A baby brings lots of questions along for new parents. Among them, one of the most important ones is, What clothes does a baby need? And further, how many of each item? Since parents need to buy them before they can see their baby, it can sometimes be daunting to start the process of buying baby clothes. 

Parents should look back on their own clothing-buying habits to provide useful context and demystify the process. Most likely, hours were invested throughout the years finding the brands they like, the sizes they like of each brand, and the items in those sizes that they like. Buying clothes for a baby should be very similar to that process.

To be set up for success, parents should have a defined budget and accept that some of the clothes they buy might, unfortunately, never be worn by the baby. Below is some useful guidance on what to buy for the first few weeks right after birth while trying to reduce the risk of unused clothes to the minimum possible.

What are newborn clothes?

Sizes in baby clothing are usually one of the most complicated things when buying clothes for a future baby. The first thing parents should know is that the convention is that the age range on a baby clothing item’s label states the range within which the item will fit the baby. If a label says 3-6 months, the item will most likely fit the baby up until they turn six months old. If the label does not have a range and only says, for example, 6 months, the item will fit the baby up until that age.

Keeping the above in mind, how should parents interpret the size NB, or newborn? Some say that this size is intended for babies that weigh 5 to 8 pounds. The average baby weighs around 9 pounds at the end of the first month. From this, the conclusion would be that size NB is for the first four weeks or less. All babies are different, of course, so this should be used only as a reference to plan how to use the budget available, and then factor in the possibility that they might outgrow NB size fairly quickly.

Are newborn-size clothes necessary?

The answer to this question really depends on a given baby’s size at birth and how much they grow during the first weeks. A different way to focus on the problem is, is it absolutely necessary to buy newborn-size baby clothes? The answer to this question is no, it is not absolutely necessary. There will most likely be no problem with dressing a newborn in 0-3 months size clothing. Either they are big enough to use them right after birth, or they will be a little loose for a few weeks, but that should present no issue.

In any case, it is advisable to buy a small amount of NB-size items, seeing that the window for using them will most likely be very short. Moreover, parents who are on a tight budget should even consider buying all their baby’s clothes size 0-3 months and bigger, as those items will be used for a longer period of time. Parents should always keep in mind that buying fewer items than what they end up needing can always be compensated by doing laundry more frequently.

Newborn clothes checklist

Below is an itemized list of the baby clothes that a newborn could possibly need, which hopefully can serve as a starting point for first-time parents trying to figure out what to buy for their future baby.

How many onesies does my newborn need?

Onesies should be the vanguard of your newborn’s wardrobe army. They are comfortable, easy to put on the baby, easy to clean, versatile… A baby can do pretty much anything in a onesie, even crawl in them, so it is good to have a few around. Ideally, parents would buy 5 onesies.

How many sleepers does my newborn need?

Sleeper is just pajamas in baby parlance. Sleepers tend to be warmer than onesies because they tend to cover the arms down to the wrists and the legs down to the ankles, some of them even covering the feet. Sleepers are not usually as easy to put on the baby as onesies, but apart from that, they are almost always as practical. Sleepers are more likely to get dirty because since the baby uses them during the night, nobody checks them for up to four hours, which is how often they need to eat. This makes diaper spillovers more likely. Ideally, parents would buy 6 to 8 sleepers.

How many pants does my newborn need?

Pants or leggings can be worn over a onesie to cover the baby’s legs. This does reduce the onesie's practicality, but it might be needed to protect the baby from the sun or cold. Pants will also be needed if the baby is wearing a top. Ideally, parents would buy three pairs of pants or leggings.

How many socks does my newborn need?

Socks are needed whenever the baby does not have its feet covered, which can be very often or only sporadically, depending on how often the baby uses sleepers, for example. Some people believe it is best to have the baby’s feet uncovered whenever possible, as it helps with their sensory development. Ideally, parents would buy 3 pairs of socks.

How many special occasion outfits does my newborn need?

The number of special occasion outfits needed is probably the most subjective of all of the baby clothing items. It is advisable that during those first weeks, the baby stays at home as long as possible, so not many of these outfits are required. Ideally, parents would be able to buy 3 special occasion outfits.

How many hats does my newborn need?

Of course, this depends on the weather at the time the baby is born, but no more than one hat should be needed to keep the baby warm. Even if used regularly, it should not get very dirty quickly, as newborns should only rest their heads in clean places. Ideally, parents would be able to buy one hat.

How many outfits does a newborn need at the hospital?

Assuming mom and baby will need to stay two nights and three days in the hospital, parents should aim to bring with them:

• 3 sleepers
• 3 onesies
• 3 socks
• 1 hat
• 1 special occasion outfit - going home!

Newborn clothes thoughts from new parents

Buying clothes for your unborn baby can be very difficult. Thankfully, others have gone through that process before you, like us. Based on our experience, we have systematized the clothing needs of a baby during their first month in this Honest Nesting Checklist. We hope it is useful!