Shopping for baby supplies can be fun, but there's no denying that it can also be a stressful time. New parents, experienced parents, and even friends and family that just want to help have found themselves at a loss at some point. You're probably filled with questions. How many newborn clothes do I need? Should I buy for all ages? There are several things to consider besides what fabric for baby clothes has the most eye-catching pattern. So, we created this baby clothing guide to ease some of that tension off your shoulders.
How to Buy Baby Clothes
A lot can go into picking the right infant clothes. In our clothing guide for babies, we'll break things down by aspects like finding the right fabric, remembering safety, cost and size, and many other considerations.
Choosing the Best Fabric
When you're thinking about how to buy my baby clothes, a focus should go toward checking out the fabric used. Especially in new born clothes, it's important that the fabric is high in quality. That's why we focus on reliable bamboo material. Bamboo fabric is one of the best materials for baby clothes for many reasons. It wards off allergies as it's hypoallergenic, making it safer against their sensitive skin. The fabric is also breathable. Clothes made from it will help babies regulate their body temperature. This gives you freedom to have them wear the clothes in the warmer and colder months. Bamboo baby clothes have a good amount of stretch too. Flexibility helps with wiggling, rolling, and crawling little ones. Babies will feel more comfortable to move freely while they'll also grow into the outfits better. Furthermore, bamboo material can create the softest baby clothes. Your baby's delicate skin will thank you. As a bonus, with the clothes properly cared for, the fabric softens with every wash.
Why Safety Matters
One of the many thoughts that go through a parent's mind is, "How do I buy my baby clothes so that they're not just comfortable, but safe?" There are regulations that ensures clothing is ultimately safe enough for babies to wear. You don't want to worry about that newborn first outfit, so consider clothing that passes regulation. Flammability is among the most concerns, especially with baby pajamas. Fabric should have natural flame-retardant capabilities or treated to be flame-resistant. However, if you don't want to buy newborn clothes with chemicals applied, look for ones with a snug fit. Fitting well makes sure that none of the fabric is loose so there's no chance of it encountering flames. Without meeting regulations like these, clothes can be recalled. Thankfully, our baby clothes are made from top-quality materials with soft fabric designed to hug your baby's body while still giving them freedom to move.
Uniqueness and Style
Whether shopping for new born clothes or months-old clothes, it's nice if your baby has a bit of style. There are plenty of cute clothes with funny sayings, but originality always seems that much sweeter. Our bamboo baby clothes, for instance, feature one-of-a-kind prints. There are even matching accessories for new born clothes and up, allowing you to create a distinctive look from head to toe.
Size
When creating this clothing guide for babies, an important aspect we had to mention is size. Babies are interesting in a sense that they don't stay in a size long. It's easy for some of them to skip a size, going from new born clothes to 6M faster than you can blink. A smart way around this is to purchase clothes in a variety of sizes. In the case of figuring out baby clothes to buy for first time moms, gift them a comfortable amount of newborn clothes and clothing beyond that half year point for babies. This way, they're ready to move on as needed. Be sure not to put on clothing that's too loose, however. You don't want kids to swim in their outfits, so only put on the current size your baby is in and save the rest. So, buy newborn clothes, but also get clothes that are months old. Now that we have the basics out of the way, let's dive into some of the (oftentimes confusing) details.
Understanding Baby Clothing Sizes
With an understanding about finding baby clothes in different sizes, it helps to understand the sizes themselves. It seems straightforward, but many parents still struggle with it. Within this guide to baby clothes, we hope these basic sizing details help. Sizes are listed according to age range, everything's about a baby's length and weight. New born clothes (NB) are usually around 21 inches in length. Their supported weight falls under 8lbs. Of course, if you find your child is smaller, then you can find 0M clothes for those under 20 inches or even premature sizes for babies less than 4lbs. When determining which clothes to buy for a newborn, consider going the 0-3M route. 3M, 3 month baby clothes, work well for babies 8 to 12lbs or at least up to 23 inches long. Clothing labeled 3-6M are ideal for the age group. You may also find 6 month baby clothes and baby pajamas that can easily fit 9 month old children. Once babies reach that 1 year milestone, they typically fit 12M size. Some may even fit in 9M size. You'll also find clothing 18M for the stated age and children that are up to around 30 inches in length. Meanwhile, 24M is good for the early toddler stages. These are also shown as 2T in size.
Costs
Just like our clothes, baby clothes can be expensive or affordable. It's all about your personal budget and what you are comfortable spending. Our bamboo baby clothes, for instance, might not be the most inexpensive items on the market, but the quality speaks for itself. In many cases, it can be worth spending a bit more to get something that will last your baby and make them feel good while wearing it. Also, quality new born clothes and bigger can be passed down. Even if the fabric for baby clothes can get costly, this can be a strong indicator that the clothes are built to last through frequent wear without losing their shape, coloring, etc. As you're deciding in the costs for baby clothes and baby pajamas, account for the accessories too. Hats, gloves, shoes, a stroller blanket, and more can add up the costs when building your baby's wardrobe.
Consider the Season
When searching for new born clothes and months-old clothes, understanding the season where you live is vital. Otherwise, you may have your baby sitting in something that's too warm or too chilly, which can hurt their body's ability to regulate their temperature. In warmer weather, you may want to go for coveralls as this leaves a baby's feet exposed. It gives them room to breathe so they can lounge around freely. Rompers can be helpful too if it's not too hot. Otherwise, consider dresses and shorts. If a baby happens to be born during colder seasons, then it's wise to fill the drawers with new born clothes that are mainly footies. These ensure that they're not exposed whether they're outside or inside the home. Accessories come into play again here too. For instance, in the autumn weather, a cozy stroller blanket can go a long way into making walks more comfortable for your baby. That doesn't mean you can't go out with a covering in the warmer weather. Covering helps to shield a baby from the sun's harmful rays, so consider
breathable blankets for babies as they'll keep them covered without overheating them. Dressing for the season is essential for babies. Our bamboo infant clothes and older baby clothes should adapt well to the changing of the seasons, keeping them warm when needed and cool when appropriate.
Is it Comfortable?
As you're pondering style, functionality, and safety, another question should enter your mind, "How do I buy my baby clothes that are comfortable?" Without comfort, you may have a rather fussy and squirming baby on your hands. Your newborn first outfit should certainly be one they’re going to feel content in. There are a couple of features to consider when thinking about how at ease a baby will be in their clothes: mobility and softness.
Mobility
As we mentioned before, babies need flexibility. 3 month baby clothes, for instance, should be made with mobility in mind as that's the age these little humans start rolling over. Good flexibility is necessary around the arms and legs here so they can develop their movements safely and comfortably. Stretchy fabric is also a necessity when they get older. 6 month baby clothes and up should give them the most freedom of movement. At this age, they should be pushing themselves up, eventually making their way around your floors. If a baby doesn't feel as though they can swing their arms and legs around, then it might hinder them reaching milestones like those on an appropriate timeline. They may feel too stiff to want to move around. That's why it's important to have clothes that are snug without being restrictive.
Softness
Another aspect we touched on earlier is softness. With a baby's sensitive skin, you don't want texture that is too rough or scratchy resting against them. Good quality newborn clothes especially take this into consideration as you don't want to run the risk of irritating their skin. It's one of the many reasons we enjoy using bamboo fabric. It's no shock that it creates the softest baby clothes. This is great for your baby to feel, and anyone who picks them up will get a pleasant surprise when they notice just how gentle the clothes are.
How Easy are They to Wear?
Struggling to put clothes on a baby who is either giggling or fussy is no laughing matter for parents. So, if you're searching for baby clothes to buy for first time moms, consider finding clothing that's easy to wear. If you're getting footie baby pajamas, opt for ones with a zipper fastening. Two-way zippers in particular make those late night diaper changes far simpler and quicker. Rompers are another simple outfit choice. Ours offer a side zipper, keeping diaper changes in mind. Keep in mind the overall design of any clothing for new born clothes and bigger too. Having a wide neck and some elasticity in the material makes it easier to get over a baby's head fast before they roll or rush off.
Caring for Baby Clothes
A guide to baby clothes is nothing without understanding how to care for them. You don't want to risk ruining the softest baby clothes by taking away that softness. Or worse, cause your baby to have a reaction. Consider finding the right detergent to start with. Some people recommend washing infant clothes along with the rest of the family, but if you're using detergent with perfumes, there's a high chance of it leading to a reaction against your baby's skin. Also, there's a strong recommendation to wash clothes prior to trying them on. However, our bamboo baby clothes in particular are made from safe, natural materials that shouldn't irritate them. So, we recommend trying ours on before washing to make sure you like the fit. Understanding where to buy baby clothes is key to knowing if it's safer to wash the clothes beforehand.
Other Factors you May Forget When Buying Baby Clothes
Before we tie things up, we have a few more tips to give out in response to your question on, "How to buy my baby clothes?" These quick notes should serve as a more basic guide for those who want answers fast about new born clothes and bigger.
Don’t Waste Money on Designer Clothes
It's normal tow ant cute baby clothes, but that doesn't mean you have to shell it out for designer clothes. You'll more than likely spend hundreds and come away with two outfits. A single bodysuit for new born clothes from these high-end designers can go for over 100 dollars alone. In a lot of these cases, the fabric for baby clothes made by high-end designers might not be as comfortable or as eco-friendly as those sold at reasonable prices. Besides that, spending hundreds of dollars on just a couple of outfits rather than entire wardrobes meant to last can wind up hurting down the road. Unless your budget can go for it, there are several other important things to buy that blowing it all on designer gear seems unnecessary, especially with new born clothes that they might not wear long. Also, you can still find cute baby clothes from brands that aren't made for the runway. You may even find more unique styles in the end.
Comfort Comes First
Thinking about what clothes to have for newborn babies and older, we have to stress just how important comfort is. Their comfort is for your sake as much as theirs too. Babies sleep a lot, so clothes with easy zippers makes those late nights go by in a breeze. Good quality newborn clothes should make them feel at peace as they lounge around, so keep the material in mind.
Practical Pajamas
New born clothes especially should be practical. Most of their time is spent sleeping, so you don't want anything difficult. Easy on and easy off baby pajamas are the ways to go here, and zippered footies make for an ideal choice. Also, infant clothes should have practical designs so they can sleep in them as well as play in them. You can stock up on them and the pajamas will look just as good as everyday wear, allowing you to have more versatility with their wardrobe.
Buying a Size Larger
We aren't magically aware of the exact size our baby will be or how fast or slow they're going to grow. So, a new born clothes guide works best by knowing to buy a size larger than NB. Honestly, when deciding what clothes to have for newborn, consider going up to 3M in the beginning as many babies are born closer to that size. Also, going a size larger provides you with the necessary clothes for when your baby may unexpectedly shoot up in size seemingly overnight.
Safety
Be sure there are no choking hazards in any outfit you purchase for your baby. In particular, new born clothes should have nothing loose or hanging. They may not be moving a lot, but they run the most risk of suffering from SIDS. A good way to lower that risk is eliminating potential hazards from the clothing.
Baby Accessories
A baby clothing guide feels a bit incomplete without remembering the accessories. There are several accessories such as shoes, jackets, headbands, hats, and a stroller blanket. These should also be made from similar high-quality as the fabric for baby clothes. Not only will they look just as good, but they'll feel good when babies wear them. Additionally, getting accessories helps you plan out everything for when it's time for your baby to go out of the house (or take dozens of adorable pictures).
Buying Enough Before the Baby is Born
It's easy to go overboard but just as easy to question when to buy newborn clothes and bigger. What is a reasonable amount to have? For those questioning how to buy baby clothes before birth, there are a few things to keep in mind. Consider your budget in accordance to space so you know if you can spring for several new born clothes on top of multiple older outfits. Think about if your baby will be going out often and in what weather. Knowing these things can help you decide if having 4 rompers will serve you better or if you need about 8 to get by. Or maybe you're asking "How many newborn onesies do I need?" Spit up happens quite a bit, so if you want to save yourself from frequent washing and changes, consider a handful of pairs in the beginning. If you aren't going out much, you may not need as many cute infant clothes as you think.
Going Gender Neutral
We can't deny how exciting it is to find adorable newborn baby girl stuff or baby boy outfits once we know the sex of our children. However, there is something to be said for going gender neutral. Gender neutral provides a lot of flexibility. There is room to build a particular style for your baby, and if you have multiple children, it's easier than ever to pass outfits down. This is more helpful if the fabric for baby clothes is designed resistant to keep its appearance up through more than one child. When deciding where to buy baby clothes, another good reason to go for gender neutral clothing is for parents who don't want to know the sex of their baby. This is the best way to get something you know you'll enjoy no matter what. So, even though you may be tempted to get that cute newborn baby girl stuff and baby boy clothes, don't forget the gender neutral section.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how to buy baby clothes, in what size, and when to buy newborn clothes isn't as easy as it sounds. There are several considerations to keep in mind from knowing what size to get, to figuring out how many outfits you need to buy, to finding safe infant clothes. That's why we put together this new born clothes guide and buyer's guide for all those months to come. Becoming a parent whether it's your first time or only your latest trip down the road is stressful enough. Shopping for your baby, picking out all those adorable outfits, should be fun. So, we hope our guide helps you in your journey. And don't forget to check out our bamboo baby clothes to find unique styles that are snug-fitting, soft, and cozy to wear no matter the weather is.