Choosing the right layette

Newborn clothing can be a bit confusing. It can be vastly different than the garb we wear as we get older. Choosing your layette carefully can be important, because these clothes will make like easier for a few weeks, but because you will only need them for a short time, you don’t want to buy too many. This is also a great time to take advantage of hand-me-downs, since most layette items will be very gently used.

One important thing to consider before deciding what you need is how often you plan to do the laundry. Babies often need clean clothes two or three times a day, so unless you plan to wash a load of baby clothes every day, plan on a larger number of the most used items, like onesies and drawstring gowns. Another important thing to consider is the season, as you will obviously need more caps and heavier pajamas in winter than in summer. But don’t be fooled, even summer babies will need a few hats, footed items, and socks. Babies often get chilled easier than we do.

Here are some popular items to get you started. Stores that sell baby clothing will also offer some good lists, but they tend to be on the high side in terms of numbers.

• Drawstring Gowns- These are great, especially for midnight diaper changes, because they are so much easier to get into and out of. Stores recommend 3-8. I would go on the higher side with these, because of their convenience.

• T-shirt type onesies – The kind with little folds at the neck are great, because it’s much easier to get them on and off. Some people will tell you to buy t-shirts, but I found these much more convenient, because the snaps between the legs make them stay put. In winter, you will put these under almost everything. They usually come in packs of three, so buy three or four packs.

• Bibs – You’ll need five or six small bibs for protecting baby’s clothes from milk spills. You’ll go to bigger ones when you introduce solid foods. My advice is avoid the ones with ties, as they’re hard to get tied on a small baby. My favorites are bibs with Velcro fasteners at the back.

• Hats – You’ll need warm, toboggan types for a winter baby, brimmed hats for sun protection for a spring or summer baby. Three hats should suffice.

• Footed pajamas – These are not a necessity, but are great for a winter baby, because they will stay relatively warm, even without a blanket. You can find them in all types of fabric, from very light cotton knit, to fleece for the coldest months. I prefer the zip ones to the ones that snap, because trying to get those snaps right in the middle of the night is a real chore!

• Socks or booties – Look for socks that don’t kick off easily, but don’t buy too many. You’ll be surprised how quickly they outgrow socks. Two or three pair is fine for a summer baby, more for a winter baby.

This is a good list to get you started, and keep your baby clothed at home in those first days. Of course, once you start getting out of the house more, you’ll want more "fashion" type outfits. For convenience, look for outfits that are one piece, and snap between the legs. Pants with regular shirts or skirts and tops are very inconvenient until a child is walking, because the shirts are always pulled up. Building a wardrobe of one piece pants or shorts outfits will keep your baby warmer, as well as looking more put together.

Putting your baby’s first wardrobe together can be lots of fun. But, use some restraint on those first clothes, because before you know it, you’ll need another whole batch of new outfits!

Sarah is a 41 year old wife and mother of two boys and one girl. She spent many years as a manager in the corporate world, and gave it up to be a stay at home mom.

Go to http://www.infantresources.com now and get her incredible baby minicourse – absolutely free.