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AIBU?

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Original poster

...To be panicking about baby clothes?

89 replies

toomanyclothes262 · 21/04/2023 22:29

Very tight budget so running out to buy things last minute/ordering from Amazon is not the best option. Obviously can do so in an emergency but would rather not.

I was initially very laidback about buying baby clothes but as I get closer and closer to due date I'm starting to panic about how expensive everything seems to be and what I'll actually need. I've now got it into my head she's going to throw up everywhere and need changing every 2 hours.

I have acquired a bag of clothing from fb which contains 22 newborn/up to 1 month sleepsuits. Will that be enough sleepsuits? I know I'll need vests/bodysuits as well, how many? Trying to shop the sales/2ndhand as much as possible to keep costings down. Using a range of sales/offers etc. I've got 31 up to 1 month short sleeve bodysuits for £18 and 30 0-3 for £19 (got all the receipts so can return) - is this a good deal?

I know some people have less but wash more, but I won't do a cycle with less than a full load (we can say it's environmental rather than the cost of electricity!)

I have spreadsheets with the stuff I've acquired across the age ranges, and I know predicting the size/rate of growth of baby is kind of like how long is a piece of string, but I'd rather worry about this stuff now rather than trawling FB marketplace/sales/charity shops when she's born.

I also have the problem where I am constantly hormonal at the cuteness of the full price outfits whenever I'm in a shop - and having to tell myself that £16 dresses are definitely not necessary!

If anyone has any advice/numbers then that would be much appreciated.

I feel fine buying clothes for myself because I know I'll get a lot of wear out of them, but kids grow so fast!!

OP posts:
sandyhappypeople · 21/04/2023 23:19

We knew our girl was going to be small so we bought quite a few up to 1m sizes, but they were huge on her so she ended up needing the even smaller size of 'tiny baby' first, she was absolutely tiny, but they soon move up the stages.

Basically as she got bigger we kept around 10-12 sleepsuits in each size, and that's all she wore! Wash & repeat! We didn't properly 'dress' her in clothes until she was 6 months old, just clean sleepsuits, made life SO much easier, she was a lockdown baby though so we didn't get out and about much.

All the supermarkets that sell clothes, sell sleepsuits in multipacks, morrisons nutmeg range are particularly nice, and wash really well, they work out about £2 each.

Our DD is 2 now and I buy most of her clothes out of charity shops, you can find such nice things for next to nothing!

I've got loads of sleepsuits left all bagged up in the spare room, so if you need any I'd be happy to send you some, most of ours are pink or pink patterned though! I've got: tiny baby, newborn, up to 1m, 0-3m, 3-6m, 6-9m, 9-12m, 12-18m, (the 18-24m still fit her as her pajamas).

ApplesandOrangesandPears · 21/04/2023 23:19

You have enough for now, you don't know how big the baby will be. My youngest was in first size bits when she was 6m because she was tiny! Ebay is fantastic for bundles of baby and childrens clothes, facebook marketplace can be a good shout too, charity shops are often great for the pretty dresses, pep&co (poundshop) and primark have lovely bits in the bigger sizes, supermarket sales are great places to look too. You don't need a huge amount honestly!

Daisymae55 · 21/04/2023 23:20

You have a lot of stuff for up to one month - my dd was 7lb when born and grew out of 1 month stuff after 2 weeks.

definitely be prepared and have some stuff in ready for the next size. Especially in the first 6 months it’s like you blink and their clothes go from hanging off them to being far too small

Dont bother with too many fancy outfits. We were bought so many gorgeous dresses from family members and she maybe wore each one once if that. At that age sleepsuits, vests, tops and leggings were what she lived in as they were nice and easy.

Facebook bundles are great! Vinted is also worth a look.

definitely wash sicky clothes asap - it absolutely stinks, can stain badly and as pp mentioned gets moody v quick! You’re also likely to get the fair bit of poosplosions that’ll leak and will want dealing with quickly!

Mamaneedsadrink · 21/04/2023 23:21

Just get second hand if money is tight, baby clothes are such a waste of money and they grow so quickly. For me it was almost the more clothes the better as it meant less frequency of washing because you don't run out of clothes. Also you don't need to actually change them unless they are dirty so a onesie could last several days or some days you might need several. On average I'd say 2 a day, so about 14. Also don't get hung up on them looking good, I always preferred a onesie as it was easier and less mucking around with a top and bottom, and I think more comfy for the baby too.

Mamaneedsadrink · 21/04/2023 23:22

olderthanyouthink · 21/04/2023 23:04

My pukey AF one had I think 12 short sleeve vests/bodysuits, 3 plain sleepsuits, and a few cardigan plus outfits but mostly lived in the plain white bodysuits a sleepsuits.

We had 27 muslins and we got through them in about 3 days! She threw up all the damn time.

Had puppy pads for the bed because puke.

I took a spare top with me everywhere because puke

22 sleepsuits is LOADS

Also this. It depends on the baby! My didn't puke and never had a poonami. If they did my advice would be completely different!

sandyhappypeople · 21/04/2023 23:23

ApplesandOrangesandPears · 21/04/2023 23:19

You have enough for now, you don't know how big the baby will be. My youngest was in first size bits when she was 6m because she was tiny! Ebay is fantastic for bundles of baby and childrens clothes, facebook marketplace can be a good shout too, charity shops are often great for the pretty dresses, pep&co (poundshop) and primark have lovely bits in the bigger sizes, supermarket sales are great places to look too. You don't need a huge amount honestly!

good shout on pep & co, we got gifted some vests from a neighbour and they were pep & co, they were the nicest ones we had, they were so soft and washed beautifully, I didn't even realise the poundshop sold clothes but some of the stores have a big range of baby stuff!

WaltzingWaters · 21/04/2023 23:28

Woah, chill. That’s far too much already! Like probably way more than double what you’ll need. And they outgrow it all so quickly. And yeah, some days you’ll get through 5 outfits. Sometimes you’ll change baby within 2 mins of putting on a new outfit! But some days will be mess-free.

FB bundles are the way to go.

fyn · 21/04/2023 23:48

Have a look in your area if there is a baby/kids clothing exchange. There has been one everywhere I’ve lived and they have huge amounts of baby clothes for free, always immaculate. You just swap them when you outgrow them.

user1477391263 · 21/04/2023 23:50

OP, are you on a Facebook (etc) free cycling group for kids’ stuff? We get people giving away bundles of good condition baby and kid clothes all the time! I just sent off a big box to someone.

Comedycook · 21/04/2023 23:51

A spreadsheet for babygros....bless you. In ten years time, you will look back and laugh!

SwordToFlamethrower · 22/04/2023 00:19

Why will your baby be throwing up all the time??? Ive got a 5 month old and she never needed changing every two hours... sometimes she wears the same very and grow for 2 days because they are still clean. Baby currently has 6 baby grows. That is way too many clothes there! Don't panic!

Sugarfree23 · 22/04/2023 00:27

Op chill you've lost the plot you'll look back an laugh, esp at the spreadsheet

31 up to 1 month baby grows - what are you thinking wear once and ditch?

Seriously half that many is more than plenty remember you can use stuff thats the next size up if your struggling to get stuff dried.
Remember you can put your own clothes, towels, sheets, in with babies stuff it doesn't need to be just a load of baby stuff.

StripyHorse · 22/04/2023 00:32

BeastOfBODMAS · 21/04/2023 23:00

Also for every person whose baby skipped straight into 0-3 months, there’s someone like me who had to send their mum to 24hr Asda for tiny baby sizes and couldn’t use the newborn size stuff for weeks. It’s impossible to predict

Ha ha yes!
DC1 was nearly a fortnight late skipped the newborn clothes.

DC2 was induced a week before my due date but was also small - DH sent to buy smaller clothes.

Totalwasteofpaper · 22/04/2023 06:26

Mamaneedsadrink · 21/04/2023 23:21

Just get second hand if money is tight, baby clothes are such a waste of money and they grow so quickly. For me it was almost the more clothes the better as it meant less frequency of washing because you don't run out of clothes. Also you don't need to actually change them unless they are dirty so a onesie could last several days or some days you might need several. On average I'd say 2 a day, so about 14. Also don't get hung up on them looking good, I always preferred a onesie as it was easier and less mucking around with a top and bottom, and I think more comfy for the baby too.

This.

My baby lived in onesies until about 7-8 months.
We would do a "courtesy change" every 24 hours but often she didnt need it.

Up to 12m All of her clothes were vinted or local whats app groups. I got a few bits in the sales.

I got her a 1-2 year bundle before xmas on vinted for £50. It was a full year all seasons (nutmeg, george, next JL M&s boden and joules) some was brand new.
There was so much it will clothe my dd AND my friends dd. Even there were still leftovers so i gave the rest away via fb mp.

Once they hit 12m it slows down but even with 80% second hand i have newtagged stuff she outgrew and never wore.

Totalwasteofpaper · 22/04/2023 06:30

If budget is tight i recommend looking into council run baby classes (these are free) and church play groups.

Also get prams and other baby bits (bath, basinette, cot etc) 2nd hand. Its all 80% the price of new things or free people just want it out of their house!

PurBal · 22/04/2023 06:34

If I added up all the newborn, up to 1 month, 0-3 months and 3-6 months sleep suits I don’t think DS had 22. I was a frequent washer admittedly but we didn’t do outfits. You have plenty.

Whydotheyallhaverubbishwheels · 22/04/2023 06:40

Having just had an 11lb7oz baby who skipped straight to 0-3m clothing I'd say you've got plenty of the small sizes, aim for 0-3🤣

Theelephantinthecastle · 22/04/2023 06:44

I would find your local Facebook groups and say that you would like baby clothes if anyone is getting rid. I guarantee you at least one person will offer you a bundle.

I needed a cot quickly after my kids broke ours, posted and had 10 offers within hours.

The thing about washing that I found is that it's not just the baby's clothes - your clothing ends up needing to be washed more frequently. I used to go 2-3 days without washing my own stuff but with a baby, your clothes get dribble and spit up and (sorry) poo on them. So you will have a full load faster than you think

shakeitoffsis · 22/04/2023 06:51

You have way too much. Chill.

FlounderingFruitcake · 22/04/2023 06:51

That’s an excessive amount of stuff, I understand being prepared but you have gone way too far!

Many babies are in newborn for only a couple of weeks and some not at all. My fairly average sized and non sicky DD wore first size for about 2 weeks and averaged about 2 vests/sleepsuits a day so she wouldn’t even have chance to wear everything you have once. Her brother was bigger but not massively so and came from the hospital in 0-3 months so it all would have been wasted. Unless you’re delivering early or are expecting a very small baby then I’d always say that you want more 0-3 than newborn because they can always wear something a bit too big but they can’t wear something too small.

I also don’t follow your point about not wanting to run the washing machine for half loads- in the case of a nappy explosion it needs to go straight into the machine because you’re not going to want poo sat in your laundry basket for days. Even milk spit up starts to smell like gone off sour milk and it’s grim to leave it hanging around for too long.

CastleTower · 22/04/2023 07:01

Sounds like a lot to me, and I have sicky babies! You'll be great.

Babies who are sick a lot get sick on your clothes too, plus muslins, blankets, sheets - so we end up with a full load every single day, tbh! So even if baby needs 5 costume changes, it's all clean again the next day.

I am a chronic over-buyer, so I do understand where you're coming from.

Vinted is good for bundles. The Octopus Club is also a really good second hand site, and has toys etc as well as clothes.

Sleepsuits and vests are best for the first six months, but I do have a soft spot for dungarees (over a vest) as well. But nothing you have to put over their head like a t-shirt, too much trouble.

Good luck!

moonspiral · 22/04/2023 07:05

You have enough. Try ebay for bundles for larger sizes

Beseen22 · 22/04/2023 07:06

Unfortunately babies are through one thing you cannot plan their growth. My DH and I are fairly tall and solid so I expected a big chunky baby but both mine are petite and skinny for their age. I hear other parents complain about their kids growing like weeds and costing a fortune but my two are now 6+3 and can still get away with shorts from the past 2 summers. Neither puked or had many poonami events so the majority of clothes lasted a day until weaning. Youngest DS was born when DH had been made redundant so he was straight into his brothers clothes and at 3 I think I've bought him about 6 items of clothing his whole life.

Parents love to get rid of kids clothing too, especially if it's someone they think will use it as it's so sentimental. A lot of it might not be to your taste but if you are on a budget it's very helpful. Someone gave me about 8 designer shirts for toddlers that they had bought for their grandchild but the gift was rejected when my eldest was a baby and most had labels on and they have been through both boys and my nephew.

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 22/04/2023 07:07

Congratulations on baby to be!
You are well stocked and you can always wash out a couple of things by hand and hang them up if you do get through them all before laundry day. Newborns need soft onsies and one piece jammies or nightie that don't press on their navel. Used clorhes are great at that age as they are used for such a short time and usually still fresh looking.

Sissynova · 22/04/2023 07:09

That is way more than enough. There’s barely any difference between new born and 1 month so unless you’re going to have like a 5lb baby.