Newborn Clothing Checklist

Newborn babies don't care how much "stuff" has been acquired in their name. They can actually survive with very little, and anything additional to that is pure convenience.

Now, there is something to be said for convenience. In today's busy world, convenience is almost a necessity. (Did I really just say that?)

Added to that, there's a certain amount of pride in showing off your newborn baby. Doing this when he's wearing hand-me-downs from the '80's tends to dampen that somewhat. (I'm not sure why...we are showing off the baby - not the clothing, right?)

Thankfully, our choices in newborn clothing today far surpass the meager choices our parents had - personalized, organic, trendy, even baby accessories...we are only limited by our budget (sigh).

Predicting what size your baby will need at a particular age is a big guessing game. There are no universal size parameters, so even individual manufacturer's sizes will differ from each other. It is better to choose sizes based on height and weight rather than age. Many stores have this information available, or print the size/weight information on the tags of the clothing.

Having clothing that is slightly too large is a good choice since newborn babies grow very fast. You may find that something which fit two weeks earlier is now too small, and your baby only had a chance to wear it once!

Here is a general newborn clothing size chart.

If the clothing size says:

Newborn = up to 8 pounds (3.6 kilos) and 18 inches (46 cm)

3 Months = 8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.5 kilos ) and up to 23 inches (58 cm)

3-6 Months = 12 to 18 pounds (5.5 to 8.2 kilos) and up to 27 inches (69 cm)

Newborn Baby Checklist
So taking into account some level of convenience, what do you "need"? Assuming that you do your laundry two times a week, here is the minimum an average newborn might need in each size. (If you choose to do your laundry more or less frequently, you may adjust your "needs" accordingly.)

• 4-6 Onesies - (undershirts with a snap at the crotch) provides an extra layer of warmth, protects delicate skin from the irritation of outer clothing, helps contain diaper "leakage"
• 5-10 Newborn Baby Outfits
• Dress Outfits - for church and photos
• 2 Sweaters
• 5-7 Sleepwear/pajamas
• 4-6 pairs of Socks
• 2 pairs of Mittens - not the kind for warmth, but the kind to keep him from scratching his face
• 4-6 Receiving Blankets - needed for swaddling
• 2-4 Sleep Sacks or Wearable Blankets
• 3-4 Heavier Blankets - for crib and car seat use
• Snowsuit or Coat - NOT for daily outings, but only if you will have extended activities out in the cold (See this page about infant snowsuits and other ways to keep your baby warm in the coldest weather.)
• 2 Hats - for warmth or shade
• Optional Accessories - hair decoration
• Shoes - as an optional accessory only
• Diapers - 10+ per day to start out (If you will be using cloth diapers, you will need other items as well.) Find out more about disposable diapers, cloth diapers, and other needs for a diaper change by clicking here.
• 4-6 Burp Rags and Bibs- more if you have a proliferous spitter

Just my two cents...
A word should be said about proper laundering of your baby's clothing. Special detergents specifically for laundering your baby's clothing are available on the market. These would be a good choice if your child has a sensitivity to your regular laundry detergent. If not, consider simply washing their clothing along with yours. You could even double rinse if it makes you feel better. A new mom has enough on her plate without adding separate loads.

The exception to this would be if you will be washing clothing that has been exposed to chemicals (such as factory workers might be).

If you have a preemie baby, you may face some new challenges finding clothing that fits. The demand for these clothes is not sufficient to get the attention of a lot of newborn clothing manufacturers.

I hope this newborn clothing checklist will help you balance both needs and convenience. If we are successful at that, this would keep you from needing to do your laundry at 2 AM (so that your baby has something to wear in the morning), AND you won't waste your hard-earned money on things that you'll never use.

If you (like me) have chosen not to find out whether your baby is a boy or girl during pregnancy, preparing for the arrival of your newborn is tricky. You want to have something for your baby to wear those first days, but purchasing a bunch of "non-gender" newborn clothing doesn't make much sense. Who wants a "non-gender" baby? You are EXCITED to show off that your baby is a BOY!!! (or a GIRL!!!)

My suggestion is that you purchase a few sets of newborn baby clothes for a boy and for a girl, and then save whatever you don't need to give as a gift the next time a friend has a baby (or save for your next baby). That should get you through the first weeks until the gifts start pouring in (or until you are feeling up to shopping).

Remember take the coming season into account when clothes shopping for your newborn baby.

Oh! Just in case it needs to be said...laugh at (but never purchase) any newborn clothing that is dry clean only!

See Related Articles

Are Infant Snowsuits the Best Way to Keep
Your Newborn Baby Warm This Winter?

Newborn Baby Checklist

Celebrate Femininity with Newborn Dresses

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