Baby Clothing: What Will I Need for My Newborn?

New parents are often wondering how much clothing they will need for a newborn baby. Here is a practical list of the things a new parent will need, and how much.

First, baby clothing is very simple. Parents really should not spend money on lots of little outfits with many accessories like shoes or vests. Parents should be practical when choosing baby clothing. Fancy outfits are not needed on a daily basis, so a few that come in gifts will most likely be enough.

Onesies

Start with onesies. They are little undershirts with snaps at the bottom. Onesies are very practical because they can be worn alone with a diaper, or layered under clothing to keep the baby warm. Babies can also sleep in them, or wear them under sleepers.

It's good to have a supply of onesies in a variety of sizes and colors, since babies grow very quickly, and will need baby clothing to fit after the first few months. Parents will find it useful to have at least 6 onesies in each of the first 3 sizes: 3-6 months, 6-9 months and 12 months. White are popular, but they come in cute patterns and colors too.

Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers, while they are not baby clothing in this case, are essential for little cleanups. Babies often spit-up after eating. Cloth diapers are very absorbent, and easy to clean. It is convenient to have about 10 of them. They are good to lay over the person holding the baby's shoulder to protect clothing from getting soiled. Some parents will want to use cloth diapers as diapers, but be sure to get the newer kind with Velcro or snaps for this purpose. Get the other kind for those non-baby clothing uses.

Shoes

Shoes will not be needed for a new baby. Babies don't need shoes until they start to walk.

Sleepers

Sleepers are very handy. A sleeper is a kind of baby clothing that is one piece from head to toe, often with zippers or snaps. They are commonly made of terrycloth and are soft and comfy. Babies can wear them daytime or for sleeping. Like onesies, they need to be in a variety of sizes as babies will wear them often for the first year. Have at least 6 on hand, in each of the first three sizes. Babies tend to kick a lot! If a baby is having trouble keeping his feet in the little footsies of the sleeper, put socks over the feet and they will hold the baby's feet in there.

Hats

Hats are also important, for keeping the baby's head warm whenever he is outside. Heat gets lost rapidly through the head, so be sure to have 3-4 hats that fit snugly on the baby's head.

Socks

Socks are also going to come in handy, as mentioned above. Four pairs should be enough to start with.

Don't go overboard when purchasing baby clothes. It will be smarter to save your money for diapers and other accessories. Good luck with your bundle of joy!