August 17, 2026 · 5 min read
Where to pass on baby things your child has outgrown
The wardrobe is full of things outgrown in three months. Throwing them out feels wrong, selling takes forever. Here is where they actually go.
In short
Neighbours with same-age children are the fastest route: no shipping, no photos, no haggling. Charities come next and take bulk bags, then charity shops. Prams, cots and car seats move faster directly between families; clothes by the bag suit charities better.
1. Neighbours in your own area
The only route where the item reaches a specific child rather than a warehouse. You see the person you helped, and a few months later something usually comes back — that is how any neighbourhood circle works.
In PitPat this is the Yellow Suitcase: you list an item for free, with no commission and no bargaining. Setting a price is not possible by design — nothing is sold here.
- Best for: prams, cots, high chairs, play mats, clothes by the bag
- Speed: usually a few hours to two days
- What you need: one honest photo and a size or age
2. Charities
Charities take large batches and distribute them to the families they support. Useful when you are clearing the whole wardrobe at once.
Check the list first: most refuse stained or bobbled items, and many will not take used soft toys or bedding.
3. Charity shops
The item is sold cheaply and the proceeds fund the charity's programmes. A good route for branded clothing in excellent condition.
4. Textile recycling
For things nobody can wear any more: holes, stains, shrunk in the wash. Many clothing chains accept textiles for recycling. Better than the bin, worse than passing to a family.
Preparing things in 20 minutes
- Wash and dry — nobody accepts unwashed items
- Sort by size and label the bags: “66–74”, “winter, age 2”
- Remove anything you would not hand to a friend: stains, bobbling, broken zips
- Wipe the pram and check every fastening is in place
- Keep manuals and spare parts if you still have them — it raises the chance the item is taken