Preparing for a new baby can be exciting.
It can also be slightly overwhelming.
Suddenly, there are hundreds of things you apparently need. Clothes in every possible size. Blankets. Hats. Bodysuits. Jumpsuits. Bottles. Muslins. More blankets. And probably something you’ve never heard of before but are now being told is absolutely essential.
The good news?
You probably don’t need all of it.
A baby’s wardrobe doesn’t have to take over the entire house before the baby has even arrived. A smaller number of practical, well-chosen things can often be much more useful than a huge pile of clothes that your baby will outgrow before you’ve had a chance to use them all.
So what is actually worth buying?
There is no perfect number.
How much clothing you need depends on how often you want to do laundry, what season your baby is born in and how often you expect to go outside.
It’s also worth remembering that newborns can go through several outfits in a single day.
Sometimes because of milk.
Sometimes because of food.
Sometimes because your baby has apparently decided that the freshly washed outfit is the perfect target for a completely unexpected bodily event.
So having a reasonable supply of basic clothes is useful.
But that doesn’t mean buying twenty outfits in the smallest possible size.
Babies grow quickly, and some newborn clothes may only fit for a surprisingly short time.
A practical starting point might include:
The exact list will depend on your baby and the season.
A summer baby will have different needs from a baby born in the middle of winter. And a baby who spends lots of time outdoors will need a different wardrobe from one who mostly stays at home.
The important thing is to think about what you will actually use, rather than trying to complete the longest baby shopping list you can find.
Some basics are worth having several of.
Bodysuits are a good example. They are practical, used frequently and relatively easy to wash.
The same applies to other simple everyday clothes.
But before buying a large number of identical pieces, think about how quickly your baby may grow out of them.
A newborn doesn’t necessarily need a wardrobe full of tiny clothes.
It may be more useful to have a smaller number of everyday basics in a few consecutive sizes than a huge collection of clothes in one size.
That way, you’re prepared for growth instead of being left with a drawer full of clothes that suddenly don’t fit.
When preparing a baby’s wardrobe, it’s easy to focus on individual items and forget how they will work together.
Layers are particularly useful during spring and autumn, when temperatures can change throughout the day.
A baby might need a light base layer in the morning, an additional layer when going outside and something lighter again when the temperature rises.
That’s why versatile clothes can be more useful than highly specialised pieces that only work in one particular set of conditions.
A good wardrobe should give you options.
We certainly think so.
A jumpsuit can be one of the most practical pieces in a baby’s wardrobe because it combines several parts of an outfit into one garment.
Depending on its material and construction, it can be used in different ways and combined with other layers.
But there’s another reason we think a jumpsuit deserves a place on a baby essentials list.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be replaced every time your child grows.
This is the idea behind ZZZforKIDS.
Our jumpsuits are designed to grow with your child, so they can be worn for longer than a conventional garment.
Instead of buying a new jumpsuit every time your child moves into another size, you can continue using the same one as your child grows.
That’s particularly useful when you’re putting together a baby’s wardrobe.
You don’t need to buy more simply because your child has grown a little.
And when you’re already buying enough things for a new baby, every garment that can stay useful for longer matters.
This is probably one of the easiest traps to fall into.
“We might need it.”
“It might come in handy.”
“It’s so cute.”
And suddenly you have three drawers of clothes your baby hasn’t worn yet.
There’s nothing wrong with buying something because you love it. Baby clothes are allowed to be cute.
But when you’re preparing a practical baby wardrobe, it’s worth asking yourself one simple question:
Will we actually use this?
If the answer is yes, go for it.
If the answer is “maybe, possibly, under very specific circumstances that I have just invented”, perhaps leave it for later.
Accessories can be useful, but again, think about the season and your everyday routine.
A blanket can be useful for keeping a baby warm during walks or when extra protection is needed.
A hat or bonnet can be useful depending on the weather and temperature.
Muslin cloths are another example of something that can quickly become surprisingly useful.
You don’t necessarily need every possible accessory before your baby arrives.
You can always buy additional things later when you know what you actually need.
That’s often a much better strategy than trying to predict every possible situation in advance.
This is where things get slightly complicated.
Baby clothing sizes are usually based on height, but the actual fit can vary between brands.
A size 62 from one brand may not feel exactly the same as a size 62 from another.
So when shopping online, check the manufacturer’s size chart rather than relying only on the number on the label.
It’s also worth having some clothes in the next size up ready.
But don’t go too far.
Buying clothes that are much too large can make them uncomfortable and impractical.
And that’s exactly where growing clothes can offer another option.
There is a simple principle behind a practical baby wardrobe:
It’s not about having more clothes. It’s about making better use of the clothes you have.
A garment that can be worn frequently and for a longer period is often more useful than several pieces that only fit for a few weeks.
This can also make your baby’s wardrobe easier to manage.
Less sorting.
Less replacing.
Less wondering why there are 17 tiny outfits in the cupboard when your baby seems to wear the same three anyway.
Before your baby arrives, focus on the basics:
Then add things according to your actual needs.
You don’t have to have everything perfectly organised before the baby arrives.
Your baby will provide plenty of opportunities to reorganise things later.
Probably less than you think.
A good baby wardrobe doesn’t need to be enormous. It needs to be comfortable, practical and adaptable.
Choose clothes that you will actually use. Think about the season. Leave room for growth. And whenever possible, look for garments that can stay useful for longer.
That’s one of the reasons we created ZZZforKIDS jumpsuits.
They grow with your child.
Because babies grow quickly.
Your shopping list doesn’t have to.
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