Thoughts on reusing siblings baby items?

cfletch88 · June 2015

We currently have a 5 year old little boy and just found out that baby #2 is a boy also. I still have all of our sons nursery bedding and decorations and my husband thinks we should just use it again. It would be a lot easier but I've been feeling guilty about most of this babies items being used/reused from our son instead of new. We are so grateful for everything we have but I can't stop the guilty feeling. Thoughts? What do you plan on reusing?

Edit: spelling

MoRay05 · June 2015

Maybe you could reuse some of the decorations and incorporate a couple of new things.

VexyMommy · June 2015

I don't see anything wrong with it. Maybe instead of thinking about them as your DS' baby things you can think of them as your family's baby things.

bbiutmcph · June 2015

I used everything I possibly could with our second boy and honestly I am hoping I can still use stuff with this girl. It doesn't make much sense to buy ALL NEW for additional babies unless you are a millionaire, babies are babies and all need the same things. All of our big ticket items have been reused, lots of clothing, blankets etc. I still buy new things for each child but use what I can. They don't care if a shirt or blanket was used by an older sibling and it doesn't mean I love them any less, I just save money where I can so I can use it for better things.

rox7777 · June 2015

I saved all of my first son's clothes and toys. I didn't have a nursery with him so most of that stuff will be new, but honestly just adding a few new items can go a long ways. DS2 has his own going home outfits and a few new outfits to mix in with the old stuff, but really, for you it has been 5 years, I bet a bunch of stuff will feel new when you pull it out again!

Gapeach83 · June 2015

Buy some new but definitely reuse. No need to spend money when you don't have to. Use the money for them some new clothes and a special blanket. I have two girls and if this is a girl some stuff will get used again. They will have no idea.

Kern91 · June 2015

I had two DD and I used all the sheets and blankets from the first. I did purchase a new baby bed skirt, lamp and a few other decorative pieces. However, a few items needed to be replaced since they broke or were just to old. I kept some clothes but I had one baby in the summer and the other in the middle of winter so I had to purchase more clothes because of that situation.

I would use as much as u can and swift through stuff that will work and make a list of things u need to purchase. Sell the remaining items and use that money to purchase the new. I did this and it worked out good.

Squirtgun · June 2015

As the 5th kid in my family, everything I owned until probably high school was a hand-me-down. My parents never made a big deal of it, and it never bothered me at all!! It seems silly to spend more when you already own the stuff! I'd double check your car seat- they do have an expiration date, but other than that, go for it! If you really want baby2 to have something special, get him his own "coming home" outfit, and a special toy. He won't know the difference, trust me.

LinMmmm · June 2015

If I find out this LO is also a boy I will be re-using almost everything we used with my first son. Bedding, some decorative items and the changing table/drawer set. Actually the crib sheets I bought are very gender neutral so if it's a girl I think I'll need a new crib skirt and blanket and that is it. We will buy a new crib because we already converted our 1st crib to a full.
I don't think there is anything to feel guilty about with reusing items as long as they are not expired (like carseats) or have been recalled. I would use some of the money you are saving on something more personal for LO that could be used to decorate his room.

edited: typo

LSRoo · June 2015

I still don't know the sex of this baby, but if I have another boy I won't feel guilty at all reusing what I can! My son is only 19 months old so he will keep his own bedding and furniture, but all of his clothes, rock n play, toys etc., will go to new baby if possible!

MargaretC5 · June 2015

I think when they are babies is the perfect time to reuse as much as possible. When they are older I think it important each child has their own items and the younger ones do not feel like they just get hand me downs.
I already told DH that if this one is a girl, she will probably wear some boy clothes for the first year. I cannot see buying a whole new wardrobe when they outgrow them so quickly.

jessilee15 · June 2015

DS is 22 months, plan on reusing me as much as possible! Most of his baby clothes were only worn for a couple of months anyways

wedding crazed · June 2015

Re-use it totally. I had boys 23 months apart and used all the same stuff. Saving money is smart. I know the guilt feeling though as boy #2 gets a lot of hand me downs, but also he's got to do lots of things brother didn't at his age so it evens out. Soccer, starting swimming lessons a year earlier, etc. Also, I make the kids feel special by all three of them getting a mom and dad date alone each month.

Cook3133 · June 2015

3 boys here all 2 years apart. What I still had I reused! I tend to buy from consignment stores anyway so why not? When it comes to car seats and other items if you got them new then they are the best to reuse because you know who was in it before

. I buy new clothes if there cheap and cute for each kid so it's not like they only get hand me downs.

Plus my kids really don't care.

jasbaby2 · June 2015

Our son is also five and we are having a girl this time. I didn't really save much if anything so we will just buy new. We weren't sure we'd have another and I am quick to toss things out anyways.

I say do what you want to do. I would never put myself in a position where I couldn't comfortably afford what I was buying. So assuming it's not a money issue then use what's left that you love and buy new stuff too. I don't think the baby will care at this point, it's really about you.

Elyse1384 · June 2015

As others have said, definitely reuse and don't look back! One of the things I love about being Team Green is that when I was thrown a baby shower for DS, I received plenty of neutral baby gear. Whether we have a boy or a girl, we have plenty of essentials. If this is a boy, we will use what we have from DS. As our kids get older, we will certainly let them pickout room decorations and clothing, but at this age when they could care less I say save your money and re-purpose.

DrMommaDVM · June 2015

Well just think of the other things you can put your family's money toward instead of needlessly buying brand new stuff.
Obviously the baby won't care.

dogsombrero · June 2015

We are reusing as much as possible. Our son will be 16 months (tops) when the twinkies are born so everything is still is date like his bucket seat. We bought more neutral items knowing that we would have more. His decorations, crib etc are staying because he's still using them at this time.

queenwog · June 2015

Most of what I have for this baby so far is used, except my Boppy pillows which I made myself. My sister is giving me a ton of stuff from her babies, and I have plenty of baby stuff coming from friends as well. I'm also shopping garage sales, thrift stores, and Goodwill; I'm taking full advantage of those who insist on new things for their babies, because those are the people dumping their perfectly good gear at Goodwill.

I don't see why anyone would think everything has to be new. That makes no sense to me and is a mindset that makes me think you have too much money.

TacoSarah · June 2015

I don't see any problem with it. I've borrowed all my sisters newborn and 0-3 clothes she had for my nephew, babies don't care so long as they are warm and comfortable. I'd rather save the money for a college fund than buy brand new things just for the sake of it.

oliarnmom1517 · June 2015

Because it's my first I have to get some things new but even then I'm still searching food good deals anywhere I can.. My mom reused almost everything but clothes when she had my brother (because apparently when your having a boy you need boy clothes lol) but she reused everything else like my car seat and she got a double stroller for us but she did have to get another crib since I wasn't quite two yet.. But almost everything else she just reused.. The baby won't know it's reused and they really won't care as long as they are fed and taken care of..

elbou · June 2015

I agree that that the baby won't care if it's new at this age. I reused pretty much everything from DD1 for both her sister and her brother. I picked all neutral items for bedding, and big ticket items, and have used them for every kid. I did buy 1 pack of new receiving blankets for each kid and they all had their own coming home outfit. Plus, both of our families and quite a few friends bought things for each of them, so they did get quite a few new things, just not necessarily from us.

KeHill08 · June 2015

This is our first, but we registered for gender neutral everything so that even if our second is the opposite sex, it won't matter, not that a baby would even care. There is no sense in getting a bunch of new stuff if you can just reuse things from their older sibling(s). I do plan on getting each their own special "blankie" and stuffed animal, but as long as everything else is in good shape, it will be used again, bedding and all! The only thing we would replace even if it's in good shape yet is the car seat if it's expired.

Kanne0729 · June 2015

I am so happy to be able to use my sons baby boy items again. It's a baby, they won't know or care that they are getting hand me downs, no reason to feel guilty at all. I'm sure you won't exclusively be using just your sons old items either, you'll probably go out and buy some new things too.

katiedhunter · June 2015

Honestly reuse as much as you can! With this being boy #3 I'm ecstatic that I get to use everything I've already got. We did redo (paint) the nursery for both previous boys and we will do the same with this one. I like that they each have their own unique nursery. But I reused furniture, frames, shelves, crib, sheets, change pad covers, etc. The only thing I made sure each got new is their own baby blanket. Both DH and I have our baby blankets still and I want them to have that as well.

Pontot31 · June 2015

Why wouldn't you?
All my big items are neutral and will be reused. We gave hand me downs of the first 18 months worth of clothes to a friend so I don't have a lot of that in good shape any more if this one is another girl. I will be buying mostly new clothes but everything else will get used again.

I'm not big on decorating a nursery. I bought 3 pictures, a rug, lamp and curtains. The walls are neutral. If it's a girl it will all get used again.

lyankowi · June 2015

Team green last time so we got a lot of gender neutral items too. I tell friends/family that I will put a girl in blue but will not put a boy in pink (in pubic) my DD got called a cute boy all the time because of her gender neutral items, I just said thank you and moved on. DD was born in April this baby obviously is due in November so it will get new clothes anyway. I even just gave most of my girl clothes to my sister who lives in FL and is having a girl becuase all the clothes are summer clothes. I will reuse as much as I can

jsawicki · June 2015

I would reuse everything that you can… It would have never occurred to me to feel guilty about this. Fantastic way to save money and a great lesson for your older child to learn early on.i'm pregnant with my first and I'm taking all kinds of hand-me-downs from my sister and my sister-in-law.baby things, especially things like swings and bouncers that are only used for short period of time are ridiculously expensive and baby will have no idea if it's new or used or pink or blue :-)

dsty1213 · June 2015

The only thing I won't reuse is the crib mattress.

https://www.stopsidsnow.com/FAQsAboutCribDeath.html

AnnamariauDoris · June 2015

Lucky girls. My son is 4.5 y old. Will be 5 in nov....I wanted more kids but seeing my marriage going to hell I gave away almost everything but a few small items that ds had in first month to remember how small he was. The crib was a travel crib in wich he slept 4 y and before him a friends twins for 2.5 y. Stroller clothes everything I gave away. I have absolutly nothing. Thank god my cousin saved some baby clothes. I will have to go over them and see what else we need. I'm getting a present stroller , user but in perfect condition, and a few more items from a friend of my mothers. Thank god. I would reuse anything but who knew I will fall in love again so quick and remarry in just 2 y after my divorce. Now it's been 3 y 3 m in our relationship and expecting our first boy together. And if we can I will save everything because we want another baby!

lakesideknitter · June 2015

As a FTM, I'm so thankful for all of the hand-me-downs we're getting. All I've bought new is a few clothing items; I got all of the big-ticket items from relatives or garage sales (with the exception of a car seat - that's the one big thing we'll have to register for). I can't imagine not using something just because another child had used it for a few months...

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