Baby Stuff You Can and Can't Reuse for the Next Child

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As parents, we would give anything for our children. But given the high price of all things related to babies—from doctor’s visits to diapers—there’s no shame in looking for little ways to save money here and there. And if you’re the parent of Irish twins, you can save money is by reusing some of the things from the first baby for the second.

But just because the babies are being born very close together doesn’t mean you can reuse everything. Knowing what baby stuff you can and can’t reuse for the next child is the key to saving money safely.

Reuse It!

Clothes

When we have our baby showers, we often receive plenty of adorable little outfits that our babies outgrow in the blink of an eye. While it can feel like a waste when our babies outgrow them, you can reuse these clothes from one baby to another.

Cribs

Depending on the timing, your first baby may still be in their crib by the time the second comes along. However, if you have a precocious tot and enough of an age gap, you can get your other little one into a toddler bed and then reuse the crib for the second.

And even if you’re changing out nursery designs between one baby and another, you can always pick a new paint for it. Just be sure to paint it well in advance. And make sure you double-check recall information on the crib.

Replace It!

Anything That Goes in a Mouth

Little ones are known to put anything and everything in their mouths. While in some ways this builds up their immune systems, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t draw the line somewhere. Throw away old pacifiers when your first baby is done with them. And if you reuse the bottles from one baby to the next, make sure you throw out the old nipples and buy new ones.

Creams and Ointments

We don’t think of things like ointments and creams as having expiration dates like formula and food. But expired ointments can become ineffectual or even develop bacterial growth. Granted, if your babies are close enough in age, the creams may not be expired. Just be sure to check the dates before you use them. When in doubt, throw them out.

We all want our kids to grow up knowing how to share. And by knowing the baby stuff you can and can’t reuse, you can start your babies’ sharing lessons early.

Sincerely,