Where are all the baby clothes?

[ml01omm]

I'm 24 weeks and just starting to think about buying some baby bits.

Looking online for newborn and 0-3 month vest suits and sleep suits. Looked at Next, Baby Gap, H&M, John Lewis, M&S, Boots , Matalan, Peacocks and Asda.

Everywhere seems to be sold out? ( I need to buy unisex as can't book a gender scan).

Is this a COVID scarcity thing? Or do newborn clothes regularly sell out?

I think it's to do with Covid as I've never had an issue buying before. There was always stock online but recently, I've been looking and can't find anything I need for him moving up sizes

I think it's the situation, I've never had a baby before but I'm pregnant with my first. I can't see why clothes would be sold out like this in the 'normal' situation. Are you having a little girl or boy? x

Ah, just read that you're not able to find out the gender. Congratulations anyway

Ive been wondering this too! We’ve accumulated a lot of 0-3, but not much newborn. Tried to do some shopping online for basic bits and most of it is sold out :( I’m hoping it’s sorted before he’s due or he’ll be rocking the oversized look for a while

Had the same issue a couple of weeks ago, couldn't find anything at all. I managed to get some vests from Morrisons baby range online and Ebay for new and second hand baby grows.

They have some newborn and 0-3 vests and sleep-suits on Tu (Sainsbury's) for delivery but quite slim pickings! Similar with Nutmeg (Morrison's).

I managed to get some 0-3 when I was doing a supermarket shop in Asda.

I assume the foot fall to stores to buy baby clothes is very heavy because I can’t understand why people would panic buy baby clothes

Keep checking the sites, they are restocking. I’ve been able to get some bits for 0-3 months but I have to be persistent. La redoute have some nice bits in stock still!

Are you on Facebook? Can you check your local pages for anyone selling baby bits? A lot of people are given that clothing is a bit scarce!

How many baby clothes are made in China, India, Turkey or any other country under lockdown. Factories have shut and there are issues everywhere with the supply chain.

I am surprised that the impact is already this much as I would have thought most of this seasons clothes would already have been delivered?

In terms of the supermarkets their food deliveries and stuff like that will be higher priority. Places like Tesco etc work out their restock electronically from sales e.g this store still has 12 in stock no need to send more, this store has sold 11 and has 1 in stock so we need to send more.

For clothes retailers the problem is because they're not essential the stores are closed, so there are no deliveries, no access to warehouse stock etc going on. When you do online orders generally they will send the stuff from store stock so they will show as unavailable for now.

It is covid. Plain ones are in stock at george. I’d just get some plain bits and wait really. Or if you (or partner etc) are food shopping, get them then. Jojo maman bebe have a lot of cute styles in stock if you want to spend more and have a few special/nice ones.

i've got a few bits from marks and spencers and john lewis, if something is out of stock, you can enter your email to ve notified when they are back in stock :)

Also, some stores like Primark dont have online storefronts, so people who would have bought loads there went elsewhere. We would usually get lots of stuff for baby from there, but now no joy... Places like Next are also difficult, and no Mothercare, so whatever is remaining is used a lot more.

Alot of shops also get there clothes from factories in China which was starting to cause shortages in some clothes shops before we went into lockdown.
Hopefully you get some soon.

If anyone can get to a shop for you, my local, reasonably small Tesco was well stocked with all sizes (suddenly needed socks for my 14 month old - their feet seem to have growth explosions - that or the socks shrink in the wash) and contrary to popular belief you are allowed to purchase anything the shop has to offer.

Serious qn here: I have quite a bit of kids clothing I've never got round to selling/gifting.

I had assumed that parents wouldn't be looking on eBay?

Now I am busy 'not going out much' should I start taking photos to sell the stuff?

I needed plain short sleeved newborn vests and socks (have pretty much everything else from first time round) and ended up getting them from John Lewis as it was the only place online with stock. Not that bad price wise actually, comparible to M&S. Good luck!

@Madcats I've spent the last few weeks browsing on Ebay as I don't mind second hand, would rather get something cheap and re-use since baby isn't going to be in the clothes for long. Definitely sell some bits on there!

I couldnt find any plain white vests and hardly any sleepsuits in the usual places I look; m&s, John Lewis, h&m so ended up ordering a load of stuff from mamas and papas. The clothes are a bit more expensive but seem really lovely quality and the white vests werent too pricey.

Try matalan, la redoute, TU (sainsburys) xx

We are having this issue as we were told this week that baby isn’t growing particularly well so we are on the hunt for tiny baby clothes! Who hoards tiny baby clothes? 🙈 I just assumed it was down to shops not being open so everyone taking to shopping online whilst the stock in the shops is just left lingering on the shelves.

Had the same issue! In the end got a few bits from Sainsbury’s and Asda when doing a food shop. I got the rest of it from FB marketplace second hand - I looked for people selling who were fairly local and paid via PayPal for a bundle. I then collected and they left the bag of clothes on their doorstep so I could do a non contact collection. Wiped the bag down and washed all clothes when I got home. Not ideal but better than having nothing! I also spent about £10 in total so bargain too for clothes in good condition.

Have been buying baby clothes, sheets, mattress protectors for my daughter who is due in 4 weeks. These were not classed as essential so even though you could see items in M&S for example you were not allowed to buy them, you could try online, but once you've selected something you find its sold out.
We've been gathering things from everywhere a simple online shop has taken 3 plus hours resulting in deliveries from a variety of stores because of limited stock some taking 3-4 weeks.

Little white socks are a very rare item we haven't got. I have been emailing major stores as these items should be more easily available. M&S are going to allow you to buy baby things in store soon according to a manager there. Next are now open online but prices seem higher. If someone was in particular need there might be a local baby bank; our local one was given a lot of ex mothercare stock, referrals there are via health visitors.

Thank you for the Morrisons recommendation. I managed to get a 3pack of 1 month old vest suits and a 3-pack of 0-3 month old vest suits, so at least I won't be taking them home from hospital wrapped in a towel!

It is so cute!