How to Prolong the Use of Baby Items

It's no secret that babies grow fast. It's also no secret that having a baby is expensive: onesies, the ever needed undershirt, sleepers and one piece outfits are quickly outgrown. And what to do with that diaper pail when toilet training is successful? Well, don't throw them out yet. Here's some great tips for prolonging their useful life.

Diaper pails are truly great items. Not only do they work for diapers, but they're perfect for dumping used litter into. Cat owners rejoice. You can scoop, toss in the diaper pail and take the bag on your regular trash day. No more tied up shopping bags or clogged toilets (for those guilty of flushing). The diaper pails such Diaper Genie, or Diaper Dekor work wonders for hiding the smelly doody diapers. They do just as good as job on cat litter. They also work well for those bottom newspapers in your bird cage or reptile house. Just keep the diaper pail next to the litter box or cage. Makes cleaning them out a little less work.

Onesies -- oh my how quick they become too small. It doesn't take very long for them to become too short and while they do stretch, you wouldn't want to try to stretch too many extra weeks out of one. On the other hand, don't bother buying lots of bibs. Turn those onesies into completely covering bibs. Cut the bottom part of the onesie off at about an inch above belly button level. If you sew, great! Put a small hem in. If not, there are some anti-fraying agents (such as Fray Chek) available in craft stores that you can use to keep the bottom from unraveling. Or think of them as limited life bibs and leave them cut. Now cut off the sleeves at the shoulder. Next cut a slit from the bottom up to the armhole. This allows it to just slip over the head -- no pulling arms through. Tuck the bit of fabric under the arms to catch any sidespewing slobber or got away food. I leave the back long -- that way as one side gets ratty, use the other side for the front.

Footed sleepers or outfits can have several uses. You can cut the feet off, decorate them, stuff them and they can be baby rattles or toys or even a touch of cat nip to make a clever cat mouse. For a long baby, cutting the feet out can give you longer wearing life. If the item gets short in the body, then it can be cut to become a shirt (Cut slightly above the groin level for a long shirt). Obviously you need ones with snaps for this to work. Those with zippers won't work for shortening into tops, although removing the feet may still work depending on where the zipper starts in the outfit.

So get your scissors out and get some longer life out of those baby things! (Onesies also make great wipe cloths when done!)