Cute, Comfy and Cosy Clothes: How to Dress a Newborn

Newborn babies aren’t doing much other than sleeping, feeding, and pooping; amidst all that, you’ll find yourself changing a lot of baby clothes. While all parents struggle with dressing a newborn, from thinking about how many outfits they need to the best materials, first-time parents dread putting clothes on their babies.

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Choosing newborn baby clothes can feel overwhelming, with its unique terms and methods. Do you need newborn sizes? What size will fit next winter? How many onesies are necessary, and how often should they be replaced? Since during those early weeks, you don’t need an extensive wardrobe, we want to simplify things for you. That way you’ll be able to focus on bonding with your baby (besides doing loads of laundry).

What Should a Newborn Baby Wear?

You can build a flexible newborn wardrobe that’s both cost-effective and fashionable by mixing and matching cute and comfortable newborn baby clothes. Select versatile pieces to maximise outfit combinations while keeping clutter to a minimum.

Start with neutral-coloured bodysuits and onesies (6-8) paired with various pants (3-4). Add multi-use items like reversible jackets and dual-sided bibs. Accessories like hats (2-3) and socks (5-6) in assorted colours can instantly change an outfit’s look. Focus on mix-and-match basics to create a functional and cute wardrobe, making your baby the trendiest on the block. This approach makes dressing your newborn easier and also streamlines laundry days.

With these items, you’ll have plenty of mix-and-match options for cosy, comfortable, and easy-to-change outfits for the baby’s first eight weeks. Here’s a quick recap of the essentials you need.

Six to Eight Bodysuits or Onesies

It’s no surprise that cotton bodysuits are the foundation of a newborn’s wardrobe, as they’re inexpensive, easy to wash, and easy to get on and off. They come in two styles: traditional pullover and foldover (side-snap or kimono style). The pullover style with an envelope neckline is incredibly convenient for sliding off over the body instead of over the head during diaper leaks. The kimono style is popular because newborns have limited neck control and often dislike things going over their heads.

Choose short or long-sleeve varieties based on the season and your home’s temperature. Newborns should sleep in a temperature range of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. Choose long-sleeve bodysuits for colder climates and layer as necessary. For warmer climates, short-sleeved bodysuits are preferable.

Three to Four Pairs of Pants or Leggings

Cotton leggings are cosy, soft, and easy to pull over a baby’s nappy and bodysuit. Look for leggings with loose waistbands to avoid discomfort.

Four to Five Pairs of Pyjamas, Sleepers, and Footies

Opt for a few pairs of footie pyjamas along with one or two gowns. Some families keep their newborns in pyjamas during the day, too; so add a couple more pairs. Try both snap and zipper options to see which you prefer.

One to Three Special Occasion Outfits

Add cute, stylish clothes to your registry, but stick to versatile staples otherwise. You’ll need at least one special occasion outfit for the hospital trip home, family photos, or meeting relatives and friends.

Five to Six Pairs of Socks

Baby socks are inexpensive and come in packs. Keep a few pairs on hand to keep the baby’s feet warm. Depending on the season and how well socks stay on, some parents let the baby go sockless most of the time.

Two to Three Hats

Besides keeping babies warm and secure, baby beanies are so cute. Just remember to remove the hat before naps and nighttime sleep.

What About Sizes?

Baby clothes sizes generally start with the newborn size, then come the 0-3 months, 6-9 months, and so on. Newborn outfits fit infants between 2.3 and 3.6 kg and usually last for the first four weeks. Most families have a few of the basics in this size on hand, but you likely need fewer than you think. You can make the most out of these tiny essentials with frequent laundry. Additionally, stick to essentials like onesies, undershirts, and pyjamas. Fancy outfits can wait until the baby is a bit older. For now, practicality and comfort are key.

Can newborns wear 0-3 month size right away? Yes, if it suits your family. The 0-3 month size will be a bit large initially, but the baby will grow into it within a month to six weeks. If you’re okay with cuffing sleeves and pants or slightly loose onesies, you can start using 0-3 month clothes from birth.

Laundry Tips for Newborn Clothes

When laundering newborn clothes, choose a gentle, baby-friendly detergent to protect your baby’s sensitive skin. Pre-washing new clothing to remove any residues, using a gentle cycle and cold water to prevent shrinking and maintain fabric softness, avoiding fabric softeners and using a double rinse cycle are excellent laundry tips to protect your baby’s sensitive skin. Additionally, frequently inspect for loose buttons or threads to guarantee safety.  Air drying is best to maintain the quality of the clothes, but if you use a dryer, select a low-heat, delicate setting.

A powerful stain remover for all types of stains, mesh laundry bags for washing smaller items without losing them, and non-toxic, plant-based detergent are some of the essential laundry detergents that’ll come in handy. Additional laundry tip: Do frequent, small loads to reduce the burden of folding everything at once.

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