Essential Newborn Clothes: How to Build Baby’s First Wardrobe

Essential Newborn Clothes for the First Month

Has shopping for baby clothes become your new cardio? Listen, we get it—baby clothes are addictive. But what items do new parents actually need for that first month home with your newborn? And to get down to brass tacks: what pieces will make overnight feedings and changes go as seamlessly as possible, i.e. snaps are not always the best friends of sleep-deprived parents?

A Few Considerations

Think About Sizes

while parents won’t be certain how big or small their newborn will be, one thing is certain, and that is that babies grow fast. So while you may be tempted to register for or purchase only newborn sizes, it is often wiser to focus on 0-3 month sizes instead. Newborn" size typically caters to babies around 5-8 pounds, while "0-3 months" generally fits babies from 8-12.5 pounds. However, these are just general guidelines, and some larger newborns might even bypass the "Newborn" size altogether, fitting directly into 0-3 month clothing from day one. Given this rapid growth, the "Newborn" size may only be usable for a very brief period, sometimes just a few weeks. It's also important to note that sizing can vary significantly between brands, so what's labeled "0-3 months" in one brand might fit differently than another. If possible, comparing a new garment to one already owned can be more reliable than relying solely on the label. A practical approach is to remember that it's generally better for clothes to be slightly big rather than too small; sleeves and pant legs can always be rolled up temporarily. Over-investing in a large quantity of "Newborn" specific sizes is a common pitfall for enthusiastic new parents, often leading to unworn items and wasted resources.

Think About Laundry

Our suggestions are based on the assumption that laundry will be done three loads of laundry a week. Parents may want to double our suggestions if they plan to wash once a week, and cut in half if they plan to wash daily. Babies are messy, no matter what. Indeed, the frequency of messes like spit-up and diaper blowouts can be surprising, often becoming daily, if not hourly, occurrences. 1  Each incident typically requires a complete outfit change. This reality directly impacts the necessary quantity of clothing items. The "laundry factor" is a critical, yet frequently underestimated, variable in determining the actual number of clothing items a newborn requires. A static list of recommended items is less helpful without considering the individual household's laundry rhythm and capacity. If laundry is done less frequently, a larger stock of clothes will be essential to avoid running out.

Think About Fabrics

Soft, natural, breathable fabrics are the way to go. And make sure to avoid itchy tags that can irritate baby’s skin. This is paramount because a newborn's skin is incredibly delicate and permeable. The choice of fabric is a crucial factor in a newborn's health and comfort.

Organic cotton is often highlighted as a superior choice for several reasons. Grown without harmful chemicals and pesticides, it's generally softer and gentler on sensitive skin than conventional cotton. It's also known for being hypoallergenic and highly breathable, which helps in temperature regulation—a vital feature since newborns are not yet efficient at controlling their own body temperature. Organic cotton is also durable, holding up well to the frequent washing that baby clothes inevitably require. For environmentally conscious parents, the eco-friendly aspect of organic cotton is an added benefit.

Beyond organic cotton, other excellent fabric choices include:

• Bamboo: Renowned for its super-soft texture, bamboo fabric is also lightweight, breathable, and has moisture-wicking properties, making it ideal for sensitive skin and warmer weather. Bamboo blankets, for instance, are noted for better breathability and heat regulation compared to some traditional muslin blankets.
• Cotton Jersey: This fabric is soft, comfortable, and offers good stretch, allowing for ease of movement and helping the garment maintain its shape after washing.
• Merino Wool: A surprisingly gentle option, fine merino wool is soft, breathable, and an excellent temperature regulator, suitable for various climates as it can provide warmth without causing overheating.
• Tencel™/EcoVero™: These are sustainably sourced fabrics known for their silky feel, high stretch, breathability, and gentleness on the skin.

The emphasis on breathability and temperature regulation cannot be overstated, as newborns can easily become too hot or too cold. Natural, breathable fabrics help maintain a comfortable body temperature and minimize skin irritation. Always check for and remove itchy tags, and avoid rough textures or seams that could chafe delicate skin. Selecting the right fabric is a proactive measure for preventing discomfort and skin issues, making it a health consideration as much as a comfort one.

Choosing Clothes That Protect Your LO 

While aesthetics are appealing, safety must be the foremost consideration when selecting newborn attire. Many common decorative elements on baby clothes, often perceived as "cute," can pose serious, hidden safety risks that new parents might not be aware of.

• Choking; Strangulation Risks: It is crucial to explicitly avoid items with beading, loose threads, ties, drawstrings, and any small, detachable attachments. These items can easily become choking hazards if they come loose, and drawstrings or long ties present a significant strangulation risk.
• Fire Safety: Parents should look for clothing with a low fire hazard label, particularly for sleepwear items like rompers and jumpsuits. It's also worth noting that some children's clothes are chemically treated to be flame-retardant, and using bleach during washing can strip away this important protection.
• Irritants: Beyond the fabric itself, avoid clothes with rough internal seams or underside embroidery that could scratch or irritate a baby's sensitive skin. Crucially, all new baby clothes should be pre-washed before the first wear. This helps to remove any excess dyes, chemicals, or residues from the manufacturing and packaging process that could otherwise irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.

The Guide for Newborn Clothes

6-8 Bodysuits or Rompers

• Bodysuits are an easy summer outfit staple and a great base layer in the winter (there are short and long-sleeve options).
• Good to know: kimono shirts,  which don’t have to be pulled over the baby’s head to be worn, are a great option when the umbilical stump is still healing, or if a parent is a little nervous dressing their floppy newborn (we’ve all been there). These styles, along with overlap or envelope neck designs, are highly recommended because they simplify the dressing process, crucially avoiding the need to pull clothing over a baby's delicate head—a maneuver many infants find distressing. Specifically, the overlap design of some bodysuits can be particularly beneficial in preventing irritation to the healing umbilical cord stump.

4-6 Pairs of Pants

• Pants are great for layering over bodysuits and keeping legs from getting chilly year-round.
• Good to know: The Importance of Layering for Temperature Regulation, Even Indoors. Newborns are really sensitive to cold and lose body heat quickly. Even if there is a summer baby, parents will still want to pair pants with tops when indoors in air conditioning. Layering is a key strategy for managing a newborn's body temperature, as they are not yet able to regulate it efficiently on their own. A general guideline is to dress the baby in one more layer than an adult would wear to be comfortable in the same environment.

4-6 Footies or Gowns

• Cozy footies are the quintessential baby wardrobe item and the best for lazy dressing.
• Good to know: Make sure to have zippered footies for overnight diaper changes—super quick! Gowns are also a convenient choice for overnight wear. Pair with booties or socks and your baby is all set. For maximum convenience, look for footies with front-fastening zippers; double zippers that can open from the top or bottom are even more practical for diaper changes. Baby gowns are particularly excellent during the newborn phase due to the very easy access they provide for frequent diaper changes. Knotted gowns offer similar benefits, with the added advantage of being adjustable to accommodate a growing baby.

2-4 Special Occasion Outfits

• Babies look adorable in anything, but parents may want a couple of nicer outfits for extra special photo sessions.
• Good to know: it’s probably smart to have at least two options because, hey, spit up happens. Even for these special outfits, prioritize the baby's comfort and ease of dressing. Avoid anything overly fussy, restrictive, or made from stiff materials. Soft fabrics should still be the standard. Beautiful yet practical options can include items like smocked or delicately hand-embroidered bodysuits or rompers that don't compromise on comfort.

2-3 Hats

• Beanie style or knotted hats are important for helping to keep newborns warm in those early weeks.
• Good to know: have at least two hats on hand so one is always available if the other is in the laundry. While hats are useful for preventing heat loss, especially outdoors or in drafty environments (as babies lose a significant amount of heat through their heads ), it is crucial to remember that hats should not be worn by babies during sleep indoors once they are home from the hospital. This is due to the risk of overheating, which is a factor associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). 

4-6 Pairs of Socks

• You’ll want to keep a newborn’s feet nice and toasty, even in the summer months. Buy them all in the same color and you won’t have to worry about searching for the elusive matching pair.
• Good to know: sleeping gowns paired with socks make for super quick diaper changes. The advice to buy all socks in one color is a time-tested sanity-saver for new parents. While not essential for the first month, socks with grippers on the soles can be useful later when the baby becomes more mobile and starts to explore.

3-4 Swaddles or Swaddle Sacks

• Sure, a swaddle isn’t really an item of clothing, but many parents find that they are essential for soothing a newborn to sleep.
• Good to know: parents can swaddle babies in traditional swaddle blankets (which make for great lightweight blankets in the summer) or in swaddle sacks that are zipped and/or velcro'ed snuggly into place. Some swaddle sacks allow for arm movement so that the baby has access to their hands for self-soothing. Traditional swaddling blankets, often made from cotton muslin, require a bit of technique to get a secure wrap. Modern swaddle sacks or sleep sacks offer a simpler alternative, often featuring zippers or Velcro closures for ease of use. Importantly, sleep sacks are considered a safe alternative to loose blankets in the crib, aligning with safe sleep guidelines. It is critical to note that weighted swaddles, weighted blankets, or any weighted objects are NOT recommended for babies due to safety concerns and an increased risk of SIDS.

Dressing for the Elements: Seasonal Essentials for Your Newborn

Seasonal clothing choices for newborns extend beyond simply adding or removing items; they involve safety considerations, particularly concerning car seat use in winter and sun or heat safety in summer. Therefore, advice must include education on the safe usage of these items in specific contexts.

For Winter Babies, Add

1 Winter Coat or Bunting

• Winter babies need an extra layer of super warm outerwear. A winter coat will work unless the family lives in a colder region—in that case, opt for a full-body winter bunting suit. Please note that bulky winter coats, snowsuits, or buntings should NEVER be worn by a baby or child underneath the harness of a car seat. The puffiness of these garments creates excessive slack between the child and the harness, which can lead to the child being ejected from the seat in the event of a crash. Instead, dress the baby in thin, warm layers (like fleece ), buckle them snugly into the car seat, and then place a coat or blanket over the harness for warmth.

1 Pair of Winter Mittens

• Make sure to cover tiny hands with cozy mittens. Bonus: They also help keep newborns from scratching themselves. Thin cotton mittens can also serve the purpose of preventing scratches indoors. For very cold weather, ensure outdoor mittens provide adequate warmth.   

2 Pairs of Cozy Booties

• Your little one won’t actually need shoes until he starts walking, but cozy booties—especially fleece ones—help keep tiny toes toasty.

2-3 Sweatshirts or Sweaters

• A cardi or zip up hoodie is easy to get on and off when going from outdoors to in. Cardigans or front-zip hoodies are generally easier to manage with a newborn than pullovers, which have to be pulled over the head.

For Summer Babies, Add

1 Sun Hat

• When it’s so warm a blanket isn’t practical, a sun hat will keep that newborn skin protected and covered. Look for a wide brim and an adjustable toggle so that the hat grows with the baby.

2 Lightweight Blankets

• Swaddle blankets are great for draping strollers and car seats in the bright summer sun, but always keep in mind: even thin blankets raise the temperature and decrease ventilation inside both. Make sure you aren’t fully covering your stroller or car seat to create shade, and once you are parked somewhere out of the sun, go ahead and remove the blanket, just to be safe. Now you’re picnic ready.

The Art of Layering for Transitional Seasons

For those tricky transitional seasons like spring and autumn, when temperatures can fluctuate significantly throughout the day (common in places like Michigan, for example ), layering is the key to keeping a newborn comfortable.   

• Emphasize layers that can be easily added or removed: start with a base layer like a bodysuit, add pants and a shirt, and then top with a light jacket or cardigan if needed.   
• Choose lightweight layers that are easy to peel off as the day warms up or to add if it cools down.   
• For cooler autumn weather, materials like thicker cotton, flannel, or fleece can be introduced into the baby's wardrobe.   
• It's always a good idea to have an extra blanket handy when out and about. As noted earlier, bamboo blankets are recognized for their good breathability and heat regulation properties.   

Our list covers the basics for layette, and your mileage may vary depending upon climate, budget, or older sibling(s). We’d recommend registering for these items, however, bare minimum. Your bases will be covered and you won’t be cursing that adorable—but entirely inconvenient—set of pajamas come 3am.

This guide provides a comprehensive foundation for selecting a newborn's first wardrobe. However, it is essential for parents to adapt these recommendations to their specific circumstances, including their local climate, lifestyle, budget, and laundry routines. Every baby is an individual, and what works perfectly for one might not be ideal for another. Parents are encouraged to observe their baby closely, paying attention to what fabrics their skin seems to tolerate best, whether they tend to run hot or cold, and how they react to different styles of clothing. This observational approach, combined with the information provided here, can empower parents to make confident and informed decisions. Ultimately, while expert advice is invaluable, trusting parental instincts and responding to a baby's unique cues are key components of nurturing care.

Finding What’s Right for You

Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents, and hope you’re feeling empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or by email at [email protected].