Buying baby clothes for your newborn is an exciting, delightful experience. Dressing your little one in cute clothes is adorable and fun. Many parents get carried away by all the cuteness that they sometimes forget about the basic, important things these clothes should have. They notice only the colours and prints and forget about comfort, materials and safety. Yes, the baby should look stylish, but their comfort and safety should be your top priority.
What to Consider When Buying Baby Clothes
Functional and Practical
Who doesn’t want their baby to look like it’s going on the cover of a popular fashion magazine? Having cute and trendy clothing for your newborn is great, but the more important question is, are they functional and practical? Having this type of clothing, especially during the first few months is very important.
The baby will be taking a lot of naps, so having an outfit that will let them move freely and without restraint is crucial. Breathability and comfort should be a priority. You should think about choosing clothes that are simple to take off and put back on because changing diapers is a multiple-step process. It's the same when it comes to washing them as well.
Look through all reputable and certified baby cloth shops. They'll offer a wide variety of easily washable pieces that you won’t have to spend hours cleaning. Also, think about the weather. Whether it's summer, fall, winter, or autumn, the infant clothing you choose should be suitable for the climate. By taking all these things into consideration, you’ll make your life much simpler and easier.
Material
A newborn’s skin is very sensitive. Babies can easily get rashes and get irritated if the materials are rough. Choose the material carefully. Always go for natural fabrics that are skin-safe and skin-friendly. This includes cotton, bamboo rayon, fleece and batiste. There have been cases where babies reacted to these materials as well, but those are rare occurrences.
Investing in these types of materials also means that you’ll save some money. They're very durable so you won’t have to replace them after a couple of washes. Some of the materials you should avoid are nylon, polyester, acrylic, Teflon, satin and silk. They're non-absorbent and can make the baby cold and leave them soaked in sweat. Plus, some of them contain substances harmful to the baby’s skin.
Size
Getting the right size of clothes is very important. This way you can avoid many wardrobe malfunctions. Yes, your baby looks incredibly cute in those snuggly clothes, but keep in mind that they might be uncomfortable. They can restrict their movements, especially if the child likes to move around a lot. If you have any doubts about what the size should be, ask the seller, they can give you some advice on this matter.
Also, remember that babies grow fast. So, it’s not a bad idea to get them a size bigger than they are. Every baby grows differently, and size is not a universal thing for them. It’ll mostly depend on their weight and height. Some manufacturers even have size charts with heights and weights so they can make shopping much easier for you.
On the other hand, you can now find a lot of adjustable clothing. Since the baby will outgrow the clothes fast, it may be a better idea to buy adjustable clothes. These items expand and grow with your child. This is a smart investment because it’ll save you a lot of time, money and effort. You won’t have to go to the store every month to buy new onesies or shirts.
Safety
You might think that all baby attire is made to be safe for the kids, but you’re wrong. There are many manufacturers that make clothes with lots of buttons and googly eyes or some other dangerous objects. Once the baby starts teething, it’ll start putting things in their mouth and this is where the danger comes.
To avoid choking hazards and injuries, always go for clothes that don’t have any loose objects. No tassels, buttons, eyes or strings that can risk their safety. When you go to the baby cloth shops, look for materials that are flame-resistant. Do everything you can to prevent a clothing accident.
Types of Clothes You Should Buy
Bodysuit
A bodysuit is a must-have piece of clothing for babies. It's very practical and versatile. There are no pant legs and there is a closing system (usually snaps) on the crotch area. You can find it in 3 variations, short-sleeved, long-sleeved and sleeveless. The neck part can also differ from one bodysuit to another. Some have a wider neck, some have a similar closing system like with the crotch and some use the folding method where you don’t have to put it over the baby’s head at all.
Sleepsuit
Sleepsuits come in quite handy, especially throughout the first several months. As your child grows bigger, sleepsuits usually turn into pyjamas. They're popular among mothers because they’re simple and easy to put on and take off. They have pant legs with closed feet and long sleeves. This is very practical for babies that tend to kick their socks off during the night. Get a sleepsuit that opens and closes along its whole length. This will make it very easy to dress. Even a fussy baby won’t be a problem.
Rompers
Although they are one of the most common items in a child's wardrobe, rompers are rarely worn as they should be. They're available in many styles, including sleeveless and long or short-sleeved. The bottom part of the rompers can also be short or long. But in this case, the feet aren’t covered, and the child needs to wear socks. Oftentimes, parents confuse them with sleepsuits and use them similarly.
No-Scratch Mittens
These mittens are made so your little one doesn’t scratch himself. Newborns don’t really have control over their movements, they’re fairly uncontrolled. This leads to many scratches on their faces and all over their body. A lot of mothers embraced them as a great prevention from accidents and possible visits to the doctor. But these mittens also prevent the baby from exploring with their hands, which is a big part of their development. So, buying and using no-scratch mittens is definitely not a must.
