Help! First time mum, what clothes to buy?

[BeccaAnnJones]

Hi there

I’m currently 26+3 and am starting to buy clothes for my little girl who’s due on April 11, 2019.

It’s all great, however, I could really really do with some advice on what clothes and how many of each I should buy.

Unfortunately as I’ve been in my job for less than the qualifying time to receive statutory maternity pay, we won’t have money after she’s born to stock up on things so need to do it now. However, I have a few questions and would love your advice :-)

1. Newborn clothes- what to get and how many?
2. Should I get a newborn pram suit or will 0-3 months be ok? Also, do you think I need a pram suit of 0-3 months as she’ll be born in April. Do you think it would get used, from experience? Or should I just purchase a 3-6 month suit etc?
3. What do you call the sleepsuits with feet?
4. What would you recommend I take to the hospital? A sleepsuit with feet but opens from the front?

Sorry for all the questions, slightly panicked to be honest and am open to any advice you may have

Thanks so much all

Bec x

Firstly, congratulations!
I remember finding it a bit mind boggling when I was pregnant with DD1 🙂

If i’m honest, the best advice I had was to get lots of baby grows and don’t worry about proper clothes. You can get baby grows/ or sleep suits with feet, without feet, long sleeves, no sleeves so you have plenty of variety depending on weather. DD1 had a knack of having an epic leaky poo about 10 minutes after I got her dressed.

She was born in May, so we didn’t bother with a pram suit, just used layers of sheets and blankets. My Nan knitted lots of little cardigans so a baby grow and cardi was our staple go to.

Take a few with feet to the hospital with you. I had a pretty little Winnie the Pooh one that we dressed her in to bring her home. So it was a bit more like an ‘outfit’ if you see what I mean.

Make sure you have a couple of pairs of pjs for yourself. And plenty of underwear and maternity pads. I completely underestimated how much blood I would lose.

I had one or two newborn size stuff, but mainly got 0-3months. In our case it was to make them last longer as money was tight, but it they didn’t look too big on DD after a few days.
Hope that helps

Forgot to say, don’t panic. You will be fine x

Vests and sleepsuits - lots. A hat and possibly pramsuit for going out and lots of blankets.

I wouldn't worry about outfits. They are a faff. 0-3 should do fine.

Exciting times!

I’m yet to have my baby so can’t really comment on what I’ve found useful or what I’ve actually needed.
I just Wanted to say about claiming maternity allowance though instead of statutory maternity pay. It’s by dept of work and pensions rather than from your job. Look into it. I’m not entitled to SMP but can claim the highest amount of MA which is actually more than I’m paid each week so fu billy enough I’m better off on Maternity leave.

Congratulations! If I was doing it all again I wouldn’t buy too much brand new- there are amazing bargains on facebook selling pages that are almost perfect (I’ve learned now!). Babies are in their clothes for such a small amount of time that they stay pristine.

Boots and H&M have amazing sales on at the moment. Matalan and Morrison’s also do really good clothes (as do all supermarkets- we got lots from Tesco and Sainsbury’s too!). NCT nearly new sales are good too- have a look on Facebook and follow their page, we have a few locally in March coming up.

You probably won’t need a pramsuit, just a cardie and celluar blanket. I’d buy lots of cute babygrows and vests (& wait for presents too- I didn’t have to buy any 3-6 month clothes as we were given them all!)

Definitely look on facebay for a bundle if nearly new vests and sleep suits. Newborns grow so quickly they hardly get worn. Even at primary age I still get second hand clothes most of the time, in perfect condition, for pennies.

I second the advice about babygrows as opposed to actual outfits. It will make your life so much easier and much more comfortable for baby to wear as well. With my first baby I spent a fortune on lots of cute little outfits for him. My second baby lived in babygrows.
Take a couple of newborn size sleepsuits (the footed ones) plus vests to the hospital invade baby is small but also some in size 0-3 months. My first baby was very tiny when he was born and even NB swamped him but it wasn’t a problem because my mum popped into the local supermarket and picked up some tiny baby sized clothes for him. They don’t stay in NB/ TB for long as they grow so quickly to begin with. I can’t remember how many sleepsuits I took but I had overnight hospital stays with both and both babies went through a LOT of sleepsuits on the first night. They brought up a lot of milk and despite my best efforts with the muslin clothes the neckline of their clothes would get all wet and it would soak through to the vest. They were both born via CS though and I’ve heard that can mean they bring up more milk at the beginning. I took a couple of maternity nighties which buttoned down the front. I got them from mothercare. I had to wear a catheter so it made it easier plus the buttons on the front made feeding a lot easier. Make sure you take plenty of maternity pads too. And breast pads are a must! I knew I had to have a CS with both babies so I bought big grannie nickers it meant that they didn’t rub against the scar.

• incase not invade!

Congrats!

My DS has just turned 4 months old. Newborns only really need vests and sleepsuit, ones with feet were better for us. We put cardigans on for going out in the car or pram, and layered blankets over the safety straps.

One thing to think about, how big your baby is likely to be. We had Newborn stuff that was completely useless as he was huge, 10lb 11, and went straight into 0-3 month stuff. DH had to pop out to Tesco to buy stuff in a bigger size as only 1 outfit we brought fitted! You will probably also get quite a lot of gifts, we've actually had to buy very little clothing other than a few things we fell in love with!

I can’t thank you all enough! I am so unbelievably grateful for all your advice! It’s so overwhelming when you realise how much you need but you’ve really helped us focus on what’s important and practical- totally perfect! ❤️❤️❤️

@harrypotterfan1604 thank you so much about Maternity Allowance! I’m going to look in to this asap! Really appreciate your help!

Bec xxxx

My best investment with my second was a dressing gown for myself. Even in summer months you'll find it useful and they are very good in hospital too. As for baby, in general they need the same number of layers as you, plus one. So if you're in a tshirt and jumper they need vest, babygro, cardi

Amazing! Thanks so much 😊❤️ Xxxxx

My first was due the same week last year. If you remember, the snow lasted ages last year, so I panic bought a little pram suit. Of course, it was never worn. She wore a short sleeved vest and babygro in the house, and we added a cardigan and blanket for going out. Then the summer was roasting and she lived in the rompers with short sleeves and legs and no vest underneath.

Buy plain white vests that will go under everything - supermarkets are perfect for these (just be aware the sizes come up a little small) and a bunch of babygros. I wouldn't buy much bigger than size 0-3 for now as you'll be given loads, so if you can wait it's best to take stock of the 3-6 stuff closer to the time you need it.

I bought no newborn or 1 month stuff as I knew I was having a big baby. They're fine in stuff that's a little big, and they grow so so quickly in those early days.

Congratulations and good luck!

I only found pramsuit handy when I wore ds2. I know most people aren't keen on them. X

Where abouts are you based? I went to some good mum-to-mum markets and Nct sales x

I had two DCs about my same time as you. Pram suits... Weren't needed for us (I got one and never used it). You probably won't go out too much at first and then it's warm enough for blankets etc. Baby grows are essential, plus a couple of vests. But don't go over board. In my experience, babies spend the first month or so in 'first size' clothes, but obviously that's very baby dependent. Agree with others that proper outfits are a faff until they're a bit bigger. And use ebay... There are bargains to be had and usually great condition as little ones don't really use clothes the same.

Thanks so much all! I think I’ll pass on the pram suit and maybe look at one for 6-9 months or 9-12- when the weather gegts colder!

I’ll stock up on vests and sleepsuits! It’s great hearing from you guys that have had babies around the same time as I’m having mine!

I’m based in Swansea, south Wales so will check out any local groups too! 😊😊😊 xxxxx

I agree with what most people have said on here. My dd was born last April too and I was due on the 9th.

I was in the hospital 1 overnight.
I took in 3 tiny baby vests & baby grows (both from supermarket so cost less than £10)
And 3 newborn vest and baby grows (exact same but larger size)
And one velour going home outfit, hat and cardigan.
All the baby grows came with mits in them so didn't need to buy them.

Pram suits aren't necessary at all they are just a hassle, I've never used one for dc, cardigan blanket and a hat should be fine or a jacket when older and weather is colder. You will also receive loads of gifts and will hardly need to buy a thing for a while, I only bought things that I saw and wanted for baby wasn't necessarily needed.

Congratulations op exciting times ahead

OP in regards to pramsuits don't rush out and buy one new. First wait to see what people give you as a presents. Only then look for one looking at second hand ones or sales. On Ebay there are loads of people who want to off-load expensive pramsuits for a £1-2 with postage costing more.

My DD, who is an early autumn baby, has ended up with:
1.Six pramsuits from 0-3, of which she has wore 2 including a Christmas one. The two she wore it was a fight to get her into them. Four were passed on and two I got in a bundle of 2nd hand clothes.

1. Two pramsuits from 3-6 months which she is actually using. One has velcro on it and it is easier to get her into it. One was passed on and the other is a present.
2. Two pramsuits from 6-9 months. One is a present and one was brought cheaply.

My DD is 4 months and she likes scratching her face plus putting everything in her mouth. So this is now the time scratch mitts (and socks) have become useful as from 3 months she started wearing normal clothes in the day.

Just buy babygrows and vests. And a few packs of each will be ok. A hat blanket and cardigan is better than snowsuit. You will get more clothes than you can imagine. A lot of my babys clothes have been worn once and don't fit now. You can use the clothes you get as gifts or swap for A voucher or bigger sizes .

Congratulations, I got a free bag of newborn clothes from Facebook. Worth looking at the marketplace. My baby was born in the June heatwave so didn't actually wear many clothes, April is sometimes really cold, but could be warm, I agree blankets. Also, I got given by a relative a couple of grobags. They're good for cot and pram. Have a look in charity shops if you have time off in maternity. Supermarkets do multipacks of baby vests, short and longsleeves.

Dd, 17, is expecting first baby so I'm watching with interest, especially as my two are adopted and I didn't have them from babies so a bit clueless.
Just wanted to say our hospital says on its webpage to take clothes without feet if possible to make it easier to check baby's ankle ID tag.
It's been quite hard to find babygro type outfits without feet.

As others have said plenty of vests and babygros. I found the Tesco vests the best and not expensive. My boy arrived early and was only 5lbs so nothing fitted him. Had to rush out for tiny baby stuff bless him. By the time he fitted in any outfits I had brought the weather had changed and it was useless. Lots of muslins too 😉.
Gap sell the footless babygros and I believe they are in sale at the moment.

Whatever you buy, assume 3-4 complete changes of clothes every 24 hrs, and then multiply that by the number of times a week you're prepared to stick a wash on! My little boy was in nothing but baby grows (with feet) and vests from 0-3 months. Everything else looks cute, but it's such a bloody hassle! Remember they don't need anything expensive - multipacks from supermarkets will be fine. And unless you're likely to have a teeny baby, don't buy anything newborn, buy 0-3 months, as they'll grow in a heart beat. And they don't move, so it's not like they'll trip over the feet of anything. Good luck!

We were lucky enough to have lots of friends/family who gave us hand me downs. So we bought literally nothing (clothes wise, but also pram, car seat etc). Would really recommend hand me downs/second hand stuff. You will save a fortune, and so much stuff is only used/worn for a few weeks/months.

And worth waiting to see what kind of baby you get before you spend too much. Our baby isn’t sick much, and relatively few nappy leaks, l so she can be in same babygro for 2 or 3 days. Whereas if you’ve got a sicky baby/nappies don’t fit well you might need more stuff. See also muslins - people told us we would need loads, but actually we get by easily with 3 or 4.

Congrats and good luck! x