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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Help with clothes size for small, possibly premature baby

20 replies

gretagreengrapes · 01/02/2021 16:31

Hi,

I'm a FTM looking for some guidance on newborn clothing sizes. I'm almost 30 weeks and feel ready to buy baby's clothes now.
My baby is less than 10th centile and I'm having regular growth scans. It could be born as early as 34 weeks (eek very soon!) if it's growth slows, but I'll definitely be induced at 37 weeks.
I'm not going to buy loads but obviously it needs something to wear when it's born!

I'm so confused by the sizing. There's tiny baby up to 5-6lbs. Then newborn which seems to vary with M&S being up to 7lbs but Next up to 9lbs.
I feel I've looked at so many online and I just haven't got a clue!

What size would you buy? Has anyone else been in a similar situation?

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Chelyanne · 01/02/2021 16:38

M&S and asda do premature baby clothing ranges, up to 3lb, 4lb & 5lb which may be more suitable for a baby born very early. I wouldn't buy loads as they do grow pretty fast. The 1st size and newborn will be used at some point so buy a fair amount of those. It really just depends on when they think is best to bring the lo.

Newborn were roomy on our eldest who was an average 7lb 7oz at birth.

Amichelle84 · 01/02/2021 16:44

We were in the same situation with our son, he was eventually born at 34w and weighed 3lb 8. We hadn't got anything small enough. He was in NICU for 5 days so he wore the cute knitted outfits they have there which gave is time to order bits.

He went in prem clothes which we got from asda and a website called little mouse. Then most of his things were from m&s as they had early baby and tiny baby I think it was.

He grew out of prem bits quite quickly. Its hard to know though in advance.

Its best to check the weight at each shop as they all seem to vary slightly.

boymum88 · 01/02/2021 17:30

I would just buy a few tiny baby 5lb baby grows from somewhere like Asda / boots / Tesco
If baby is really small or early may not need clothes straight away if baby goes into an incubator, if you don't have something the nicu will always lend baby bits to wear and u can get most things next day delivery
One thing I would get are some smaller Prem hats as they will still wear those in the incubator xx

Bing765 · 02/02/2021 20:22

Next up to 1 month are for up to 7lb. My baby was 5lb 12 and was in them for about 6 weeks. Next day delivery is available to store or you can pay £20 for a years next day home delivery. I found this so useful when baby was first born. They also do an up to 5lb range.

Sceptre86 · 02/02/2021 20:35

I would buy some tiny baby and premature baby clothes. If you get the multipacks from supermarkets they are fairly cheap so no great loss depending on what size baby actually turns out to be. My dd was 5lb 10oz and went down to 5lb and was in prem or tiny baby clothes for a long while, we didn't expect her to be that tiny, I sent dh to get clothes but this was pre covid. I can understand wanting to be prepared as possible.

Esmeralda1988 · 02/02/2021 20:41

My baby was born at 34 weeks and once out of special care was in Tesco tiny baby up to 5lb, she was 5lb5 at birth. Asda up to 6lb turned out to be exactly the same size as most newborn stuff from places like next, so I probably wouldn't bother with that as an in-between size. Hope all goes well for you and baby.

Original poster

gretagreengrapes · 03/02/2021 13:33

Thanks for your help and suggestions everyone. I think I'll get some supermarket multipacks in the tiny size. Everything at Asda is out of stock at the moment!
If we need something else as someone said the supermarkets or open all hours or next day delivery.
If we are desperate my mum would be on the doorstep in a matter of hours I am sure! Just feel horribly unprepared and just wish I knew when baby is going to arrive but I'm sure everyone does!

OP posts:

Merrz · 03/02/2021 14:13

i found tesco tiny baby best, asda baby sizes were really big. DD was 5lb 11oz

Esmeralda1988 · 03/02/2021 14:58

@gretagreengrapes if your baby is early enough to go to special care or NICU then they will provide clothes unless you prefer to use your own. I didn't buy any for DD until she was discharged. Hope that doesn't happen for you though!

glasshalfsomething · 03/02/2021 15:02

Try Facebook or ebay for some bundles in tiny baby size.

Most people only use for a few weeks so you can pick up a decent volume for low cost. We done this with twins and it was great! Then thrifted on to a local Mum.

Invest your money in the larger sizes that they’ll get more wear from.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/02/2021 15:03

H&M and Next do 0-1 month which is ideal for a newborn/smaller baby. Then I'd get some tiny baby vests and sleepsuits from the supermarket. Keep them in the packet and if you end up jot needing them you can exchange for a bigger size at some point.

FraterculaArctica · 03/02/2021 15:03

We were expected to have our own clothes in NICU once DS could wear them. He was a 33 weeker born at 5 lb 2 which was 99th centile. He was able to wear clothes after 4 days once off the jaundice lamp. He fitted the tiny baby size (up to 5 or 6 lb) well. I think we bought from Mothercare.

ivfbeenbusy · 03/02/2021 15:04

I had premature twins at 34 weeks - the one measuring less than 4lbs was impossible to buy for - just be aware that when they are in NICU incubators they don't wear clothes anyway.

Premature clothes are impossible to buy as they are always out of stock. Luckily most hospitals keep a supply and also many charities knit premature cardigans and hats which my little twin lives in as preemie babies get cold easily.

For a donation Emily's star will send a pack of preemie knits and blankets

Bigger twin was over 5lbs and easier to buy for - go with "tiny baby" from TU at Sainsbury

Remember that it's normals for babies to lose at least 10% of their weight in the days after birth so go a size down

IMissFrance · 03/02/2021 15:04

It could be worth checking eBay? There might be bundles of prem clothes.

Obviously I'm sure you'll want some of your own new bits too. But as they're grown out of so quickly I'm sure you'll be able to get some basics that have had very little use just so you know you're covered. X

Wishing you all the best. Xxx

FamilyAreEverything · 03/02/2021 15:14

I had my little boy at 37 weeks and he was 5lb 8oz, dropping to 5lb before he started to gain weight. He was under 10th centile on growth scans from 34 weeks and didn’t move off the 0.4th centile until he started solids at 6 months. Long but very skinny, which was a surprise as neither my husband or I are particularly tall.

He was in M&S tiny baby and ASDA tiny baby for about 6 weeks. I found mothercare tiny baby were too short in the legs and body. I wouldn’t buy too much and just wait and see.

Original poster

gretagreengrapes · 04/02/2021 20:32

Thank you.

I'd not considered that baby will get even smaller after birth!

OP posts:

MrsG30 · 04/02/2021 21:12

I’m in the same boat as you, but second baby. I’m 30 weeks, baby dropping off centile chart each growth scan and likely to be born by 37 weeks.

I’ve got about 3/4 tiny baby babygrows and vests, I’m going to get a couple more (although can’t find them anywhere in stock atm!). My son was small when born (although 40+4) and was in tiny baby a good 6 weeks.

I then have lots of newborn size, I’ve found John Lewis seem to be on the smaller side with sizing and doesn’t seem a huge difference between my mothercare tiny baby from DS, and John Lewis newborn grows.

Good luck

Inkpaperstars · 05/02/2021 07:46

There is a company called Little Mouse that specialises in clothes for very little ones.

Vebrithien · 05/02/2021 08:27

My case was slightly different, in that my waters went at 26 weeks, so I knew that baby was going to be small. Luckily, we managed to hold on until 34w and 1d. DS was born at 4lb 8oz. He was rushed to NICU, and whilst in the incubator, didn't wear any clothes. Once he moved into a SC cot, he was allowed to wear clothes. I had previously got a bundle of premie clothes from eBay (this was during the first lockdown), which were ASDA and Next.

NICU did have lots of clothes we could borrow (and they washed them when dirty!) We were in for 2 weeks, so I got two more orders of eBay bundles, which my DH fetched in. I also could order to the Amazon locker in the hospital.

It's probably worth getting a couple of the fully popper opening tiny baby sleeveless vests, and a couple of tiny baby footless sleepsuits. These are a Godsend, as if baby is hooked up to sensors, the wires and sensors are easy to access.

Good luck!

Original poster

gretagreengrapes · 05/02/2021 11:11

@MrsG30 its good to hear of someone in the same position to be honest! I don't know anyone who has had a very small baby and going to all the appointments alone without my partner there to also ask questions is a bit daunting. Hope everything goes well for you

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