5 ways to upcycle old baby clothes

Motherhood: when the baby goes through more outfit changes than J-Lo at the Grammys while you repeat-wear the denim shirt you’ve had since 2015. Sound familiar? From birth to six months old, a baby can grow up to an inch a month, and another half inch a month after that until they hit the big 1.0 – so on top of daily outfit swaps, there’s also the issue of sizing. How quickly babies grow out of clothes will vary, but the average newborn will go through their first outfits within weeks, and will need a change of wardrobe roughly every three months, then every six from when they’ve passed the six-month mark up until the age of two. 

Renting clothes through our partners at thelittleloop can help reduce your environmental impact (and has adorable outfits from 12 months old that you simply rent then send back once the season changes or they've been outgrown). Nonetheless, according to research by environmental charity Hubbub, 183 million items of discarded baby clothes are stashed in UK homes, with much of them destined for landfill. But if you feel guilty about the size of your baby’s clothing haul, there are ways to ensure their wardrobe can be repurposed, recycled or kept in a good enough condition to be passed on to a younger baby. 

Yes, we know this is easier said than done with all the nappy explosions that happen in the first few months, followed by weaning, which can leave baby and kitchen looking like an immersive Jackson Pollock. But avoiding too many washes and spot-cleaning smaller spills where possible will keep clothes in better condition, and help reduce energy and water use (the average washing machine uses 50 litres a cycle). That said, it’s always recommended to clean your newborn’s clothes with a non-biological detergent before the first wear. 

Dealing with mustard-coloured baby poo explosions are a parental occupational hazard – and the stains can be stubborn. Onesies or bodysuits with an envelope neck are designed not only to dress your baby with ease, but to be pulled down and off to avoid any extra spreading of stains. Immediately soaking the item in water should help stop the mark settling in; a stain remover or a few tablespoons of white vinegar in the water can help too. Where possible, line or air drying instead of tumble drying will also reduce fabric stress so clothes last longer.  

A lot of babies grow in length rather than girth, meaning clothing can be kept and adapted for the next stage – particularly if you’re going into summer. Depending on your sewing skills, onesies can be switched up into T-shirts by cutting off the popper bottoms and adding a little hem, or old trousers turned into cut-off shorts or cropped trousers. There are hundreds of tutorials on YouTube and Instagram. 

For non-sewers who want to zhuzh up old or second-hand pieces worn out by crawling, iron-on knee and elbow patches can give baby clothes a refresh (with the added bonus of making your offspring look like a tiny academic).

If you’ve managed to keep baby clothes in a decent condition and there’s no sibling to hand them on to, consider making up a bundle to donate or sell. If you live in London, the charity Little Lives runs a free collection service if you tap in your postcode on their website, or Little Village accepts good quality donations of clothing that go straight to families in need. Otherwise, free giveaway apps like Olio are an easy way to ensure your baby’s clothing gets a second life.

The tiny dress with the ditzy print, the cotton tiger romper that reminds you of those milky newborn days or the star-print blanket that’s now worn around the edges… why not turn those pieces that feel too special to get rid of into a keepsake? A quilt or memory blanket for your child’s bed made with squares of old baby clothing can be kept for years (and even passed on to grandchildren), or try sewing bunting for their bedroom out of old fabrics. If you don’t have the sewing skills, independent Etsy brands like Thread Paper Studio can create everything from a keepsake quilt or cushion to a memory bear out of old baby clothes. Recycling never looked so sweet.