How many clothes do you need to buy for your baby? Expecting mothers are always in a dilemma when shopping for baby supplies. Other things are easy, but when it comes to clothing, expect to be puzzled.
I have been there, and I must confess that it can be tempting. You would want to buy a sample of everything you come across. As far as we can afford it, we just want our baby to have them all – you shouldn’t.
In this article, we have provided help to assist you with how many clothes your baby actually needs. Let us get to it – shall we?
How Many Clothes Do You Need to Buy for Your Baby?
Newborns need an extra set of outfits to serve as substitutes when the need arises. But you have to be careful, so you do not buy too much of a particular size of outfit.
Babies grow very fast, and in no time, you will find out that the baby has outgrown all the nice clothes you bought. You need to avoid a situation where you are faced with having many baby clothes which have become useless. To achieve this, you need to know the type of clothes to buy and the average number of each you need.
In the sections below, we have highlighted a checklist of clothes you need for your baby. We have also identified the average number needed for each of the items. The reason for this is that there are certain baby clothing items that the baby cannot outgrow within the first year. So, you must be guided when purchasing outfits for the baby.
Newborn Baby Clothes Checklist
Before you start shopping for clothes for your newborn baby, you need to have a checklist. This will help you to itemize the outfits you need based on their importance and also the number.
For instance, you cannot buy too many ceremonial outfits for your newborn baby because she may not need them. Also, if your baby is born around the winter period, you have to focus on outfits that suit the weather.
Below, we have highlighted the clothes that should be on the checklist for your newborn baby. Check them out!
5 Basic Items to Consider for Your Newborn Baby Clothes Checklist
Footed Sleepers
A footed slipper is an outfit that looks like an overall. It covers the entire area of the baby’s body except for the head. They come in handy, especially as you do not need socks when you use them. You should consider buying four to five of these essentials.
When buying footed sleepers, ensure that you are buying one with buttons or a zipper at the back. This ensures that there is ease when you need to change the baby’s diaper in the middle of the night. It is perfect for babies to sleep in and wear during cold weather.
Pair of Socks
Of course, you’ve got to have socks! A newborn baby needs between four to seven pairs of socks. This is because they need to always stay warm and will require socks throughout the day. But you do not need to wear your baby a pair of socks if they are wearing footed sleepers.
When buying socks for your newborn baby, ensure that you choose socks that are made of breathable materials. Also, it is best to purchase socks that are stretchy and won’t be too tight on the baby.
Onesies
These are the traditional outfits for newborn babies. It is very comfortable for the baby, and the press buttons under the outfit enable nursing mothers and caregivers to carry out a diaper change without taking off the baby’s outfit.
You need to have between four to seven onesies, and I advise that you pick them in different colors. Another good thing about this outfit is that they have an expandable neckline adjustable with press buttons.
It is also a useful outfit that helps to keep the baby’s diaper in place and protected.
T-Shirts
I must confess that newborn babies have the best t-shirts. When you go shopping for baby clothes, you will be tempted to pick all the t-shirts available. They come in bright lovely colors and designs. Then, they have the cutest messages written on them.
Try to hold yourself back from buying more t-shirts than you need. You would need between four to five t-shirts because the baby would only need them on cold days. When buying t-shirts for a newborn baby, ensure that you go for t-shirts that have expandable necklines and press buttons on the side. You should also ensure that they are made from breathable materials.
Pants
You will need to keep the baby’s thighs warm at all times, so you need pants. So, whether your baby was born during winter or summer, you need pants.
For a start, you will need about two to three pairs of pants for your newborn baby. You must ensure that the pants are made from stretchy and breathable materials so that it doesn’t stick too tightly to the baby.
Summer Essentials for Your Newborn Baby Clothes Checklist
If your baby would be born around the summer period, you will need to include some summer baby essentials on your checklist. We have listed the major summer essentials you should consider including on your checklist. They include:
- Hats
- Wearable Blankets
- Shorts
- Swimsuits
- Sundress
Winter Essentials for Your Newborn Baby Clothes Checklist
If your baby would be born around the winter period, then you need to focus on keeping the baby warm. So there are certain winter essentials you should add to your checklist.
Below, we have listed some essential winter clothing items that you should include on your checklist. Let us check them out together.
- Sweater
- Jacket
- Turtle Neck Tops
- Swimsuit
- Bootie
- Pajamas
- Leggings
- Snow Boots
How Many Clothes Do I Need For Baby First Year?
It is difficult to have an actual number of clothes that you will need for the baby’s first year. This is because there are different outfits that are essential for the baby to have.
In total, you should have an average of twenty clothes for your baby’s first year. As you know, your baby would require a change in an outfit more than once a day. So, you need to have more than one of every outfit needed by your baby.
What Size of Baby Clothes Should I Register For?
When registering for baby clothes or considering the clothes to buy, you should go with one size. You should register the clothes using a three months benchmark.
This way, it is easy to not only register the clothes but to acquire them. Most importantly, this enables you to monitor the growth process of your baby.
Things to Consider When Buying Baby Clothes
When buying baby clothes, there are certain things you should always consider. These are the most important points of note for you to look out for; Yes, before you consider colors and design.
Many parents are unaware of these pointers, and thus end up making unforgivable mistakes when buying clothes for their babies. To save the risk of making the same mistakes, we have discussed some things to consider. Check them out!
5 Things to Consider When Buying Baby Clothes
1. Laundry and Ease of Washing
You may have to change your baby’s clothes multiple times in a day. This means that you will always have laundry because your baby’s clothes must be clean and ready at all times.
So, when buying clothes for your baby, it is important to faction this into the decision process. It would be best if you considered how often you would have the time to wash and dry the clothes. This will determine the number of clothes you would need, so you do not run out of spare clothes.
2. The Sizes of the Baby’s Clothes
As an expecting mother, the size of your baby’s clothes is an important point to note. But, it is easier than it sounds because it is almost impossible to determine the size of your unborn baby.
So, when buying clothes for your baby, always keep in mind to buy clothes that are tagged 0-3 months. Under normal circumstances, a baby is around eight pounds in weight. So, if you have bought the clothes for 0-3 months, they will fit, even if your baby is around twelve pounds or more.
3. The Type of Material Used
When buying baby clothes, you need to pay attention to the type of clothing material used for the outfit. You should ensure that baby outfits are made from breathable and soft materials like cotton.
Making sure your baby’s clothes come from the right materials helps to prevent your baby from getting rashes and other irritations. Also, it stays longer as they will not fade out or wear off easily due to multiple washes.
4. The Price of the Outfit
We always advise expectant and nursing mothers to stick to a budget when shopping – including for baby’s outfits. It is very easy for parents and caregivers to overspend if there is no budget set out.
This is because there are so many beautiful children’s outfits out there. Trust us when we say you will be tempted to get them all. You should also ensure that you are investing in quality outfits that will last longer.
5. The Comfort and Functionality of the Outfit
When shopping for an outfit, one thing you should remember is that your baby’s comfort is important. Also, you should consider the functionality of the outfit you are about to purchase. For instance, you need to consider the ease of getting them off or changing a diaper while the baby is asleep.
Ensure that the outfit is not too tight and doesn’t restrict the baby’s movements. It is advisable to go for outfits made from breathable and stretch materials to ensure maximum comfort.
How Many Clothes Do I Need To Buy For Baby?
The total number of clothes you need to buy for your baby depends on how often you intend to do your laundry. On a normal, you need about twenty outfits in total if you intend to wash immediately after every use.
When considering the total number of clothes to buy for your baby, ensure to get four or five pairs of everyday clothes like onesies and two to three pairs of the others. Ceremonial and special occasion outfits should not be more than one or two for a start.
Baby Clothing Registry – Clothes to Buy
I knew nothing about the baby clothing registry until my second baby. But it was better late than never. A baby clothes registry is simply a list of clothing items you intend to buy for your newborn baby.
Creating a baby clothing registry is important because it is more than just a list. It gives you a clear picture of all you need to buy. If you are someone who publicizes their registry, your friends and family members also use the list as a guide to gift you what you need.
Below, we have listed some of the clothes to enlist on your baby clothing register. Check them out:
Basics Clothing to Include on Your Baby Register
- 7 Pairs of Bodysuits or Baby Rompers
- 3 to 5 Pair of Pants
- 2 Hats
- 5 Pairs of Socks
- 2 to 3 Pairs of Swaddles
- 4 Pairs of Sleepers or Gowns
Summer Essentials to Include on Your Baby Register
- 1 Hat
- 2 Wearable Blankets
- 2 Pairs of Shorts
- 2 Swimsuits
- 3 Pairs of Sundress
Winter Must-Haves to Include on Your Baby Register
- 2 Pairs of Sweaters or Sweatshirts
- 1 Pair of Baby Mittens
- 1 Coat
- 2 Pairs of Booties
- 2 Extra Pairs of Socks
Clothing for Special Occasions to Include on Your Baby Register
- 2 Pairs of Special Outfit
- 1 to 2 Pairs of Shoes
Frequently Asked Question
Question 1: What is Baby Essential Clothing?
Baby essential clothing refers to the basic clothing outfits that you need for the day-to-day upkeep of your baby. They are must-haves and come first on the list when a parent is shopping for a baby. They include; pants, socks, onesies, swaddles, bodysuits, burp cloths, etc.
Question 2: How Many Clothes Do I Need For My Newborn?
You need at least two pairs of all the basic baby clothing outfits. On average, it means that you will need about twenty pairs of outfits in total when preparing for a newborn baby.
Question 3: How Many Burp Cloths Do I Need For Baby?
In total, you will need between eight to fourteen burp cloths for your baby because your baby will burp many times in a day. After every burp, you should use a clean burp and ensure to wash used ones immediately so that you do not run out of spare burp cloths. Read more on Burp clothes for baby to find out all you need to know about baby Burp cloths.