Having a new baby is one of the most exciting points in any parent’s life. The journey to parenthood is scary, nerve wracking and confusing but it is also beautiful, rewarding and emotional.
One of the things that lots of expectant parents love to indulge in is baby shopping.
One of the main categories of things that babies need is clothes. It can be really hard to know where to start with clothes shopping for a little one, especially if you are a first time parent.
There is so much advice out there and so many different websites and forums telling you different things that it can initially feel like an impossible task to know what is needed and what is not.
You don’t want to waste money or buy any products that could be unsafe or pose a potential risk to your baby but you also want to make sure that your little bundle of joy has everything that he or she needs.
We have put together a guide as to what clothes a new baby does and doesn’t need and we hope that this will help you to make some of those tricky decisions.
Vests
Baby vests are a staple item when it comes to baby clothes. They are usually made of a thinish fabric and they go underneath the babygrow or whatever outfit you choose to dress your baby in.
They are great at helping to keep your baby warm and at avoiding any small nappy spills going straight on to your little ones outfit. We all know that layers are good for everyone and this is especially true for babies.
In terms of safety baby vests pose little risk and you should just look at the materials used.
Baby vests are also one of the cheaper items of baby clothing available. For instance, a multipack of five or seven is only a few dollars. Obviously, there is always the option to upgrade, you could always pay a little more and get patterned ones or cartoon ones. It is also important to think about what size you should buy.
We would always advise that you buy a range of sizes. There are numerous reasons behind this including the fact that you have no idea what size the baby will be wearing when it is born and you don’t want to have to go clothes shopping every couple of weeks with a newborn.
We would suggest that you buy one or two in premature or tiny baby size just in case the baby is born early or very small, we would then advise getting a few baby vests in newborn size and a pack or two in 0-3 months.
Some parents even choose to buy some 3-6 months baby vests at the same time but we will leave that one up to you.
Overall, we would rate baby vests as being very important. They would be something that we would recommend to all parents of new babies. Just be sure to check what material they are made from and how thick they are.
Do this with special consideration to what time of year the baby is due to be born in. For instance, summer babies may need to keep cool whereas you might worry about winter babies getting too cold.
Babygrows
We all know that another staple piece of baby fashion is babygrows. Babygrows are all in one items of clothing that sometimes include feet and sometimes end at the ankles.
Babygrows can be used for sleeping or for days out. They come in a range of designs, materials and thicknesses.
All in ones of any kind are particularly useful when it comes to newborns as they are easy to put on as it is just one item as opposed to a full outfit. They also allow the baby to stay well insulated.
Babygrows are available in a range of prices starting at a couple of dollars all the way up to hundreds of dollars for certain brands. You can buy them in multipacks which generally work out cheaper or you can buy them as individual items so that you can pick the ones that you like.
You should also try to put sometime into thinking about the materials that you would like your babygrows to be made from and how thick you would like them to be. A major factor to consider when thinking about this is the season that your baby will be born in.
In summer months you will probably want thinner and more cooling and breathable clothing whereas in winter you will probably still be thinking about safety but also comfort and warmth.
Much like with the baby vests, when it comes to babygrows we would always recommend trying to get them in a range of sizes. We would advise that you get a few in premature or tiny baby sizes (just in case), a few in newborn size and several in 0-1 months or 0-3 months as these will probably last longer.
It is a good idea to purchase a range of sizes as you have no idea what size your baby will be when they are born and also you do not want to be going shopping to stock up every couple of weeks with a newborn.
It could also be a good idea to view day time babygrows and nighttime babygrows/sleepsuits separately then you can ensure that you have enough for both purposes.
Pyjamas
When we think of our little ones we always think about how cute they are during naptime and we want them to be comfortable when they sleep. Pyjamas are generally a top and bottoms (either shorts or trousers) designed for comfort while sleeping.
Some parents choose to not really bother with traditional pyjamas and to instead stick with sleepsuits. Whether you choose to use this sort or pyjamas or not is your choice and it is all down to personal preference.
There are both pros and cons to buying some pairs of pyjamas for your little one instead of just sticking with sleepsuits. One positive is that depending on the weather or their temperature you can choose between shorts and trousers.
This can make it easier to control your baby’s temperature which is pinnacle to their health. However, if you choose shorts you need to constantly monitor their temperature and check that they do not get too cold as the temperature drops throughout the night.
Having pyjamas also makes it easier to distinguish between day and night clothes. However, sleepsuits are all in ones so they are easier to keep organised, they can also be more comfortable and safer for your little one as they can’t really pull them over their head and cover their face as easily.
Similarly, sleepsuits keep the baby insulated better than a pair of pyjamas would be able to.
Overall, we would say that pyjamas are not a necessity but more or a choice. It is important to ensure that your baby has comfy and safe, especially designed sleepwear but this doesn’t need to be pyjamas it could be sleepsuits.
If you do choose to also buy a few pairs of pyjamas ensure that they are the right size as buying them in the wrong size could increase risks such as the risk of suffocation. You also do not need to buy too many so maybe just buy one of two pairs in each size (tiny baby, newborn, 0-1 months).
Tops and Bottoms
Outfits for the baby can be really cute. You could buy some tops and leggings, some shorts or even some trousers. A baby outfit is when instead of wearing an all in one a baby wears a top and bottoms over its vest. These can come in all sorts of fun colors and designs, be made from different materials and be designed to suit different seasons.
There are some positives and some drawbacks when it comes to two piece outfits for babies. One of the biggest positives is that if the baby gets either the top or bottoms dirty one can be changed easily without needing to change the other.
Similarly you can really tailor a two piece to the weather so if your baby is initially wearing a top and trousers you could easily change the trousers for shorts if you thought that this was a good idea.
However, much like with pyjamas, two piece outfits can be less useful at keeping the baby well insulated and they can be difficult to keep organised.
It can also create more washing, drying and putting away, which lets face it isn’t something that new parents really have time for.
We would not deem two piece outfits to be an essential however if you want to treat your baby to an outfit or two then you are more than free to do this. We would probably advise getting them in 0-1 months or 0-3 months as for the first few days or even weeks your baby will probably spend all of its time in sleepsuits and babygrows.
Jackets
Jackets are often forgotten about when it comes to baby shopping but they are really important. Depending on the season jackets can be thick and cosy or they can be thinner but simply provide an extra layer of warmth. Once again, jackets can come in all sorts of designs and be made from a range of materials.
Jackets are pretty important as they can help to protect your little one from the cold. If you are debating buying some because your baby is born in a warmer month we would still advise that you buy some as the weather always has peaks and low points.
Therefore, it is a good idea to buy some jackets regardless of when you expect your baby to arrive. Of course, when the baby is due to be born will have an impact on the type of jackets you go for. In warmer months it is a good idea to go for thin jackets that provide protection from a breeze.
Perhaps some cardigans or a thinner zip up jumper. However, if your baby is due at a colder time of year you may need to buy more of a wide range of jackets.
For instance, you might want to buy a couple of super warm ones for the coldest days, some mid-tier ones and some coller ones for those odd warmer days.
Overall, we would say that jackets are very important. However, you don’t need to go overboard. A few jackets should do the trick. Jackets sometimes come in larger size ranges such as 0-6 months which is fine. If not, try to get some in a range of sizes perhaps newborn, 0-1 months and 0-3 months.
It is really important to remember to never put your baby into its moses basket or whether it sleeps in a jacket as this can be dangerous and even fatal and could lead to an increased chance of SIDS.
Socks
Socks are one of the biggest problems in lots of new parents’ lives. Somehow babies have amazing talent when it comes to losing socks. You could be really prepared and buy lots of pairs of socks for your baby and you can guarantee that most of them will still end up missing in action.
Furthermore, they always seem to get separated during the washing so that you can never find a matching pair.
Unfortunately, socks are really important for babies to have. Our feet control a lot of our overall temperature and so, if your baby’s feet get too cold your baby will get too cold, similarly, if their feet get too warm, they will get too warm. Therefore, it is really important to always have socks on hand.
Socks are really cheap so they shouldn’t cause too much financial stress. The one thing that we would say is to try and get a variety of socks so perhaps, some ankle socks, some slightly longer socks and some fluffy cosy socks. There are countless colors and designs to choose from.
Overall, we would say that socks are a must have item for any new parent. You should try and stock up on multiple pairs as they are likely to go missing. We would suggest at a minimum, 20 pairs of normal socks and 5 pairs of fluffy socks.
We would also suggest that you get the socks in a range of sizes so that you know that some will fit your baby. In terms of safety risk the main thing to be aware of is your baby pulling them off and them ending up on your babies face leading to suffocation.
The best way to avoid this is by using sleepsuits with built-in feet at night so they can not take them off and keeping socks for the day.
Scratch Mitts
Scratch mitts are a fantastic invention. Your baby wears a pair of scratch mitts to stop it from scratching itself, particularly his or her face. When they don’t have scratch mitts babies have a habit of scratching themselves, this is because they are not yet fully aware of risk and they do not have great spatial awareness.
The good thing is that scratch mitts can prevent this from happening.
Scratch mitts are once again not usually too expensive so that shouldn’t cause too much stress. You also do not need to buy loads of scratch mitts and a few pairs should be enough. Scratch mitts come in a range of colors, designs and fabrics.
We would suggest that scratch mitts are an essential in keeping your baby happy and healthy. The only risk with scratch mitts is once again that they take them off and this can lead to suffocation. Therefore it is important to monitor your baby at all times in order to keep them safe.
Shoes
Many specialists now suggest that proper shoes are not good for the development of babies feet and therefore that babies shouldn’t wear them until they need to for toddling around and walking. Therefore, we recommend against buying any shoes for a new baby.
However, a nice option could be some cute fabric booties to keep them extra cosy and to go over their socks. Booties can be adorable, they can be designer, hand knitted or anything in between.
Booties are more of an option then a necessity but for extra comfort for your baby and to keep their feet warm when out and about we would recommend a pair or two.
Coats
Although we have previously mentioned jackets, coats deserve a slightly different purpose. Coats are more durable than jackets and can protect against adverse weather such as rain, wind and snow. There are a whole variety of coats for babies available on the market and they come in all sorts of designs and materials.
There aren’t really any notable negatives to getting your little one a coat or two. In fact coats are actually really important.
The list of positives for buying a coat are endless, as previously mentioned coats protect your baby from a range of weathers. Furthermore, this can protect your little one from becoming ill and catching a cold.
If you have already brought some good quality jackets then there is less pressure on coats but it is still important to buy a couple.
Try to buy at least one waterproof one and at least one cosy one. In terms of sizes coat sizes are often very broad but if they are more specific we would advise going straight into 0-1 months or 0-3 months so that you can layer your baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Will Baby Clothes Cost Me?
How much you spend on baby clothes is largely down to you. It depends how much you buy and where from.
However, it is important to note that we expect it to cost a very minimum of $200-$250 dollars initially. This could be a lot more depending on the previously mentioned factors.
What Sizes Do Baby Clothes Come In?
Baby clothes generally come in sizes tiny baby, newborn, 0-1 months, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months.
Where Can I Buy Baby Clothes From?
Where you choose to buy your baby’s clothes from is up to you. You could buy them online or in person.
You could use sites such as Amazon or smaller individual stores. Target stocks baby clothes as do most clothes shops. You could even try some thrift stores in order to save some money.
Final Thoughts
Knowing what clothes to buy for a new baby can be really difficult as can knowing what advice to listen to. We hope that this guide will have taken some of the stress off and at least helped you to find a starting point for clothes shopping for your baby.
When thinking about clothing, there is so much to consider, such as sizing, the materials used, the quality of the products, and also how ethical they are. There is also the topic of fast fashion and its effects on the environment.
This is why I decided to set up our site Torly Kid, to provide parents and carers with the ultimate guide to everything related to children’s clothing and fashion. From the best outfits for crawling toddlers, to the prettiest dresses for tweens, we’ve got you covered.
