Outgrown baby clothes can remain in everyday drawers because each individual item seems worth dealing with later. Soon the drawer contains several sizes and finding a current outfit takes longer. Give outgrown pieces a temporary collection place, then sort that small group regularly.
Make three decisions: keep for possible future use, pass on appropriately, or retain as a keepsake. Set aside damaged items for suitable disposal or textile recycling where available rather than mixing them into a donation bag. The decision need not reflect what the clothing cost or whether it was worn in a photograph.
For clothes you plan to use again, record the size range and useful season or type. Brand sizes can differ, so a note such as mostly warm-weather pieces may be more informative than a single number. Clean and dry items according to their care instructions before storing them in a suitable place.
Avoid filling an enormous container with several years of clothing. A manageable box is easier to inspect when the next size is needed. Put the label where it will remain visible in storage and keep an uncomplicated list if boxes are stored out of sight.
Keepsakes deserve a separate limit. Choose the pieces that carry meaning for you instead of allowing every item to become sentimental by default. A photograph can preserve the memory of some garments without requiring permanent storage, if that suits your preferences.
Before passing clothing on, check condition, labels and any relevant recalls or safety concerns. Ask whether the recipient actually wants the sizes and types you have. A bag with a clear description is more helpful than transferring your sorting task to another busy household.
Move the sorted items out of the everyday clothing area promptly. Then check the remaining drawer for gaps in the current size. The system has worked when getting dressed is easier now and stored clothing can be found later, not when every tiny garment has been cataloged in detail.