What to dress baby in?

[HoneyMum21]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but as a mum-to-be to DC1 in december i'm getting somewhat overwhelmed with what i should dress the baby in.
I know they are supposed to be in one more layer than we are, so obviously a bodysuit/vest to start with. I then thought, at least for the first 2 or 3 months, they'll be pretty much exclusively in sleepsuits day and night (obviously with extra layers for going out etc.) However, we were looking in mothercare today and DH thought we should be going for outfits - like trousers and tops during the day and sleepsuits just for bedtiime. I had just assumed that sleep suits/all-in-ones were the done thing because they are easier to change baby in but am i going to be judged as a bad mother if i don't go for the little outfits?

Babygrows. You will be given 'outfits' to be worn on rare occasions. Next do some lovely colourful ones.

I think DD wore sleepsuits for the first 2 or 3 weeks but only because she was sleeping most of the time and it wasn't sensible to try to get a whole outfit on her!! However once we started putting her in proper clothes she started to 'get' bedtime, it could be a coincidence of course, however every time we didn't distinguish between day and night we'd always have trouble getting her down at night time. W just dressed her in leggings and tops/jumpers or dresses and tights. I actually found her easy to change like that, no harder than sleepsuits.

It's up to you what you want to do but maybe do a bit of everything, buy a few comfy outfits and plenty of sleepsuits and save the outfits for going out?

If you feel the need to buy outfits for a newborn, the little jersey leggings with feet and the long sleeve teeshirt with a nice cardi over top are a good choice, not much different to sleepsuits but enough to make them look dressed

My DS was born in August and we ha about 3 days of summer that year - he was mostly dressed in sleep suits as my HV commented that sometimes separates can put too much pressure on their tums and if they do have any colic it will just exacerbate it.

He was 3 months at christmas and wore every costume I could find because he looked so damn cute in them!

Just keep an eye on the length for the sleep suits, the baby should be able to stretch their legs without any restriction.

The best vests and sleep suits are the Asda ones - the Next ones don't wash great, the M & S ones weren't made very well and the Tesco ones were pretty shocking too, my Asda ones have lasted and have been put away for future use - plus they're less than £2 a pack for vests! In fact I think that most of Asdas clothes are great - I can't comment on the girls stuff [sob] but the boys stuff is hard wearing, great to wash and looks good too - keep your eye on their sale too! I've kitted DS wardrobe out for winter and next summer already!

Top hat and a monocle. I also just went for baby grows for the first few months. Went to baby groups and realised everyone else had proper clothes in so sheepishly followed the crowd around 6 months. Next time I don't think I will be such a sheep. Baby grows are cute and much more comfy (wish I had one)

MidgetM - they do adult all in ones!! Honestly. Saw sone guy wearing one in Kingston the other day. Looked like right turnip! Cosy, but a turnip nonetheless! Google it...

Thanks for suggestions. Just had a closer look at h and m and have to agree- they do have some lovely bits, especially the little crossover body suits.

My DS came 6 weeks early so I hadn't got around to buying anything except one "coming home from hospital" romper and cardigan. We were bought so many little outfits that I didn't buy anything for him except babygros and vests for months! I'm a great fan of the babies in babygros look. Do get an idea of how cold/warm your room is, day and night, so you know whether you need short or long sleeved vests.

button I'm off to buy a baby grow even though the idea creeps me out a little

I have loads of babygrows from mothercare, next, m&s etc and I think Mothercare are fine. If you want something different for daytime, look for nice patterned babygros/rompers for daytime (bluezoo at debenhams quite nice, also toby tiger and jojomamon bebe but they are pricy). Maybe buy an outfit or too for Christmas day?

Baby grows aren?t all created equal. My 'posh' nonASDA babygrows get loads of wear & lift my spirit. They're still comfy, but some come with a few more ruffles &details to give them a day time look, others are footless & closer tailored so they don't swamp the baby so much (nice for eg kicking in their playgym to have feet exposed ).

Babygrows for the first few months. My LO was born in December, it was sleepsuit + Snowsuit when we went for walks. We had some nicer babygrows for when we had someone over/met with friends. For home wear and sleeping - Primark are fantastic (he is a refluxer as well, so lots and lots of cheap ones worked for us).
We did not put him into outfits until about 4 months old.

Vests and sleepsuits/rompers for the first six months, anything else is just a waste of money and washing powder.

True. My boys all had big feet as babies and supermarket babygrows (excepting TU) either don't make them big enough or shrunk, whilst M&S, JL & Next all were generous in that regard and retained shape and colour. Personally found Mothercare went bobbly, Tesco shrunk/lost shape after repeated washing/drying. But it's horses for courses.

Boots sleepsuits are really nice.

When DD1 was born I used to get her washed and dressed everyday - usually into jeans and long sleeved t-shirts. However, DD2 pretty much lived in sleepsuits until she was about 5 months old.

If your DH is insistent that he wants outfits have a look at Pyjamas in newborn size - lovely and soft, easy to change and gives you the distinction between day and night clothes without putting the baby in something that will make them uncomfortable or be a faff to change nappies in.

Whatever you fancy really!

I went for sleepsuits because they were very functional and looked cute in a baby-appropriate way. Personally I find grown-up type clothes on babies very weird.

I would suggest you don't buy too much though. I found that DD grew so quickly it was difficult to predict what size she would be 3-4 months down the line so impossible to buy the right size for the right season well in advance.

I loved the softness of babygros. There are nice patterned ones for special days too!

I always feel a bit sad for little babies dressed in jeans...all scrunched up in thick fabric.

I was determined to stick to babygros for the first few months and not be sucked in by the cute little outfits, it didn't work! However if we manage to have another I will be sticking to sleepsuits or rompersuits, they're comfy and cute and easy to change without having to pull things over baby's head. Also, now DD's really too old to run around in sleepsuits during the day I wish she'd looked more like a baby for longer IYKWIM.

Oh, and go for leggings/joggers for when you do want outfits, much comfier and easier to wriggle in than jeans.

Oh, also, I used to (if staying indoors most of the day) put a long sleeved vest over a pair of tights. Warm but not much fuss. plus DD used to look like a ballerina in her black long sleeved vest over a pair of bright pink tights

Agreed with everyone. Baby probably won't like getting changed for a few weeks/months so make yours and their life easier with sleep suits.

Go for long sleeved everything if possible if winter baby. Hats and lots of blankets for trips out Maybe consider a fleecy lined cardigan or jump suit for trips out.

Outfits are tricky till you know how big baby will be. Ds was into 0-3 from birth but they only lasted him a month!

Oh and consider bibs for dibble. I found the Velcro ones useless as can be pulled off. Press stud ones much better!

Babygros for a good few mths - more comfortable for them, easier for you

DD at 5 months is in baby grows and will remain in them till she's walking properly. We have a smart summer dress she wears over the top of her baby grows if we have a wedding or christening to go to.

Would you like to be lying down wearing proper clothes for most of the time or trying to sit with waist bands digging in on top of a nappy waist band? If your thought is "no but then I'd just take the clothes off" think of the hassle factor.

Or perhaps I'm just lazy

I just LOVE white babygros, especially after bath time when babies smell divine and their hair is all fluffy... rushes off to sniff dd3's fluffy hair whilst she is sleeping