What do newborns wear at home? So lost, not sure what to buy and in what quantities?

[Lumosmaximos]

I watched many videos but still very confused what clothes to buy for my baby, I am currently looking at 0-3 clothes. I am expecting a baby in March in the UK.

I understand that indoors babies wear bodysuit under the sleepsuit when it colder and bodysuits only when it is warmer. I also saw babies wearing bodysuits with pants.

For the first 3 months, let's say till end of May, would you say my baby will spend most of the time indoors in sleepsuit over bodysuit? And if so, would you go for a short sleeve or long sleeve bodysuits? Or would the baby wear just the bodysuit indoors? Again, short sleeve or long sleeve? Or bodysuit with pants? Or just sleepsuit?

For outdoors I'd imagine it is bodysuit+sleepsuit+cardigan+blanket?

Sorry if I sound silly, I suddenly feel like I don't remember how warm/cold it feels in spring indoors and not sure if babies feel colder/warmer than adults.

It seems to say everywhere that sleepsuits are definitely the most worn thing, so I will definitely buy those, just really not sure about how many bodysuits I need and if I need short or long sleeved ones for spring? And if I should buy some pants?

Thank you!

You’re giving it too much thought. Vests and babygrows will do indoors and if it’s chilly a blanket. There’s nothing more to it really.

A vest and a babygrow. A cardigan or similar if it’s really cold, a blanket when they’re sleeping. One more layer than you is about right. Don’t overthink it though 🙂

Vest, babygrow/sleepsuit and a cardigan if needed. Baby needs one more layer then you. If you're comfortable in just a t-shirt, put a vest & sleepsuit on the baby. If you put a cardigan on, put a cardigan on the baby.

Outside, depending on the weather, pramsuit, hat and blanket.

I'd get short sleeve or sleeveless vests.

Think about how many layers you wear and follow that.

Following as also due first baby at the beginning of March and am completely clueless!

Babygrow and vest (bodysuit) at home. Probably short sleeved vest but doesn't really matter. Cardigan as well outside and a blanket .
Leggings and a vest is fine too if you want but babygrows are easier.

Also unless you're having a big baby, you might want some newborn size as well, or up to 1 month, not just 0-3 to start.

Mine wore a short-sleeved bodysuit all year round under their clothes unless it was very hot in summer. As well as an extra layer, it’s practical as it helps to contain any nappy leaks etc.

On top, a sleepsuit for the first few weeks is fine. You don’t want to be wrestling a tiny baby into complicated outfits. Just get plenty of sleepsuits with poppers. In the house that will probably be enough. Outside you’ll want a cardi and a hat plus blankets, or a snowsuit if it’s really cold (don’t use in the car though as you can’t get the straps tight enough).

My newborns wore a short sleeved vest and a long sleeved bodysuit for at least the first 3 months. I really never saw the point of newborn 'outfits'. They brought up milk or there's a small nappy leakage often so it was very common to need to change the bodysuit once if not more a day. There were cardi's and blankets to keep them warm if need be. Try not to overthink about it or worry too much (I know that is hard when everything feels so new and confusing!)
So, to answer your question, short sleeved vest / body suit, long sleeved body suit, cardi/blankets as needed. Congrats! X

WTF is a “sleepsuit”?

I just put onesies (long sleeve, long legs plus feet) on them and added a jumper or hoodie if a bit chilly. Outdoors, they had a onsie fleece coat thingy with built in mittens that you slip on over the cotton onesie.

For nighttime, it was a baby gown…long sleeve and like a full length skirt underneath plus socks.

Ask on Freecycle, Nextdoor for babygrows etc. People are always looking to get rid of stuff. Save your cash for 'nice' clothes for when they're a bit older. Baby won't notice or care!

Sleepsuits are the official names for onesies. It’s what they call them on the packs of three you get. I have always assumed babygros are also sleepsuits!

By bodysuits you mean vests I guess? I would buy shedloads- say about 15 (supermarkets do multipacks) because it is entirely feasible that your explosive little bundle of joy could get through 4 in a day.

Then normally they wear a sleepsuit (babygro) over the top, unless it's really warm. (And it is lovely on a warm summer's day to have them rolling around on a blanket in the shade in just their nappy 😊). Again, buy loads. Then a few cardigans and a blanket or 2 and you're sorted.

Relatives may well present you with the equivalent of baby black tie or ball gown, which will inevitably get puked on after 10 minutes 😆

Thank you all for your answers, it is starting to make more sense!
@Onnabugeisha It seems some terms are used interchangeably, I was explained (may be wrongly) that bodysuit is the thing that has no legs and comes either sleevless or short sleeved or long sleeved. And sleepsuit is the one that has legs with feet and long sleeves. It is confusing as I think vest term is also used for bodysuit, I see bodysuit used to describe sleepsuit and there are also onesies, babygrows etc 🤯

You just described a sleepsuit 😅 that's what some shops call them now.

OP definitely look on marketplace and Vinted for bundles and I imagine you'll get gifted a lot of things too.

Totally understand the confusion OP, I was also bewildered before I had my first baby in February.

I would say:

• you should assume baby will always be in a bodysuit and sleepsuit unless it’s a hot summer’s day in which case just a vest (or some days just a nappy) will do.
• good rule of thumb is baby should always be in one more layer than you, but check their temp by feeling their chest or back with the backs of your fingers and seeing if they’re too hot or cold to the touch, and remove or add layers as needed.
• friends and family will likely buy you “cute” outfits like dungarees, cardis, trousers. Get a couple of cardigans but don’t go nuts with cute outfits as they’re more hassle to put on and you want the outfit changes to be quick and easy in the early days as there will be lots! Babies also don’t really have “day” and “night” clothes until they’re a little older.
• I’d say maybe get 6 long sleeved and 6 short sleeved bodysuit in 0-3 months and see how you get on. Maybe 10 baby gros, a mixture of zips and poppers! Maybe half that in newborn size, but it really depends what size baby you have and that’s just guesswork! Better to have bigger stuff for them to grow into though. Assuming you put a wash on every couple of days, that should be fine, even if they have poo explosions through nearly every outfit! You can always stock up easily.
• Yes for outside in spring, you can probably assume bodysuit, sleepsuit, cardigan, blanket and hat!

Hope that helps!

Yeah you're massively overthinking this, but all of us are partial to a bit of overthinking especially with DC1!

Vest (short sleeve probably, buy a pack of sleeveless too, it won't matter that much) and a sleepsuit in the house, cardigan if it's cool. If you're having an average size baby then you'll need newborn size rather than 0-3 months. Feel the back of baby's neck to check temperature. Clammy skin means they're too hot.

Thank you, I must be showing my age! Last time I was pregnant was 19yrs ago
☺️

Just realised I used some of the terms interchangeably which won’t have helped!

sleepsuit = babygro = onesie
bodysuit = vest

Generally in the U.K. for most of the year it's a bodysuit and sleepsuit, I would have a cardigan or similar to put on as well if your house is colder/visiting a colder house. For the summer you can sometimes fitch the bodysuit or sleepsuit - temperatures vary a lot!

Mine also had outfits, dresses and tights

I'm so glad you posted this OP. I'm due in April hand have been thinking the exact same thing today.

I know you've had a few comments about overthinking it, but I think people are forgetting how little they might have known pre-baby. I am clueless, had no idea they wear the vest under the sleepsuit, thought it was one or the other, and cardigans seem so outdated!

Hoping they cover some of this in antenatal classes.

I came to post similar but this post sums up my advice perfectly.

Definitely avoid spending money on "cute" outfits. They will get stained and are a pain when doing so many nappy changes (a couple is nice for some photos but don't go mad).

Most of the time in Spring baby will need a vest and a sleepsuit at home and outside a cardigan, hat and blanket (unless the weather is especially cold).

The "one layer more than you" works well but do remember a hat outside as it's easy to forget how insulated our heads are by hair.

It may sound odd, but once you have your baby so many things you were anxious about just click into place and you instinctively know what to do - so my best advice is to trust your gut if unsure (though there is nothing wrong in asking for ideas/getting input from HCP's etc).

You'll know by your baby's different cry's (that will sound the same to many other people) what they need - a nappy change/feed/uncomfortable etc