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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:
Sceptre86 · 22/04/2023 07:13

With my first I had to send dh out to get tiny baby stuff as she was so small. Ds and dd2 both had newborn outfits outfits and couldn't stretch. I had to quickly put them in 0-3. A few clothes in the smaller sizes are fine. You can buy from supermarkets or Facebook bundles as you go.

Notfeelinglikemyselftoday · 22/04/2023 07:16

Vinted is really good for bundles, also you can sell what you have. Washing machines exist. I really wouldn't panic.

Honestly once baby is here you'll just want something clean-ish (standards dip !) and easy to get them in. Fussy little outfits become a PITA.

Pookie2022 · 22/04/2023 07:19

Congratulations on your baby! I think you may have too many vests. As some other posters say, some babies aren’t in newborn for long. My daughter was in newborn for over a month but to save money I had her in 0-3 vests under her grows before then. It doesn’t matter if they’re a little baggy. If I were you, I would return some of the vests and maybe get a 3-6 month bundle as they grow so fast! Good luck

Wtafis · 22/04/2023 07:23

Do you have a local “before the tip” Facebook group or similar? People often giveaway baby clothes in those because they grow so quickly.
Do you have friends who are likely to buy new baby gifts?

tobi21 · 22/04/2023 07:27

It sounds like you have plenty already and are well prepared. Do not agree with some PPs taking the the piss, they seem to have forgotten just how overwhelming becoming a first time mum is.

My advice would be
Don't bother washing baby's things separately it is a huge waste of time and effort.
Join local mum + baby groups on Facebook, there are always people selling clothes
Vinted is great for buying bundles
Look out for baby events in supermarkets and if you have time search sale rails in clothing shops.

Congratulations and good luck Flowers

Caspianberg · 22/04/2023 07:28

Yeah that’s loads.
Mine was squeezed into newborn size vest and babygrow to go home from hospital, and never wore again as he was too long. So 1 outfit.

0-3 he wore about 6 weeks, and 8 of each with a few cardigans seemed plenty. He wasn’t a sick baby so max 2 outfits a day.

You still need to wash clothes every few days as if there is poop/ dribble/ milk on a Monday outfit, you can’t keep it for weeks unwashed as it will stink, stain and go mouldy. And you still have your normal
household Washing, baby clothes just go in same load.

Even now at 3 years I found in general 8 seems to be a good number for basics like vests, leggings, sleepsuits, and 3-4 fine for cardigans. Even if your getting secondhand, it’s not saving money if you getting way too many and it will clutter up house, making more work to clean and keep tidy

Littlegoth · 22/04/2023 07:44

I had about 12 of each. Some he only got round to wearing once (and he was a 37 weeker). They are getting a second run on July when child 2 arrives, also at 37 weeks. I went through them and binned a couple that are stained but I definitely don’t need any more! It’s not as eruptive as you think it will be x

Littlegoth · 22/04/2023 07:44

Each = vests and onesies

DriedFlowersLiveForever · 22/04/2023 07:49

If money is tight I would sell about half of what you have in the smaller sizes and get the next size up from a bundle on Vinted or fb etc.
Yes babies are sick, it isn't like adult vomit though, just a kind of milky dribble! It can usually be wiped off clothing rather than changing them (get the muslin cloths to catch most of it!)
Wash the babies clothes regularly in your laundry so you have a steady stream of clean clothing rather than waiting to do a load of baby items (that way madness lies) and don't feel like you have to change them from a daytime outfit into 'pjs' at night, if they are still clean and in a sleepsuit they are fine!

Ariela · 22/04/2023 07:49

I bought 2 packs of baby grows from Mothercare and never used them - kept taking them back to swap for a bigger size and eventually gave them away. You'll find everyone you ever knew and all their friends that already had a baby has masses of stuff to offload

Orcubed · 22/04/2023 07:52

I think I had about 12 each of vests and babygrows. It was a good amount to cope with sick and poo up the back but I never washed the baby’s stuff separately. If you’re planning on doing that you’ll need more. It’s so hard to know with sizes, mine were all similar weights but I had one that was in tiny baby for ages, two who wore newborn stuff for quite a while and one who went into 0-3 almost straight away.

olderthanyouthink · 22/04/2023 07:55

@Mamaneedsadrink completely! My second was much bigger and didn't throw up must so most of the old tiny clothes weren't used much.

LaForza101 · 22/04/2023 07:58

We have just switched my baby's wardrobe over from newborn to next size and realised we only used 5 sleepsuits in rotation. Having a larger number of vests was useful because we would also need to soak them to remove stains before washing and this meant we had fewer in rotation.

You might also want to have some spares in a bag at all times.

You might find you have more full washes anyway as baby writes off your own outfits throughout the day with sick up. There are also muslins, baby towels and mattress covers that constantly need to be cleaned.

I doubt you will be doing many half washes 🙂

Reallyareyousure · 22/04/2023 08:01

Spreadsheets? Wow. You really need to try to relax. Get on Buy Nothing sites on Facebook, get on Freecycle etc and ask for what you need. Honestly, you'll be fine.

FrenchTrellis · 22/04/2023 08:02

Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 21/04/2023 23:01

You have more than enough!

Maybe I’m grim, but their stomachs are so small at first it’s often possible to mop up a spit up rather than change their clothes.

I have a reflux baby and as long as her clothes aren't soaked, spit up gets mopped up with a muslin. I'd be forever changing her otherwise.

OP you've got plenty and are overthinking this a bit.

JMKid · 22/04/2023 08:05

A spreadsheet for baby clothes, talk about OTT!!!

user1492757084 · 22/04/2023 08:07

Buy mostly size 00. and some 000.
Babies who are not prem grow out of 000 by five weeks.
Six of everything is usually fine. Keep to natural fibres.
Second hand is sensible.

People will most likely gift you some pretty outfits.
Invest in a pack of old fashioned, flat, cloth nappies and prewash to use as over sheets, under bunny rugs, over the shoulder mop up sick cloths etc.

Nappies are the things you use most of. Will you use disposable or a nappy service or modern washable?

Maray1967 · 22/04/2023 08:10

I had nowhere near that amount of stuff! Mine was only in first month for 3 weeks. I had about 12 vests and sleepsuits and 6 daytime outfits in that size. Similar number of vests and sleepsuits in 0-3 months but about 12 outfits, almost all of which were gifts.

Whichnumbers · 22/04/2023 08:13

I was given 0-1 month and none of them fitted…

be careful how much of each size you get

you don’t have to change baby if they’ve not been sick or 💩 on stuff, so you may go at times for 36hrs with out a change - don’t make work for yourself

put towels in with baby clothing to make up a wash

SpongeBob2022 · 22/04/2023 08:15

I think you have plenty.

For next size up, don't be too proud to enquire with people about second hand/freebies...friends or Facebook. When DS was a baby I would have jumped at the chance to donate mine to a good home.

It didn't occur to me to wash baby clothes separately from adult ones.

I didn't bother with proper outfits for many weeks.

Whichnumbers · 22/04/2023 08:15

pink stuff is great fir poo in vests and sleep suits

Alittlenonsensenowandthen · 22/04/2023 08:20

The Baby Book: How to Enjoy Year One https://amzn.eu/d/4nB9NP7

I had this book when I had my babies. If you can borrow it from the library it has a list of essentials to buy and what not to bother with.(it may not be your style of parenting but this bit was good).

We were on verge of bankruptcy with 3 babies so I totally get where you're coming from with the excel spreadsheets and not washing. Been there!

I sometimes feel sad they didn't have anything except a babygro for the first year but they don't need cute clothes!

https://amzn.eu/d/4nB9NP7?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-4790142-to-be-panicking-about-baby-clothes

gogohmm · 22/04/2023 08:21

You have way too much - sell half of it. I would say as a general rule 6 sleepsuits, 6 bodysuits and a couple of cardigans is sufficient in a house with a washing machine and warm enough to dry on a rack (or better still outside on the line) you need far less than you think.

Going forward the best places to buy basics are supermarkets in the U.K.

I put everything in together, whole family, never washed separately

yoga4meinthemorning · 22/04/2023 08:24

Mine never fitted the newborn stuff! Straight into 0-3 months. I got most from charity shops. Bought out of season in the sales a season ahead every year. Stock up on nappies, wipes and nappy sacks too. They are a pain to shop for with a buggy.

starfishmummy · 22/04/2023 08:32

I had 6 when my son was born. All way too big because in spite of all the medics measuring his femur and saying he was a big baby, he wasn't - he just had a long femur! Luckily either mil or sil (not sure which) put the word out round the relatives and those who brought gifts got us the tiny baby sizes.