How Many Newborn Baby Clothes Do I Need
Want to make sure you have enough newborn baby clothes without blowing your budget on dozens of cute outfits you dont need?
Newborn baby clothes are so adorable it can be difficult to stop yourself from buying everything you spot.
This post is all about helping you to decide how many newborn baby clothes you actually need to buy.
The truth is that when it comes to newborn size baby clothes you only need a very small number of outfits three to five maximum because they will grow out of them so very fast!
The secret to shopping smart for your newborn is to focus on buying 0-3 month size clothes, which you may find your baby fits from day one after being born.
This article will give you a checklist of what clothes you actually need to buy for your baby before they are born, including guidance on what size clothing to buy and how many.
Best Baby Clothes For Homecoming & The First Two Weeks
Right after birth, your baby will be sporting his umbilical cord stump for the first 10-20 days . This stump can be short or long depending on where it was clamped. If its on the longer side, you may want to stick to newborn kimonos and such, which wont rub and irritate it. Think of it as a really deep scab that you dont want coming off too early.
In addition to folding down her diaper , stock up on a few kimono tops or any piece of clothing that wraps around and snaps on the side. The side snapping also means you dont have to pull something down over your babys head, which can be a little intimidating in the beginning.
Did you know?Layette is a fancy word for super cute Insta-worthy newborn clothes.
Its also nice to keep a hat on your babys head for the first couple of weeks . Most of the hats you will buy or receive as gifts are simply too BIG for a newborn. The ones from the hospital work the best steal as many as you can.
Reminder: the AAP recommends that baby not sleep with a hat, so as to avoid overheating.
Also, get some scratch mittens to cover those sharp baby talons . They will get lost, so make sure you have a few pairs.
Some say newborns should have access to their hands to soothe themselves , so a better bet might be to keep their nails trimmed instead!
A New Baby Needs Practical Clothes
Next, those first few weeks and even months your baby isnt going out to the movies, out to eat and out socializing. The baby does not need 10 fancy outfits as likely they will only wear 1 or 2 and maybe only 1 or 2 times before growing out of it. Baby outfits, especially fancy ones, are sooo stinking cute, but they are not practical.
Resist the urge to buy these non-practical clothes and save your money. Typically these are the most expensive outfits too. You might be able to get 4-5 onesies or sleepers for what 1 fancy outfit would cost. Save your money and avoid getting lots of formal outfits as realistically your baby is not going to wear them.
Furthermore, get clothes that do not have lots of buttons, ties, or take a lot of maneuvering to get on or off. These clothes will be frustrating for both you and your baby and are not worth it.
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To 5 Pairs Of Pajamas Sleepers And/or Footies
Choose a few pairs of footie PJs along with 1 or 2 gowns. Some families find they like to keep their newborns in pajamas during the daytime, too. If thatâs the case for you, you may want to add one or two more to babyâs wardrobe. Youâll also want to get a few pairs with snaps, and a few pairs with zippers, to see which variety you prefer.
What Clothes Do I Need For A Newborn
âThese precious souls arenât doing much, other than sleeping, drinking, and poopingâ – Amir, a Poppylist parent
Registering for baby clothes can feel like math homework, with its own vocabulary, strategies, and organizing principles. Do you really need newborn sizes? What size will the baby be wearing by next winter? How many onesies does a baby need, and how often do they need to be replaced?
Here at Poppylist, weâre all about helping you figure out what you need, and in those early newborn weeks, you donât need much as far as clothes are concerned. Youâll be sticking close to home, resting and bonding with your baby, and doing LOTS of laundry. We recommend a paired-back list of basics for the newborn stage, which we consider the baby’s first 2 months.
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What Type Of Baby Clothes Are Best
Baby clothes are big business, with so many different types of outfit from jeans to formal dresses and dressing up clothes to hoodies.
It can be easy to be tempted by all of the pretty outfits, but there are a few facts you need to know about babies and clothes:
- Nappies leak. Your baby may well poop or wee on their clothes at least once a day. Is it worth wasting that
- Babies vomit. Sometimes they might just spit up a little, and sometimes the whole feed comes out. If youre lucky theyre wearing a bib that catches it all.
- Fiddly clothes are not your friend at 2am. The cute top that buttons up at the back is not going to be so cute at 2am when you need to change the babys clothes.
- Shoes are cute but totally unnecessary. Your baby will not be walking until around one year, so save your cash!
- Your friends/family will buy the cute stuff. People cannot resist buying new clothes for new babies. Youll find a lot of dresses, cute cardigans and top/legging combinations will come from gifts after the baby is born.
This is by no means a message to not buy any adorable, pretty outfits for your baby. But try to focus on the practical aspects most of all.
Youll want clothes that make it easy to reach babys nappy for simpler changes, and clothes that you can get off and back on again in a dimly-lit room.
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How Many Pairs Should You Buy And Why
- You will need at least six to eight pairs of socks, as your babys feet will probably get wet and dirty often.
- Buy two or three pairs of booties or shoes. Be sure to get a size that will fit a wide range of foot sizes as newborns grow quickly.
- Get at least one dozen receiving blankets. They can be used for everything from swaddling your baby to shielding them from the sun.
- Youll also need at least five gowns or sleepers, as these are the most comfortable clothes for babies in the early weeks.
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How Many Clothes To Buy Before The Baby Is Born
So, how do you know what baby clothes, which sizes, and how many to buy of each?
After three kids, Ive learned that one weeks worth of baby clothes is the ideal scenario. Youll have enough clothes to go through without doing laundry too often. You also wont have to purchase too many that end up forgotten or hardly used .
But what exactly is one weeks worth of clothes? After all, newborns are notorious for spit ups and messy diaper changes. Heres a checklist of newborn essentials and must-haves:
- Onesies: 14-21 pieces. Depending on the weather, you might want to get long-sleeve bodysuits as well.
- Pants: 14 pieces. I didnt go out of my way to buy shorts, even when the weather was warm. If its truly warm, a onesie works well on its own.
- Pajamas: 7-10 pieces. I recommend the kind with a zipper, or even a sleep sack or gown, but not the kind with snaps that you have to button.
- Socks: 7-10 pairs. You may not need socks every day, but they can get lost in the laundry easily.
- Swaddles: 2-3 pieces. You can use the same swaddle each time your baby sleeps, but having extras on hand will buy you time from having to do laundry right away.
- Sleep sack: 2 pieces.
- Hat: one piece.
- Jacket or sweater: 2-3 pieces.
- Extras: Keep a onesie, a pair of pants, and socks in your diaper bag as a backup.
Does My Baby Need Newborn Sizes
Typically, baby sizing starts with newborn, then 0-3 months, 6-9 months, and so on. Newborn clothes are generally for babies between 5-8 pounds, and will fit most babies for the first 4 weeks or so. Most families decide to have a few newborn basics on hand, but you probably need less than you think. Laundry is happening constantly in those first few weeks at home, so parents typically decide to buy conservatively, launder frequently, and get as much use as possible out of these tiny little basics.
Laundry tip: Do more frequent, small loads to reduce the burden of folding everything at one.
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Best Practices For Buying Baby Clothes
Take a look at these tips when buying your babys clothes:
- Get more basics and fewer outfits. Cute newborn baby clothes are great for special occasions or photos. But for daily wear, basics are your best bet, especially for frequent changing.
- Buy seasonal or cute outfits as you go. If you are going to buy cute outfits, do so when the event is going to happen within the month. For instance, dont buy your babys Halloween costume in the middle of summer yet. Even seasonal clothing like jackets are best purchased closer to when youll need it.
- Add clothes to your baby registry. Then, wait until after your baby shower to buy the rest that you want that others hadnt gifted you.
- Find free or affordable baby clothes. Im a big fan of local Buy Nothing groups . Make an ask for baby clothes, and Im certain plenty of parents will be more than happy to pass their gently-used items to you. Hand-me-downs from friends are fantastic, as are consignment stores for affordable clothes.
- Bring one baby outfit for the hospital. Many hospitals will provide babys first clothes while youre there, but youll need an outfit to dress him in to go home.
Season And Climate Help Determine Clothes A New Baby Needs
Depending on the time of year and the climate in which you live will help determine what clothes your new baby needs. For instance, both of my babies were born in the summer so they lived in onesies and single body pieces for the first several months. If you live in a cool climate or your baby is born in winter you may need some warmer clothing.
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How Many Outfits Does A Newborn Need
The variety of clothing for newborns these days is impressive. Every brand that offers outfits for kids has included the collection for the youngest ones in their range. Parents who are waiting for their first baby are often searching for a newborn clothing checklist that can help them out. Look no further. Here, you will find the information that will help you out.
Planning your newborns wardrobe can be tricky, but its a lot of fun. There are so many little things to remember, from socks and hats to pyjamas and bodysuits. To help you sort through the many options available, heres a handy rundown of everything youll need for the first six weeks and beyond. Depending on how big your baby is and how fast he or she grows, this wardrobe maybe everything youll need from birth until three months old.
Is it even possible to have too much baby clothing? Considering you might need to switch outfits five times a day , the truth isprobably not. Add in how fun and adorable baby outfits are, not to mention how many people are excited to buy them for you, and its easy to overspend your budget and overflow your nursery dresser. So how much baby clothes do you need? Here are the maximumand minimumnumbers for your babys newborn layette.
Its hard to resist putting a million baby outfits on your registry. But the truth is babies grow quickly, and your child wont fit into specific sizes for very long.
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How Many Newborn Size Clothes Do I Need
One thing that I think we can all agree on is that newborns are just so stinkin cute. But do you know whats not cute? A closet full of clothes that they never even fit in in the first place.
And lets talk about newborn shoesreally? Maybe your newborn was different than my newborn but her feet didnt touch the floor for the first few months of her life.
Save your money and skip the shoes.
If youre wondering how many newborn size clothes that you need, here are my suggestions on what kind of newborn clothing you should have readily available and on hand.
Also, do not buy ANY of this stuff until you check out the clearance section here. These days I get MOST of my kids close from this store in the off season when they run their summer or winter clearance events!
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What Clothes Do You Need For A Newborn
Are you an expectant parent with a baby on the way? You might be wondering which clothes you might need for your new arrival. If youre not quite sure what a sleep sack is or what rompers are, then this guide is for you.As a new expectant mother, you are sure to be really excited and impatiently waiting to dress your newborn in adorable baby clothes. But when it comes to clothes shopping for a newborn, there is a lot to consider in terms of practicality, comfort, sizing and so on. Of course, it also depends which time of the year your baby is due, too.
For the first three months, baby will be sleeping and eating a lot so you will want to have plenty of comfy clothing at hand. These should include babygrows, bodyvests, day gowns and not forgetting a selection of comfy day-time outfits too.It is also just as important to know what newborn babies should wear at bedtime. Dont worry, we have covered everything for you so you can be fully prepared.
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Signs It’s Too Hot Or Cold For Baby
When babies are too warm, they may look flushed and sweaty or they may breathe rapidly. This can cause them to be cranky and irritable and, in more extreme cases, lead to heat stroke.
If your baby seems overheated, start to remove layers, head inside and then call your pediatrician or 911 if he does not cool down immediately.
When your baby is too cold, he may develop frostbite or hypothermia. Check for signs of lethargy or unresponsiveness. If baby has frostbite, the affected area may appear blistered and white or pale gray. In both cases, contact your doctor immediately or call 911.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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How To Swaddle Baby In Hot Summer Weather:
- Dress baby in diaper only and swaddle in thin sheet .
- Swaddle in a very light muslin blanket over a diaper only.
- Find mesh swaddles or mesh blankets that are able to be wrapped tightly.
- Wrap and swaddle babys arms only, not entire body.
- If you dont have air conditioning, you can always lightly wet your swaddle so its damp.
Grab this sample newborn routine, tweak it, and have calmer more peaceful and predictable newborn days.
How To Buy Baby Clothes
What do you need for the first 30 days? Honestly, not much. Youll be so busy getting over delivery and used to being a mom that babys outfits will prove much less important than they may have seemed a couple months ago. And remember, babies grow quickly. Shell come home tiny, but newborn sizes wont fit for long. Save the good part of your budget for 0-3 month clothing and up. Resist the urge to buy too much clothing in advance, because youll have a better idea of the sizes and styles that work best for you once baby comes.
Heres a very basic list of what you should have on hand when baby arrives. The numbers for each item are estimates exactly how much you need really depends on how often you plan to do laundry.
2-4 infant gownsStick with these until babys cord stump falls off. Its the best way to keep it clean and irritation-free, and the gowns provide easy diaper access while keeping baby covered.
4-8 bodysuits or onesiesLook for ones with wide head openings and loose legs. It can be traumatic for both you and baby to put things over her head, so if even wide head openings prove too difficult, look for clothing that avoids the head entirely side-snap Ts, kimono-style shirts, etc.
4-8 undershirts or vestsAgain, look for wide head openings or snaps at the shoulder. They should also snap under the crotch otherwise theyll ride up.
2 blanket sleepersThese are safer than blankets at nighttime, but avoid anything with drawstrings, which are a strangulation hazard.
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