Volunteer and mum Hanya on passing on her daughter’s first wardrobe, and her tips for making your own spring clean count.
By Hanya, Volunteer, Baby Give Back
Stella has just turned one and this has been our first spring clean of her wardrobe. I can’t believe how much she’s grown! The tiny onesies she lived in only months ago look ridiculously small to me now.
I’ll never forget being diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with Stella and had to cease work earlier than expected, my midwife said to me “we can get you help with baby clothing and essentials”. In that moment, reality hit. I'd never asked for help before, but I knew this time, I couldn't turn away the offer. It was such a big weight off my shoulders knowing I had all the essentials ready for when our beautiful miracle baby was born. I’m so grateful the Baby Give Back village was there for us.
I’ve been a little excited to sort through the clothes she’s outgrown, knowing they were going to another family and filling their hearts with hope and relief, just as they did for me.
Sorting through these clothes makes me feel a bit emotional, I won’t lie. Every little outfit has a memory attached. But packing them up feels so good, because I know they’ll be passed on to another family, packaged with care and given like a gift. Somewhere, another little one will be wearing my favourite pink llama onesie of Stella’s and making their own memories in it.
“we can get you help with baby clothing and essentials”.
A few things I’ve learnt in my time at Baby Give Back:
Clothes in good condition make the biggest difference, so I check for stains, holes and missing buttons before anything goes in the donation bag.
Baby Give Back takes sizes 00000 to 5, so even the newborn clothing you’ve been holding onto can find a new home.
If you find anything that’s been stuffed at the back of the wardrobe for ages, pop it through the wash first so a new family receives it looking clean and smelling fresh.
When you’re going through everything it’s super easy to sort into a pile for each size that you can put into separate bags with a little note of the size slipped inside. This saves the volunteers so much time!
The time passes quickly once you get started. It can be quite satisfying to clear out and a nice way to de-stress with a cuppa and some music on.
I’ve also asked Stella’s kindy to become a collection point, knowing I would be coming into the warehouse each week. The kindy community has been really supportive. I bring their donations in when I volunteer. It’s so lovely seeing our growing families get behind Baby Give Back.
Little octopuses, made with love
I started crocheting these little octopuses to go into boxes for prem babies. I received one from a friend for Stella when she was a newborn and it was so comforting for her, so if I can make these for other babies to help soothe and comfort them, that just makes my heart so full. I like to crochet in front of the TV at night, thinking about the tiny baby who’ll receive it. The handmade touches are such a special addition to the boxes so I love that I can be a part of it.
"The handmade touches are such a special addition to the boxes…"
Ready to pass yours on?
If you’ve got a pile of outgrown clothes sitting in a cupboard, I’d love for you to think about passing them on. We’re always short on premmie and newborn sizes, so if you don’t have clothes to donate, you can always look out for sale items and enjoy some retail therapy knowing that families will benefit. It’s such a simple thing, but it means so much.
Find your nearest donation collection point
Not near a collection point? Find out how to run a donation drive in your workplace, school or community group - it's easier than you think.
Want to see where your donations go? Join our community and follow along
