OK I embarrassed to ask this but what do you guys mean by vest?

[splendide]

When people say you need x number of vests are they the little short sleeved bodysuits? And you put them under a babygro do you? If it's chilly I suppose?

I am clearly a complete idiot sorry! It's just I've made a careful list based on lots of threads on here and then when starting to shop I realised no shops sell anything that they call vests for newborns!

Vest = bodysuit

Sometimes sleeveless, sometimes short sleeved, sometimes long as the weather dictates. Good under babygros when cold, with shorts, trousers, skirts etc when warm and on their own when hot.

Yup that's the ones short sleeved and have no legs just poppers on the crutch part

These are baby vests (ignore the knitted one!)

Ah cool thank you! That's what I thought (and would certainly have bought some regardless) just having a crisis that there was a mysterious extra garment I was missing!

I'm so clueless, sorry!

Glad you asked, OP as I was wondering exactly the same!!

It's rather exciting, helping you out in this way.

I am guessing you have no friends with babies you can ask? I have had 4 babies so feel I know it all, but have no friends who are having babies who need the expertise. So ask away if you want to know anything else.

When is your baby due? My first was a June baby (hot summer) and he often wore only a vest.

And remember the envelope neck enables you to pull them down and off in the case of poo explosions. Avoids poo in hair.

Yes no close friends with babies I'm afraid! Due in October so it'll be chilly!

October baby = buy some short and some long sleeved vests

October baby - definitely will need a vest, babygro and probably something warmer on top of that (cardigan, jacket, etc) And a snowsuit for going outdoors (padded sort of babygro)

Oh and yes Showy. I got through 4 babies without knowing that little gem, though fortunately explosive poo episodes were relatively few and far between with mine.

Oh yes, I'll get him a little padded thing good idea! And cardigans.

Envelope neck is a good tip!

That 50 shades of grey one on everard's link is grim...

DS was a September baby and wore a vest, sleepsuit and cardigan most of the time. One more layer than you are wearing is a good rule of thumb but you get used to putting a hand on a neck/back/tummy to gauge how warm they are. Hands, feet and foreheads are misleading.

gotagoldtoof I thought so too.

In fact, I was hoping no-one would notice and think I associated with it.

We asked this same question in Mamas and Papas at the weekend. The lovely sales assistant then followed us solicitously through the store, as we obviously seemed in need of extra guidance. Incidentally, the often-mentioned Babygro (I've also got a list based upon threads) is also an 'all-in-one' or a 'sleep suit'!

Yes! There are a lot of lovely "sleep suits" - I presume I will not be condemned as a slattern if he's wearing them in the day.

Another question from first timer- I'm having November baby so lots of long sleeved babygros. Do I put short or long vest underneath? And what is an envelope neck?

Usually a short-sleeved one, then if more layers needed a cardigan on top. Envelope neck means it has overlapping bits of material that form a neck opening which is wider than it appears, iyswim. Thus keeping baby snug, yet you can pull down over the shoulders in case of poosplosion.

Sleepyhoglet, if you look at my link further down the thread, the first 3 vests (one with a tractor on, one with love birds, one plain) have envelope necks. The overlapping bits CorporeSarnie was describing are the triangle bits on either side of the neck.

I would buy just short sleeve vests for newborn under sleep suits as the problem with long sleeve is the sleeve gets all caught up when you add the sleep suit and you end up faffing trying to pull sleeve down inside sleep suit. If that makes sense...

Winter baby far easier to have short sleeve vest with poppers ( keeps torso warm), sleepy it over ( keeps all warm), and cardigan ( to keep arms and torso warm if cold).

Try not to by sleep suits without feet as keeping socks on newborn a pain, and in winter they get cold if the leg part moves up and sock down when you carry etc

Just make sure the vests are short sleeved and not sleeveless. Lots of shops have sleeveless vests in for the summer as they're great for under dresses etc but they don't have envelope necks. You're baby may well hate getting dressed for the first few weeks ( months in our case!) and their head could be sensitive depending on the type if delivery you have. Also, taking them down instead of up avoids getting poo in their hair after their nappy explodes! As far as sleepsuits go, make sure they have poppers all the way up the front - you get lovely ones with motifs on the front that pull over the baby's head like a vest but they are a nightmare to get on. I kept my DD in sleepsuits during the day until 2 months, then a mix of sleepsuits and easy to put on clothes until 3 months. Babies look adorable in sleepsuits so don't worry!

Oh and don't buy a sleep suit like some numpty did for us. It was lovely on the front, but did up at the back with large wooden buttons! So baby couldn't wear as impossible to put on a floppy newborn and then couldn't lay done as buttons dug in!

Long sleeved vests are good for wearing under dungarees or sleeveless dresses during winter, if you have any outfits. Otherwise I'd only really use them if I knew we would be outside for a long time like at a firework display or somewhere with no heating.

Omg don't be embarrassed @Splendide - I've been wondering the exact same thing and this thread has been so helpful!
Also - I've been wondering what is a 'receiving blanket' and how is it any different from any other blanket?

Watching with interest as I am beyond clueless and due in November!!