FTM - How Much Newborn Baby Clothes to Buy?

[mummylove24]

Can any second third etc. mummy’s help, I’m budgeting and going to start buying clothes 🥰, I’m due winter Feb 2024, how many of each sizes should I buy 0-3m, 3-6m, 6-9m. What did you buy and use/never use etc?

I’ve roughly estimated winter/spring clothes 0-3m then summer 3-6m, autumn 6-9m.

Any advice I’d be grateful 💖💙

Note: I’m not expecting/relying on family/friends buying clothes (if they do it’s a bonus❤️)

Honestly, don't buy anything too far in advance. Save the £ up and just buy as you need it. Every baby is different. DC2 is 3.5 months and has been in 3-6 months since 6 weeks (because of his length). DC1 was born at the same weight as DC2 and tracked the same weight but was a completely different shape and wore 0-3 for much longer! I also have friends who had smaller babies who stayed in 0-3 for multiple seasons!

Also there isn't a huge consistency in sizes between stores, one stores 0-3 months will be long and skinny, another stores will be short and wide.

I really wouldn't get too ahead of yourself, I bought a ton of cute clothes in the Next sale one year predicting the sizes/season and DD grew like a weed she was in 3-6 months at 4 weeks and her she had winter stuff for summer and vice versa. . She never slowed down either and was 5ft9 at 12 years 😊

Clothes are so quick and easy to get delivered I'd buy a few packs of plain white sleep suits to get you through the first few weeks, they'll get ruined anyway by poonamis and forgetting to pull the leg ruffles out of the nappy. Other people will buy you loads of the younger age group clothes too, you'll just need to fill the gaps.

Keep it simple. 6 sleepsuits in newborn/0-1m, same again in 0-3m. Then same in bodysuits. Couple of little cardigans and hats.

Done.

People will gift loads, or you'll get people offering their hand me downs etc.

Once they get firmly into 0-3m buy the same again in 3-6m.

Probs about £30 per size for all that.

Definitely don't stock up too much if you can resist - I ended up with lots I didn't use first time round, baby was born massive and in 3-6 within a week, then they grow randomly so the summer stuff I'd bought fit way early but he didn't fit into the winter stuff yet when that rolled round! And I'd bought loads of really cute outfits when the reality was I just put him in babygros for the first 3 months.
You'll find you have preferences on how to dress them etc and then you can add to your stock with what you need. And you could have the opposite issues to any of us - you just don't know until they arrive and you get stuck in.
Except socks - I have never ever managed to have enough socks.
Also congratulations 🎊

Also see if there's a clothing exchange near you - we've got one down the road, run by volunteers from a local church, and it's fantastic for swapping sizes/things he never wore etc.

None of my three kids have ever grown in line the age clothes. I’ve had two babies that were too big for newborn full stop, one in newborn for a whole and stayed a size behind her age till she was 2.
I’d buy the bare minimum at the last minute and keep receipts.

@mummylove24 I had a February baby this year. More than I realised, little babies live in sleepsuits and they are not mega fans of being dressed in clothes 😂. I would recommend a combination of newborn and 0-3 sleepsuits - I had a 3.7kg baby and she still needed newborn. John Lewis basic white ones are great and for a more expensive, very soft option, Mori ones are fab too (and they have a zip which in the first few months when you're changing baby at night is so so nice!).

Then I'd get a a few cardigans which you can dress over a sleepsuit and maybe 2 nice outfits for showing baby to friends if you're that way inclined. You can also get 'nicer' sleep suits from Trotters for eg, or Magnet Mouse.

I highly recommend looking on Vinted too - so many new and barely used bits for tiny ones as they just grow so so quickly!

These are amazing for the buggy as they're easy to get a sleeping baby out of... unlike most Pramsuits! https://www.tuppenceandcrumble.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1sjCvNaqgQMVWtntCh1awAQvEAAYAiAAEgLiPDD_BwE

I loved shopping for my baby but I didn't really start until post 20 week scan just incase! Have fun!! X

@Whentwobecomesthree Thank you for your advice! It's true, every baby is unique, and their growth can vary😍. I appreciate your suggestion to buy as needed and consider the differences in store sizes. 🙏💖💙

@Singleandproud Thanks, oh wow 5ft 9!!! 😍 I did think I might be too early I guess I'm think about my energy levels too, to do it now. I'll definitely consider getting some plain white sleep suits for the early days. Your advice is much appreciated! 😊💖💙

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz Thank you so much! Will try and keep it simple and having a few essentials on hand sounds like a better approach, and you're right, people often generously gift baby clothes. 😊👶💖💙

@Natty83 Thank you hun! Its exciting!! I'll keep in mind not to go overboard with cute outfits. I'll make sure to stock up on those little sockies!😍 I need to look in the clothes exchange as well. 🎊👶💖💙

@HippeePrincess Thank you for sharing. It's wise advice to buy the minimum and much later like you said and keep receipts! I think some shops say if its past 28 days they give you store credit, so its still usable 👶💖💙

@FlyOnTheWall89 Thank you so much , this is helpful! you had a Feb baby too, congrats hun😍! I'll stock up on sleepsuits. I'll definitely check out the brands you mentioned and explore Vinted for baby items, only tried eBay. This is all so exciting. 😊👶💖💙

I'd definitely avoid stocking up on bigger sizes, unless it's just vests and baby grows and things like leggings and tops which can be layered with a cardigan if needed. My DD is 8 months but about to go into 12-18 clothes and all of the summer clothes I'd kindly been given which should've fitted her were far to small because she's a big whole lump of gorgeous squishiness. My son was the same!

I barely bought any newborn for my little one as everyone said it wasn't worth it/won't be in it for long, so I literally had 2 sleep suits. She was born at 7lb and even newborn was too big for her! I had to rush out and buy more lol. She was in newborn for about 6 weeks. Obviously hard to predict as every child is different but I would definitely get a good few in, also puts less pressure on getting the washing done constantly too 😅

I buy a lot in sales for the upcoming seasons/sizes but I have a little girl so if she fits in the summer clothes too early, for example, I'll just put long sleeve/tights/knee high socks etc under the summer clothes 🤷🏻‍♀️ definitely saved me a lot of money