Do babies wear shoes?!

[Emmiedarling]

Oh my goodness I have to laugh at myself because I just feel so naive with everything baby. It is my first, but I do feel RIDICULOUSLY stupid for not knowing this stuff..

I'm trying to plan what I need and I've made a list, but in terms of clothes I am getting all confused. I was hoping you all might be able to help me out!

So, my first question - do babies need shoes? I have read absolutely nothing about this - and in those 'essiential lists' they never make an appearence.

Talking of those lists - what on earth is the difference between vests, all in ones, rompers, baby gro's etc?

I thought I would need a few long sleeve, long legged suits and that's what they'd wear in the day - but apparently, I gather, these are for sleeping in at night?

My baby is not due until sept so i do have a while to learn about what the hell im meant to be doing...

Many thanks! x

They don't need shoes

Vest - like you used to wear at school

All in one - poppers underneath and short or long sleeved - go under the baby grow which also has poppers and generally long legged and with sleeves

Babies do not need shoes. It's better for them to be without them but if you want to put shoes on a baby make sure they are soft soled.

Babygros are all in ones sometimes called onesies. Vests can be short sleeved, long sleeved or sleeveless and usually join under the nappy. Rompers I've heard used for both babygros and vests.

To be honest my babies lived in babygros and vests because they were easy, washable and I bought loads. There are many bouts of reflux, spit up, sick and exploding nappies so I had a LOT. Mostly in 0-3 because they last longer and it doesn't matter too much with rolled up sleeves, even uf they're big in the leg. In the winter a vest, babygro and snowsuit? Done! I had some cute little outfits but DD2 didn't gave many because I learned my lesson with DD1 :o

I actually refer to the short no legged bodysuits as vests. The ones with legs, arms and poppers down the middle are sleepsuits. Rompers are the same but without feet (therefore useless as socks don't stay on).

In the early days I got by with vests and sleepsuits with a cardigan for the daytimes. Then I moved into tights and dresses mainly for my DD, always with a vest underneath.

Babies don't need shoes until they've been walking independently for a few weeks. Those pretty but tiny shoes in shops - unnecessary faff that get lost quickly.

Babygros are the all in one things with poppers, and have the feet in. Vests have the poppers in the crotch and go under pretty much everything.

Most of the stuff on 'essential' lists isn't essential. Baby needs somewhere to sleep (probably on you for the first few weeks), something for food (either breast, or bottles and formula - if bottles are cleaned thoroughly then they don't actually need sterilising), nappies and clothes - vests and babygros are fine, with a few cardigans

DD1 was a winter baby and I found (whispers) knitted booties with ties were quite effective and stayed on.

hello - you arent being stupid LOL - its not like you instinctively should know what these things are. I had NO clue having never looked after or spent any time with small children till I had one

No - do not buy baby shoes. If you want to keep socks on, or like them to have feet covered soft soled shoes like these are good, or just elasticated fabric shoes (I make these as gifts for first time mums - they are pretty but little more than cotton socks) but even then I wouldnt recommend until at least 3 months old. They dont anything really, until they are at the very least cruising - so you have a long time to think about it!!

Everything for baby tends to have poppers. I call vests the all in one (usually cotton) suits that are legless, with either no sleeves or short sleeves - these go over babys head and pop at the crotch.

I call sleepsuits the ones with poppers either up front or back, closed feet, long sleeves. (Babies should sleep on their back, therefore its best to have poppers up the front - however as soon as mine could turn he slept on his front, therefore I had to change - again dont worry about this yet)
I would also call this a babygro. or a onsie. but thats an american term.

You can also get vests (no legs) with long sleeves (which I'd use in place of a t-shirt) and all manner of variations (I'd call a romper something with no sleeves and no feet but some have sleeves, some have short legs, some long legs and so on)

It is entirely up to you - I would buy a few of each thing from the supermarket (sainsburys have super-cute stuff in at the mo) and see how you go. If you have a summer baby and the weather is hot - they may end up sleeping in a vest. conversley a winter baby might need a sleepsuit, with sleeves as well as a sleeping bag. Never use hats for sleeping though.

My eldest wore a sleepsuit ALL the time for the first few months with added cardi, booties and hats. My youngest was wearing more what you would call clothes a bit earlier (vests with trousers and so on)

No, they don't wear shoes.

"Sleepsuits" is the new name for babygros, used by shops to give you the impression that you need other clothes for daytime. You do not. Babies sleep in the day too and need comfy things to loll around in. ie babygros.

For a September baby, those little leather ladders are useful just for warmth (especially if in a sling on those in-between weather sorts of days, where full snowsuit would be too much but you want something windproof over the toes). Proper shoes, not until the DC has been upright and walking for a while.

Terminology for vests/babygros/sleep suits etc changes between brands, and until the DC is self propelling it really doesn't matter that much what you put them in.

People bought my dd shoes but tbh the few times I tried to put them on her, they just came off in seconds.

You'll need vests (no legs, and either long, short or no sleeves) and sleepsuits (long arms, legs and covered feet for an autumn/winter baby). Then cardis ontop for cold days. You may also want a thick all in one as a coat, although it's best not to have them on in the car or if you're out and go inside as it will be too warm for your baby and you constantly have to keep taking it on and off.

I had loads of 'outfits' given to me but they were annoying. You end up with their top up round their neck, skirts ride up, tights are usually too long - just useless!

I'd agree with what others have said

And remember, the shops don't shut when you give birth, and you can buy from supermarkets, mothercare etc online so you dont even need to go out and can get some new things very easily. Also, hopefully you'll have help on hand for the first couple of weeks at least to pop out and get you things if you find you need stuff. Less stressful than it sounds.

(I had far too much as my DD did really sick up or do loads of explosive nappies)

I think of vests almost as underwear iyswim, and sleeved ones (long/short) could also double as a t-shirt depending on outfit or number of layers required.

I've taken my mum and sisters advice and mainly just bought loads of 'sleepsuits' for first few months. You can get really nice patterned ones that are inexpensive so they're still suitable for daytime. Lightweight jacket / cardy for outside (August baby) and then if I get outfits as presents, babs can wear them on special days and I hopefully won't end up with lots of unworn clothes she grows out of.

He hee.... Love the question, & lol'd a lot as I have a 7 month old girl & another due in sept.
I've just had a quick sort out of which baby clothes I'll use for the next & i've just off loaded 32 unworn pairs (most of which were gifts from friends who also had girls, I don't have a baby shoe buying addiction!!) of shoes to charity shops & kept just one pair of booties & one pair of sparklies (incase of parties)
Baby's defo don't need shoes! They just fall off & cause stress, I love love love sock on's (sorry on my phone so can't do link) but google them there fab, & teamed with cosy socks are enough for a chilly day.

Your baby can wear whatever you want - the main thing is that he/she is comfortable, and not too hot or cold.

You'll soon get to know which sorts of clothes are the most convenient/ comfy for your baby.

DD1 was a winter baby. She spent the first 5 months in a sleeveless vest that poppered underneath, a babygro/sleepsuit with feet, and a cardigan. No faffing with socks or shoes. Then when Spring came, we switched to long or short sleeved bodysuits which poppered underneath, soft jersey trousers and (for a split second before she tore them off and started chewing them) socks.

DD2 was a summer baby. She hardly wore sleepsuits at all after the first couple of weeks, because I felt she was too hot in them because of the attached feet. And also I kept doing the stupid poppers up to the wrong hole and it was annoying. So she wore short rompers or short/ long sleeved bodysuits and soft trousers straight away. She was also a sock remover. I have lost so many socks thrown out of the pushchair! So generally now if it is warm, I don't put socks on her, if it is cold I put on socks and zip up the pushchair footmuff so she can't get at her feet so easily