It can be daunting and overwhelming when you’re expecting a new arrival in the family. There are many things you need to buy and learn to make sure that you’re prepared for your baby’s arrival. One question expecting parents often ask is what clothing they need for their newborn, and how many items of clothing are enough? In this article, we will help to answer these questions so you can feel more confident and prepared to welcome your baby into the world.
Newborn clothing sizes
All babies aren’t born the same size; some are much larger than others, making it tricky to figure out what clothing you’ll need for your baby. Generally, there are four different sizes of clothing that will fit a newborn baby. Premature clothing is suitable for babies of a very small weight that are born early. The weight on these clothes is usually 3-6 lbs, and a height of up to 17 inches. The second size in newborn baby clothing is tiny; this range of clothing is suitable for small babies ranging from 6lb to 7lb and up to 20 inches in height. The third and most common sizing for newborns is simply called newborn; this caters for babies of a weight of 7 lbs-10 lbs and up to 22 inches. Finally, if you have a large baby, you might find they don’t fit in newborn clothing at all, and you need to dress them in clothes of size 0-3 months. These are suitable for babies of a weight of 10-4 lbs and a height of 25 inches. Some parents like to have a few items in each of these sizes to ensure they have something, no matter what the size of their baby. Others stick to the most common sizes, and if their baby is particularly small, they will go out and purchase tiny or premature clothing when needed. Hospitals will also have a range of clothing if you do find your baby comes prematurely and all of your items are too large.
How many items do you need?
Babies grow very quickly and will soon be out of their newborn-size clothing; many parents find they have far too many items in this size that they don’t get around to using. This is especially true of parents that host baby showers. Baby clothing is a common gift, and people often choose newborn sizes for gifts. Taking this into consideration, an ideal selection of basic clothing for a newborn includes 5-7 onesies, 5-7 bodysuits, 5 pairs of socks, 2 hats, 10 bibs, 3 sleeping bags, 3 scratch mittens, 1 pram suit or snowsuit and 1 to 2 special occasion outfits. This will give you enough clothing for your baby until they move up to the next size; you can also go out and buy any other items you need once your baby arrives.
Seasonal clothing
It’s important to consider the season your baby is born; this will influence the clothing you purchase. Newborn babies struggle to regulate their own temperature, so it’s vital you dress them appropriately for the weather conditions. If you’re having a newborn in the winter months, you’ll need a sleep sack with a higher tog rating and more long-sleeve items to keep your baby warm. You may also need mittens and a warm hat to wear outside. If you have your baby in the summer, you’ll need more short sleeve items and a lower tog sleeping suit. Additional items you need for the summer include sun hats for your baby.
How to store baby clothing
Once you have all of your baby’s clothing, you’ll want to keep it separated in different sizes; this will make it easier for you to find the right clothing when your baby is born. Some people like to use small bags with labels for each clothing size; these can be placed in your hospital bag so you have a selection for when the baby is born. Remember you’ll need to wash every item of clothing two weeks before your baby comes; even new items need to be washed to remove dust and protect your baby.
Hopefully, these tips will help put your mind at ease when it comes to buying baby clothes. Remember, most parents will have far more items than they actually need for their baby.
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