A newborn baby brings excitement, exhaustion, stress, joy and so much more to your home. There is so much to experience and so much to watch for that time can pass before you are ready. Before you know it, you will notice the precious little onesie worn home from the hospital no longer fits. A baby can grow almost an inch each month, leaving you scrambling to find new clothes that fit well. As this happens, don’t abandon the outgrown newborn clothes. With these tips, you can organize and store them for future use or to give as gifts.

Newborn habits can do a number on clothing. Chances are good that some of your baby’s clothes are stained or bear the scent of past meals. Even if you have already washed the clothing, gather up all of the items you intend to store and wash them again. Go through each piece of clothing carefully and pre-treat for stains. Baby clothes are delicate and should be washed carefully. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the right temperature setting, and use a baby-safe detergent and fabric softener to help keep the clothing safe and cuddly for future use.

Since the clothing will be going in storage, each piece needs to be thoroughly dried before packing it up. Some items may be best left to air dry on a rack, but if the instruction tag indicates a drying option, you can follow the recommendation for a thorough dry. A low heat tumble dry can help prevent items from shrinking, but don’t throw anything in the dryer that has sparkles, mesh, lace, ribbons or other materials that could get tangled or pulled loose.

After everything has been washed and dried, it’s time to sort the clothes into categories. Newborn sizes are pretty standard, especially if a majority of the clothing items are from a particular brand. The most common sizes to separate out into categories include:

• 0-3 months
• 3-6 months
• 6-9 months
• 9-12 months

When things are sorted and organized by size and season, you are more likely to find exactly what you are looking for when you are pulling the clothes out of storage. It also maximizes your space, as it is easier to fit the same size articles in similar storage containers. As you are organizing the clothes, you can handle outfits and separates a few ways. You can keep separates as their own category, such as onesies, nightclothes, pants, shirts, etc, or you can create matching outfits with the different items to pack together.

While some parents find that packing outfits in a plastic bag can help keep the clothes more organized, there is the potential for moisture to get trapped in Ziploc bags or plastic bags. If this happens, it can cause mildew to grow on the clothes. One of the best ways to avoid this possibility and still use bags is to vacuum seal the bags and store the individual bags in a larger, moisture-proof container. Even a small amount of moisture in the bag or in the storage location can cause items to spot or stain from mold.

There are many different ways to store the baby clothing you don’t need. First and foremost, consider the space where you will be storing everything. The temperature and storage environment will make a difference in how well the baby clothes are preserved, so choose a storage container accordingly. If you have plenty of vertical space, consider using a bookcase or shelving filled with stacked plastic boxes. If you have room under beds or along the floor of closets, you may have more use for narrow, slim totes.

Plastic containers will help keep out moisture, and these also stand up well to temperature changes. Plastic totes are durable and can withstand the weight of the clothes you are hanging onto. Trying to get oversized plastic containers into an attic can be cumbersome and potentially dangerous, so choose medium-sized containers that aren’t too heavy when full and are easily maneuvered through a range of spaces.

Unless you label the storage containers of clothes, all of your effort to organize the items will be for nothing. Whether you plan to pull out clothing later for siblings who are born, or you intend to give away items as gifts, you can move more efficiently through your containers when things are labeled. If you have put outfits into vacuum-sealed bags, label each bag with the size and generic description of the outfit. A simple label could be “short sleeve bunny sleeper 3 mo.” Make sure you have a generic label on each storage container, so a first glance will show you what you have.

When making labels, it’s tempting to simply use a permanent marker and write on the plastic container. Though it is cost-effective and efficient, it makes it hard to re-use the containers for anything else. If you have lots of clothes to store, consider an inexpensive label maker. Be sure to make a label for both the top lid and the side of the container that will be forward-facing in storage.

For years, people who have wanted to protect their clothing or other items from moths and other fiber-eating insects have turned to mothball. However, these are not safe for children’s clothing because of the potential contact of the chemicals with a child’s skin. Don’t use mothballs or other chemical agents to keep your child’s newborn clothes from insects, rodents or dust. Carefully packing away the clothing into sealed bags and durable plastic containers can keep the garments from being damaged during storage.

When you outfit your baby in items from The Smiley Baby, you will never want to pack up the newborn clothes for storage. The feel of your little one wearing the finest, softest Peruvian Pema Cotton is magical, and you know that your baby’s skin has never been more comfortable and content. Give your baby the gift of softness with one of our adorable, durable pieces.