What size baby clothes should I buy?

[Babybaby2222]

Ds and his partner are having a baby. She's 37 weeks. They have been told its a possibility she, may have baby before 40 weeks. Baby is weighing 5lb 7oz at the moment. I'm thinking in a couple of weeks that weight will go up? Is there much point in me buying first size?

Bumping because I want to check out 😅

My babies well all around the 7lb mark and yet they still wore first size for a couple weeks as they weren't long, they were short and scrunched up! Even 0-3 months absolutely swamped them. It very much depends on the baby.

However why don't you check what she's already got? They grow out of clothing so quickly in the first few months and its a shame to give them clothes that will barely be worn. We were given some clothes in bigger sizes such as 6-9, 9-12 as well and it's actually really useful to have some stuff for later on.

You could buy a mix of newborn and 1-3 months?

Ds said they have loads of baby clothes. When I asked how many he said 8. And some vests. I don't think they realise that babys can need clean clothes a few times day.

Yeah, methinks they’ll need a bit more than that.

I'm thinking that. But what's the difference between 1st size and new born?

I would always buy at least 6 months as they grow out of the really tiny stuff so quickly. So a nice winter outfit in age 6 months, or a spring outfit in age 9 months.

😁 definitely

I’d go and have a look at some in the shop to give an idea of sizes. Keep tags on things and you can always swop them if you need too.

I don’t think it’s a huge difference, but they’ll have the dimensions on the website. Some stores even stock “up to 7lbs” so you could buy 1 or 2 of those in case of very small / premature baby. Could return or exchange too small x

In my family no one ever buys anything under 3-6m as they grow so quickly and often live mainly in sleepsuits for the first 2-3m. Just keep an eye on the seasons.

My big strapping 19 yr old son was unexpectely small at birth
He was only 5/lb 14 oz and i was a week overdue 0-3 months drowned him
Even new borm was a bit to big for a few weeks
He was in tiny baby for a short while.

Definitely small baby and they might need tiny baby!
you can always order next day delivery when the baby is here. I was told 10pms and then the baby came 3 weeks early and was only 5lb 8oz. He was in tiny baby and tiny nappies and took to 6 weeks to get in 0-3 so you’ll need smaller vests too for a bit!
babies grow at different speeds so I wouldn’t worry getting anything beyond first sizes that is season specific.

I don't know, but my 5lb-something baby started in 0-3. When they are born they are kind of scrunched up anyway, I really don't think it matters if the legs are a bit long and the sleeves roll.

I have always done 0-3 but skipped new born. Now they have come up with first size to confuse me. 🙄 yeah baby will be in baby grows 90% of the time from what they have said. They would be pissed of with me if i got 3-6 months. They already think baby is going to be small.

Quite a few places do up to 1 month they were great.

I've got a 14 week old and have made the following observations-
Next, Sainsburys and Mamas and Papas run big
Matalan, Nutmeg (Morrisons) and marks and Spencer on the smaller side.

Actually we didn't wear as much as we thought (heatwave) and we tried to keep on touch of the washing, so ended up with rewears!

Also, a baby in a pure white babygro is the best thing in the world.

Do you happen to know how George asda baby clothes run?

I would keep in mind growth scans are notoriously inaccurate and could well be off by many lbs. Mine certainly were!

Most brands give a weight range eg up to 5lbs, up to 7lbs, up to 10lbs even if they call them a confusingly different name as many use tiny baby/newborn/first size interchangeably. So I would look at the weight/height measurements and go from there.

Also different baby’s can fit very different clothes even if they’re the same weight. I know several people who had babies the exact same weight as mine but they fit very comfortably for weeks in sizes mine couldn’t squeeze into at birth!

In your shoes I would order some basic sleepsuits with feet and short sleeved vests in whatever sizes they don’t have. Leave the tags on so they can be returned /swapped if needed. And be prepared to go out and buy whatever size they actually need once the baby is born.

If you’re looking to gift some lovely things I would stick to nice sleepsuits in bigger sizes (eg 3-6,6-9 months etc). Choosing outfits can mean they don’t fit in the right season but most babies wear sleepsuits to bed no matter what. Can get more seasonal clothes once baby is here and you have an idea of sizes.

I found the ones that went up to 1 month very useful, h&m do them but I think I got some from other shops at well. I also bought some bundles of first size up to 3 month vests and sheepskins off ebay which were great and a really sensible way of having enough of those small sizes that they can grow out of quickly.

My first grandchild was predicted to be at least 8 and a half pounds but arrived at 39 weeks an unexpectedly tiny 5 pounds 9oz.I went on a mission to find some baby grows that didn't swamp her. Newborn still looked big but were outgrown amazingly quickly

My 9lb9oz DD was in up to 1 month (supposedly up to 10lb) for a bit before we used the 0-3m stuff. It can also depend on how long the baby is rather than just the weight as some brands come up shorter than others

I'm getting the jist that you are looking to offer practical help right at the start? Rather than wanting to be the one who buys the super cute outfit that lasts a long time on an older baby?

Assuming I've got that right, and assuming you live near your son and close ish to an actual shop, I think the best thing to do is hold off until birth. Tell your son you will wait to hear how much the baby weighs, and then make a trip to the shop either same day or next day (their 8 outfits will see them through the first 24 hours even if the pooiest baby ever)!
If you won't be able to go to a shop and then to their house/hospital within the first two days, I suggest cheap multi packs of clothes aimed at 7lb+ babies. If the clothes are slightly too big it doesn't matter too much short term. Then once the size is known they/you can buy exactly what's needed.

Buy ones in practical colours when the baby arrives.

I followed the buy bigger advice and had to go to the supermarket to buy smaller clothes, in fact the hospital gave me a vest and sleep suit because my “newborn” size drowned her (also needed smaller nappies for 2 weeks) but I didn’t know in advance because a late scan said she was 7.5lbs, she wasn’t! The best advice for you assuming you are fairly local is to go to the shop once baby is born and you know the size, if under 6.5 lbs they will need more newborn or tiny baby sized clothes whereas otherwise you can skip to the next size.

upside to my situation was I ended with a bagful of complimentary clothes and nappies from Asda because I went with 20 hour old dd to buy clothes and the manager was so taken with their youngest ever customer they gave me lots of stuff, and staff seemed so friendly and pleased to see us (was mid evening so quiet) I sent a letter of thanks (before home email) and got a lovely letter back too

I'd say spot on. We moved her into them just after 1 month (0-3) She hit 3 months and we realised that the feet were just a touch too small! Bonus, they've got some gorgeous Peter Rabbit stuff.