Baby Basics: Clothing a Newborn

I tend to be pretty basic when it comes to clothing a newborn.  While it is fun to dress a baby in all of the fancy little outfits that are available, they just aren’t overly practical or comfortable for daily wear.  Plus, they can be quite expensive if you purchase them at full retail prices.

My babies grow very quickly during the first couple of months so I don’t like to spend a lot of money buying clothes that they will only wear for a short time.

We have been blessed over the years with regards to clothing our children. We have been the recipients of many hand-me-downs from friends as well as new clothes when a baby is born and for birthdays. We have also found some good deals at yard sales and thrift stores. There have been very few items we have had to purchase at full-price over the years and that has been a huge help with trying to clothe five children.

I try to stay away from having too many clothes in the newborn size.  I have never had a child be able to wear them past the age of two or three weeks.  All of my children have outgrown the 0-3 month size by two months.  Thus, I usually have very minimal amounts of clothing for my newborns.  The exception being this time, with Janna, because we were given so many clothes from friends that were newborn and 0-3 months.

I took a few pictures of some of the types of clothes I put on my babies along with descriptions of the items.

Sleep sacks (left), gowns (middle) and sleepers (right) are my go-to items for newborns.  Yes, I even put my boys in gowns at night.  🙂  Have you ever tried to snap up a sleeper when you are sleep deprived?   Easier is better, especially for middle of the night diaper changes.

I like the sleep sacks for colder weather, even during the day.  I usually pair them with a onesie or even a sleeper if it is very cold.

Sleepers are great during the day and I like the fact that you don’t have to mess with putting on socks when a baby is wearing a sleeper.

All three of these items are comfortable and practical.  For me, they are must have items.

Onesies (left), or bodysuits as they are often called, are another must have item for babies.  They provide an extra layer of warmth for your baby during colder days or they can be worn alone on very hot days.

I also like to have a few pairs of knit pants to go with onesies.  They aren’t a must have, but they are nice and comfortable for baby. Two other items that I usually have for my babies are hats and socks.

This picture shows some items that I do not consider to be necessities, but they are fun for special occasions or church.  How cute are little baby tights and little dresses?  Of course they are adorable, but they aren’t very comfortable for daily wear.  If I had to do without these items I could and would.  However, I always like to have a couple of nice outfits for each size.

I didn’t have any shoes pictured because they are definitely not a necessity.  I don’t even have any shoes that fit Janna right now.  I think the little shoes are adorable and usually have a pair or two for special occasions, but you will not find my children wearing shoes in our home.  When a baby is learning to roll over, crawl, and walk shoes can be a hinderance.

So, how many clothes does a newborn need?  That is a good question.