Preparing for the arrival of your baby can be an exciting and stressful experience. There are lots of things you need to purchase, including baby clothes, a car seat, a pram, a cot or bassinet and many other items. When it comes to clothing, there are so many options available; finding the best things to buy isn’t always easy. In this article, we take a look at some essential baby clothes every parent should purchase.
Baby hats
Your baby won’t be very good at controlling their own body temperature; therefore, dressing them appropriately is essential. One area where babies lose a lot of heat is through their heads. To prevent heat loss and keep your baby warm, you must have at least one baby hat they can wear. Baby hats shouldn’t be worn in a car seat as they can slip down, which puts your baby at a higher risk of suffocation. Hats should be worn outside when the weather is cold and taken off when you go inside a building. If you’re having your baby in the winter, you’ll need to ensure your baby is always wearing a hat when you’re outside.
Baby mittens
It might be surprising to know that your baby is likely to be born with fingernails, which can be quite long. These nails need to be cut to help prevent your baby from scratching themselves and causing issues with their delicate skin. Mittens can also be worn as a way to protect your baby from scratching themselves when sleeping. The last thing you want is your baby waking themselves up after scratching their eye during a nap. Mittens are also great for the cool weather to keep your baby’s hands warm and cosy; babies will cry if they get too cold, and mittens can keep their tiny hands nice and warm.
Sleepsuits
Your baby will spend lots of time sleeping in the early days, when sleeping dressing them in sleepsuits is a great way to keep them comfortable and at the right temperature. Sleepsuits are cosy and cover all of your baby in one layer. In addition, they can’t be easily kicked off during the night, which means there is less chance of your baby waking up. Many sleepsuits also have integrated feet and sleeves, which you can fold over to make mittens, meaning you don’t need to struggle with finding socks or worrying about your baby scratching their face. When it comes to how many of each baby clothing item you’ll need, it can be challenging to know; for sleepsuits, 6-8 is a good number to keep you going for a while.
Rompers
Rompers are all in one short sleeve outfits that also have shorts at the bottom rather than full-length legs. Rompers are great for everyday wear when the weather is mild; they provide easy access to your baby’s nappy so you can easily change them without needing to get them fully undressed. Having a couple of these on hand can be useful for a newborn baby; you might find them particularly useful when the weather is slightly warmer but not too hot.
Short sleeve bodysuits
These are perfect for many different situations; your baby will want to move around and kick their legs to play and learn new skills. Short sleeve bodysuits allow them to do this with a full range of movement. If your house is at an optimal temperature, your baby will be happy playing in just a short sleeve bodysuit. They can also be worn as a base layer for colder weather; you can put trousers on top of the sleep suit to keep your baby’s legs warm. Aim to get 6-8 of these, as they will form the basis of lots of outfits.
Jumpers/ jackets and cardigans
When you go outside in cool weather, your baby will need extra layers to keep them warm. You can use a bodysuit as the base layer, then add trousers and a jumper on top to add warmth. Depending on when your baby is born, you should only need a few jackets/ jumpers or cardigans for the first few months.
These are some essential items parents should buy before their baby is born. What you need specifically will depend on where you live, the weather and what activities you plan on doing with your baby. Always check the temperature and dress your baby appropriately; this is very important for keeping them happy and healthy. If in doubt, do your research or speak to your midwife for tailored advice and support.
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