Babies outgrow clothes faster than anyone expects, and by the first birthday most families have a loft, a wardrobe or a bin bag full of tiny things nobody wears any more. The good news is that almost all of it can have a second life.

Around 350,000 tonnes of clothing is thrown away in the UK every year, and baby clothes, worn for just a few weeks each, are some of the easiest to keep out of landfill. Here are the best ways to reuse, sell and recycle unwanted baby clothes, roughly in the order we'd try them.

1. Pass them on to friends and family

The simplest option, and often the most welcome. Expectant friends, younger cousins and colleagues are usually delighted with a bag of good-quality basics. Gender neutral clothes are especially easy to pass on, because they suit any baby. Before you bag them up, wash everything, deal with any stains (they set in storage) and label each bag by size.

2. Send them back through a pre-loved scheme

We've teamed up with SuperLooper, a pre-loved clothing return and rental service on a mission to keep children's clothing in circulation. Send your outgrown clothes back and they go on to another child, and you receive a voucher to spend on your next Lucy & Sam order. See our SuperLooper page and Pre-Loved page for how it works.

3. Sell them online

Good-quality, branded baby clothes resell well, particularly organic cotton and unisex pieces. Vinted, eBay and local Facebook selling groups are the easiest places to start, and bundles by size tend to sell faster than single items. Our guide to pre-loved baby clothes in the UK covers where to sell and what buyers check.

4. Donate to a baby bank or charity shop

Baby banks give clothing and essentials directly to local families who need them, and many are always short of clothes in bigger sizes. Use Little Village's UK baby bank finder to find one near you, or donate to a registered charity shop. Check what they accept first: most want clean, unstained items in good condition.

5. Turn favourites into a keepsake

Some pieces are too precious to part with. If you sew, old baby clothes make lovely bunting or a patchwork quilt. Or send your favourites to a keepsake maker such as Love Keep Create to have them made into a memory bear or cushion.

6. Recycle what's left

Clothes that are too worn, stained or damaged to reuse can still be recycled. Take them to a textile recycling bank, never the household bin. Recycle Now will show you your nearest clothing and textile recycling point.

Buy for the second life, too

The easiest way to make baby clothes reusable is to buy ones built to last: durable fabric, simple care and prints that suit any child. That's what every Lucy & Sam piece is designed for, in 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. Read more on our sustainable baby clothes page, or see how to wash baby clothes so they last.

Common questions

Can you recycle baby clothes in the UK?

Yes. Clothes that can't be reused can go to textile recycling banks, which you can find through Recycle Now. Don't put textiles in household recycling bins.

Where can I donate baby clothes near me?

Baby banks, charity shops and some nurseries and children's centres accept baby clothes. A baby bank finder will show you local options and what they currently need.

Is it worth selling baby clothes?

For good-quality, branded or organic pieces, often yes, especially sold in bundles by size. Very worn or stained items are better recycled.