone get some use out of them.  Some things have been ruined, but not many and I have kept a few special things.  The greatest part is getting back all the clothes for DS#2!  And I've found someone next to hand them to and I will give them to her with no expectations of seeing them again since we are done with kids and as long as they are used, I have no need to sell them.  Hopefully she will donate or pass them along too.
    Jill * Married to Steven 11/9/03 * DS Samuel 4/4/05* DS #2 Jeffrey 6/13/2009
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  • black.katblack.kat member

    funny you posted this cause just today I went through the clothes that I lent to a close friend... now... I know that I am the one that decided to let her borrow them, however, I was a little irked about a few things...

    like, she just threw all of the clothes basically back into the tote, which sort of bothered me, cause when given to her, they were all neatly folded along with any matching items... I literally was LOOKING for matching pants to shirts... and almost all the shirts and the sleepers have spit up stains... and again, I understand that I lent them to her, but if you child spits up and these clothes were given to you to borrow and return, maybe put a bib on your child.  I don't know I jsut feel like since she was given basically the first year of clothes to borrow, they could have been better taken care of.  Obviously, I have learned my lesson.

    If you do borrow and soemthing happens to the outfit, then I think it is just nice to maybe say, "hey my baby really spit up alot on this outfit, or she had a huge blowout - here is five dollars for it (or whatever)"  I would do that, cause it is just nice to sort of make sure they know that you appreciate it.

    it is just my 2 cents from the other point of view....

     

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  • hikerbethhikerbeth member
    I lend clothing with the awareness that a few things may get ruined.  I don't loan any sentimental stuff or stuff that I would be crushed not getting back.  I also mark it with DD's initials.
    imageimage Ashley Sawtelle Photography
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  • Rebekah1021Rebekah1021

    This is exactly why I didn't borrow any clothes or lend them. I am too anal about outifts. I did give my sister some cute stuff, but she's just as anal as me.

    I would keep gender neutral stuff around and then send DH shopping or go on a shopping spree online after the baby is born.

    Audrey Elizabeth 11-11-06 image
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