Is your family about to welcome a new member? Or has the little one already arrived? After all, buying clothes for a baby is a very exciting and beautiful experience, isn't it? When you see the little dresses, pants, and shoes in the stores, you want to buy them all. Pink for a baby girl, blue for a baby boy, beautiful flowers, and cartoon designs, our hearts are captivated. But we can't focus on beauty alone. We must definitely think about the safety, comfort , and practicality of the baby. And we also have to think about the price, right? Since babies grow up very quickly, there is nothing wrong with buying secondhand clothes. But whatever you buy, it is imperative that you wash them thoroughly, dry them in the sun, and iron them before dressing them on your baby.
What are the most essential clothes for a newborn baby?
When you're expecting a baby, it's normal to want to buy every piece of clothing in the store. But in the early days, you really only need a few items. You don't want to waste money on unnecessary clothes. The table below is a list of the essential clothes for a baby.
| Clothing type | How much to take (approximately) | Why are these important? |
|---|---|---|
| Onesies | 3-4 | These are convenient because they can be worn over the diaper. They prevent the belly from being exposed. |
| Sleepers/Stretch suits | 3-6 | It is especially important for nighttime sleep and cold days. It keeps the baby warm. |
| Socks/Booties | Pairs 3-4 | Helps keep little feet warm. |
| Undershirts | 4-6 | Available in both short and long sleeves. Can be worn under outerwear. |
| Hats/Caps | 1-2 | It's important to keep your baby's head warm, especially when going outside. |
| Mittens | Pair 1 | Babies tend to scratch their faces with their little nails. These help prevent that. |
| Sweaters | 1-2 | It's necessary if you're going on a cold day or to an air-conditioned place. |
If you're having twins, plan to buy about double of everything. That way, you won't have to wash clothes all the time.
Safety first! Think twice about these things when choosing clothes
Baby safety is more important than beauty, so be sure to consider these factors when choosing clothes.
Avoid things that can get stuck.
Babies put everything they can get their hands on in their mouths. It's their nature. Imagine what would happen if a small button, bead, or other small decoration came loose from a piece of clothing? It would go straight into the baby's mouth. If that happens, there's a high chance of choking. So, avoid buying clothes with these things as much as possible. Or, double-check that the decoration is sewn on securely .
Also, be careful with long laces and ruffled clothes. These can get wrapped around the baby's neck, arms, and legs. That's very dangerous.
Fire-safe Sleepwear
This is something we often don't think about, but it's very important. The labels on baby sleepwear sometimes state whether it should be worn tight to protect against fire, or whether the fabric itself is flame-retardant. These flame-retardant fabrics have specific washing instructions. You need to follow those instructions exactly. Otherwise, the flame-retardant properties may disappear after several washes.
For this reason, buying secondhand sleepwear is not a good idea, as we don't know if the person who used it before washed it properly.
Buy clothes based on weight, not age!
A mistake many mothers make is buying clothes based on their baby's age. They think, "My baby is only 3 months old, so let's buy the 3-6 month size." But in reality, each brand makes clothes in a different size. One brand's 3 month size may be the same as another's 6 month size.
Think about it, some babies are a little big when they are born. They can't wear 'newborn' size for more than a couple of days. Some babies are small. They can wear 3-month clothes until they are 4-5 months old. So age is just a number. The best measure to choose clothes is the baby's weight . Most clothes have the age and weight listed on the label. It is best to look at that weight and decide.
How can you make getting dressed easier?
Dressing a struggling, crying baby can sometimes feel like a battle, right? To make this task easier for both of you, think about these things when choosing clothes.
- Choose clothes that are loose around the neck or have snaps . Babies don't like clothes that are pulled over their heads. They get upset if their breathing gets a little tight or they can't see you. So choose clothes that are easy to put on around the neck.
- Clothes with zips or snaps in the front are much easier to put on than those with snaps in the back.
- Clothes that are slightly loose can be easily removed by hand without getting stuck in the sleeves .
- This is very important: if you choose a dress with snaps between the legs, you don't have to take off the whole dress when changing a diaper. You can just take off the bottom part, do the work, and put it back on. How easy is this when you think about how many times a day you change diapers?
Ease of washing and a little forethought
Your baby's clothes need to be changed several times a day. That means more laundry to do. So choose clothes that are labeled "machine washable ." This will save you the time and effort of hand washing and ironing. Choose clothes made from 100% cotton whenever possible. They are gentle on your baby's skin, comfortable, durable, and easy to wash.
Finally, think ahead when buying clothes. Some babies never fit into "newborn" sizes. Some grow out of 3-month clothes before they are a month old. So, buy a few clothes in sizes like 6 months and 1 year old in advance. But don't buy clothes months in advance thinking they will fit into a special occasion like New Year's Eve or Christmas. We can't predict whether the size will fit the baby at that time.
Take-Home Message
- When choosing clothes for your baby , prioritize safety over beauty. Avoid clothes with small buttons, beads, and long laces that can cause choking.
- Choose clothes based on your baby's weight, not their age. Look at the weight on the label.
- Think about the ease of dressing and changing diapers . Clothes with snaps at the neck and between the legs are very practical.
- Always choose clothes made of 100% cotton and that are machine washable.
- Wash and dry any new or secondhand clothing thoroughly before putting it on your baby.
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