What steps should you take to ensure hand me downs clothes and other stuff obtained from relatives and friends does not affect the kids health negatively? Well, you must have a clear idea of what can be used second hand and what should be purchased brand new. Medicines, personal care equipment and other such stuff are best purchased brand new.
If you intend to use hand me downs, make sure you deal with only those persons who are as hygiene conscious as you are. The last thing you want is for your child to suffer an allergy simply because a personal care product was not stored properly.
You probably dump clothes in the washing machine before handing it over to any friend or relative. Chances are high that your friend or relative too does the same. However, do not make any presumption in this regard. Rather, make it a point to clean each and every cloth that you receive as hand me downs before you put it to further use. Of course, you don’t have to make a big fuss about it.
Rather, accept all the clothes gracefully and then wash it properly at leisure. Just avoid encouraging your child to wear any of these clothes until they have been cleaned properly. Know more about the health and personal habits of the child. If your friend’s child has a frequent problem of excessive urination, relying on such clothes as hand me downs may not be a smart move.
Find innovative ways to refuse the request so that your friend or family member does not feel hurt. Another common object that is offered from one generation to another amongst siblings is shoes. Children grow very quickly and often need new pair of shoes which will become useless in a span of a few months.
You can always borrow these pairs from your friends and relatives to ensure that the money does not go waste. Just make sure the shoes are cleaned properly and always worn with a fresh pair of socks to ensure minimum irritation to the foot.