My go-to resource is a woman with a son eight months younger than mine. She's a grad student and really appreciated the baby stuff I was able to pass her way. I don't even know her very well. I just wanted to make sure my baby's things (all of which we purchased new in 2008) were going to be used again. I just asked her to pass along anything she doesn't want/need.

i couldn't help but notice all of the kid books in the photo...a great place for gently used books is your local library. i work as a children's librarian, and i'm always looking for books! also, if your library doesn't except books (perhaps they have run out of room), many daycares, preschools or headstart programs would love to have them. so, keep two or three absolute favorites (you know which ones!), and give the rest away!

oops! should have been "accept"! sorry!

I love bagging up toys for donation.

I'm 8 month pregnant and have already put some maternity clothes into a consignment store! I have no problem parting with things, after all, there are so many things a baby needs, its nice to give up stuff for ppl who can not afford it. I'm still on the lookout for some key equipment.

I have no problem getting rid of the baby equipment. I was thrilled to consign my exersaucer. Who wants big bright plastic baby things taking up their floor space?
I have a hard time parting with the sweet baby clothes. I just packed away my 18 month old's summer wardrobe and just seeing those adorable dresses and knowing she is, most likely, my last baby... I will never have another little one to fit into those things again. (boohoo!) I always keep a few favorite pcs. but sell the rest.
The junk toys that accumulate from grandparents, I have no problem donating. The boutique clothes, nice toys & books are the ones that fall under the category of "hard to find a new home for" because I'd like to get back as much of my money as possible...that usually means eBay (that's work!) or consignment sales (also a lot of work!)

We live in South Africa where there is so much poverty, our local township (2 minute drive from home) has a community center where you can drop off everything: toys, clothes, household stuff, blankets even sealed food... surrounding folk live in shacks and have nothing so everything is appreciated and passed on the the relevant people. A lot of our friends can't stand to pass things on so I let them drop them off at my house and then I pass them on for them... It's like the final step in letting go is the hardest!!!

This is a tough one for me. I aways thought we would have many children and saved everything from dd. However, we have been suffering from secondary infertility, and the stuff has been just sitting in the closet.

Now we are about to move abroad, so I really need to decide what to do. So far, I think I will only keep what would be hard to replace and the really good stuff (wooden toys, wool clothes, etc.) The wrap and Ergo carrier I am keeping, and I never even owned the type of plastic stuff that is often seen as needed.

I pass as much as possible along to other people I know. The rest goes to our local family centre, which redistributes items to families in need, or to a local thrift store run by a non-denominational charitable organization.

I'm holding on to my favourite items of clothing. Someday, when both my boys have outgrown all their baby/toddler/preschooler clothes, I'm going to make a quilt with them.

There are a few sentimental items -- such as the baby quilts made by my mom -- that I'll never let go. Right now, my boys are using them to make forts. :)

I just pass everything to a local charity who picks up donations. It's great. The old baby carseat went through two babies and one small crash so that went straight to the trash when we were done with it.

If I notice toys aren't being played with anymore, I put them in a bag and put it all away for a while. If my girls don't ask for them back and notice they're gone, I donate them, either to Goodwill, our church's nursery, or the Head Start nearby. I used to be a teacher, so many of my teacher friends will come over and search through my old books and toys. As for clothes, I pass them onto friends.

our local la leche league group has an annual rummage sale as their fundraiser. they sell clothes, toys and books for 50 cents, and nicer 'gear' for good prices too. i feel like i'm helping families find what they need inexpensively (i work the sale, so i know the demographic and most seem to really need the awesome prices), while also supporting something i believe in.

that's what i do with the stuff that's nice enough that i would buy it at a sale. if things aren't so great, but still completely useable, i donate to any thrift store along with my other piles of decluttering.

there is no shortage of new homes for your things - goodwill, consigment shops, craigslist, freestuff, friends, family members, library, shelters. motivation to do so is another thing...

abbygreykit - i totally sympathize with you!! i have a 3 year old and 4 month old and i am totally ready to get rid of my maternity clothes! but i don't think i will ever be able to part with the majority of the baby clothes. i don't anticipate myself wanting the 'equipment' - the swing, the tummy time mat, the boppy gym - when we are past that stage. but the clothes will be very hard to let go of. i didn't want to have anymore after my last baby, but then found out that i shouldn't have anymore, due to medical stuff. so i think that only compounds the issue. just packing up the 0-3 month stuff was hard...seeing all the things my babies will never wear again!
when i do get rid of stuff, though, we take it to homeless shelters, thrift stores, etc. my husband is a social worker and has taken stuff to his clients before too. selling on eBay is too much work for the little $ you get back for most things. however, i am hoping to consign my maternity stuff...i work in a 'business attire' sort of office and have spent too much to not get something back out of those things!

my little one is 16 months, and it was such a pleasure to get rid of the ugly stuff like jumpers and floor mats and baby loungers - things i said i wouldn't buy anyway, but ended up getting when the going got tough. ah - a bit of floor space back! i sold them all on craigslist, so it was little effort for pretty good return. same goes for all the baby carriers, breast pump, etc... i've put most of the best baby clothes on consignment (except a few favourites) and otherwise it's been the donation bins for our local thrift shops. it's so freeing to get rid of it all; although sentimentally it tugs at the old heartstrings, i know we don't need it.

Anyone know a place where I can donate toys in Chicago? So many places will not take toys now because of fear of recalls. We have the youngest child among our friends and family so there is no one to pass them on to.

Freecycle.com, craigslist.org, Goodwill, homeless shelters for women and children, local hospitals have donation areas and resources on where to take old baby clothes (teen mom programs etc.) It's not hard. If you can use a computer you can figure it out. The first step is to pack it up and be willing to let go of it--the rest is easy. There are so many people and places who will take your old stuff.

Keep the VERY special stuff for yourself or a trustworthy friend or family member. Allow yourself one large box you can keep in storage.