There’s nothing more adorable than a newborn baby with their little cotton onesies and knit hats. As you probably know, babies don’t stay that little forever (although we wish they did) and quickly outgrow those clothes that you hoped would last for more than three to six months.
Like most parents, you might not be ready to part ways with those baby clothes and that’s totally normal. Although I don’t have kids, my mother told me she wanted to hold onto my baby clothes for years — in fact, she still has my baby socks framed to this day (nearly 30 years later) and a few old onesies in a chest.
That said, you might not need or want to preserve all of those outgrown baby clothes since there’s probably a lot (hence what Goodwill and buy nothing groups are for); however, there are some special items you will want to keep, even if they take on a new purpose.
To help with the process, we spoke with design experts about unique ways to preserve baby clothes. Spoiler alert: You can turn an old onesie into a Christmas tree ornament with some scissors and a bit of imagination.
Make a quilt
You can’t go wrong by making a quilt to preserve baby clothes. Not only is it useful to keep warm, but it can also serve as a walk down memory lane with each square, whether left on a bed or draped over a couch. All you have to do is take those old onesies, pants and shirts, cut them into squares, make a quilt sandwich with the top, batting and backing, then stitch them together.
Bronze baby shoes
Bronzing baby shoes was popularized in the early 20th century and is still done to this day. It’s quite simple to do and all you have to do is stuff the shoes with paper to help them keep their shape, brush on the metallic coating and let them dry. For added effect, you can place them in a shadow box or mount them on a plaque to display.
“Mount it in a UV-protected shadow box to keep it away from dust while displaying the memory,” says Jen Saxton, founder of Tot Squad, a marketplace for parenting services, such as sleep and breastfeeding support.
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Make a plush memory bear
Your baby probably has a favorite stuffed animal that they don’t go anywhere without. If that sounds familiar, then you can give them another one, but this time dress it in their outgrown baby clothes. All you need to do is get a small plush and put the baby clothes on it.
“A simple rule of thumb is not to have two different patterns. If the upper piece has a pattern, the bottom should be plain,” says Victoria Carina, founder of clothing startup The Genuine Human.
Another option is to put the clothes on the bear and then keep the bear on a shelf or display box to show off for years to come.
Make a pillow
Similar to making a quilt, you can also sew together a pillow case with squares of fabric from outgrown baby clothes. “Many families turn their favorite pieces into memory quilts, keepsake pillows or framed fabric art so the clothing remains part of the family’s story rather than sitting unused in storage,” says Vasilisa Krivenko, founder of kids clothing brand, Firebird Kids.
To do this, you need to measure the dimensions of the pillow you’re looking to cover, cut out square pieces of fabric, and stitch them together. This is a fairly easy craft to do if you have some time on a rainy day and want a keepsake to hold onto for years to come.
Frame a pair of socks
Baby socks are so tiny and are usually the some of the first pieces of clothing that need to be replaced as babies grow. This requires little to no work outside of getting some hot glue and a photo frame. For an added touch, you can have your baby ink their footprints on a piece of paper but that’s not a requirement for this unique preservation idea.
Create an ornament
Looking to put your sewing skills to the test? Create ornaments for the Christmas tree using old baby clothes. All you have to do is cut some fabric, get stuffing and sew it together. With this craft, you’ll be reminded of your baby year after year and you’ll have free decorations to add as they continue to grow.
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Make a hair accessory
Hair accessories are useful for both babies as they grow and even adults if you want to have a piece of your precious one on you as you go about your days. We suggest starting with a headband where you can simply wrap the fabric around a plastic base. You can opt to make a bow, although that is a little more complex and will require a bit more time.
Want something simpler? “You can cut out a rectangular element and make a bandana for the favorite teddy bear,” Carina tells GH.
Patch together a tote bag
Tote bags are a functional and practical way to preserve baby clothes since they can be used on a daily basis to hold groceries and carry belongings. This is definitely more for the skilled crafters as it involves some extra steps of adding a liner and sewing on straps, but you can carry a piece of your baby with you throughout life with this craft.
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Casey Clark is a freelance consultant who is interested in beauty, health, and style-related commerce content. She learned from Hofstra University with a degree in journalism. Her work has been published in Women's Health, Better Homes & Gardens, and more.
