Guide
Almost every family goes through the same moment: a chair piled high, a half-closed bag, and the nagging feeling that somewhere there are clothes from the previous size mixed in with the next one. Organising baby clothes by size doesn't have to become an endless project. With a simple approach it becomes much more manageable, and, more importantly, much more useful when the time comes to give, donate, sell, or swap.
Size is the division that saves the most time. Start by separating into stages only: 56/62, 68, 74, 80, 86, 92, 98, 104. No need to be too precise at first. The goal is to avoid ambiguous boxes labelled something like 'roughly one year old'.
Once each size is separated, then it makes sense to distinguish by season. A summer lot mixed with winter garments complicates the next decision considerably, whether it's for your own home or for another family.
Not all clothes in the same size are suitable for the same use. Separating a group for everyday use and another for better-kept items helps everything fit together more clearly later on. It's not about appearances, it's a way of not making the same promise for items that aren't in the same state.
It's also useful for discarding what's no longer worth moving on. If a garment is too worn, better to decide that now than drag it from box to box for months.
A well-labelled box usually has three things: size, season, and a short phrase about the contents. For example: '92, winter, basics and pyjamas'. With that you can find something quickly without reopening everything.
If you use transparent bags or similar boxes, try to keep the same format. Consistency is what stops you from wondering, two months later, what you meant by your own notes.
Once clothes are organised at home, it's much easier to donate, sell, or swap them. The person receiving them understands better what they're getting, and you spend far less time explaining it.
That step, which seems small, is often what transforms a pile of stalled clothes into something that genuinely starts circulating again. And with children's clothing that matters a lot, because the time between one size and the next is short.
Colmena in Barcelona
Colmena is a local exchange for families in Barcelona. Bundles by category and age range, reviewed before going live, with pickup near home.
Keep reading
Why searching for second-hand children's clothes usually ends up being more complicated than it should, and how to solve it with less effort.
Read guide →
Selling item by item takes more time than it seems. Why local swapping is usually the more sensible option.
Read guide →
How to decide without drama whether to keep, donate, sell, or swap baby clothes that no longer fit.
Read guide →
Colmena