What baby clothes do I really need to buy?

[Nessalina]

Due early October with my first, and I really have no idea what me & DH should have ready for the arrival.
We're not minted, but we'd like to get a basic baby capsule wardrobe ready, then I guess we're hoping kind friends will probably buy us some extra bits and bobs.
We have a washer drier, and I totally don't mind washing stuff to death!
So... What should we get? Two baby grows? Four? Do we need a hat? Are sleeping bags the thing these days?!

I had an October baby and found the 0-3 month pramsuit invaluable once he was a month old. Even while wearing a sling.

I also recommend Marks and Spencer for basics. Really great quality.

I've found asda and h&m do big packs of baby grows for really cheap and they seem good quality

I didn't mention that DS was 9lbs 1oz but I still had him in newborn size clothes for around a month as he was swamped in 0-3 month size and got annoyed as his hands and legs got lost in the babygrows!

Also I didn't drive then so we were out and about walking and on buses a lot so the snowsuit was best for us as we needed the extra thickness.

I guess you don't know what size your baby might be, though you might have a bit of a guess right at the end.

I had a smallish baby at 6 lb 14 oz and we were in newborn clothes for AT LEAST 3 months. And the newborn ones were far too big for the first month and my mum had to buy some "tiny baby" vests for me. I have other friends who had to go straight into 0-3 months. My suggestion would be

5-7 vests (newborn)
5-7 babygrows (newborn) (get ones with feet)
1 hat
a few blankets
nappies
a warm cardigan/coat

You get given lots of clothes when baby is born.
Things like snowsuits you don't need straight away I don't think, though you probably do if you are going with pram from day one. I didn't have baby in a pushchair for several weeks/months. They are quite warm in a sling. I bought a snowsuit and then ended up taking it back for a larger size cause we didn't use it for 3-4 months.

I liked mothercare vests/babygrows best - midpriced, good lasting material, nice bright colours. Supermarket own stuff also fine and nice and cheap. Primark shit in my opinion. H&M good. M&S and John lewis nice for presents but spendy!

Also, don't buy ten tons of nappies, you'll find some brands leak so you may have to try a few to find the ones that suit your baby. This continues as they grow up!

Both mine (7lbers) were in newborn for a while and would have been swimming in 0-3.
I found people mainly bought presents in 3-6m size so don't rely on getting immediately wearable stuff.

Hats are for outdoors, not indoors, unless your house is cold, ie. less than 16degrees C. You don't want to overheat a baby. I don't rate snow suits either, you can't put them in car seats as the straps aren't tight enough on their body

Some really great advice here thanks. Temps inside and out will be in the mid 20's here in October so I'm not going to bother with hats at the start but will get some for outside in December.

Good advice on the nappies too. I got the smallest ones I could from lidl and some pampers the size down from that and I'll stop there for now.

Also is it just me but I'm still a bit paranoid about when to buy things. I'm only letting stuff for the hospital bag in the house and the rest is wrapped up in the garage!

Sorry but another here with due DC1 in Nov- could someone clarify what is meant by
Babygrow
Sleepsuit
Vest
Bodysuit
?! I mean I think I know what a babygrow and a vest is (thing with poppers and no legs, but can have long or short or no sleeves?) but I'm unclear on the other two! Thanks!

Daft question I know, but what are the Muslins for?

Also, does the baby wear a vest and babygro at the same time?

Muslins are for after or in case they puke, wiping dribble etc. or as a lightweight blanket, stopgap sun hat etcetera.
I think they are supposed to wear a vest plus babygrow in the winter months, they are supposed to wear one more layer than we do. So if I would wear a long sleeve top and hoody, baby would wear a vest plus long sleeves and a cardi. I think! If it's warm just babygrow on its own I guess??

Baby gro and sleep suit is the same - long sleeves (with integral scratch mitts are the best) and legs with poppers down the middle.

Vest has no legs, can have long, short or no sleeves. For my October baby in a warm flat with coldish nights we used all types of vests depending on the temperature. I think bodysuit is a long sleeved vest.

Yes, we put a vest underneath the baby gro. The guidance is to put your baby in one more layer than you (all babies are different but it is a useful rule if you have no clue like me!)

The advice on this thread re hats is great. You need some thick ones for outdoor, but all those sets that come with thin cotton ones are useless as you aren't supposed to use them indoors unless you have a prem baby.

Muslins are brilliant - mopping up sick, putting under baby's chin during milk feeds (breast or bottle) - milk spurts everywhere. Lining the changing mat so unexpected pee doesn't spill off.

Sorry, snap moggle!

I'm glad someone else asked, I've been wondering what all the different terms mean!
Visited my pal with her newborn today, and that was a bit of an education! She's 2 weeks old, 9lb, and was wearing a long sleeved, short legged vest, with a baby grow on top with integral booties, lil scratch mitts, and a knitted cardigan over the top! That's in a comfortable temperature house.
Everything was 'up to one month' - she said at 9lb newborn was too small, but the 0-3 was way too big.
She had 4 of the under-vests and said it wasn't really enough as they could get through 2-3 in a day with sick/poo disasters
So with that and all the great advice on the thread so far, I'm feeling a lot more confident in what we'll need!
Plus my DM has just text and said she's got three bags of hand-me-downs from my cousin - score!!

The Next sleepsuits are amazing - do up to one month, and have fold over cuffs to save on scratchmitts.

This thread is making me feel broody. nothing quite like a scrunched up newborn in a white babygro

Are you in the UK Nessalina? I would say that was a lot of clothes personally. My 6 week old was in a short sleeved vest and babygro. I was in a t-shirt, so one extra layer.

As I have mentioned, none of mine have put up with scratch mits.

mnippy- yes, what are all those hats in sets for?! You maybe need one like that for immediately after birth. Two if you might get it gunky.

I think they must be just for photos!! My very hungry caterpillar babygro will look ten times cuter in a photo with the hat it came with :-)

Hats are useful if you sling - only bit of a newborn that stickers out of something like a stretchy wrap is the head. And your body heat often means woolly hats are too warm, and the cotton ones are just right.

In winter do you mean? In mild weather or summer I find that the bit of the wrap supporting their neck/head is more than enough.

Mine wore those cotton hats all the time. Current 3 month old twins we are looking after wore babygrow with vest and cardigan outside today and cotton hat. Now in house just vest and babygrow. If been in jeans, Tshirt and jumper so the equivalent. Was rather windy in London today