Clothes for baby - I'm clueless!

[ardenbird]

So I washed all the baby clothes people have us as gifts and am trying to figure out (1) what else we need and (2) what of it all to pack in the hospital bag.

I've been reading and receiving advice and getting very confused. First, people say things like "don't get too much, you don't how big baby is" but then I see advice about packing 5x of each of various clothing items for the hospital. So, how much is "much" for a baby? If I've just got 5 each of things is that enough to start, buying more once we have her with us, or should I get 10? 15?

Also, what do all these clothing names mean? I did a google search on "babygrow" and found pictures of what my best guess for "vest" would have been. But then i searched vests and found things that talked about vests like they were the things I first thought. Could somebody explain what these items of clothing look like: babygrow, vest, sleepsuit? And am I missing some other obvious category? And some places suggest 5x of each of those things for the bag, and some leave out one, but different ones. I'm so confused!

And what about hats and socks and mittens? (I do hope at least I know what those words mean...). How many of these do I need?

Oh, and what makes a baby blanket a baby blanket? Is it just small? And what in the world is a cellular blanket and how is that different?

Sorry to be so ignorant

Ok - first thing this is YOUR baby so you put him/her in whatever YOU like

babygrow/all in one/sleepsuit - these are the same thing. Nice soft cuddly cotton with poppers down the front and along the legs.

vest - mostly these will have poppers between the legs only. They go under the sleep suit or dress or whatever.

Hats - you need two or three for winter and the same for summer. You an get by with one but they get lost easily!

Vests and sleepsuits - buy as many as you like. The more you have the less washing you need to do. You don't need many in newborn size as most babies get out of the size within a week or two. Barring total disaster you could maybe go through 4/6 in 24 hours?

Socks - not needed till baby wearing something other than sleepsuits. Again they get lost easily so buy lots.

Mittens - only needed in depths of winter as they are not easy to keep on and babies tend not to like having their hands muffled.

To me a babygrow and sleep suit are the same thing, built in feet, long arms all in one.

Vest poppers under the bottom, with short sleeves mostly and no legs.

Only get one or two hats, i never used them but had July baby.
Hated scratch mittens. Could never get them on and just kept nails short.
You'll need a few pairs of socks but they don't get dirty so not many.

Cellular blanket has holes in, but is very warm in winter cool in summer.
I bought a few of the cheap fleece blankets from ikea with a few cellular cotton ones, and a fleece cellular.

I would pack 3 vests and 3 babygrows in your bag, with one hat, one pair of socks. Also don't forget proper outfits if you're going to use them, not everyone does. Probably 2 for the bag.

Hope that makes sense.

Good luck x

Vests/babygros/body suit = long/short sleeved or sleeveless tops with poppers in the crotch

Sleepsuits = all in ones which cover babies feet and usually have in built mitts.

I'd get a 7 pack of long sleeved vests and short sleeved plus 7 pack sleepsuits, some socks, a hat and cardie. Plus a light weight pram suit.

Blankets - cellular ones have holes in. You could get a nice small one for the carseat/pram plus an extra in case baby is sick. Plus a nice thick fleecy one for baby to lie on as a playmat.

First 3 months, you can get away with very little and just buy more if you need to as they grow. Then from 3 months you can get more outfits.

DD is 3 months old and my second and that's all I've really used. I put socks under her sleepsuits plus a vest and a cardie on top if colder. You do have to wash loads though. DS (my first) had a lot more stuff but it was wasted!

babygrow/sleepsuit

vest with 'envelope' neck

babygrow without feet included aka romper suit Avoid these for a bit - look cute but socks needed!

Oh yes - I forgot, I'd pack two of everything and if you stay longer on hosital get your dh to bring more! Don't forget nappies too

For my DS I had the following list from my mum...

12 x vests (these are called bodysuits in shops I think)
12 x babygrows (called sleepsuits, but use them for day and night)
4 x cardigans
2 x pairs of scratch mitts
2 x cotton hats
1 x gloves for outside
1 x pramsuit (all in one coat)

If you need more you can always buy more, but these are the basics. I found what with leaking nappies and DS weeing up his clothes I could do 4 outfit changes in 24 hours.

Cellular blankets are blankets with holes in...my best description! I recommend them as they 'breathe' so baby doesn't get too hot.

I took 4 vests, 4 babygrows, 2 cardigans and all the other bits in my hospital bag. I did get laughed at, but I used them all as we ended up staying overnight. I didn't really want DH to leave me to get more clothes, so I packed lots!

HTH

Sainsburys and next all in one sleepsuits / babygro's have built in scratch mits!

Also, don't underestimate how much people will buy you!

My DS is 14 weeks old and today has worn 3 babygro's abd yesterday 4 if that helps!

See I agree with IWTP but I would put 5 vests and 5 baby grows in the bag - as if you change a nappy and get poo on the clkohting (it does happen) then you need clean clothing.

I loved the nighties that where long and cuffed in slightly at the bottom, with poppers all down - as you could change a sleeping babies nappy without waking them very easy

I found people gave me proper outfits when they came to visit so didn't pack any

Pramsuit = cosy all in one coat thing aka opportunity to take baby out looking little furry animal

Ivy's long nightie is also known as a bundler I think here

Cover for car seat we got this one

But we had a winter baby!

I will join you in the confusion. Loads of people keep telling to buy nothing then apparently I need 5 of this and 5 of that in hospital so surely I need to get some bits. Have bought a couple of things that I have liked. Also assuming most people who do give us presents won't give them until they see the baby probably about a week after birth so was thinking I need enough to keep myself going for the first week.
Just to add to this mil is apparently making loads of stuff for us however we are allowed no input in this. She made loads of girls stuff before we knew the sex-now know we are having a boy. She is refusing to show us/ tell us about any of this stuff so no idea what I have coming just know its lots and we have limited space so no idea where we are going to put it all (she is very strange) I know she has knitted a few bits but again no idea what as she won't show or tell us so now have gone out and bought ds one little cardigan as I just don't know what she has made so what to allow for. I think she is just making what she wants rather than what is needed. Let's just say I think baby can have a different hand quilted cot quilt every day of the week but can't use these for such a long time. Also have think she has made at least 4 hand quilted some sort of warm car seat cover for late June baby and don't think they will be washable! Don't want to appear ungrateful but no idea where we will store it all in our tiny house!
Anyway if anyone has any tips of useful amounts of clothes to get I would also be really interested!

yes like this - with the ties - so you can gently open the ties change the nappy and baby never wakes, due to the ruff all pull strings the feet stay inside and warm

I think they are great for boys and girls and new mums and dads who are not so used to changing nappies.

I wouldn't rely on gifts to see you through unless people buy practical stuff! Which rarely happens

thing is if you have two packets of baby grows, two packets of vests and a packet of nighties for the hospital that is all you really need to start with as the packets have about 5 of each within - all in white and they can all go in the wash together and will not run. a hat, blanket, car seat, pram and basket to sleep in and that's you lot.

Then any other clothes you get given can be worn as extras when other stuff is in the wash.

then when you go shopping you will pick items up you think you will need when the baby has arrived and you know what would be of more use

For dd3 (by which time I knew what I was doing) I bought quite a few of the trouser and kimono style tops that Gap do. Look cute and were easy to get on and off.

I gave up after 2 dc i shall wait for grandchildren and pretend I know what I am doing

Most of the clothes iv bought are 0-3 months,iv only bought a handful of newborn stuff as most of it Is only suitable for a 7.5lbs or under baby so wont last long if at all. I have been given loads if stuff in the last week though- people seem to be emptying out their draws into my house at the moment so have quite a lot of spare things. they may not be to my taste but will be fine for days when I'm just at home, don't have any visitors & don't want to put the washing machine on for the 5th time that day.

For the hospital Im planning on bringing 3/4 vests (no legs) and the same in babygrows (the all in ones with legs & feet) 1 hat & 2 pairs of mits.

Blanket wise I'm clueless at the moment don't have a clue what bedding I'm going to need so can't help with that.

Sounds good.

Have you got a Moses basket or cot? What are you doing re sleeping arrangements?

Also, get lots of Muslims. At least 10. You'll need them for wiping up sick, dribble and are great for emergency bibs. You'll never regret it.

X

I would think 5 each of vest/baby-gros and sleepsuits would be fine as a starting point for the hospital. I like vest/baby-gros with poppers on the bottom better as they help keep the nappy in place.

You can buy more clothes once you know how big your LO is. If you have more, you won't need to wash them as often, but may not get as much use out of them.

DS tended to wee at almost every nappy change when newborn, so we could easily go through 4 - 6 changes of clothes in a day.

And if you get sleepsuits with built in scratchmitts (mothercare & next do these - not sure about other shops), you won't need mittens. We couldn't get separate scratchmitts to stay on DS, and ended up putting socks on his hands if all the sleepsuits with built in scratchmitts were in the wash.

DS only wore vest/baby-gro + sleepsuits with cardigans & blankets when outside for the first 3 months or so.

Itwas - were you very tired last night? I think you mean 'MUSLINS' rather than the followers of Islam.........

I agree - MUSLINS are very useful. I found Boots did some pretty ones that were huge and useful.

Thanks so much everyone! I've gotten 5 of the no-legs things and a pack of three of the sleeper ones, plus that's what people mostly gave us, so I think we're at least at the minimum. Plus some blankets and cellular blankets. Load of laundry tomorrow!

good luck ardenbird.

and yes i did mean musliNs, stupid phone x

Sounds like you're all set then