Dressing your baby can be one of the most fun – and frustrating – parts of parenthood. But it’s also a very expensive and wasteful task: with kids growing at an astonishing rate, it’s not uncommon for them to outgrow seven clothing sizes in two years. This never-ending cycle of buying, selling and swapping clothes can see you spend a small fortune, while homes get overrun with tiny outfits that are barely worn. That’s why smart rental services have started to pop up, offering an alternative way to keep your kids looking fresh while minimising waste.

For a monthly fee, you can rent kids’ clothing that will be delivered to your door, ready to wear. Once your child has outgrown the set, simply return it and receive another – often with credits towards your next order. It’s a great option for families who want to avoid the costs of constantly buying new clothes, and it’s also a good idea for parents who aren’t sure which sizes their little ones will be wearing at any given time.

UK-based Bundlee is one of the most popular ‘clothing as a service’ brands, with its stylish interchangeable capsule wardrobes designed to make dressing babies and toddlers an absolute breeze. Its subscription plans are either ‘Capsule’ or ‘Personalised’, with the latter allowing you to handpick your own collection of 15 clothes (think sustainable designer kidswear from brands like Mini Rodini, Little Green Radicals and Patagonia) and save up to 75% on retail price.

All garments are 100% organic cotton, ethically sourced and free of harmful chemicals – and are washed and sanitised by Oxwash, which promises a 99.9% sanitisation rate. They also feature anti-pilling technology and snaps instead of buttons – which is better for the skin, too. They’ve recently launched a kids’ accessories service, too.

Circos, a European-based clothing rental company, launched in 2019 with the aim of helping parents to minimise their impact on the environment and their wallets. It offers a range of eco-friendly clothing for babies and children — including organic shirts, trousers and dresses, plus coats and hats — with pieces available in a wide variety of colours, styles and prints. They’re delivered to your door in a recycled canvas bag, which can be returned when your child outgrows them and replaced with the next size up.

If you’ve got pre-loved clothes that your child has outgrown, you can also donate them to the brand through its ‘closet clean out kit’, which includes a prepaid shipping label. Once it’s been cleaned and sanitised, the garments are then reused by other customers — as well as recycled into renewable energy through an innovative process.

With a ‘no stain penalty’ guarantee, free shipping both ways and a flexible subscription plan that allows you to swap or cancel at any time, Babu is a great choice for parents who are looking to reduce their environmental footprint and save money on kids’ clothes at the same time. Its collections are all made in-house, with star-print rompers and cheerful slogan jumpers among their standout designs. The brand’s clothes are then passed on to sustainable impact partner Xetrov, who converts them into renewable energy.