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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

What is a "going home outfit"?

51 replies

scrambledeggy · 28/04/2021 17:40

After an anxious pregnancy following a miscarriage, I am now 34 weeks and am starting to feel comfortable prepping my hospital bag. I have some plain sleepsuits and vests in various sizes that I was planning to pack, but all the recommended lists also mention a "going home outfit".

I'm a bit embarassed to say I have no idea what this means and am struggling to work it out through googling! What special clothes might baby need for the journey home? Will a normal sleepsuit do? Sorry for being thick, as I say, it's my first pregnancy that's made it this far an I really want to get things right

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YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 28/04/2021 17:42

Some people like a smart outfit to bring baby home in. I just used a vest, sleep suit, cardigan and hat.

Smartiepants79 · 28/04/2021 17:43

It’s what ever you want it to be.
I just picked out a particularly pretty sleep suit. One that was slightly more special/expensive!
It’s one of the things I’ve kept.

lovetheweekends · 28/04/2021 17:43

A sleep suit is fine. With a cardigan & hat etc (weather dependent).

It's not needed but some people like to have a special outfit for baby to go home in.
My DD was far too small to wear the outfit I had chosen so went home in sleepsuit

Unescorted · 28/04/2021 17:46

Also a going home outfit for you... I ended up leaving in my Jim Jams having gone into labour overnight. Comfy but a bit odd for a city centre hospital.

Fromneverland · 28/04/2021 17:47

It means bugger all. Some people choose a particularly fancy outfit or favourite one for baby to come home in for “photos” etc and it’s first journey home. Completely unnecessary and some of the pictures are ridiculous with babys in tutu outfits
No one in hospital will expect you of baby to have a fancy outfit ever.
Some people must also choose to wear a nice outfit themselves or something , never heard of it for the mum though. As long as your comfy and not naked, no one will care !

Original poster

scrambledeggy · 28/04/2021 17:49

Thanks everyone, that makes sense, I was overthinking it and assumed it had to be some kind of special outfit for baby's safety or something!

I've definitely felt pressured to buy fancy stuff, so it's good to know that, all being well, we can just chuck on a normal sleepsuit and cardigan/hat/vest if needed.

OP posts:

BananaCustard85 · 28/04/2021 17:49

Hello. I'm 30wks and have been looking at what I need for hospital too. I assumed a 'going home outfit' was a special/nice set of clothes that you might like to dress your baby in for photos of them arriving home. Like something you'd think about for your FB/instagram. But I might have got the wrong end of the stick here! I don't have FB etc so won't be planning this. I'm just making sure I have clothes that are suitable for outside, like a cardigan for if it's chilly, a little hat, things like that?

Original poster

scrambledeggy · 28/04/2021 17:52

Thank you to @Unescorted and @Fromneverland for the tip to pack something to wear for me too, hadn't crossed my mind. Pregnancy and lockdown have done away with any shame I have so if it ends up being pyjamas in the hospital car park, so be it 😂

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Original poster

scrambledeggy · 28/04/2021 17:53

@BananaCustard85 I am also not really a Facebook/Instagram person, but your explanation makes total sense, thank you!

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Chelyanne · 28/04/2021 17:54

Best to pop them in something comfy, outfits are nice to look at but not too comfy for a newborn.

I always bring them home in a bodysuit, sleepsuit, hat. Then cardigan, jacket or thin all hooded all in one coat (winter babies). Also have a blanket and layer as needed.

Luckyelephant1 · 28/04/2021 17:54

For baby- just a slightly nicer outfit than a plain sleepsuit really, for photos but also to keep as a memento if you're doing like a baby memory box or something.

For you- whatever is comfy really but some people like to look presentable, again for photos. Personally I'm planning on leggings and a baggy tshirt (due in summer)

Topseyt · 28/04/2021 17:54

I took all three of mine home in plain vests and baby grows. Nothing special.

I went home in my maternity leggings and baggy t-shirts. Again, nothing special.

It can be what you want it to be. I would think that it is surely just a basic reminder to pack some (any) clothes to take baby home in. Not just for yourself.

Lofu · 28/04/2021 17:58

I have framed DS's going home outfit as a keepsake, it's on his bedroom wall (one of those deep frames).

The clothes themselves aren't designer or anything, it was just a cute sleepsuit and a cardigan knitted by my gran. But it's a nice keepsake.

Unescorted · 28/04/2021 18:00

Pregnancy is a dignity bypass for sure.

Don't feel pressured into purchasing things - huge advertising budgets go into making us feel like shit mums because it helps the bottom line. A baby gro, cardie, hat and socks should be fine. Don't over think it lovely you will be fine.

SingleHandSue · 28/04/2021 18:03

A ‘going home’ outfit for baby was a thing years before Facebook and Instagram.

As pp have said it’s just a cute outfit for photos and for a keepsake afterwards.

I chose soft jersey dungarees sets and hand knitted cardis for my 2 DSs.

Girlmama3 · 28/04/2021 18:04

I just bought a nice sleep suit for baby. I've kept all of my daughters, it's a lovely reminder of how small they were when they came home!

For you, defo comfy. Maybe flip flops and a comfy cushion to sit on in the car.

Also, practice getting the car seat in. We had an isofix but couldn't for the life of us clip it in at 6am after no sleep 😂

Redcrayons · 28/04/2021 18:09

It’s just something to look nice on the photos. You don’t have to do it, your baby will be gorgeous anyway.

Mine were born pre FB so I definitely didn’t do it for that.

GalaxyGirl24 · 28/04/2021 18:10

As all PP have said, it's just a bit of a fancier outfit if you want to take special pics. I just got a nice sleepsuit for baby and made sure I had different outfit parts like a cardigan, hat, blankets etc weather dependant.

Make sure that your back has bottles of water and snacks for yourself though! Not gonna lie, I had a full master list of items for me, baby and DH and I'm so so glad I had plenty of snacks and water as well! Nutrigrains, crackers, crisps, apples, bananas, bottles of water and a bit of dilute. Honesty, as it was covid the nurses were quite busy (understandably) and so water wasn't filled up all the time and you will be mega thirsty as 1.) birth and 2.) hospitals are always boiling

Original poster

scrambledeggy · 28/04/2021 18:11

I didn't realise you were supposed to keep an outfit as a keepsake. I'll make a note to sort it. Hadn't even thought about photos! Just shows how ignorant I am I struggle to imagine or plan these things because I have lots and lots of worries about not bringing home a healthy baby (don't worry, I'm getting support).

Thank you especially for the car seat tip @Girlmama3! And for the kind words @Unescorted.

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Original poster

scrambledeggy · 28/04/2021 18:12

Wow, I hadn't thought of taking a water bottle with other snacks and drinks either! Great tip @GalaxyGirl24.

OP posts:

GertrudeKerfuffle · 28/04/2021 18:15

I didn't know this was a thing, and when I read your thread title I thought it meant for the mum and I'm picturing the Duchess of Cambridge shoehorning herself into a posh dress before facing the press outside the hospital

I think DC just wore whatever babygrow was clean for the short ride home in the car.

Caspianberg · 28/04/2021 18:20

I just put mine in plain white vest and sleepsuit. By the time you add a little cardigan and hat on baby there’s hardly any sleepsuit on show anyway. Mine had little knitted booties/ socks on also, so it really was just his little knees on show in white sleepsuit.
Add a little blanket

minniemomo · 28/04/2021 18:23

Ignore it, those lists are put together to sell things! A sleepsuit, vest, cardigan, and coat (adapted for weather of course) is fine. For you take something comfortable that fit you at circa 6 months pregnancy eg loose fitting dress and leggings

Redcrayons · 28/04/2021 18:28

You Don’t have to have a going home outfit, take photos, or keep anything.

Some people do, some people don’t. If it’s not for you then don’t sweat it.

Will 10000% agree on water bottle, the thermostats on post natal Ward Hover between ‘surface of the sun’ and ‘nuclear reactor’.

Sceptre86 · 28/04/2021 18:55

It doesn't necessarily have to be an outfit, it can be whatever you want it to be. So a nicer sleepsuit for example. When I had my dd she came home in a nice sleepsuit and a knitted cardigan and hat that her gran made. We did the same thing for ds as his nan had made him his own, so special to us but not 'fancy'. We do have pictures of when they came home for the first time but we were living with our inlaws and it was a family celebration. I did wear a slightly nicer outfit the first time, I learnt my lesson and the second time wore a loose dress and leggings. This time we will be coming back to our own home and baby has a sleepsuit with baby our surname on it. I will just chuck something nice but loose fitting on.

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