Anyone with an eco-friendly or frugal mindset will know that throwing out items before they’ve fulfilled their purpose isn’t always the best idea. If a possession is in good condition, perfectly functional, and clean, why should you feel it necessary to get rid of it? Of course, if you’re buying new, selling our older items can be a worthwhile means of saving some money and keeping the household from becoming cluttered. But either way, this is your decision to make on a case-by-case basis.
You may be considering handing down clothes and equipment from your older children to younger, colloquially known as “hand-me-downs.” There can be a bit of a stigma surrounding this, which is why it’s best to do so in regard to specific principles that make the most sense. You get to decide how you allocate your belongings in your household of course, but if you’re deciding between options, we hope some of the following advice could be of use:
Condition & Fit Is More Important Than Sentimentality
Of course, the first thing to check is simple: is it still in good condition? Clothes, shoes, and gear can all show signs of wear in small ways that might disqualify a particular garment or piece of apparel from being passed down. Shoes, for example, tend to mold to the first owner's foot shape and might not be a good fit for another child if they’re not the same size, even if the fit is similar.
Moreover, it’s tempting to hand down items purely because they were expensive or because they hold sentimental value, but if the item no longer does its job or isn’t comfortable, you’re better off donating or retiring it. Hand-me-downs should feel like a bonus for the younger sibling for the most part, unless it’s a real necessity or a temporary option.
Some good questions to ask here can include: are the zippers working? Are the seams holding strong? Does it still look neat and tidy? Does it still wash well? Are there any markers you may need to change, like name tags? This can help you plan ahead.
Consider Practical Upgrades Where Needed
Often, it’s smarter to invest in a new version of an item rather than handing it down, especially when practicality matters and the safety or comfort is highly measured by condition. One good example would be seasonal essentials like school coats, as even if a coat from an older sibling is technically still wearable, if it’s not warm enough, waterproof, or resilient for another round of harsh weather, it’s much better to buy fresh. You can use this principle elsewhere, of course.
Give Your Younger Child Some Choice
If this isn’t a move in which you need to hand-me-down due to affordability, it’s healthy to include your younger child in the process. So instead of simply presenting them with a bag of old items and telling them “here’s your stuff,” you can frame it in a way that helps them feel excited.
For instance, you might lay the items out and ask them which pieces they like, or offer to let them customize or personalize items a little. That might include patches, accessories, or small fixes or fittings, like you might see on a rucksack. Children appreciate having some kind of ownership, and when they get to feel like part of the decision, they’re much more likely to enjoy wearing or using handed-down gear.
Mix Hand-Me-Downs With New Items
Of course, this isn’t a binary approach, as you might find that having handed-down items with a few brand-new pieces will help you outfit the wardrobe best. It sends the message that your younger child deserves nice things too, while still giving you the practical and budget-friendly mindset that hand-me-downs can offer, even for now.
Maybe you reuse some casual clothes and equipment, but still buy them a new pair of sneakers, a backpack, or a few fun new outfits they get to pick themselves before the new school year starts. If they’re sold on eco-friendly living, that can be a good way to sell it.
With this advice, we hope you can find it easier to manage hand-me-downs as appropriate. Don’t worry if this is something you’ve never done before but need to now, many parents do it, and again throwing out old items without cause doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a better parent. With a little planning and some of the above advice you’ll be able to balance this approach well.
