What’s most important to you when choosing baby clothes? Share with Baby Boden - £200 voucher to be won

[JustineBMumsnet]

Whether you’re purchasing for your own baby or as a gift for a loved one, selecting newborn baby clothes can be a really special experience. However, there can be a lot to consider, so in celebration of their new organic cotton newborn range, Baby Boden would like to hear what’s important to you when choosing baby clothes.

Here’s what Boden has to say: “Baby Boden is excited to share its brand new newborn organic cotton range. In a selection of aww-inspiring designs with Boden signature details, the new collection is made from snuggly soft organic cotton which is kinder to the planet and gentle on the softest of skin.

The collection features snuggly zip-up sleepsuits, bodies in packs of 3, reversible styles, dresses, hats, dungarees, and also gift sets ranging from 4 to 7 pieces, which all come in a matching fabric bag or a beautiful Baby Boden gift box - perfect for gifting new parents who are expecting a new arrival. The whole range is machine washable, and carefully constructed with the safety and comfort of little ones in mind so you don’t have to worry.”

Do you put a lot of thought into the fabric of your baby’s clothes, perhaps preferring organic cotton? Is it important to you that your baby’s clothes are as soft as possible? Perhaps your clothing choices are influenced by the fabric’s effect on your baby’s skin? Or are you most interested in the washability and longevity of your choices? Maybe you’re most interested in the placement of poppers, buttons or zips, to ensure it’s convenient when you need to do a swift nappy change?

All who share what they believe to be most important when purchasing baby clothes will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 Boden voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Comfort and practicality

Is the material soft, is there plenty of room in arms etc so not going to be tight

How do you dress and undress them, is it an outfit that you can remove/add layers too or may it be too warm if you go somewhere and the heat is turned up higher than expected, how much fuss is it to change a nappy

For a young baby I think the most important thing is value for money e.g. being able to chose a pack with a number of sleep suits, vests etc. but for older toddlers and children I think longevity, quality and patterns or design of clothing is more important.

Soft, comfortable, natural fabrics. Easy care, tumble dry option is important. I prefer neutral shades such as white, lemon, mint etc. I like babies to look like babies and don’t buy clothes with slogans on or that look too adult. I try and buy clothes that can be easily taken on and off and are not fussy.

Soft cotton or natural fibres
Easy to get on and off
Wash well and don’t lose their shape
Durable
Don’t fade

There needs to be more clothes for slim long babies ime!

Soft fabrics and ideally organic but it can be more expensive.
Also how fiddly they are to get on and off and if they will fit over cloth nappies. I always check the washing instructions, if it can't be chucked in the washing machine with a random load it tends to not get bought! If it's got a massive label that can't be cut off and might irritate skin I'll avoid it, I prefer clothes with the 'printed labels' (not sure what they're called!).

Soft, comfortable, natural fabrics, with no unnecessary pockets or bulky trimmings. Reasonable price, not too expensive. Cute designs, to look like a baby, not a miniature adult. Some slogans are fun, but nothing with a boy/girl stereotype.

It's all about comfort for me!
The sleepsuits with poppers on the back and an applique design on the front are beautiful, but they're more difficult to get on and off so they'll never be used as often as the other type.
Fabric composition is something I check as we have eczema at home, so I look for pure cotton (ideally organic as it tends to also be higher quality cotton). Synthetic fibres are avoided - after realising that they exacerbated a baby's discomfort.

We love baby Boden here

Comfort and practicality are so important to me, but I also like fairly gender neutral stuff. Also the legs often need to be a bit longer than you would think as the legs ride up when the baby is crawling around

I’d love some dungerees with zips in them and colour matching sets and extra long socks that stay up!

If I'm buying for a gift then I look for something pretty but practical ie, easily washable, not too faffy to wear etc.

When choosing things for my DS I go for price, comfort and ease if I'm honest. They're not in them for long as little ones - either that or they get destroyed by a leaky nappy.

I'd say I get 80% practically and the other 20% is indulgence in favourite labels, prints etc.

The best baby outfits are the ones with crossover fronts that popper up so you don't have to out it over baby's head. Those were the only clothes I bought new and they were.a.godsend with a child who screamed the house down every time something went over her head

I like things that are well made, quality material and, if possible, nice bright colours. I've been very disappointed with things that look like limp, grey rags after one wash.
It's worth getting decent things that you can sell/give away once you've grown out of them (or looking for high quality second hand to start with).

I love baby clothes that look and feel cosy and comfortable for them to wear. I also choose based on colours. One of my dds really did not (and still does not) suit baby pastel shades, so anything bright in “royal” colours always attracted me.

Out of this stage now, but it was clear who had dcs and who didn't from the gifts. The baby grows that had to go over a babys head, or buttons down the back qere clearly the child-free gifts.

The ones who picked buttons over poppers as well!

Stuff that can survive going in the wash without needing to be treated with care.

Classic, classic, classic. Nothing too fussy. Timeless style and soft cottons. Bloomers... bodies with collars, classic knitted cardigans... it's not hard to recreate but impossible to find!

Soft cotton, easy to dress, nappy access, comfort, machine washable and reasonable price.

Most important is that poppers are at the front, and that clothes are soft, with big enough armholes and legholes that you can get them in and out of things easily.

I prefer bright colours to pastels as their clothes get washed so often, pastels look worn out quite quickly.

Soft and easy to wash. Comfortable with no sticky out bits. Cheerful colours and nothing inappropriate.

Dressing a baby can also be great fun so clothes that suggest happiness help.

Clothes link with particular ages with my children. For example, DD had bright Boden trousers that are now on their 5th family. Very hard wearing and colourful. The family we gave them to called them the "ooh la la trousers". So, clothes that are ooh la la!

No tiny buttons, impossible to do up, choking risk even on the back. Not a really silly price given some babies grow out of them in 3 months!

Soft, cotton, sensible washing & drying instructions. No big lumps of fabric (bows, flowers etc) that will hold onto stains, take longer to dry & the baby may get uncomfortable laying on. Sensible fastenings - no buttons. No tight waistbands. Realistic prices given that they only last a couple of months per baby. Bright colours or plain white.

It's important that the material is soft (preferably 100% cotton), washes well and has easy access for changing (zip access rather than poppers). I don't like onesies that have to go over baby's head when they are very little as it makes it more difficult.

Garments that button down the back are really difficult to put on on a changing mat. I love garments that fasten down the front. Also clothes that can be tumble dried. I love the baby Boden range and the older children’s clothes.

For my baby clothes I prefer a pop of colour, a bit of fun mixed in with the functionality! I always look for quality fabric with a soft touch, ideally organic cotton, that will wash well and easily be able to be passed on to relatives and friends babies when we have out-grown it. Sustainability and knowing who made my clothes is also important to me. I care about the environment and expect everyone to be paid a living wage.
Simple designs that make life easy are always the one that parents will grab in the morning and although I do love some funky and pretty designs we save those for special occasions. Generally I'd say classic styles, in beautiful colour ways and casual patterns (like pastels, stars or stripes are nice and can be unisex) would be what I'm looking for.
Boden seem to have nailed it with their new collection, I'd love to receive any of it as a gift, it looks perfect.

I'm looking for sustainable fabrics (i.e recycled cotton), high quality, practical garments that will last.
We bought a lot of baby clothes second hand & many were gifted to us. The best quality items remained looking new & didn't bobble or start to warp, so it's definitely worth paying more & being able to get lots of extra use - obviously this benefits other babies not yours, but great to be able to gift clothes to friends & family & see them worn again & again!
Practically - being able to take on & off baby easy is essential - we had a few babygros which we very cute - but a nightmare to get on a the poppers ran diagonally across the babygro right to the toe of one foot!

FTM, due in March. Interesting to read everyone's comments.

Price, colour and material are my main priority. I am sticking to white as much as possible to help with washing (and we don't know the sex). I am not fussed with cute designs - the baby will grow out of everything we buy so quickly after all.

Soft comfortable material, I wish there was more soft towelling clothing! Ease Of getting on and off with coloured poppers if poss. Bright bold colours in simple designs.