What baby clothing do I pack for new arrival?

[SquashPenguin]

I’m currently 40+1 with my first, and I’m trying to pack the baby’s bag for hospital. My bag is done, but what clothing do I take for the baby? I’m assuming two of everything? It’s not exactly freezing nor is it boiling hot so what type of clothing? I’ve got two blankets/ long sleeved baby grows (with feet)/ hat and mitts, but what else?

Fortunately we live a 5 min drive from the hospital if my partner needs to collect something we’ve forgotten, but I feel like my mind has gone blank trying to pack this bag! We also don’t know what we are having so buying clothing has been kept to an absolute minimum so far. What am I forgetting?!

Baby grows and scratchmitts and not much else.

Just make sure to take newborn size as 0-3 months drowned my DS and I had to send DH out to buy smaller.

Don't forget nappies (hospital often won't supply), and definitely consider smaller size clothes- they're so scrunched up when they arrive

I have a July baby and the maternity ward was boiling. I didn't pack blankets because the hospital provided them. I packed a hat (for when she was born) and a couple of sleepsuits and vests. Also a cardigan for when she came home. I ended up needing more because we spent a few days in hospital postpartum.

My little girl was small even in newborn clothes, but I know people who were in 0-3 months clothes from birth. It depends if OP knows if her baby is bigger than average.

This is very helpful and has helped confirm I’m not missing anything too obvious! Clothing is all newborn size, baby is measuring pretty much bang on average so I’m hoping it’s not too small for them. I’m just staring at the bag expecting some sort of wisdom about it all and I feel like I don’t have a clue!

Check the weight because it's different for different brands. Maybe pack some 0-3 months just in case.

Bodysuit, sleepsuit, and a blanket to add coming home.

To be honest I wouldn't bother with a "coming home" outfit, just take an extra sleepsuit (so pack of 3)

Work out wear sells "tiny baby" size just in case so you can send someone to fetch if needed. I had be told an estimate of 7lb 8 at 39 weeks then a week later she was born at 6lb and short so the midwife gave me a smaller preemie sized sleepsuit as newborn drowned her, newborn nappies were also too big for the first week but again the "friends of" the hospital gave me a pack of smaller ones made for preemies.

I packed newborn/0-3 vests and babygros. Nappies and cotton wool (we didn't use wipes at first). And some muslins.

And a hat (c-section) and blanket for the drive home.

I had a Jan baby and the post-natal ward was very warm. Mine wasn't sicky and didn't poo/wee through things so didn't get through clothes rapidly, and spent most time doing skin tonskin. Hospital provided a cellular blanket for the time we were there.

Second that.
Also, think about how you want to feed your baby. My first was emergency c section and I was really happy I packed premade formula with tits.
Maternity staff was very against formula feed although my milk did not come and baby was screaming from hunger for hours. I was told off for using formula and they were explicity they would not provide any.
Second baby was different scenario and she was offered formula and staff was ok with mixing milk.

Sleeveless vests to go under the babygrows. You may not need depending on hospital temp but worth having.

I wouldn’t bother with mittens. Just make sure you have the babygrows with the fold over sleeves. One less thing to get lost!

I think I packed 5 sleeveless vests and 5 babygrows, nappies and nappy sacks, water wipes and large cotton wool pads. Car seat and cellular blanket for leaving. I packed 2 little hats but the hospital gave him a hand knitted one which I treasure.

For myself: 3 long baggy nightshirts and a couple of pairs of leggings, underwear and toiletries. Had my crocs to shuffle about in and an outfit for going home in. Remember to bring an extra long phone charger, headphones and earplugs.

If you find you need anything else or you end up staying longer than expected, your husband or friends/family can drop things in.

I'm 38 weeks and have packed:

• 5 sleepsuits with feet and mittens - in up to 1 month size. I was 7lbs 15.5oz at birth and would have been too big for newborn size. Baby is on 72nd centile so am assuming he'll be bigger than I was!
• a pack of wipes
• a pack of 24 newborn Nappies from my Emma's Diary pack
• vitamin d drops

My hospital is next door to a big Sainsbury's so if needs be DH can buy smaller or larger clothes or any extra Nappies etc.

I was told the hospital would provide bedding and blankets whilst we were there. Baby is due on 1 June so assuming the weather will be reasonably mild. I previously had surgery at the hospital in autumn (ruptured ectopic) and it was boiling hot in the gynae ward so am assuming it'll be equally warm in June, if not more so!

I wouldn't bother with mittens unless it's really cold - babies like playing with their hands, and they learn quickly not to scratch themselves. And it helps with oxytocin and milk let-down letting them touch you skin-to-skin if you're breastfeeding.

Use babygrows with feet so you're not fiddling about with socks. I also really recommend the ones with poppers down the side so you can open them up completely and just put baby down on top when you're getting them dressed - I found anything that had to go over the baby's head rather perplexing for the first few days! You get less nervous about handling them after that 😁

Oh and I wouldn't stress too much about sizes, if they do end up in a suit that's a bit too baggy then it's not the end of the world.

I had a winter baby and the postnatal ward was stifling hot, dc spent the time in short-sleeved baby grows. Take more than you think you will need.

Maybe take a 0-3 baby grow or have on stand by at home. My first was nearly 10lb and my mum had to cut the feet of baby grows. On other hand my 4th who i was told was gonna be big was less than 7lb and xdh had to go and buy newborn.
I'd also take minimal of 3 baby grows and vests, check if hospital provides blankets.

28 (Jan baby) and 32 (July baby) years ago, US, I packed a going home outfit for each. My hospital provided all things for the baby: diapers, wipes, onesies, lotion, and formula bottles (as needed).

For me a gown, housecoat, change for the vending machines, and slippers. My hospital provided the net undies and the kotex.

The clothes I wore to the hospital, both times, got worn home. Most of the time the only weight you lose due to birth is the baby's weight. So not much reason to grab a pre-pregnancy size.

Another thing to remember, you can dress the baby to your degree to coolness or warmness. If you are warm, dress baby cool. If you are cold, dress baby warm. My July baby was dressed in a hospital onesie the entire three day stay. My Jan baby always had a blanket on as it was a bit cool in our room.

Vest, sleepsuit, hat & scratch mittens (all x2) and a little cardigan for the way home. Nappies x6, wipes or cotton wool, dummy if your giving one (we didn't), formula if not breastfeeding, couple of burp cloths

My baby was 6lb7 but actually quite petite and newborn clothes were quite big on her, wished I’d had at least a couple of tiny baby sleep suits. Mothercare clothes from boots measure way big, and I found JoJo newborn clothes big too. Also didn’t realise size 0 nappies existed and we only had size 1s to start with which were massive 🫣

As many baby grows as you think, triple it, same with vests. Take some snacks for yourself

Nappies, wipes or cotton wool to use with water, 2 or 3 vests and grows (mine were in newborn for first few weeks but did arrive at 37 weeks) hats, scratch mittens, a blanket but mine stayed in hospital ones till we came home. You could take a couple of bottles of ready made formula as a just in case, regardless of your plan with feeding, plans don't always work out.

A folding travel changing mat is really useful for changing them on your bed.

Bring a 0-3mo and even a 3-6mo size for safety! They can measure small. Or maybe just be tall! Baby slippers?

got diapers and bottles for home? And a Car seat!

slippers for you, and a robe? Nursing bra? Comfy socks? Leaving hospital outfit for you? Body wash and toiletries for after?