Babies need a lot of stuff. From cribs to car seats, parents must purchase the appropriate items for their child's age, which can result in many unused items that need new homes. This post will help you find a new home for your unused and unwanted baby items. But first, I have some tips for you before you donate baby items.
The Items should be in good condition
Remember, when you donate these items, they should be in good condition. Finding a new home for these items is critical to keeping these items out of the landfill.
Clear the clutter often
Clearing the clutter in your baby’s room every few months will help them sleep better and be more rested. Visit our baby room organizing ideas for more tips.
Don't make the bags too heavy
Another tip when donating items is not to make the bags too heavy. Split them up as much as possible. It will help the person receiving the items and not result in holes in the bags and possible broken items.
Donate the items quickly
The items you can donate should be no more than five years old. Because some of these items may be fashionable or have updated safety guidelines, it will be easier to donate or sell if they are newer. Decluttering these items as soon as possible will allow them to be reused much more quickly.
Now, let's donate those items! I divided this post into sections from baby bedding to clothing.
Jump to:
- How to get rid of Baby Bedding
- How to get rid of Baby Clothing
- How to get rid of Cloth Diapers and Accessories
- How to get rid of unused disposable diapers packages and wipes
- Donating New Car Seats, Cribs, Gear
- Donating Breast Pumps and Gear
- Donating Baby Toys
- Donating High Chairs
- Donating Rockers, Swings, Bouncy Seats
- Donating Baby Bathtubs
- Donating Maternity Clothes
- Baby things you can not donate
How to get rid of Baby Bedding
You can give these baby bedding away if they are in good condition. Ensure they are cleaned, and there are no holes in them.
I picked up my daughter’s favorite baby blanket at a nearby second-hand store. It was super soft since it was washed a few times, and the fabric softened over time.
Some charitable organizations are:
Mother’s Home is out of Darby, PA, in Delaware County. They accept a variety of items for babies.
Goodwill Nationwide will also accept these baby bedding items.
Salvation Army will also accept these items.
How to get rid of Baby Clothing
Consignments are a great option to make a little money on baby clothing. Expect that the item will only be worth about 10% of the money you spent on it. If they offer more, it’s a bonus.
The Angel’s Closet PA is a great donation location in Philadelphia.
Goodwill Nationwide is another option for you to donate your baby's clothing.
Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia is another charity that will accept baby clothing.
How to get rid of Cloth Diapers and Accessories
Cloth diapers can be reused for other purposes if you don’t want to donate them. Since they are usually 100% cotton, you can use the clean ones for cleaning your home. Also, you can use them as rags for painting your home.
If you donate cloth diapers, wash and sterilize them before donating. Contact any mom shelter and see if they accept the cloth diapers and accessories. Inform them of their condition to determine if they can repurpose them.
How to get rid of unused disposable diapers packages and wipes
You may have some disposable diapers left over after your child grows out of them. You can usually donate these diapers to places like Laurel House in Pennsylvania. Helping Mamas in Georgia also accept new wipes packages.
Donating New Car Seats, Cribs, Gear
If the new car seats have the original box and were never used, you can most likely donate it to various mom’s support locations.
You can contact places like Laurel’s Loft (a nonprofit organization) in Pennsylvania to see if they will take these new items.
Donating Breast Pumps and Gear
There are a variety of supplies that can be donated when it comes to breastfeeding and baby gear. Boppy pillows, breast pumps, and other baby bottles (without nipples) can be donated if they are clean and gently used. If you have some breast pumps and supplies you no longer need, you can donate them to Helping Mamas in Georgia.
Donating Baby Toys
Goodwill Nationwide is an option to donate your baby's toys. Be sure to clean the toys before donating them. Local consignment shops are also an excellent place to sell your baby's toys. Visit our other donate stuff posts that talk about donating toys. We also have a collection of locations to donate stuffed animals.
And, if you have family and friends with younger children than your own, you can always regift the baby toys to them. Always ask before you give your baby toys to loved ones or friends. They may not want or need them.
Donating High Chairs
High chairs are always in demand. Some consignment shops and thrift stores may accept high chairs. Clean it thoroughly and disinfect it before you donate it.
Another place to get rid of your high chair (Affiliate Link) is at your yard sale.
If your high chair (Affiliate Link) is not usable or broken, you can dismantle it and recycle some parts. Unfortunately, the fabric will need to be trashed.
Donating Rockers, Swings, Bouncy Seats
These baby gear items are tricky. Be sure when you stop using them that there is no rust on them. If it looks like they are in working order, you can donate it to family or friends with little ones.
Some consignment shops or thrift stores will accept these items if they are in newer condition. When you reach out to these places, give them the brand name and when you bought it. If it is a high-quality rocker or swing, they may take it.
Donating Baby Bathtubs
If these bathtubs are in good shape, you can donate them at a yard sale, consignment shop, or thrift shop. Make sure they are cleaned and are not cracked.
Donating Maternity Clothes
When you are done having kids, you will probably have amassed a collection of maternity clothing. Donating them to a worthy cause is a wonderful way to donate your items. The Open Door Ministry accepts clothing donations, plus other things.
Goodwill Nationwide also accepts maternity clothing you may have.
Baby things you can not donate
There are many things you can donate, but unfortunately, there are some things you cannot donate.
A good rule for these items is to examine each one to see if it can be dismantled and its parts recycled. Below, I am sharing some ideas for these items to be disposed of in an earth-friendly way.
Used car seats
Baby car seats should never be donated, especially if they are older than a few years. Safety standards change and your car seats may not be considered safe.
You can give it to family members or friends if it is only a few years old. You can also check with your local mom donation charity.
If you can’t find a place to donate the used car seat, you can take it apart and recycle what can be recycled and trash what can not be recycled.
Or, you can check places like Target or Walmart to see if they are running a car seat trade-in event.
Used Crib Mattresses
Baby Center states that using a crib mattress is linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but they don’t know why. Read more from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
If you still want to try to donate it, you can check short-term shelters. Some shelters may accept crib mattresses; some may not.
There are some options you can do to repurpose a used crib mattress.
- Use it as a dog bed. Cover it with padding and a sheet for your furry family member.
- Make it into a trampoline for kids.
- Create a frame and make it into a cozy bench.
You may be able to sell the parts of the mattress to a scrap metal recycler in your area, such as the steel.
Used bathing suits, socks, undergarments, or sports uniform
These items are all considered personal items that can easily pass the germs to others. So, disposing of these items is best.
Open or expired bottle of formula/baby food
Unfortunately, open formula containers, baby food, and expired containers should never be donated. You may need to discard them. If the lid or container can be recycled, discard the contents in a trash bag and then recycle the lid or container.
Or, you can give it to someone you know instead of recycling or trashing it. Be sure to inform the recipient that it is partially open and what type of formula it is.
If you want other things to donate, please check out our Charitable Locations to Donate Stuff page.
I hope this post helps you find the right place to donate baby items or at least gives you ideas on where to look. It will help new parents with a new baby have a wonderful start to their new life.
Now it is your turn; if you recently donated baby items, please let me know your tips by commenting below. I would love to hear from you.
Janet Schiesl says
Great info about everything related to kids, donations and consignment. The do's and don't. Every person who have kids will go through this and will end up with a lot of clothes, toys, baby gear and more. Kids consignment events have become very popular in the recent years, selling on marketplace and giving away like Buy Nothing groups makes it so easy to get rid of open food containers, clothes diapers and mattresses...
Thanks for all the info.
Julie Bestry says
You hit on an important factor — donating quickly. Children's consignment can vary, but many treat children's clothing like adult stuff and won't accept items that aren't "recent," even though many styles of T-shirts, pants, and onesies never go out of fashion. Too often, parents hold onto clothes, toys, and accessories not because they might have another tiny human but because they have some vague notion of dealing with it all "someday." And we know how that goes.
Also, I'm really glad that you made the points regarding what can't be donated and especially about cleaning/sanitizing items before donating. I'm always aghast when I see that someone intends to donate something that's dusty, crusty, or rusty.
Excellent tips!
Seana Turner says
Wow, so many resources here. Thanks for sharing, Sabrina!
I think one of the best things you said here was to donate quickly. I held onto some items that either deteriorated or are no longer "usable" because standards have changed. I wish I had donated them as soon as I knew I was finished having children because they could have helped someone, at least for a little while.
I find that baby items are always in demand in our local donation locations. Great to clean them so they are "ready to go!" The last thing a new mother needs is someone else's dirty item.
Linda Samuels says
Thank you for all these resources and ideas for what you can and can't donate.
Our daughters are two years apart, so I often kept clothes to pass on to our younger daughter or their first cousins. Many were donated or consigned, too. It's great you shared the resource for donating stuffed animals because many places won't take them. It's easier for parents and kids to let go when they know their toy is going to someone who can enjoy it.
Diane N Quintana says
You are spot on when you advise clearing out the baby's room every few months. Babies out grow things so quickly. Not only clothes but also toys and accessories are sometimes so gently used they look brand new. These are the ones (and things) to donate.
I also loved that you included a list of things NOT to donate. This is equally important information.
Sabrina Quairoli says
Thanks, Diane for stopping by and commenting! While researching, I learned a lot about what is available since my kids were babies.