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Should you hang on to all that baby gear?
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When I was pregnant, my husband and I were adamant that we didn't want our home to become overtaken by mountains of baby gear. We naively thought we could do without the infant swing, exersauser, bumbo, baby gym, etc. I didn't register for any of these things, and turned down offers of hand-me-downs.
Once the baby arrived, we quickly realized that going about the business of everyday living requires putting the baby down. I think many new parents are slow to realize this, but let me tell you, it is life-changing. Now I welcome any and all items that will entertain my baby while I do something else, like eat a sandwich. Thankfully, I have older siblings who have generously responded each time I call and say, "Me again. Do you have one of those [insert baby item] things? Great. Can we borrow it?" True, our living room now looks like a daycare, but at least we can occasionally eat dinner sitting down. (I say "occasionally" because my son still prefers to be held, and only tolerates about 10-15 minutes in any of the aforementioned contraptions. But hey, I'll take what I can get.)
The question becomes: what to do with all this gear once Junior grows out of it? There are several options.
Save it. If you decide to hang on to your baby gear for future little ones, make sure you review all the safety guidelines and check for possible recalls at www.recals.gov. Also, this site has some good information about used baby equipment.
Donate it. There are many charitable organizations that would benefit from used baby items. Get a receipt; it's a break on your taxes. Goodwill is always a good option. They have many drop-off centers in the area. Some organizations, like the Salvation Army, will even come pick up your items.
Swap it. My girlfriends and I used to hold clothing swaps, and I think this would be a great option for baby clothes and gear. Invite all your friends with kids to come over with their unwanted baby gear. Serve some snacks and sangria, then let the free-for-all begin! Donate what is left over and it's a win, win, win.
Sell it. Consignment is a growing trend, especially for baby gear. This site offers a directory of sales coming up in the Baltimore area. There are also several children's consignment shops around Baltimore. Here are a few:
The Circle Shop
6124 Belair Road, Baltimore
(410) 254-6066
Kidz Closet
611 Frederick Rd, Catonsville
(410) 719-0050
Hopscotch
2 Oakway Road, Timonium
(410) 252-7801
As a last resort, unload your stuff on a pregnant friend. If she tries to politely refuse it, (like I would have) just say, "Honey, trust me. You're gonna want to eat a sandwich."
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