Clothes in hospital bag

[MSMB]

I've been advised to have 6 outfits for the baby in my hospital bag. I have 6 newborn size (10lbs) but I've now seen I can get small newborn (7lbs) and even tiny newborn! What sizes / amounts of each size should I buy/take?

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Have you had any scans on how big your baby might me? I wouldn't worry too much though. I was told to expect a 10lb baby so packed big sizes and was in hospital at 35 weeks, so family went to the supermarket and bought tiny for my 6lb-er! Newborn or first size should be ok for most term babies

[MSMB]

Thanks for the help @AbbeyRoadCrossing I'm 31 weeks so will I be told in a few weeks what size my baby should be? I'm trying to be organised and have my hospital bag ready just in case.

[Sleepyfergus]

I wasn't told how big either of mine were going to be, perhaps they only say if t looks like it might be a whopper!

But newborn size will be fine otherwise. If baby is small, you can fold the sleeves up on baby gros, same with cardis. Everything usually looks baggy on babies at first, plus they scrunch their bodies up are never fully stretched iykwim!

And with supermarkets selling good quality baby things, someone can always pop out and buy stuff if you suddenly have a much bigger/smaller baby.

Congratulations, such a lovely time planning your hospital bag, the countdown is on!

[MrsAukerman]

On your 20 week scan there might be measurements for the femur, abdomen circumference and head circumference.
If you Google there's a tool available where you can put these in and it'll tell you what centile each falls on. Was pretty accurate for ds who's bow now 20 weeks and still fits those centiles pretty well.

[MrsAukerman]

www.baby2see.com/medical/charts.html

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Oh yes sorry I don't think everyone has a growth scan, just if they suspect a problem e.g. measuring big or small. Otherwise you're probably having an average one, although not sure what average is? 8lb maybe ?

Yy to what sleepy says they scrunch up like a little frog with their legs up so everything looks baggy!

[RL20]

Hi MSMB,
Congratulations!
I've been thinking the same, had bought lots of 0-3 months, and then discovered that there's about 3 or 4 other sizes below that! Newborn, tiny baby, first size and premature.
I had to go for a growth scan because bump was measuring small, I went for the growth scan and was told that all seems ok, 'he's just not a big baby, more average size, will probably be around 7lbs'. But who knows? They aren't always accurate apparently. I went out to Mothercare and bought a sleepsuit and hat set in Newborn size which fits up to 9lbs I think. A set that a friend had bought is also newborn size so I have 2 sets now.
I only bought the one as I'm thinking, even if he is born weighing around 7lbs, chances are he'll grow pretty quick and soon be in the 0-3 months clothes, and if for some reason he doesn't grow very quick, I can always nip to asda for smaller sizes to get through.
Hope this helps!

[museumum]

I only took about three baby grows in newborn. My parents bought some tiny baby ones when they came to visit.
Same with most hospital bag stuff my dh visited twice a day and took dirty laundry away and brought clean stuff. If you have a partner just set everything out in the house where he can find it.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

I bought lots of 0-3 with mine, thinking when he's born he'll be 0 so that'll fit. He wasn't in that until a few months old as 0-3 is for 14lbs I think.
You could get a few supermarket sets in a different sizes as they are cheap, or wait until they're born. If you've got too much of a size and it's unworn you can take it back or exchange without a receipt. I do this a lot with DS as even though he's bigger than average now family members often buy tiny stuff as they remember him being small, so I swap it for the same thing in a different size if I can

[Carrierpenguin]

Aside from the scans/midwife appts that may indicate a size, I've been told baby size tends to follow the maternal path, ie if you and siblings were big babies or small babies. It worked for me!

[PotteringAlong]

Go big - it's a good start in life for when you're buying jumpers a year too big so they can grow into them

I've had 0-3 month stuff for both of mine (8lb 11oz and 7lb 10oz at birth) and with a cardi on they were fine.

[Purpleboa]

I'm the same! 31 weeks and anxiously packing my hospital bag (as my bemused DH looks on - 'isn't that something you do nearer the time'?) Bought quite a few new born items. All scans show baby is growing at expected size so am taking that chance. Figure if she is early, then DH or visiting parents can rush out to Mothercare for teeny clothes. My small suitcase is bulging at the seams though. I just don't know if I have enough! But I like the suggestion about getting DH to bring in clean clothes. I guess it will all work out for us all!

[Mariacbw]

Last time round, I had a selection of mostly first size (as growth scans showed baby was small) and a couple of newborn. 9lb 10oz later first size didnt go anywhere near here, definetly better to size up than down as so many beautiful outfits weren't used.
Although people say take them back, most will wash the outfits beforehand so then this isn't an option.

[glidingpig]

Fact is it just doesn't matter too much if things are a bit long in the sleeve and leg - sleeves can be turned up, and it's not like they're going to trip over! They grow so quickly that I never thought it worth stocking up on clothes in the teeny sizes. Even if they look a bit swamped for the first few weeks, they soon grow into 0-3s. Your newborn stuff will be fine, I'm sure.