Selecting the right baby clothes can be difficult, particularly for those without babies or who had their babies a long time ago.
When selecting baby clothes for a newborn it is firstly important to understand what clothing items form part of essential baby basics and which size to select.
a. Essential Baby Clothing Items
i. Jumpsuit: This is a basic baby item. It is usually a long sleeve and long legged garment that can be worn day or night. Babies need lots of jumpsuits in their wardrobe. A good jumpsuit should be designed for easy baby dressing and nappy changes. Jumpsuits may have snapfast buttons down the front or ribbon ties. Both of these styles allow for easy dressing so that the jumpsuits don’t have to be pulled over the babies head and so that when changing the babies nappy the whole garment doesn’t have to be removed, a few snap fast buttons around the legs can be unfastened – this way the bay will stay warm when changes are occurring in the middle of the night or in the winter months.
ii. Bodysuit or Onesie: Bodysuits, sometimes called onesie’s are another basic baby clothing item. Bodysuits can come in short sleeve, long sleeve or sleeveless styles. To select a good bodysuit ensure that there either an envelope or snapfast buttons on the neck line to ensure the garment can move over babies head without squashing baby. Most bodysuits also have a snap button crutch to allow each access for nappy changes. Bodysuits are an essential baby clothing item in both summer and winter. In summer they can be worn on their own just over the nappy and in winter months they make great undergarments to layer babies clothing. They fully cover the back to ensure baby is kept warm during winter and can be placed underneath thicker tops for extra protection and warmth.
iii. Singlets: baby singlets are another basic item. Ensure that there are no side seams to irritate baby and that they are made from stretch material so that they can sit snug to babies back and chest for extra warmth and protection. Singlets should also be quite long to that they don’t ride up when worn exposing babies bare back.
iv. Pants: Pants that are made from a soft fabric also make a great baby clothing item. Soft pants with elastic waste are super comfy and easy to pull on and off when dressing. Some pants made from a thicker fabric can provide extra warmth and it is preferable to have a snap button crutch for easy dressing.
v. Beanie: Hospitals usually require that all babies wear a beanie when leaving the hospital. Hospitals can even refused to let a baby leave if they are not wearing a beanie or baby hat. The reason for this is that body heat is lost through the top of the head. Babies bodies are not very good at retaining their body heat and the beanie or baby hat helps the baby retain this warmth. Even in Spring and Autumn baby beanies are an essential baby item to protect babies head, particularly if baby is outside in the afternoons or evenings.
vi. Bibs: Babies need lots and lots of these. 10 bibs is not enough. Babies often vomit up a bit of milk after each feed and can start dribbling from only a few months of age causing the bibs to get smelly and wet. Most mothers will want to change the bibs regularly throughout the day to keep baby dry and stop the moisture spreading to the babies clothes and onto their chest. It is not uncommon for a baby to go through 5-10 bibs per day. If a mother does her washing every 3 or 4 days that may mean that she could need up to 40 or 50 bibs just to keep up. Most mothers also usually keep a stash of bibs in the nappy bag, car etc to ensure there are emergency supplies. There are all different types of bibs, made from different fabrics and with different fastenings behind the next. You can even get bibs with arms in them that baby can wear when eating but these won’t be needed until after the baby is 6 months old.
vii. Baby Blanket: Baby blankets are an essential baby item. They can be used in all seasons, in winter they are used to snuggle and wrap baby or as a bassinet or cot blanket. In the spring and autumn months they can also be used to cover the baby when in the stroller or car or as a comforter.
viii. Baby Socks and Booties: Keeping baby’s feet warm is important as bear feet are another way baby’s can lose body heat in the cooler months. Baby socks or booties should have some form of elastic or ribbon tie around the ankle so that they don’t fall off baby’s feet.
ix. Newborn Layette: A newborn layette is a co-ordinated complete outfit of essential baby clothing for baby. Newborn Layettes are a very popular baby gift given at a baby shower or as a newborn baby gift and usually include all of the above basic baby items. The benefit of purchasing a newborn layette is that all of the items are co-ordinated ensuring baby is always at his or her most stylish and it also allows the mum to mix and match the clothing depending on the weather.
b. Baby Clothing Sizes
| Size | 0000 | 000 | 00 | 0 |
| Height | 56cm | 62cm | 68cm | 76cm |
| Weight | 4kg (8.8 pounds) |
6kg (13.2 pounds) |
8kg (17.6 pounds) |
10kg (22 pounds) |
| Age | Newborn | 0-3 months | 3-6 months | 6-12 months |
c. Designer Baby Clothing
There are many fantastic designer baby clothes in the marketplace, which act as the perfect baby gift. All mums love to dress baby up on special occasions and having a few designer baby clothes in the wardrobe can be cute and lots of fun for mum. Just a few of these outfits is all that is needed as baby grows quickly – the emphasis on baby clothing should be on easy to wear baby basics.