First timer - so what do babies wear?!

[babsie007]

Hi all - I'm
Currently 35 weeks and doing the final preparations for the arrival of my little girl.

I have been looking in the shops at all the lovely baby girl outfits - they are so cute! But is it realistic that you would be dressing a newborn in clothes?? Or would they be expected to wear onesies every day?

I read online that a newborn will probably need changed around 3 times a day so I don't want to be silly and buy lots of cute little outfits when I should really be concentrating on sleep suits.

What have you got for yours? If this isn't your first child, perhaps you can share your previous experience?

[Lamu]

I would skip the fancy outfits for the first 3 months at least. All in one sleep suits with a cardies and scratch mitts for the first few months is all you'll need. I went a little ott with Dd and also was given so many lovely gifts that were just so impractical.

[DontLetTheMugglesGetYouDown]

DS wore mainly little romper suits for the first few months, not sure about changing him 3 times a day though unless there was exploding poo!

[KatoPotatoHoHo]

I remember I was going to my classes at the hospital before I had DS, and they just kept banging on about pain relief and labour.

I finally blurted out - 'That's great, really... BUT WHAT DO THEY WEAR?!'

In the end, lots of vest/body suits, long sleeve, short sleeve and sleeveless underneath sleepsuits (onesies if you will) with cardi over if required.

Lots of layers basically, and they sleep lots, so good to be comfy.

Also, those vests with the envelop neck? Thats so they can slide down the boy when covered in poo! - Not over the head.

Congrats btw xx

[KatoPotatoHoHo]

boy? body!

[babsie007]

Phew!! Thanks all :-) I think my husband has been worried that I was going to order the whole of the next directory there and as money is right, I really don't want to end up with lots of bits that she won't be able to get use of.

I have no idea even how to change a happy yet and I don't want to create more work for myself!!

[Sidge]

My girls wore baby grows - pretty ones for daytime and plain ones for nighttime. With an all in one vest underneath and cardigan if cooler.

I didn't really dress them until 'proper' clothes until over three months or so, then it was leggings and tunics or little dresses. I don't think babies are very comfy in jeans, lots of layers etc.

[peggyundercrackers]

vests and cosy sleepsuits most of the time, we had quite a few cardigans/fleeces as well for on top, our dd also had 3 or 4 different snow suits for going out in as its cold outside. nearly forgot we also used a hat a lot of the time as well in the cold weather.

[NoAddedSuga]

I did outfits for daytime and pjs for nighttime.

The problem with baby grows is that they end up too short on the feet and the baby then curls their toes. Mothercare do pjs from newborn size.

Tights are uncomfortable on a baby, so if you are going for daytime outfits, leggings are good.

I never changed dd during the day, she was very rarely sick etc. only had the occasional poo explosion.

[JRmumma]

Sleepsuits or anything elasticated and comfy. If anyone buys you a 0-3 pretty dress, exchange it for 3-6 or bigger. Don't make things hard for yourself by dressing baby in complicated uncomfortable stuff.

[Bunbaker]

DD just wore babygros until she was about 9 months old. They are far more practical than fancy outfits and, IMO tiny babies look ridiculous in proper clothes.

[enormouse]

Lots of babygros's with vests underneath and a hoodie on top if it was cold. When he got a bit older I bought romper (footless babygros) dungaree outfits with t shirts/vests underneath.
I was given proper outfits as gifts too. I guess people love buying weeny clothes. I didn't have to buy any of those till he was in 9-12 month clothes and even then I still had him mostly in babygros/rompers.

[babsie007]

General consensus seems to be baby grows!!!

I will hold back on the pretty outfits I think and stick to all in ones. My gran has knit a load of little cardigans and I have also bought a little fleece. I only have 1 hat though so probably should stick up on those too.

Good shout re the toes curling in the onsies noaddedsuga - I had a look at some little pyjamas actually but was worried about her feet getting cold!

[babsie007]

Another quick question.... Are bodysuits and beats the same thing? If so, why would I need a long sleeved body suit in pretty colours if it only goes underneath her outfit? Is it just personal choice or do some people use the body suit as part of an outfit?

[babsie007]

Whoopsie - bodysuits and vests I meant!

[GoldFrankincenseAndTwiglets]

You'll probaly get bought nice little outfits as presents so yes, just stick to babygrows. And if it doesn't have poppers up the legs then ignore it. Ha, I remember my two living in all-in-ones for ages - I was devastated when they passed the 36 month mark and you couldn't get them in their size anymore :o

[GoldFrankincenseAndTwiglets]

We just used to cut the toes open when they outgrew the feet and used socks instead. nb. we cut the toes of the sleepsuit, not the baby :o

[TheWanderingUterus]

Babsie, if it was warm I used a bodysuit as a t-shirt with a pair of soft trousers or leggings. T shirts can ride up uncomfortably under babies' backs.

Or under a sleeveless dress. Or on its own in the summer months so they could wave around their chubby little bare baby legs.

But if it was going under a baby grow I wasn't so bothered about how it looked and just bought the cheapest.

[HomeIsWhereTheGinIs]

KatoPotatoHoHo You make me laugh! Really glad to hear that someone else is bleating the same question. Is it me or is there a serious gap in all literature? Loads of pregnancy stuff, loads of baby books from about six week onwards, loads of stuff on what to put in your hospital bag but WHAT ABOUT THE FIRST SIX WEEKS?! Argh!

[chickabilla]

Definitely more hats, I still have one stuffed in every bag/car/cupboard. We used bodysuits and sleepsuits for the first few months, sometimes dresses when it was hot in the summer. Long sleeved vests are brilliant as t shirts or under dresses/t shirts so baby can wear more summery clothes for longer so prettier ones can be nice but plain go with more. DD is 9 months now and has moved onto tops/tunics/soft dresses with leggings or tights but she still looks so cute in a babygro.

[fairimum]

poppered body suit, cotton babygrow and fleece babygrow over the top if cold or in car seat, with blankets on top, so if go in shop etc jsut need to take blanket layers off - huge padded snowsuits were never used and also aren't safe in carseats x

[peggyundercrackers]

we stopped using babygrows for daytime wear and used real clothes from about 3 months. our dd seems to have short legs compared to all the baby grows/PJs and have never had a problem with her toes getting to the end of them before they were obviously too short for her.

now its getting cold again we use long sleeved vests all the time under all her clothes, just gives an extra little bit of protection. even in summer we always put a top on over her vest as some tops are really thin anyway and the tops give them a bit of protection from the sun. again now its getting cold we have been putting on tights under all her clothes too - she must be used to it because she puts her legs in the air, without any prompting, when its time to put them on when shes getting dressed

[JohnnyUtah]

First baby - all in ones unless visitors coming or special occasion.

Second baby - all in ones including when visitors come and special occasions.

[NoComet]

Traditionally vest, baby grow, cardigan, scratch mits, snowsuit outside if cold.

Reality
Baby grow, and any towelling or jersey jacket that washes easily.

DD1 was too hot in vests, she grumped and way too hot in a snow suit she screamed and I mean properly everyone in the entire shop look round to see if you were killing her, kind of scream.

Scratch mits get eaten!

[TossedSaladsAndScrambledEggs]

Baby gros and vests! That is all you will need for at least 3 months, and plenty of them. Also get lots of muslin cloths and dribble bibs.

Little outfits, whilst gorgeous, will probably be outgrown before they are worn.

When slightly older, leggings and t shirts.

[TwoTurkeysMarinatingInABucket]

Currently dressing dc3 in vests and baby gros for night and vest, T shirt and soft trousers in the day. Part of a very low key attempt at a routine.
Tescos baby gros come up small (or shrink in the wash), newborn are too small for DS but he fits nutmeg (morrisons) baby gros nicely!
I don't use hats, just thin snow suit with hood.