Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To suggest you don't buy newborn sized clothes as a gift?

103 replies

NeedingAGoodNap · 12/05/2021 09:58

Unless you know the baby actually needs them? I was just clearing out my dds old clothes and found lovely newborn clothes that were never worn. We will donate them of course but it still feels like a waste. DD was born bigger then those clothes so there was no way to use them.

OP posts:
8dpwoah · 12/05/2021 12:37

I think the best bet is to aim for a people to include a gift receipt so you can get something the same/similar but in a better size. People want to give something physical and what's appropriate will be different for each baby, we used newborn for ages with DD. Going through her clothes ready for number two I've got packs of neutral 3-6 clothes that we didn't open as we didn't need them all (and knew we would like a second) but I don't think that would be a size you'd put people off buying, generally. It's just the way it worked out.

DelBocaVista · 12/05/2021 12:39

If you are buying bigger sizes be mindful of seasons!
I had a few people buy lovely winter clothes for DS - fleecy all in ones, thick jumpers etc but by the time he fit into them it was the height of summer!

countrygirl99 · 12/05/2021 12:41

I always buy really nice vests, they can be vests in cold weather and on their own in warm.

Fatladyslim · 12/05/2021 12:42

Everyone told me my son was going to be a big baby, they measured him and constantly told us he was going to be large. I had extra monitoring as high risk anyway so was in and out a lot.

I bought only size 0-3 month clothes as I went by what they said.

When he arrived, he was about 7lbs, not tiny but absolutely newborn clothe size! I had one item that fit him which was a gift. the rest looked like he was trying on my clothes! Hahaha

I was really grateful i had that one item, okay fine I could have purchased it myself (and did on an emergency trip) but it is special to me now, I am glad it was a gift from a close friend.

otterbaby · 12/05/2021 12:46

I tend to buy a cute cardigan in 3-6 month size as they can usually wear it before/after that time as well, depending on their size. And you need a cardigan all year round in England!

Also, some nice lush lotion and chocolates for mum ❤️

RampantIvy · 12/05/2021 12:49

@Queenoftheashes

I never do for that reason and also assume they’ll get loads of gifts in the smaller sizes
Same here. Although in DD's case she was very small, and all the clothes we had for her drowned her. I remember sending my auntie a photo of DD in hospital in a normal sized baby grow which was way too big for her, and she went out straight away and bought some small baby babygrows. It was the most useful present I received.

I am also mindful of the season when buying baby clothes.

lostlife · 12/05/2021 12:49

Neither of mine fitted in them
8'13 and long
11' 5 and just enormous

ThatIsMyPotato · 12/05/2021 12:55

I never buy baby clothes until baby is safely delivered so can always get a bigger size if baby is big

jellybeanteaparty · 12/05/2021 12:55

It does go both ways in terms of too big or too small. I remember weeping not in a good way " they think I birthed a monster" at the 6month plus gift from granny as baby was large.

MargaretThursday · 12/05/2021 12:57

Everyone got me 3-6 months when dd was born. Clearly done to avoid newborn because everyone buys that Grin I ended up swapping a couple of outfits for 6-12 months.
So I normally buy 6-12 months.

motherloaded · 12/05/2021 13:05

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

I thought everyone knew this!

My Dd was tiny so she was in newborn or early baby stuff for ages, but mostly you buy bigger stuff for the season it will be by that time.

but you have no way of knowing what size will be required then.
motherloaded · 12/05/2021 13:06

Unless you buy for a baby shower, I find it quite weird to buy anything for a baby that is not even born when they are not yours.

WrongWayApricot · 12/05/2021 13:11

Can we also not buy clothes 2-3 years size for 6-12 month baby? I do not have the storage space and when the age does come around I've forgotten that they're in the loft.

rivierliedje · 12/05/2021 13:35

This is why a baby list on the birth announcement card is such a useful thing. Parents get things they actually want/need, visitors get to give a gift. No excess buying that will never be used: www.micmacminuscule.be/en/

sergeilavrov · 12/05/2021 13:36

We didn’t buy any newborn items safe in the knowledge that everyone gifts those. Naturally, everyone gifted us 0-3 and 3-6 which resulted in a last minute newborn shop, and a vast baby wardrobe befitting a NYC socialite for 6 months. My favourite gift was our youngest who got a set of hand carved building blocks with Arabic, Hebrew and English letters on each one. Those types of gifts become heirlooms.

Premie clothes are so hard to find in the Middle East, a friend of ours popped to Hamley’s for doll clothes for his baby.

ValerieMalone · 12/05/2021 13:36

@Chickenlickeninthepot

I love it when people send vouchers. They are the best. Especially when it's a Costa voucher for me. Both times I've ended up with loads of cute outfits but no vests. Also agree with PP about things in the wrong size - had a winter baby so obviously got a 6-9 month snow suit as a gift.

I disliked the amount of random toys my eldest got sent when we had our second - I get the sentiment behind it but it just really irritated me that I had all these extra toys to sort out.

Oh OP I get it. Before my 3rd baby my co-workers organized a “shower” but in their usual passive-aggressive way they bought gifts for the baby, not me! And they had the cheek to choose specific items when they know I only wanted cash! What baby wants a sensory ball, wooden blocks, some noisy plastic things that clip onto the pushchair and a French giraffe that is clearly a dog toy! I spent the first six weeks of mat leave sorting and now I have to keep everything FOREVER. It’s not as if there’s anywhere to give away random brand-new toys. SOOO irritating!!! I always knew they hated me.
countrygirl99 · 12/05/2021 16:21

Mine were both 6lb. They went straight into 0-3 months as it doesn't make any difference at that age if clothes are a bit too big. They fitted them in a couple of weeks anyway.

countrygirl99 · 12/05/2021 16:24

Mine were both 6lb. They went straight into 0-3 months as it doesn't make any difference at that age if clothes are a bit too big. They fitted them in a couple of weeks anyway.

CassandrasCastle · 12/05/2021 16:25

Yes, your coworkers sound ABSOLUTELY AWFUL... Confused

CassandrasCastle · 12/05/2021 16:33

Yes, your coworkers sound ABSOLUTELY AWFUL... Confused

NameChangeChronicPain · 12/05/2021 16:34

@countrygirl99

Mine were both 6lb. They went straight into 0-3 months as it doesn't make any difference at that age if clothes are a bit too big. They fitted them in a couple of weeks anyway.
Mine was 6lb 3oz and had to wait a few weeks until he grew into newborn clothes! Tbf he went down to 5lb something due to starvation when I didn’t produce enough milk so maybe that’s why.
NameChangeChronicPain · 12/05/2021 16:36

@countrygirl99

Mine were both 6lb. They went straight into 0-3 months as it doesn't make any difference at that age if clothes are a bit too big. They fitted them in a couple of weeks anyway.
Mine was 6lb 3oz and had to wait a few weeks until he grew into newborn clothes! Tbf he went down to 5lb something due to starvation when I didn’t produce enough milk so maybe that’s why.
caringcarer · 12/05/2021 16:38

Not glamorous but I often gift 100 box of nappies. At least I know they will be used. If Mum has lots of first sized nappies then I get next size up.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 12/05/2021 17:04

Grin Valerie.

There was also a thread on here some years ago where the pregnant OP and the father had written up a rota of chores including specific meals (to be brought along) that all visitors were to be given so they could do the chores when they came round. They found it perfectly acceptable to make Granny clean their bathroom and bring them a gluten free lasagne as a condition of seeing the baby because 'it takes a village'.

SpacePug · 12/05/2021 17:16

Just because newborn wasn't suitable for your baby doesn't mean the same for everyone else. My 2 DS's also skipped newborn size too, I found clothes to be much appreciated though especially in bigger sizes as usually we're swamped in 0-3 and 3-6 as gifts but the 6-9+ were appreciated even more. A friend bought me loads of next 0-1 clothes but there was just no time for him to wear them as he lasted 5mins in that size and luckily I was able to return and swap for bigger sizes which was perfect