Confused about baby clothes!

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Hi there, I'm a first time mum, and know nothing about babies. I'm starting to think about getting in some basics (for mid-april) but am utterly confused. Research on Mumsnet has told me to not bother with newborn size and go straight to 0-3 but other than that I am clueless!

What is the difference between sleepsuit/bodysuit/romper suit?

I think the difference between these and a vest is that a vest is legless?

Does baby wear a vest underneath things or on its own (with BabyLegs)?

Does it need socks/hat etc

Lots of manuals give you a list but its things like 2 x romper 2x sleep 4x body 4 x vest and that seems a lot of duplication?! And it doesn't tell you what baby actually wears.

I need a simple list of what baby wears at one time, and how much you reckon I need.

Also, do you know of a source of kimono/wrap style vests other than Frugi?

Sorry for such a long first post!

ditto buying newborn stuff, a substantially over 9lb baby here still needed newborn stuff (which of course we had neglected to buy any of- cue frantic supermarket trip). Also ditto supermarket vests/ sleepsuits, absolutely fine for the length of time little babies are in them.

Poos are super leaky, plus (if anything like us) you won't have 'perfected' your nappy putting on technique, so all the duplication is because you get poos and wees and milk and sick on lots of things (sounds grim I know but really really isn't!).

Also I curse baby socks, bloody nightmare falling off everywhere, but mine lived in footed trousers (Jo Jo do them plus mothercare and other places, but Jo Jo def do a double pack). They were a godsend, and a vest plus top plus them equalled easily dressed and comfy baby when you don't want them in/ feel like a change from sleepsuits- myself I avoided all proper outfits at the start, fiddly and looked uncomfortable for baby.

1 more layer than you is the common advice I think for little ones- which basically means a vest under most things (no/short/long sleeve depending on time of year) unless it's proper hot. Use your common sense though, I feel your angst because I had no clue what they wore, was terrified of my (July) baby being freezing and consequently boiled him on first car trip out despite the fact we were in vest tops and shorts, thinking 'he MUST wear a vest! all the books say so!'... (must add poor sausage was fine!)

oranges123 I had no idea that you could take envelope necks on and off over the feet! That's going to save me a lot of stressing over finding wrap style vests!

forgot to say la redoute do loads of wrap vests, and they are pretty thin too so great in warmer months

Most of the newborn clothes I bought are far too big for my 7lb 3oz girl so I would say definitely buy newborn stuff. She would be completely swamped in 0-3 months. If you don't want to spend too much you can always go to an NCT sale or buy in the supermarkets where they do them quite cheap. I have found Next's sizing to be the best.

Don't bother buying too many shortie bodysuits - it's the long legged/sleeved sleepsuits you can't have too many of. My baby spends all her time in them and I only had 4 before she arrived so quickly bought more.

sweetkitty I'm in scotland too so may need to think slightly warmer too - any excuse for a cow print snowsuit

It can be quite cold here even in May, DD3 was a June baby and it was that very cold wet miserable Summer and I think I put her in a snowsuit a few times.

0-3 months are up to 14lbs so there's quite a difference between 7lbs odd newborn an 14lbs IYSWIM.

I think you can get nonpadded all on ones fleecy material with attached hat they would be good for a sling as well.

I wish I'd been able to read this before the first baby, I was totally confused too!

Agree with most of the above, but would add that dd1 was very sicky in addition to the usual nappy explosions, and often got through x5 vests and bodysuits each day, so I use base 10 as a minimum.

Cardis for on top of the sleepsuits, and for outside, a pramsuit, which is basically a thickly padded sleepsuit all-in-one style garment which goes over everything.

Great idea about dyeing the muslins- it was annoying that they were sick coloured to start with.

Also sizing- I thought that about the 0-3 too, but dd1 was 4lb 15oz and my Dad had to go out for tiny baby (5lbish) and newborn (7lb up) size. We didn't get to 0-3 for a few weeks.

hth and enjoy your shopping!

Mmmm, sling. I love my sling

Get a sling - they are fantastic, you pop baby inside and as if by magic they stop crying. Wonderful things

Ds grew out of the feet of supermarket babygrows, before he was ready to grow out the the babygrows themselves. M&S and Mothercare were more proportionally sized ime and stood repeated washings very well for next baby.

and Next

Only get a fleecy snowsuit, not a padded one - they are a complete pain to get on in the first place and you have to take them off when you put the baby in the car as they are dangerous used with carseats.

Excellent that you have a sling If you find the Ergo a bit clunky to use with a newborn (they are excellent for older babies) try a stretchy wrap - you can make one very cheaply with no sewing involved.

Also remember you might not have a sicky baby - DS wasn't one and I could get away with using clothes a few times before washing them

I found that shops are very very good at changing baby clothes, even now DD is 2.1 I took some clothes back to change the sizes recently and they were still good about it, no receipts because they were presents. So don't be afraid to stock up on newborn and change if necessary.

One other thing I wish I had done was take DH out to Mothercare or somewhere and show him what everything was. I sent him out on day 2 for various supplies and he was on the phone all the way round the shop. It was like Treasure Hunt!

Congratulations

Re slings - it was only on DD3 that I realised that you could put the carrier on and your coat on top! [thickie emoticon] - obviously not with the ring-sling thingies but if you get a Baby Bjorn type carrier you put it over your clothes then put your coat on. Admittedly I borrowed one I didn't like for DD1 so never used it but with DD2 I stupidly put it over my coat to go round the shops and was overheating by the first shop! DD3 I used it loads.

bodysuits are basically vests with poppers - great while they are in the nappy stages as they don't ride up and leave their tummies cold. Move into vests when past the nappy stage.

I wish I had discovered slings sooner! Having tried a few now I much prefer the stretchy wrap around ones to the Baby Bjorn, particularly for newborns they're just so lovely and snuggly, and better for your baby anyway - with the Baby Bjorn your baby's weight is basically supported on its groin and it's not very good for them.

It's so nice to be able to put your baby in a sling sometimes and have your hands free, and be able to manage stairs etc easily, rather than struggling around with a bulky push chair.

There are lots of other reasons slings are great, but I'll stop there! I don't mean to turn this into a sling discussion! I just though I'd mention it as I wish someone had to me when I was buying stuff for my new baby. They seemed really expensive (about £50) but in retrospect I think that would have been £50 very well spent.

Yes, slings are excellent! I have an ergoBaby, but got it after DS was a newborn, so can't comment on how it holds a littlun (I gather they have an insert for newborns, to prevent them falling out the side!).

I second what Heated said about feet outgrowing footed suits/babygros, although we did have Mothercare ones, and Yeti-DS had scrunched feet! (poor child, taking after his mother).

Rockbird mentioned exchanging clothes. I'd say it's not just easy, but essential, as people will give you all sorts of nonsense (wrong size, too many of something, yuck clothes, etc.). Do not feel inhibited about taking things back and getting other things or a voucher. No-one ever buys a mother the vests she needs, so on occasions, when I was given yet another pair of dungarees or whatever, I just wrote my thank you letter and took the present back to Mothercare or Next and got some vests, or a voucher. Don't feel guilty; gift-givers don't know, and babies grow so fast, they can't possibly expect to see DC in what they bought him/her. They won't even notice, and you will boost their generosity by making it useful . Now that I am a parent, I am pleased if I get a present useful enough not to be exchanged, and completely support the parent who needs to swap my present for something else.

BTW, Mothercare lets you put credit back onto your gift card, so if someone gives you a gift card, do keep it, and charge it back up again with returns! I found this so useful.

I have the Ergobaby too, but I didn't have it from newborn either. It's great now DS is older, but personally I prefer the wrap arounds, especially for newborns - they're just more snuggly IYSWIM!

Although I've never actually tried the Ergobaby with a real little one, it might be great for all I know

I must say though, the Ergobaby is much better all round then the Baby Bjorn IMO, it's just a much better design and it distributes your baby's weight much more evenly (i.e. not just on your shoulders & your baby's crotch) which is much better for both of you.

you could alway visit www.thecuddlesco.co.uk they have a great range of baby basics, and there all at great prices!!