Best Clothes for Newborns?

I had my son in bundled-up blankets for the first month or so. My midwife taught me how to wrap him snug and tight- tied around the back of his neck. He loved it. Oh and soft colors- no super busy patterns and colors, to keep a peaceful space. Busy environments creates stress for little ones.

Carter's clothing is the best quality (for the money). Very soft, warm and tend to have easy accessibility. There are Carter's bricks and mortar stores, aside from being widely available from Costco, to Macy's to Mervyn's.

Onesies are great!

Also gowns (makes changing diapers easy at nighttime) We used the one Baby Style mostly (they have the most comfy gowns and material.)

Hello S.! I was overwhelmed with what to buy my little baby boy (Born 8/16/07) too! Here's my advice, which pretty much echo's alot of the other responses:

Onesies are a staple item-have lots of them in a range of sizes! Don't buy too many of the newborn size because you'll notice babies aren't in them for very long (unless they're preemie). Carters are awesome and the Gerber white organic onesies at Target are great and REALLY soft!

The little cotton pants that match the Carters onsies (you can buy them as a set or separate, especially at a Carters outlet if you have one nearby) are great! While baby jeans, khakis and overalls are really cute, they're not completely practical because they take way too long to put on (and take off when changing a diaper). Anyway, you can buy the little cotton pants at Carters, or even at Target. I used them ALL the time with my little one...we found we didn't have too many cotton pants when we brought him home, so we took our first trip to Target and bought some that matched some of his onesies!

The gowns are great for newborns because you just lift them over their little bums when changing late night diapers, and then lift them back down when you're done!

Get a few hats for the baby to wear...cotton of course. Gerber carries them, as well as Carters.

SOCKS-stay away from the cutsie socks that fall off/roll off, which can be hard to spot, but generally are the tiny ones that don't have a decent grip at the top. I found great socks to come from the GAP, and those cute Trumpette socks that come in Camouflage (for boys and girls) and cute Mary Janes for girls.

The zip up cotton pajamas are great for night time. You'll see lots of snap ones, which are good, but can be cumbersome when changing a late night diaper(s) and you're not 100% awake yourself. Zip up PJ's are faster. Get them at Target and Carters. My first recommendation would be CARTERS! Because they have really soft cotton and flannel ones!

Last, but not least: Bring a couple comfortable "take home" outfits to the hospital. The first outfit we put our little boy in got messed. Thank goodness we had another.

I'd also recommend the MIRACLE BLANKET for swaddling. It works. Trust me. And I didn't have it when my son was born. I got it at about 7 -8 weeks old. Let's put it this way, my son went from waking every 2 hours to waking every 5 hours after placing him in the Miracle Blanket. It can take the baby a couple days to get used to...

Oh, and the HALO Sleepsacks are great too... but you can't swaddle with them unless you buy the Swaddle Halo Sleepsacks.

ALSO if you're using disposable diapers: ONLY buy the PAMPERS SWADDLERS! They are by far the best diapers! If you get any other, exchange them for SWADDLERS.

OH, also...get lots of cotton diapers for spit up rags (I's recommend the colored ones because you'll be able to find them late at night better than the white ones)...and burp cloths (gerber) to use for nursing. I put them under my breast while nursing so I would get milk over my shirt and bra. They're lightweight, not as bulky as using a cloth diaper. Nursing can be a little messy.

Best,

M.
(Mom of a 3 month old)

I was so overwhelmed by clothes too! My daughter is 10 months now, and while many brands have cute clothes, and all of them work when you have them, when shopping for myself I have been most pleased with Carter's. They are the most true to size and are always reliable and durable. WHen they are newborns, unless it is a special occasion I stuck with sleepers which kept her warm and was easy to dress because it was all one piece. Another brand if you can find it that has the softest sleepers is Absorba. I got a lot of grief from my mother-in-law for not "dressing" her for the first few months but it was winter and I was so overwhelmed with everything else about a newborn that I found changing her clothes only after bath time and when she had an explosive diaper left me with enough to do. When they are tiny the button sleepers are also nice because you are changing so many diapers. My husband in her older months is a fan of the zippers though becuase they are easier to get on. Hope that helps! Good luck, it is so fun.

Dear S. K,

For both of you the outfits that look like a sack. It is like a big dress with snaps or ties to close the bottom. With feeding and changing diapers every couple of hours it is very easy to change diaper and is comfy for the little one. I only regretted that I had three!!! The ones with the fold overs for the hands are helpful to keep the face from being scratched as well. Good luck!

Congratulations! I had twins last November, and we kept them in snap-up sleepers most of the time. I like the sleepers that snap up both legs, as opposed to the ones that snap up only one leg.

You will probably get about five million snap-bottom tee shirts and no pants to go with them. Some soft pants (Carter's makes some) are the best; jeans are cute but too stiff for little babies.

They won't need shoes until they're standing, so just go for some socks. The best socks are the ones that have grippers on the bottom (the cheapest are Circo ones at Target; the cutest are Trumpette ones at Right Start and Bellini), which stay on their feet better.

Things to avoid: buttons (choking hazard), things with ruffles over the butt (uncomfortable to sleep on), collars (which activate their "root reflex" and keep them from getting sleep). If you're worried about your baby's neck getting scratched in the car seat, get a pair of those little cushions that wrap around the straps. Right Start sells them; other places do, too.

You probably will need more clothes than you think, because little babies are extremely messy and get their clothes wet during feedings. Hand-me-downs are great, even if they're not super-cute, because you'll end up needing them at some point just to keep your angel toasty.

Congratulations, and good luck!

HI S.:

I had good luck with onsies and swaddling blankets as my girl liked to be bundled up. As she has gotten older, onsies and pants have been her staples. Soft cotton caps were also a help. She outgrew the newborn sizes quite quickly so I wouldn't get too much in that size. We were inundated with lovely dresses for her but she has hardly worn them-they just didn't look comfy. Less fuss worked for us. Best of luck!

The best thing I liked the most was the little gowns. Boy or girl they are great. They are comfy and warm enough eyt diaper change time is easy, just lift it up instead of having to fuss with buttons or zippers. I only used them for the first 2 months though so dont buy too many. Also you cant go wrong with light weight pj's.. go for button down instead of zipper cause the zipper is alway stiff in them and for as small as they are I noticed the zipper was always sticking up into my baby's chin and face. Good luck

Soft, breathable materials.
Cotton - never polyester or polyester blend.

We found the side-snap t-shirts (short and long sleeved) to be invaluable when our daughter was tiny. The Carters brand ones are priced decently and are nice and soft.

Gowns are great, too.
Again Carters are inexpensive and comfy.
The ones at Babystyle are really nice too, but cost considerably more.

Happy shopping!

I bought so many clothes for my little girl and was only able to use about a third of them.

I found onesies made out of soft cotton works better. They make some cute onesies that look like outfits.

Two pieces are hard because the top rolls up and looks uncomfortable for the baby. Some clothes look cute, but are rough to her skin.

Congratulations! How exciting. I have to agree with all the onesies posts. The ones that button up the front are the best, but it's not too dramatic putting the other ones over their heads. The things I really didn't like were the nightgowns they always ended up around my daughter’s armpits, even the ones with elastic at the bottom. I also don't like shirts that were not onesies, its one more thing to be pulling down while you're trying to hold your bundle of joy and support the head, etc. It's a little easier if there is an onesie under it, but I'd rather not mess with those. The only kinds of onesies I'm not a big fan of are any that button or snap in the neck area (either in the back or on the shoulder) it's so much easier to not have to deal with snapping the top when your baby can not support the head yet. My daughter was born at the end of June so she spent most of her time in onesies. If I had a winter baby she would be in feet pajamas all the time, I love those. I don't know if you go to Costco, but they have great Carter close that are cheap, most of the time cheaper then the outlet in Petaluma.
Best of luck! It's going to be the most exciting and tiring time of your life. Enjoy each second of it!
C.

When my daughter was born, we put her in onesies, they are light and simple and cheap!

Something soft and organic for a newborn is good. Babies absorb things into their skins more than older people so the less chemicals the better. Maine and some other state have just outlawed flame retardants in children's clothing for that reason and Illinois is working on it.

Also to decrease stress during a diaper change, I always liked the little gown things, instead of wrestling witha bunch of snaps. Lots of places have layette lists of what you really need as oppose dto what Babies R us wants you to buy. I like the one from The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine.

Good luck, N.

Hi S.,

First off ... CONGRATS!! There is nothing quite like expecting your very first baby.

As for which types of baby clothes, I have found that newborns need often changes ... diapers and clothes! Cute, comfortable, and convenient is the key! Lots of Dr.'s visits in the beginning also need convenient clothing, so I tended towards adorable nighties for my boys (3 of them :)) Of course I would also dress them up, but only during special occasions. eBay is a great place to find huge lots of winter clothing ... depending on when you're due!

It's also important to think about what you wash your baby's clothes in as well as your clothes, since that's where the baby will be the majority of the time! I know of really great, eco- and health-friendly products if you're interested.

Diapers and wipes are also a huge concern. Seventh Generation diapers and wipes ... while not "pretty" sure do the trick! I've never had a problem with blowouts with them, but I did with Huggies and Pampers. They're also so much better for those cute little baby bums!

Again, CONGRATS!

R. Donahue

I found that the kimono style t-shirts were a necessity until my son's belly button healed. The onesie's rubbed on the cord - which didn't seem to bother my son, but it bothered me! The t-shirts were great to provide warmth without the tightness of a onesie. I used the Gerber ones - they come in a pack of 3 and you can get them at Target. Also, I wouldn't invest in too many small size clothes. In the beginning, you'll keep your baby swaddled most the time and that usually provides enough warmth. Make sure you have plenty of good size lightweight blankets for swaddling, or invest in some of the pre-made swaddling clothes (like the swaddle me ones, or the halo sleep sack swaddlers). Those recieving blankets everyone gives you are only good for large burp cloths! Good luck to you!

My daughter is 2yrs old. When she was a baby I wore the gowns that button or snap or gather with elastic at the bottom ALOT!!! (Around the house) She seemed to be most comfortable in them but they are not practicle for the carseats. She wore alot of dresses and alot of two piece outfits. She was a summer baby so didn't really need a whole lot of clothes.

Anything you choose for your baby will be the perfect outfit cuz you chose it.

C.

Hi S.,
I find that all cotton clothing is the most comfortable for newborns. It's soft and breathes!

Anything Carter's the material is so soft and they don't shrink so they last awhile :)

Since you will be changing lots and LOTS of diapers and your baby will be sleeping the majority of the time, choose simple, comfortable outfits. Save all the cute stuff for when he/she is a bit older and spending more time awake. Sleeper pjs and things that open from the bottom are good choices, as well as one piece outfits with legs for the carseat. In addition to onesies, you might want some newborn sidesnap t-shirts, at least until the umbilical stump falls off. Good luck and congratulations!

Anything tagless is always a good bet.

Onsies!!!! Onsies are wonderful short and long sleeve.
I dont know if your having a boy or a girl, I had a girl in July of this year, everyone was buying her these cute tiny summer dresses, not pratical at all, most of them still have the price tags on them.I am curently using (winter)the one piece zip up the toes built in, and if you can find things with zippers rather than buttons you will save yourself alot of frustration. Also when your baby starts grow (which will happen really quickly) cut off the built in feet and have him/her wear socks to make the clothes last longer.
Hope this helps.
M.

hi S.,
for me, all i put my children in were 'onesies'. all that other stuff is so cute, but impracticle! old navy has great jumpsuits too. i would recommend getting some without feet incase your little one doesn't like his/her feet trapped. they make such soft clothing. and, big one here, try to avoid buttons if you can. zippers are the best ever!!!best of luck and enjoy your pregancy :)

The gowns with the zippers are very comfy and very easy when changing diapers. 2 piece outfits work really well so you don't have to change the entire thing if their is an accident and you don't have to totally uncress your child whenever you change a diaper. Don't spend money on lots fo expensive clothes as they grow out of them so fast.

Mom of 1 (7 yrs), oldest sibling of 5, baybsitter to many as a teen

i always used the onesies that are full body that either zip up or button up..also - something to keep in mind is that babies don't like to have things pulled over their heads (like t-shirts) so if you can find the little short onesies that button up the front instead of having to pull it over your baby's head he/she will be much happier!! they make tshirts that wrap around and button in the front! good luck!!

My daughter is 6 months old now and I found that anything that you could snap up the front was great b/c it can be scary for them to have anything pulled over their heads being so little. I didn't use the gowns much at all but mostly onesies and pants and the outfits that have feet that button up front.

Hope that helps.

Find soft fabrics - avoid zippers because its really easy to pinch them with them... get clothes or undershirts with built in mittens - their little nails really scratch their faces - and the mittens they sell rarely stay on. Avoid plastic type feet in the blanket sleepers because they make the feet sweat... Snap side T-shirts because they don't have enough muscles in their necks to pull things over their heads.

Just had my fifth child - my baby was 5 years old - so we had a lot of fun shopping - there are a lot of new things out there that are so nice for them.

Congratulations!

Just know that this won't be the first time you will be overwhelmed with choices or just plain overwhelmed. Motherhood is the biggest challenge in the best of ways.

My son is now 5 1/2 years old and I have always put him in clothes that are 100% cotton...no polyester as they are too warm ... you will find that you will come to know if your baby runs "hot" or "cold"....my son was always warm, so I never put him in anything but 100% cotton...also, I would not put your newborn in the kind of onesies that don't have feet but have the ties at the bottom...I don't think they have enough freedom of movement. Also, the easiest things for the little ones for changing when you are out and about are bottoms that snap closed at the crotch so that you don't have to take the pants off completely, you can unsnap them, change the diaper and snap them back up...hope that is helpful...

Hi - during this time of year, sleepers are best or those sleep sacks which allow your child to wiggle, but still be dressed warm.

Onesies are also good as long as the weather is permitting. I only dressed my kids when we were going out, but sometimes even then, I kept them in sleepers as newborns.

Hi S.,

Congratulations! I think the best clothes for newborns are cotton. I put a onesie on before the actual clothing, but cotton is always soft. Also, the less snaps the better-- you will be changing alot of outfits and diapers. Make sure you wash everything in a hypoallergenic detergent like Dreft. The Halo sleep sacks are great also because they keep your newborn warm but safe. Good luck!
Molly

I had a C-section for my daughter and it was hard to bend over to change her clothes and diaper, so for at least the first month all i had her in were gowns. They were warm enough for her and i didn't have to unbutton anything! But other than that i would just say anything cotton is best and most comfortable for a newborn.

I like easy on/off things, like sleepers with the long zipper. No buttons! The best onesies are the one's where you can lay the baby on it and close it in the front, no having to turn the baby. Think abou changing diapers during the night, what are the easiest ways you can imagine doing that when you look at a piece of clothing. Forget about all the "stiff cute stuff", comfy, comfy. comfy is what counts.

I couldn't live without onesies and elastic waist pants when my girls (twins) were first born. I also loved the rompers! We went through so many outfits in a day due to spit up, diaper blowouts and etc.

S.,

Onesies, Onesies, Onesies!!!!! Are you having a boy or a girl. Having an 18 month old, I realize that all of those dresses that people gave as presents were not such great presents. They just aren't practical until they can walk... so my advice is if you have a girl to return all the dresses and get store credit. Carter onesies are great quality and seem to fit my daughter the best. Gerber onesies are really thin and work better as Undershirts but fit a little differently. The snaps are in the front instead of underneath...

Other than that- check out the Miracle Blanket for swaddling- it makes swaddling so easy!

Good luck!
K.

i have lots of thoughts on this :-)
the gowns are pretty good, although we had a lot of them, i didnt use them that often. the outfits i still love the most to this day are the feetsy pajamas that ZIP up the front... Carter's are my favorite. they make diaper changing in the middle of the night easy. the snap ones are ok too, they just take a long time to put back on. a word of advice... (my son is only 7 months but i feel this is the most important lesson ive learned to date) - dont buy TOO many clothes... until they get to be about 5 or 6 months, they grow too fast, and you will have clothes you will never even rip the tags off of. seriously... buy the pj's, and a few onesies (long sleeve if its winter) - dont bother with jeans, pants, t shirts.. its not a good outfit for an infant.. and just buy a few, and do a lot of laundry. i hope our 2nd child is a girl, just to have one of each, but part of me thinks a boy would be ok because we have soooo many clothes! good luck.

I am a fan of the onesies. The one piece outfits with snaps of course. The carter brand makes some really great outfits that are comfortable and fit really well. I kept my kids in the gowns for the first month. Those were great especially for changing.

Do you know if you will or are having a baby shower? If so, you will get LOTS of baby layette things this way. For myself, I liked using "onesies" (the bodysuit type outfits that snap on the bottom, thus easy for diaper changing), and I also liked the sleeping "gown" type outfits for sleeping...which have an elasticized hemline and is thus easy to diaper change etc. Naturally, most baby items are cotton. I liked anything with bottom snaps. Depending on the season and when your baby will be born, then get climate appropriate clothing/socks/pajamas etc. Remember, no blankets should be used when a baby is sleeping, since it is a safety hazard. But infant blankets are great for when taking out baby in the stroller and it's chilly etc. Each mom has their favorites on what clothing they will like. Inevitably, it will be trial and error and you will find your favorites. Look for ease of wear (ie: bottoms snaps), and convenience, and softness. At least that's what I tended toward, since you will be washing lots of baby clothes once they are born, and changing lots of diapers. Some outfits are put on over the head, or some have snaps down the front which can aid in dressing baby. I always like elastic waisted outfits as well. There's so many preferences, but good basics are the best. Some outfits are "cute" in the store, but a pain to put on the baby, or are to fussily designed to be practical. Materials that will stretch & give, like cotton t-shirt materials are what I preferred also... it's more comfortable, than other fabrics.
Well, good luck and congratulations on your baby! You will get all kinds of great suggestions here.
~S.
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

Onsies and pajamas, when i had my first born, i went out and bought the best clothes and he never wore them, he was most comffy in his onsies and pj,s with feet. Dont go out and buy the best clothes, at this age they outgrow them so quickly. Plus its getting kind of cold out, so your baby will be wrapped most of the time. Good Luck, A.!

I think the one piece gowns are the best. Newborn clothes will still be too large during the first week.

I liked Carter's clothes the best. Plus, they are the most affordable, esp. if you can buy them in a Carter's store or outlet. The sizes seemed most accurate and the fabric durable, yet soft. Enjoy your new baby!

I loved the gowns when they are newborns. Late at night when your changing your little one, it makes it really easy! No snaps or buttons to deal with. Enjoy your new baby!

I have 3 children and I always loved sleep-n-plays. The Carter ones are so soft and cuddly. I wish they made them in my size. Also, check out my website http://babyproducts4u.shopinblog.com. It has all the baby gear products you could ever want or need.

Good luck on a happy and healthy pregnancy!

Hello S.!
When you look at all the cute baby clothes you may think that it doesn't really matter what brand they are etc, but when you start washing, drying and using them it makes a big difference. In our family we have found the Hanna Andersson clothes to be the most commfortable. They are made of cotton or organic cotton, they are soft, stretchy, have soft tags, no uncomfortable buttons or zippers, they keep their shape and color wash after wash and are just great. My six year old doesn't want any other shirts because this is what she is used to. My 3 year old is very sensitive but always feels good in her Hanna's. Even my husband said that he likes them the best because they are so easy to put on and take off. With a newborn that is especially important because you don't want to wrestle them in and out of their clothes. There is a Hanna Andersson store at the Valley Fair mall, but I buy almost everything online, because the regular prices are on the high side but the sales online a very good. Of all they have the pyjamases are the best. Good luck with finding comfy clothes for your baby and way to go for caring about that.
C.