Save newborn outfits for future baby doll clothes
Michael's found a good way to reuse those newborn outfits that are too special to give away:
When my daughter was born, my family and friends bought her dozens of beautiful outfits. I didn't want to get rid of them, but could think of no good reason to keep them either. It finally dawned on me that someday she would be a good age to play with a life-size newborn doll. So I've saved them until one Christmas she will receive a great doll with a fantastic wardrobe!
I love this idea. My kids get so excited when I pull out their old baby clothes. Not only do they love the concrete illustration of how small they used to be, I think they also relish seeing us treasure their babyhoods.
Related: Newborn diapers: more economical than doll diapers
My Mom just turned a baby onesie into a tee-shirt for my son's cherished stuffed dog. And the bottom half of the oneise? She turned that into a hat. Leg holes = ear holes.
Posted by: jamie | 03 December 2008 at 08:15 AM
When I was little I would go to garage sales with my mom to specifically look for newborn outfits for my dolls. I saved my kids baby clothes to use on dolls. Also favorite shirts of my son's get used as shirts for animals. His favorite Thomas shirt got turned into a pillow.
Posted by: Celeste | 03 December 2008 at 08:29 AM
mama did that, so my baby alive had some great embroidered outfits. i wonder if i still have them somewhere?
Posted by: marci | 03 December 2008 at 08:44 AM
Oh I so do this... I have a friend that scours newborn sales for my daughter and wraps the treasures up for Christmas - every year since she was born! It is a wonderfully special gift!
Posted by: se7en | 03 December 2008 at 10:38 AM
Baby clothes also make great bases for hand puppets.
Posted by: Joyous | 03 December 2008 at 12:01 PM
hahaha -- my big girl (2 at the time) was ALWAYS ripping off the baby clothes!
Posted by: Holly | 03 December 2008 at 02:31 PM
http://www.amazon.com/Corolle-Classic-Baby-Doll-Amour/dp/B0017IPCUW
The Corolle Baby Amour Doll is made to wear 3-6 month old clothing.
Posted by: | 03 December 2008 at 05:20 PM
Lovely idea. My Grandma knitted some beautiful baby outfits: coats, hats, jackets & dresses. I played with them on my dolls for many years, and I still keep the dressed up dolls today as treasured mementos. One is displayed on a shelf next to a photo of me and G/ma - and in the photo I am wearing the same outfit as the doll!
Posted by: Altissima | 03 December 2008 at 06:16 PM
This is more for cast-off clothes that you are done with, but I have used at least 2 pairs of pajamas (one just the t-shirt, another footie pajamas cut off, for my dog.
She is cold with her short hair this year, but I am not really into buying clothes for the dog.
This worked perfectly.
Posted by: rachel | 04 December 2008 at 10:34 AM