Hand-Me-Down Organization.

Let's talk hand-me-downs. I'm all for them, especially since I had kids back to back. But what I'm not a fan of? Storing them.

I was using those Ziploc vacuum bags - which are great - but not practical when I have two young kids that are [what seems like] constantly growing out of their clothes. I needed something more accessible. I was tired of constantly refolding, resealing, finding the vacuum, and then messing up all the clothes in the bag when I was taking items in and out. Sound familiar? So, I decided to repurpose some storage bins I already had and stacked them to maximize space! You can purchase bins similar to these at Target or IKEA.

Think of this system as a constant rotation. I labeled them according to the sizes my boys are growing into. My youngest is going into 12-18 month and my eldest is going into 3T-4T, but is still able to fit some of his 24 month clothing. On the bottom I have "crib shoes" as well as shoes that my eldest will fit in the future.

What I love most about this system is that I can see everything and it's all in once place! No more searching for the vacuum or losing the cap that keeps the bag sealed *eye roll*. Now, I still use the Ziploc vacuum bags but now they're for clothes that I want to keep as keepsake items or possibly for baby #3.

Below is an updated picture (2019!) of how I am using the same system now that the boys are growing. My eldest will be in his 2T-3T clothes for awhile so I used the last bottom drawers for his drawing supplies and the other for his backpacks! This is also a great way to teach your toddler to be organized and helpful to put things where they belong. I just love this system because the possibilities are endless!