Tips for Clothing a Preemie

Premature infants are typically small and more than often difficult to clothe. It is even more difficult when your baby is only a couple pounds and hooked up to machines with wire running everywhere. Sometimes the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will provide clothes to fit your baby, but they often encourage you to bring your own. Any parent that has experienced having a child in the NICU will tell you the importance of clothing their preemie. Being able to see your baby in clothes makes them seem more real. You will also develop a bond by being able to finally see them in an outfit you purchased just for them.

Button-up sleepers and onesies are the best for NICU babies, as wires and tubes will be able to fit between the buttons. Try to avoid outfits with zippers or pull-overs, as they may interfere with hospital equipment. Colored socks work best so they do not get mixed up with the white ones supplied by the hospital. Hats are more difficult to find, so you may have to settle with rolling it up one more time in order to have a snug fit. No-scratch mittens are a great purchase but also difficult to find. Your best bet is to use socks instead.

Remember that their clothing may be permanently damaged due to stains or rips. Try to purchase inexpensive pieces that you do not mind having to throw away. Wal-Mart is a great store that carries a large variety of preemie clothes for both girls and boys. You can find sleepers, onesies, pants, and socks at an affordable price. They may not be the absolute best quality, but probably your best choice. Carter's, BabyGAP, Children's Place, and numerous other baby clothing stores offer outfit options for preemies but will be more costly.

Label every piece of clothing that you leave in the NICU. Write with sharpie your baby's initials or last name so pieces do not get mixed up with hospital laundry. Another great idea is to leave a laundry bag near your baby's bedside for nurses to put the dirty outfit in. Check the bag daily and take home the clothes to wash.

One great gesture to do when your baby outgrows the preemie clothes is to donate them to the NICU. Some babies aren't lucky enough to have parents that can purchase a preemie wardrobe aside from all the other bills they have. By donating, you will be helping clothe other preemies just like your baby once was.