Best way to clothe babies - esp on a budget?

[BearMama]

Thoughts on this please...I plan to have my LO (due in March) in babygros and snowsuits for the first three months and am trying to resist the urge to buy all the cute clothes, even second hand as everyone says they grow out of it so fast.
I just found out today that there is a difference between "newborn" and "0-3". Novice mum alert!
Tell me your experience - what did you dress your LO in for the first year and what would you do differently?

Definitely buy some newborn sleepsuits. I was expecting a whopper with no. 3 who only came out weighing 8lb 10oz and DP had to go and buy some newborns as all my 0-3 months were still too big for him!

My mum used to make comments and ask why he wasn't dressed yet when I kept him in sleepsuits all day. I think they are very practical though. Sometimes I keep him in them all day now and he is 10 months old.

People will buy you lots of 0-3 and some 3-6 months too.

Ebay is good, as are nearly new NCT sales. These things don't get worn out so you really don't need to go out and buy stuff!! I haven't used any newborn stuff. Sleeves can always be rolled up!

Message withdrawn

My ds was 8lb and needed a few tiny baby sleepsuits as even the newborn ones were huge on him....0-3 months tend to fit 2-4 months unless you have a whopper?

I currentlt have 7 pappers boxes of clothes in the loft that ds has grown out of - he's only 10 months!!

you prob won't need to buy any - you'll get given enough prob. I just dressed mine in sleep suits for ages, loads of their 'posh/proper outfits' never/barely worn.

You prob. will need newborn and 0 - 3 cos you just don't know till it's out. only get a few of each tho, or even better , get someone else to get you them

I spent the last couple of months of pregnancy adding a pack of vests / sleepsuits to the supermarket shop each week, just the plain white ones, £5 for 7 vests or £5 for 3 sleepsuits.

got a couple of day outfits in size 3-6 months but we got lots of cute outfits as gifts.

Depends on your budget but the tesco / sainsbury ones (no experience of other supermarket ones) are perfectly good you don't need to spend huge money on babygap stuff.

hope that makes sense.

I just got 3 short sleeved vests in asda for £1.50.

The next sale is good for nice things too - all half price.

I get nearly everything from ebay, charity shops or from the sale rail.

You can do it very cheaply. I think you definately do need some newborn but not very many it will only be a couple of weeks before you need 0-3.

Good luck

My girls 7lb 12oz and 9lb 1oz were too big for new born clothes luckily I was told about this beofre hand and olny bought a pack of three newborn babygros and they are used for dolls and not wasted. Most shops sell cheap packs of babygros, Mothercare had/has a buy one get on half price offer on packs of babygros. Babygros are the most comfortable things for your baby to wear and it's not only something people on a budget use for day wear.

Just seen you are an east coaster - I'm just outside G'gow - I have tons of boy stuff if you know what you are having?

The best, and easiest, and prob cheapest way is to get a stack of really low price sleepsuits - some with short sleeves and no legs, and some with long sleeves and long legs with toes.
You will never need to bother with socks this way and they are quite pricey/keep falling off.
Just a vest suit under a longy suit and you're sorted. Add a cardi or jumper on top if needed.
I would be tempted with dresses etc for girls (boy stuff is boring!) but this can be got second hand from charity shops and also in sales - I bought everything really cheap from Gap sale rail, like 99p an item - it did involve being around the shops a lot and these days I don't see the bargains as we are at home more (and spend less!) but it's true, they do grow out quickly.
My motto is don't buy anything unless it is dirt cheap and/or second hand.
If you can rein in a Granny or two to knit simple jumpers, they can be a Godsend too

Don't buy too much. Always buy from tesco/asda/matalan and in the sale! I'm such a tighta@£$! I love sleepsuits on babies and ds(10months) is often in them if I don't have to go anywhere(other than preschool to drop off/collect dd)

If you have a girl don't buy too many fancy dresses/skirts until she can walk. They end up everywhere exposing there bottoms and IMO doesn't look great

Do you have anyone you can borrow the clothes from? I wish i'd thought of borrowing baby things even moses baskets as they use everything for such a short time.

I recommend bootfairs for toys. You have to watch some peoples tat but I have bought dc some lovely toys which are hardly used for a few quid.

I would definately buy 2nd hand things as they are barely worn. Mind you in the case of my 2 who were/are sicky I wouldn't pass on a lot of their clothes!

Good luck ds is a year old in april I miss the tiny baby stage bt he is still pretty cute

Ask on freecycle, you will be surprised at what people offer, especially for baby clothes as they get so little wear so are almost brand new condition. Then pass them on on freecycle when you are done.

keep an eye out for FFP on here, I have some lovely boys stuff from some incredibly generous MNers also if you know anyone who has recently had a baby ask if you can be cheeky and borrow some.

Primark is good for baby clothes - 7 vests for £5 I think.
Have to disagree on the new born stuff though - my 3 were in 0-3 months immediately and they weren't enormous (all around 8lb 12). The baby gros were a bit big at first but they grow so quickly and the babygros will probably shrink so it made sense to me.

Whever said Boots I would have to dsagree with too I'm afraid - I think they are a bit procey - Tesco and Asda along with Primark would be my best bet for a baby on a budget.

Do you have any friends who will hand stuff down to you?

Boots sale is very good, especially combined with parenting club bonuses.

I think primark vests (or anything) ere false economy, they are no doubt very thin poor quality material that will wash hideously and can't be passed on.

Thanks for input - I just cant imagine faffing about with actual clothes on a tiny baby!
Geordie I am having a girl btw if you were asking me? Sorry wasnt sure!
I have been on the lookout in charity shops lately and got some really cute things for 6 mo+
Being esp vigilant as no parents or grandparents so dont want to make assumptions about being given stuff. Would rather have it before the birth as the last thing I will want to do is shop.

Very useful advice everyone

Forgot to ask - how many of everything, on average did you get through ie newborn vests/onesies in a day/week, just want to make sure I have enough without feeling I have to be constantly washing stuff to keep up.

I have loads of girl things, I've given loads away but still keep digging bits out.
Let me know if you want them.

Echo freecycle, I am giving away loads. Babies really dont need much -- 8 vests, 2 hats and 6 babygros and you're covered, although personally I like having a few pairs of socks and scratch mitts, too. I have been offered loads, too, from other mums. I know not everyone is so lucky, but once you become a regular at m+Tots groups you'll get offers.

Carboot sales, too, I was selling good quality vests, babygros, trousers and other clothes items for 5p each.

that's a difficult question. Will depend on the baby. If not a sicky baby(which mine both were/are) then probably 3 outfits a day max But I seemed to change mine more, still do with ds luckily for me ds' clothes were given to me by 2 friends who both have ds' a few months older than mine

I could send you all the white/cream babygros and vests I have?

Tesco / Primark / Asda / Matalan all fine quality. I have primark vests which will be on their 3rd baby in July!

I would say you need more vests than sleepsuits because of poo leakage! I would get 6 vests and 3 sleepsuits in newborn, and twice that in 0-3. It won't matter if the 0-3 are a bit roomy to start with! You can always buy another pack if you find you keep running out, or buy extra but keep it in the packaging with the receipt so it can go back if poss. You will also need a couple of cardigans to go on top.

TDWP - I've realised that I sound like I'm fishing for freebies - am really not! If you want to email me on [email protected] and we can sort something out?
I was more being cynical at the baby clothes market I guess.
OneHandedTypist - thanks for those easy-to-digest figures and tips.

Geordie - see my comment above to TDWP- would love babygros and vests, esp after isaidno's comment about "poo leakage" lol.

Freecycle is the place to go for all your baby needs - all of mine has gone on there, and I've seen some of it go back on as its been outgrown by the next baby.
Also sterilisers, bouncy chairs, moses baskets, baby baths etc are always on ours.