Newborn Dressing Guide

Key points:

Babies grow out of garments quickly, so buy only what you would like in each size.
Choose newborn clothes that are easy to wear & easy to remove, comfortable for the baby.
Dressing your baby in layers is a good idea.

Newborn clothes: Sizes

Clothing sizes for babies from 0-3 months and 3-6 months are difficult to match up, as it very much reflects on the baby’s health. Some healthier newborns could be able to go straight into a size 3-6 months size. You might need to roll the sleeves up, but it won’t be for long.

Sizes may vary from manufacturer to different retailers, so it’s worth comparing clothes to other garments you have already got, instead of relying only on the label.
You would want to buy a minimum number of garments of each size, because babies really do grow in no time.
When shopping online for baby clothes, consider looking at the size chart or measurements just like https://Minitaq.com has a very nice size chart assigned individually to each dress.

How many clothes do newborns need?

You’ll need random choices of clothes depending on your budget. As a guide, the following clothing for a newborn baby should help:
Six singlets
Six jumpsuits
Two jumpsuits for nightwear
Three tops
Two cardigans or jackets (if it’s winter)
Three cotton bunny rugs and three muslin (gauze) wraps
An infant bag (as an alternative to wraps)
A couple of cotton hats
A few pairs of socks.

What kinds of clothes do newborns need?

Clothes should be comfortable, soft and straightforward for easy care of the baby.
Stretchy clothes with snap buttons are the best choice. Rompers are widely used in western countries, which eases mothers to put clothes on and off and is also comfortable for the baby.
Cotton clothes are a good choice when looking into fabrics. Cotton clothes will keep your baby cooler in hot weather than clothes made up of synthetic fibres. Cotton also washes well and is gentle against your baby’s sensitive skin.
It’s best to avoid buying newborn clothes with beading, threads, ties, drawstrings and attachments. These are often choking risks and strangulation or suffocation risks.

Dressing newborn to stay warm

Newborn babies need to be kept warm especially in winter. It's better for mothers to do clothing as a layer basis, such as if you are at indoor places where it's hot, you may remove layers to suit your baby's environment.
Although it’s important for newborns to stay warm, it’s even as important that your baby doesn’t overheat, especially during sleep.
A safe infant swaddle is good for dressing your baby for bed. If you would like to use an additional blanket, just make sure your baby's head and face are uncovered while they are sleeping. Moreover, put your baby low down in the cot, so their feet are at the bottom end and also tuck in the blanket securely so it only goes as far up as the baby's chest.

How to dress a newborn?

Lots of newborns find the dressing and undressing experience upsetting. The quicker and calmer you're , the less stress for both you and your baby.

Here are some tips that might help:
Make sure the space is warm enough, then place your baby on a soft surface.
Put a nappy on your baby, just in case the baby does a wee.
Stretch the neck of a singlet and, supporting your baby’s head, put the singlet on from the rear . Be careful it doesn’t touch your baby’s face as you pull the front over the baby's head – little babies can get very upset by clothes scraping their faces.
Do the reverse when undressing.
Gently place your baby’s arms through the clothes arm holes.
If you’re dressing your baby in a romper/jumpsuit, unbutton or unzip it and lay the baby on top. Place the baby's arms and legs into the holes and do up the zip or snap fasteners.
For the baby's comfort, uncover the legs and arms however it’s better to cover to protect from direct sunlight.
Try talking, singing nursery rhymes, smiling and making faces when you’re dressing your baby. This can distract your baby during dressing and undressing. Talking and singing also are good ways for you to bond together with your baby.

How to wash newborn clothes?

You can wash baby clothes with the remainder of your laundry, but attempt to avoid using strong detergents and fabric softeners. Laundry detergents labelled ‘sensitive’ or ‘gentle’ are good choices as they are less likely to irritate your baby’s skin.
Clothes with poo on them got to be soaked in nappy sanitiser before washing. Nappy sanitiser also makes a handy pre-soak once your baby is eating solids – even with a bib, your baby’s clothes will get covered in food and drink.