Newborn clothes checklist
Sep 4, 2024
When you’re expecting a baby, you’ll be inundated with ads for everything from newborn onesies and booties to hats and sleeping bags. But what clothes are actually required for a newborn baby? This newborn clothes checklist will have you sorted.
What clothes do newborns need?
The most important thing when it comes to newborn clothing is that your baby is the right temperature – you want them to be nice and cozy, but not so warm that they risk overheating.
So, exactly what clothes your newborn baby needs will depend on the time of year, as well as where you live.
For instance, if you’re in a summer heatwave, your baby might just need to wear a nappy to sleep in at night – whereas in the winter, depending on the temperature of your house, they might need to wear a bodysuit with a blanket or sleeping bag on top.
That said, as a general rule, here are the essential baby clothes you’ll need.
Vests. Ideal for keeping infants snug and their nappy firmly in place. It can be handy to get a mixture of short-sleeved and long-sleeved vests (also known as bodysuits), depending on the weather.
Sleepsuits. The simplest outfit to put your newborn in day and night, sleepsuits are comfy and easy to unfasten for those frequent nappy changes.
Cardigans. Lightweight cardigans made from wool or cotton are an essential extra layer for when it’s a bit nippy or when you’re out and about.
Hats, mittens and booties. Wool or cotton hats, mittens and booties are essential for leaving the house in colder weather.
Sun hats. If it’s hot or sunny, a sun hat is a must for protecting your baby’s delicate skin from the sun.
Blankets. Wrapping your baby in a blanket or shawl is a great way to keep them warm. Plus, blankets are a handy extra layer for leaving the house or at night.
You might also like to get your hands on a snowsuit for out and about, and a baby sleeping bag for night times. However, a blanket works fine as a replacement for either of these, hence why they haven’t made it onto our ‘most essential’ list!
To help make your life easy, we’ve created a collection of essential baby items right here on Moonsift. That’s right, we’ve done all the hard work for you – all you need to do is customise it as much (or as little!) as you want, and then start buying baby stuff ready for your little one’s arrival!
Your newborn clothes checklist
Can’t wait to start buying clothes for your little fashionista? This clothes checklist for your newborn baby will ensure you have everything you need.
Just remember, you can edit and customise it to suit your tastes and personal requirements!
6-12 x vests
6-12 x onesies
2 x wool or cotton cardigans
2 x wool or cotton hats
2 x mittens
2 x booties or socks
2 x blankets or shawls
1 x snowsuit
1 x baby sleeping bag
2 x ‘special occasion’ outfits
As you can see, babies don’t need a lot when it comes to clothing – although they will need a bunch of other things too (we’re talking a car seat, nappies, cot, pram… the list goes on!). Check out our list of newborn essentials for the full lowdown.
To save yourself some time, remember to take a look at our newborn collection on Moonsift. We’ve gathered together all the newborn clothes and other essentials you’ll need, so that you don’t have to.
Not sure when to start buying baby stuff during pregnancy? Our dedicated guide will help you to feel confident in when you should head to check out to purchase all those items you’ve been adding to your baskets!
Should newborns wear 0 or 3 month clothes?
Newborn clothing sizes can be a bit of a minefield.
Generally, you’ll find newborn clothes categorised as premature (up to around 5 lbs), tiny baby (up to around 6 lbs), newborn or first size (up to around 9 lbs), or 0-3 months (up to around 12 lbs).
But you’re unlikely to know when your baby will arrive or how big they’ll be. So, it can be tough to know what to spend your money on!
If you want to play it safe, we’d recommend going through our baby clothes checklist and getting a few of each item in newborn size, and the rest in 0-3 months.
Alternatively, if you want to give your baby the best possible chance of using everything you buy (and for as long as possible), you could even buy everything in 0-3 months. The clothes may be a bit baggy to begin with, but your baby will soon grow into them!
Keep track of your newborn clothing essentials on Moonsift
Aside from just clothes, babies come with a ton of stuff… which can be surprising given how tiny they are! Luckily, Moonsift can help you to keep track of all the items you’re considering in one easy-to-manage place.
With our universal ‘save’ button, you’ll be able to add items from any store in the world to your collections and share them with your partner, family and friends. We’ll even let you know if your saved items go on sale!
As if that wasn’t enough, you can easily convert your collections into a gift registry so that your loved ones can help you prepare for your little one’s arrival. Just send them the link so they can quickly tick items off your list and add a gift message – perfect for when it comes to your baby shower (or, even more excitingly, when baby makes their grand entrance!).
Simply create your baby registry to get started.
FAQs
What should a newborn wear after birth?
Straight after birth, your newborn should be held against your skin as soon as possible, known as ‘skin to skin.’ For this, they should be naked apart from a diaper and a hat. Just remember to cover their back with a blanket, depending on the room temperature!
What should a newborn wear when born?
In the hospital, your baby should usually wear a dry vest and onesie with one or two light blankets over them. Just bear in mind that a folded blanket counts as two layers! They should also wear a hat for around the first six hours of life.
What is the rule for newborn clothes?
A good rule of thumb for newborn clothes is to give your baby one extra layer of clothing compared to what you’re wearing. For instance, if you’re in a t-shirt and a sweater, your baby should probably be in a vest, sleepsuit and a cardigan or blanket.
