Creative Ways to Repurpose Old Baby Gear

Your youngest is now four. You have no plans for any more babies. As a result, you likely have a LOT of baby gear that you are no longer using. As you look at your pile of cast offs, you have some choices: you can give them away to friends or those in need; you can try to sell them on eBay; or you could even try a consignment shop. However, before you clean house, take a look at your inventory. You may find that there are some items that can be repurposed in creative ways. Some of these ideas are listed below.

Splat mat. Your splat mat was a life saver when your little ones were learning to eat. It kept those strained peas off your kitchen floor and made clean up so much easier. Now that your darling can feed himself with (hopefully) little mess, you no longer need it. Nevertheless, it has not lost its usefulness. These thick plastic mats are wonderful for craft time. Lay it over all or part of your kitchen table as a protector from crayons, markers and paint. Clean up will be a breeze and you can fold it up for storage.

Plastic bowls. What once held cheerios can be helpful in the kitchen again, but in a new way. Chefs use prep bowls for small amounts of ingredients like spices, minced garlic and even eggs. These little bowls are a perfect substitute. You may not cook like a chef, but you can look like one!

Washcloths. It never fails; every new mother leaves her baby shower with nothing short of a truck load of cute, colorful thin baby washcloths. While your baby may not need them at bath time anymore, their usefulness as a cleaning agent isn't over. They are wonderful as an eco-friendly alternative for paper towels in your kitchen. You can wipe down counters and tables with ease. And because you have so many of them, you will never run out: simply launder when done and reuse.

Baby wipes. Your "babies" are not babies anymore but you may still have a hefty supply of baby wipe refills. However, these handy little helpers are not just for babies. They are wonderful for spot cleaning shoes, sneakers, door handles, carpet stains and sticky fingers. I even know a breeder who uses them on her short haired dogs for a quick clean up!

Onesies. You likely have these cute little undergarments in every incremental size in perfect condition because your baby wore them for only 2 weeks before popping the snaps between his legs and needing the next size up. These lint free cloths are another handy cleaning tool. They make cleaning mirrors and windows a breeze, leaving a streak free shine. You can cut them up into uniform sizes, removing tags and snaps in the process.

Your children may have outgrown these items, but their usefulness is not gone. With a little creativity you may find uses for a number of other baby items in your closets and basement.