Clothing Your New Baby- What You Need to Know
Getting ready for a new baby means thinking about a lot of things, but clothes are definitely near the top of the list. It’s not about having a huge wardrobe full of fancy outfits, but you’ll need to make sure you have everything you need to keep your baby clean, comfy and avoid doing 5 loads of laundry a day! There’s so much to think about postpartum at a time when hormones are high and your sleep is incredibly low, so making sure that the basics are covered with clothing can take the stress out of dressing them at least.
Vests and Sleepsuits
The main things your baby will be wearing at first are vests and sleepsuits. Vests are your base layer, they can be short or long sleeve (buy depending on the season) and they clip up by the nappy making nappy changes easy. On top of this you’d then put their outfit or their sleepsuit (these also called sleepers/ onesies- it can be confusing at first knowing what item people are referring to when you’ve never dressed a baby!) Choose fabrics that are soft and breathable, cotton and bamboo are both good. Shop at places that you know offer good quality infant & toddler sleepwear as it will wash well and won’t contain nasty chemicals. Avoid buying fussy mitts and booties, these tend to fall off and most sleepsuits have them built in already. It’s worth having quite a few vests and sleepsuits in each size- 7-10 of each is a good number which should get you around a week’s worth of outfits without having to do laundry. While ‘nice’ sleepsuits can be expensive, you can always bulk up your bundle with a multipack of plain white ones if you need to, which are cheap and easy for a boy or girl.Â
Special Outfits
You might not need many fancy clothes at first but it’s nice to have a few pieces. Dresses or soft trousers with matching tops work well without feeling too formal or uncomfortable. If you plan on having a newborn photoshoot, consider what they will wear if the photographer does not have outfit options. Things like ‘going home from hospital’ outfits can be nice to have too, and can be stored away in their memory box or made into a memory bear/ blanket once they’re outgrown. And let’s face it, it’s fun to buy these kinds of outfits even if it’s just for a little milestone picture- buy second hand if you can’t justify the cost. People will likely give you these kinds of things as gifts too.Â
Hand Me Downs
Clothes passed down from siblings, cousins or friends often come with a bit of history and can save you some money. These hand me downs sometimes bring a comforting sense of connection but it’s important to check them carefully for any damage and wash them well before your baby wears them. Baby sizes vary a lot between brands and even between generations so it’s normal if some pieces don’t fit exactly right. Mixing hand me downs with new purchases is usually the easiest way to build a balanced wardrobe.
Think About the Season
The time of year your baby arrives really changes what clothes you’ll need. Winter babies will need warm layers, sleepsuits with feet and cosy hats and mittens. They’ll likely need an all in one coat/ pramsuit in their small newborn size. Summer babies need lighter fabrics, short sleeves and sun hats to stay cool, you might need to keep them in just their vest on some days if it’s very warm. They won’t need any warm hats, coats or pramsuits until they’re bigger and the weather cools down so be careful not to waste your money buying things in the wrong size for the season. Because babies grow fast, layering is helpful as it means you can adjust clothes to changing weather without buying too much all at once.
Choose Easy Care Fabrics
Babies can be messy and laundry piles up fast. Cotton is usually the best choice because it’s soft, breathable and stands up well to repeated washing. Avoid anything that needs special care for daily wear (like ruffles that need lots of ironing, or handwash only) as when clothes are easy to wash and dry, it frees up time to focus on the parts of baby care that really matter.
