FAMILY OVERDOING IT WITH UNWANTED BABY CLOTHES?
5 ways to (politely) tell the grandparents to back off
MAY I DON'T WANT THAT PLEASE?
My 3-year-old daughter used to say that instead of "no" and honestly it's kind of perfect. But how do you tell well-meaning grandparents that the last thing you need is more stuff, without hurting their feelings?
Grandparents are practically helpless against an overly embellished, highly gendered outfit with a cheap price tag. But if their gifts are more cringe than cute, it may be time for an intervention.
HERE ARE SOME PHRASES YOU CAN USE TO LET YOUR FAMILY KNOW YOU DON'T WANT MORE BABY CLOTHES
(that you can copy + paste)
IF YOU'RE A MINIMALIST
"I know you mean well, but I think we need to have a conversation about the baby clothes. We have so many already, and I'm worried that we're going to end up with a lot of things that we never even use. I really appreciate your generosity, but I think it's better if we stop accepting clothes and maybe focus on some other things we might need for the baby. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and we can work together to make sure we're only getting the things we really need."
"I wanted to talk to you about something. As you know, I've been trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle, and that includes being more mindful of the things I bring into my home. While I really appreciate all the baby clothes you've given us, I think we have enough now. I don't want to clutter up our home with things we don't need. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and maybe we can think of some other ways to celebrate the new baby that don't involve more clothes."
CONSIDERING A CAPSULE WARDROBE FOR YOUR CHILD?
Learn how to create a TRULY minimalist capsule for your baby HERE
IF YOU'RE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST
"I wanted to talk to you about something that's been on my mind. I'm starting to feel guilty about all the baby clothes we're receiving. The fast fashion industry is one of the most environmentally damaging industries out there, and I don't want to contribute to that by accepting more clothes we don't need. I really appreciate your generosity, but I think it's better for us to be mindful of our impact on the planet. Maybe we can focus on other gifts for the baby that are more sustainable and eco-friendly?"
"I really appreciate all the baby clothes you've been giving us, but I wanted to talk to you about something that's been weighing on my mind. The textile industry is a major contributor to pollution and waste, and I think it's important for us to be mindful of our environmental impact. I don't want to contribute to that by accepting more clothes that we don't really need. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and maybe we can focus on other gifts for the baby that don't have such a negative impact on the environment."
WHAT'S THE MOST SUSTAINABLE FABRIC FOR BABY?
Learn why organic cotton is NOT the most sustainable fabric in all the land, and what actually is HERE
IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT FAST FASHION
"I really appreciate all the baby clothes you've given us, but I wanted to talk to you about something. I've been doing some research on the ethics of fast fashion, and I'm starting to feel uncomfortable about accepting more clothes that may have been produced unethically. Many fast fashion brands rely on sweatshop labor and exploit workers in developing countries. I don't want to contribute to that by accepting more clothes we don't need. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and maybe we can focus on other gifts for the baby that are more ethically produced."
"I wanted to talk to you about something that's been on my mind. I'm concerned about the ethics of fast fashion and I don't want to contribute to that by accepting more baby clothes we don't really need. As you know, many fast fashion brands rely on sweatshop labor and exploit workers in developing countries. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and maybe we can think of some other ways to celebrate the new baby that don't involve supporting unethical companies."
WHAT EVEN IS SLOW FASHION?
Learn the difference between slow, sustainable, and ethical fashion HERE
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO AVOID GENDERED CLOTHES
"I wanted to talk to you about something that's been on my mind. We are opting for unisex clothes for the baby because we want them to be able to express their gender in the way they choose, when the time is right. I appreciate all the clothes you've given us so far, but I would prefer if we didn't get any more clothes that are specifically designed for boys or girls. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and maybe we can think of some other gifts for the baby that are gender-neutral."
"I really appreciate all the baby clothes you've given us, but I wanted to talk to you about something. I'm trying to avoid gendered clothes for the baby because we may be expanding our family someday, and we would love for our hand me downs to be worn regardless of their gender. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from, and maybe we can focus on getting gender-neutral clothes for the baby moving forward."
IF YOU HAVE DIFFERENT TASTE
"Hi Mom and Dad, I really appreciate all the baby clothes you've given us, but I wanted to be upfront with you about something. While I know you mean well, some of the clothes you've picked out for the baby aren't really my style. I'd hate for them to go to waste, so I think it would be best if we didn't get any more clothes that might not match our taste. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and maybe we can go shopping together, or focus on other kinds of gifts."
"I appreciate all the baby clothes you've given us, but I'm not sure they're things that we would have chosen for ourselves. I know you have different taste than me, and that's totally fine! But since I want to make sure we use everything we have, I'd prefer if we didn't get any more clothes that may not get worn. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from and maybe we can think of some other gifts for the baby that are more in line with our style."
WHAT TO DO IF THEY STILL BUY GIFTS
Sometimes one conversation isn't enough. You can try again, or you can make a backup plan. Some of my friends took all of their unwanted baby clothes and dyed them black (if this is your speed, check out our tutorial on how to dye your baby's clothes)
You can also re-sell them on Kidizen, a fantastic kid-specific resale app.
Alternately you can find a Mutual Aid network in your area, where you can directly assist another family in your own community.
And if they ask about the unwanted outfits? Simply say:
"We appreciate your thoughtful gift so much, thank you! It turned out we didn't think we would use it as much as someone else, so we gifted it to some neighbors in need."
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