As your children get older, you’re naturally going to need to get rid of the baby paraphernalia that was necessary in the first couple of years after they were born. So, what do you do with used baby items?
When your child becomes a toddler (1-4 y/o), you’ll soon find that they need a completely different set of items, from clothes to toys. But what about the pile of baby stuff that they’ll no longer need?
Throwing everything out can seem like such a waste, but on the other hand, hoarding isn’t a great alternative either, especially if you’re not planning on having more children. So - let’s go through your options:
Table of Contents
- What should you do with old baby stuff?
- How to get rid of baby items the right way
- Resell preloved baby items
- Donate old baby items
- Recycle unwanted baby items
- Restrictions for getting rid of baby items
What Should you Do with Old Baby Stuff?
Some items you can get rid at certain ages, others may be worth keeping.
The first step to clear out baby items from your home is to find out what your child still needs, and what they don’t. Make a list of all the baby items you have in your home — there’s no need to get too specific by listing every single item, just group them up according to how they’re used.
Once you have that list, you can use it as a checklist to sort the items that you want to keep (for now). Here’s a guide to the list of items you most likely won’t need any longer now that your little one is not so little:
- Baby milk formula
- Feeding bottles
- Breast pump
- Bibs
- Baby clothes (including jumpers, onesies, mittens, and socks)
- Highchair
- Bassinet or cot
- Baby bouncer/rocker
- Baby bath
- Baby monitor
- Pacifiers
- Baby rattles and toys
- Nappy changing mat
- Baby wipes
- Nappies (if your toddler is already being toilet trained)
This isn’t an exhaustive list by any means — you may have items that your child still hasn’t outgrown or extra items not on the list that you no longer need. As a general rule, if you haven’t used a baby item in a few weeks, it’s likely that you can plan to get rid of it.
How to Get Rid of Baby Items the Right Way
Instead of tossing all of your old baby items into the general waste bin, there are more sustainable options to get rid of them to reduce their potential impact on the environment:
Resell Preloved Baby Items
Australia has no shortage of parenting communities, and it’s likely that you'll be able to resell preloved baby equipment and even clothing to other parents with newborns or infants for some extra change.
A cursory glance at online second-hand marketplaces will show you all you need to know — prams, old cots, and baby clothes are all listed as potential items you can get a tidy sum from.
Just be sure to stick to items that are suitable for sale. Items like pacifiers, for instance, are probably too unsanitary and passing them on to someone else would just be irresponsible.
Donate Old Baby Items
Some parent communities have exchange programs where they pass on old baby items to other families at no cost, with the objective being to support young parents against the rising cost of raising a child in Australia.
Donating your old baby stuff to a local op-shop or these parental support networks is a great idea to extend their usefulness while potentially helping out a parent in need.
Recycle Unwanted Baby Items
Raising a baby can get messy, and broken items are usually part and parcel of the process. If you have broken baby items, consider recycling them instead of tossing them into the bin.
Lots of baby products are made from soft plastics that are hypoallergenic for baby safety, which makes them recyclable. Before throwing out a broken baby item like a bottle, check if they have a recycling symbol on them.
Restrictions for Getting Rid of Baby Items
Getting rid of baby items can be tricky as some of them can be bulky, fragile, perishable or need to be cleaned beforehand. If disposed of incorrectly, you could face thousands of dollars in fines for illegal dumping.
Bulky items like cots or prams won’t fit in the bin, but as tempting as it is to leave them on the curb, you shouldn’t risk a charge for dumping. It’s better to use a rubbish collection service to clear them from your property.
Baby food or baby formula is perishable and can go bad quickly, and you’ll need to treat them like regular food waste during disposal.
Clothing can be donated, but you will need to clean them thoroughly or they may not be accepted.
Final Thoughts
As your child gets older, they will eventually outgrow more clothes, toys and childproofing equipment. It’s important to understand that the same options we’ve highlighted above still apply when it comes to getting rid of them.
If you find yourself struggling to get rid of many baby items at once, we’re here to help. Ridly rubbish removal can get rid of all your baby items for you in one go with our collection services, no matter how big or small they are. Our round-the-clock services are available in Central Sydney, the Inner West, and across the greater Sydney area for your convenience. Contact us for a pickup today!