Tips when having a second baby!

Peter Rabbit outfit for a newborn baby boy pictured side by side with the scan and a little rabbit teddy bear photographed by Los Angeles photographer Elsie Rose Photography - having a second baby

What to keep and what not to keep in the clothing department

Peter Rabbit outfit for a newborn baby boy pictured side by side with the scan and a little rabbit teddy bear photographed by Los Angeles photographer Elsie Rose Photography

As a parent, you may be familiar with the dilemma of what to do with all the baby clothes once your child outgrows them. Here are some tips when having a second baby. If you’re expecting a second child, and the first was a girl while the second is a boy, you may be faced with an even bigger challenge. Do you keep all of the adorable dresses, skirts, and hair bows, or do you part ways with them to make room for more appropriate clothing for your little boy? 

This is my current dilemma.  My second is a boy and he’ll be here in just a few months.  It’s time to turn the office into a nursery for him, but stored in the closet is bag after bag of my daughter’s baby clothes. She’s only 2, I don’t know how she accumulated so many!  Or maybe I do, as a Los Angeles baby and child photographer, I purchased both practical every day clothes and also ones for gorgeous photoshoots of her.  I am originally from the UK and there are so many beautiful pieces from British and Spanish boutiques, stunning hand made and knitted items, yet they grow out of them so fast. 

I am sentimental and it’s hard to let go of them all, but I do need the space.  A friend gave me the tip to make time to sit down with everything and go through it all, keep a couple of special things and make a pile of everything else to either gift on to a friend or give to charity, and let someone else really enjoy the beautiful pieces too. 

Image of a jelly cat rabbit teddy with a pile of girl clothes photographed in LA

Tips when having a second baby

Here are some tips to help you navigate this tricky situation.

Sort through your baby’s clothes and identify what can be reused.

The first step is to go through all of your baby’s clothes and separate them into piles. Decide which items can be reused for your second child and which ones cannot. Look for neutral pieces such as onesies, sleepers, and jackets that can work for both boys and girls.

Consider the practicality of each piece.

When deciding what to keep, think about the practicality of each item. For example, if you have a lot of frilly dresses and your second child is a boy, it may not make sense to keep all of them. Instead, keep a few sentimental pieces and donate the rest to someone who will appreciate them.

Let go of sentimental attachment.

It’s understandable to feel sentimental about your child’s clothes, especially if they hold special memories. However, it’s important to recognize that the clothes are just things, and the memories will always be with you. If you find it hard to let go, consider taking photos of your child wearing the clothes or keeping a small memento like a hair bow or blanket. You can even schedule a professional photoshoot if there is something special they are about to outgrow, then the images will adorn your walls forever.

Donate or sell what you don’t need.

Once you’ve decided what to keep, it’s time to donate or sell what you don’t need. There are plenty of organizations that accept gently used baby clothes, such as local charities and women’s shelters. You can also sell items online through platforms like Facebook Marketplace or consignment stores.

Prepare for your second child.

Now that you have sorted through your first child’s clothes, it’s time to start preparing for your second child. Make a list of what you need and start shopping for those things. Don’t forget to include items like bibs, burp cloths (my favorite burp cloth and bib all in one is by Aden & Anais), and socks (I love The Little Stocking Company). Since my daughter is only 2, I still have the majority of things I will need, which feels great. One less thing to plan and think about, now just the clearing out to go.

Collage image of newborn baby nursery in Los Angeles

In conclusion, dealing with hand-me-downs when your first child is a girl and your second child is a boy can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. By sorting through your baby’s clothes, identifying what can be reused, letting go of sentimental attachment, and donating or selling what you don’t need, you can make room for new memories with your second child while still preserving the sentimental value of your first child’s clothes.  I hope these tips when having a second baby are helpful.

As a Los Angeles newborn and baby photographer, I am so happy that I can add the classic pieces to my client closet and see them photographed again in stunning settings. 

Image of nursery in LA decorated with white, soft grey and soft pink. Image of drawers open with baby clothing inside photographed by newborn photographer Elsie Rose Photography - Having a second baby

Tips when having a second baby

If you’d like to book your newborn photoshoot, I’d love to capture this special time for you. Just contact me and lets chat and create your perfect session!

Image of a newborn in a bucket with a pink teddy bear hat on.

You can check out my blog on Delivering at Cedars Sinai Maternity Ward here.

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