For the parents....

[ufcrusher]

When your child outgrew his/her baby furniture, did you put it back into its original box for storage? If not, what did you do with the furniture/toys?

Obviously, this begs the questions whether I should be keeping all of the boxes that your baby toys and furniture came in? My garage has a 5 foot by 8 foot by 9foot area that is overflowing with empty boxes. However, I am not sure if I can reclaim my garage yet.

TIA

[uncledaddy]

Well, not exactly a parent, but I am raising two nieces. I keep boxes for a short period, electronics boxes longer, in case they need to be returned defective. The Furniture, toys, and clothes get passed down from the older sister, who is 3, to her younger sister, who is 1. After that, I give to one of many friends who are starting families of their own. What I can't get rid of, I donate. But as the youngest is still only 1, I haven't had to get rid of much yet.

We have a chain of stores in San Diego called Once Upon A Baby, and they buy used furniture, toys, and clothes that are in good condition. If you are looking to sell, and don't want to hassle with classifieds or ebay, you might want to check something similar in your area.

[renovation]

we just passed down or donated the baby stuff.as for keeping the box's no they get tossed after we know the warranty is up. if i keep them that long .i sure don't have the room to keep the box's. now on my attic i really need to toss some stuff out. just that i need a dumpster to discard all the crap so it stays up there out of site. i use to get a dumpster once or twice a year and empty my attic. now that my company's cut back and i don't have the work load i use to i have no need to bring in a dumpster to clear out all the overidge of materials i stock pile behind in the shed or in the rafters.

[Kim]

I saved baby furniture and all that until I was done having children, then I either handed it down or donated it. I had a large storage room downstairs to keep stuff in. If you don't want to save the original boxes, stuff like baby toys and clothes can be stored in those giant plastic tubs.

[Prngr44]

Why don't you break the boxes down to save space, then if you need them in the future, tape them back up?

[cadetevon]

I kept all my boxes and once my son out grew a particular item I cleaned it up (made repairs if necessary) then sold them at our local swapmeet. Items sell for way more if they have all their parts and are in the original box.

[WhiskeyPapa]

When your child outgrew his/her baby furniture, did you put it back into its original box for storage? If not, what did you do with the furniture/toys?We let the next kid use it.

We've haven't had any "unused" baby stuff for 24 years...

[ufcrusher]

Ugg. Half of these boxes are HUGE because of the laege items that were in there. For instance, the Fisher Price Rain Forest swing is in a 1 ft deep x 18 in wide x 3.5 ft box.

[chrissy]

I didn't keep any boxes for furniture - My first two used the same crib and cribs break down rather flat. Bought a new dresser for Mikey as Audrey was still using hers. But being that we only had so much room, I sold toys as they outgrew them - at least the ones that weren't "keepable". Keepable to me are classic type toys.

As for jumpers or bouncers, each kid was different. One liked to swing, the other nothing but a blanket on the floor made him happy. And Patrick, well, he did a blanket too and some gyms. I passed most of that type of stuff down to the next airman in the shop.

I gave a stroller/carseat combo thing to a family - those things are a waste! The stroller takes up too much room in a trunk and it's not comfy when the child outgrows the carseat. I am glad I got it for under $30 at Target on clearance!

Sold the crib from the older two because I was done with kids at that point. Then when Donnie and I decided to try, bought a used one and sold it for the same amount.

If we would have had room/ no weight issue to worry about would I have saved boxes? Probably not. It would have been passed around family and friends just like it had.

[uncledaddy]

Wow chrissy, a stroller for under $30? I bought the older girls stroller for about $150 and when the second was born, I had to get a tandem and I couldn't find one for less than $120, (at Target). So now I have both. I'm never lucky enough to find the deals. :disa:

Sorry, ufc, not trying to hijack your thread. :D

[chrissy]

yeah, It didn't match but who cares :D The stroller was $12 and the seat was like $15ish. I was there almost daily watching those! I called the company and got the safety straps and away we went! So I guess it wasn't a "combo", but it paid to watch and wait.

On the other hand, I paid $70 for my Combi stroller and I keep finding excuses to keep it in the trunk! Patrick is 5 and I cannot remember the last time we used it, but I don't want to give it up! I loved that thing and so did he :)

[cheapie]

no way. throw the boxes out.

[zenbooty]

Are the boxes plain brown boxes? Or are they heavily colored or labeled? Plain white or brown boxes can make great imaginary appliances/settings with some magic markers and some creativity.