Size of baby clothes for hospital bag

[SRK16]

I’m thinking about my hospital bag and not sure what size clothes to buy for baby. Growth scans suggest baby is on 98th percentile and already weighs over 5lbs at 33 weeks. I’m imagining it will be a minimum of 8lb 5? I was thinking just to buy 0-3 month clothing but not sure if I should get some newborn stuff just in case it turns out smaller than I thought.
An aside; do all baby clothes need to be washed before use?!

I've got 3 sizes 😂 tiny baby, newborn and 1 month as 1st two babies didnt fit into newborn but were 7lb 7 and 7lb 8. This baby is measuring big so far which I'm taking with a pinch of salt.

I found 0-1 month from Next and H&M ideal for the first couple of weeks. Just bought a small amount.

0-3 swamped mine until they were at least 6 weeks. And they weren't tiny born.

Id say newborn is your best bet, 0-3 will be too big to start with unless they are small made x

I’m taking first size and newborn! Twice now I’ve also taken 0-3 and they buried them! So going to keep all the 0-3 at home this time but accessible incase my friend did need to grab them! X

I'd take newborn.
Saying that, I took newborn and ended up having to borrow from the hospital soon as DD was born as she was just under 6lbs and the growth scan was way off.

DD was 75th (78th?) for length & 91st for weight at birth. She fit into newborn babygro for about 4 days... and TBH we only delayed putting her into 1-3 months straightaway because we liked the pretty ones we had for her first newborn photo!

my DS was 8lb 5oz at birth and fitted nicely into newborn clothes. We took a few newborn and a couple of 0-3 months just in case, but didn't need the bigger size at all.

I've always taken a few newborn or first size and the rest 0 to 3. They grow so fast it's good to have a mix of sizes. I wouldn't buy tiny baby unless you're expecting a small or early baby. They are normally for babies around 5 pounds.

I only took 0-3 and DD arrived at only 5lb 4oz! We were told she might be on the smaller side but not that small! Had to send my sister for emergency newborn size stuff from a nearby supermarket as everything swamped her!

Growth scans aren’t necessarily accurate. I’d take a mix of newborn and 0-3.

'Newborn' size varies, John Lewis are a bit bigger than next newborn which fit our 7lbs 12oz perfectly. I think m and s size slightly larger to.

0-3 will be far too big unless your genuinely looking at the 11/12lbs mark

My 10lber didn't fit the newborn size and was only in up to 1 month for a week. 0-3 is your best bet with just a multipack of grows and vests in up to one month size. You can always order more if you need them.

Oh and yes, wash them.

My kids were born weighing 8lb 12 and 8lb 7oz and wore newborn John Lewis and up to 1 month from next, nothing else fit! So I’d take a mixture.

I was clueless with my first so took tiny baby, they laughed watching DH try and put it on her

Definitely 0-3 months. DS was 99th centile and outgrew the newborn baby grows within a fortnight, I wish I hadn't spent money on them. I also packed some 0-3 size sleep suits in my hospital bag and he wore those too. Yes, they were a little loose on him but not enough to be an issue.

I would go 0-3. DS was 9th percentile and the newborn clothes we bought were quite big on him but tbh it didn’t really matter. They’re fine in slightly baggy clothes.

Most brands do newborn (50 in European sizes), 0-1 month (56) and 0-3 months (62). DS was 8lbs 14oz mainly because he was fat and still fit into newborn easily, even the stuff from Asda, which runs small IME. I think Boots sizing is slightly different, iirc tiny baby (50), newborn (56) and 0-3 months. At any rate, you are extremely unlikely to need size 62/ 0-3 months, as it's actually the third size up. I'd take a mix of newborn and the next size (so 50 and 56). Don't forget hats! Fortunately we had two, as the one we took into theatre fit like a skull cap on DS's 97th centile head

Tip to save you some money: Asda and Mothercare clothes run one size smaller than the label says. Really irritating when you've bought an emergency pack of vests and you're still no further!

I haven’t bought anything new for impending arrival - a week! So I’ve packed a few tiny baby and new born. He is measuring small, but I wasn’t sure.

I agree to having a mix and. It going overboard as they grow so quickly. We only bought new baby the first time and rolled up the arms to come home in!

Mine were 7lb 14oz and 7lb 1oz and both fitted in first size clothing for the first 2-3 weeks, then up to 1 month clothing till 6-8wks. Neither were tiny weight wise, but up to 3 months is often up to 12-14lbs and say 60ish cm. Most babies are maybe what 50-55cm(?) at birth but are all scrunched up to begin with. Happy shopping xx

Thank you all, this is so helpful! I’ve added some 1 month and a couple of newborn bits to cover my bases, and I will be doing some washing :)

I didn't have any new born size and YES 0-3 were a bit big On my skinny 6 lb 12 oz middle child but were ok on my other two at 8 lb 3 oz and certainly no case for doubling up and spending yet more money

Yes wash baby/children's clothing first - non-bio detergent.

My LB was 8.11 born. Told he was gonna be huge from growth scans so only bought 1 newborn sleepsuit. My mum had to go and buy more as I'd only bought 0-3 in anticipation of him being 'massive' . Id go for newborn mainly, maybe 1/2 0-3 just in case