Baby Clothes

If you are about to become a first time mother, you may wonder what items to request in your registry for your baby shower. Specifically, you may question what kind of clothes to ask for.

While it may be tempting to get a bunch of newborn clothing because they are so cute, it won’t be practical. Since your baby will be sleeping most of the time, they won’t require many clothing changes. About the only issue would be when they spit up and need a new outfit. Most people end up owning more newborn clothes than their baby will wear. It can often be easier for them to wear gowns for diaper changes.

Baby Clothes Explained

If you expecting, chances are you’ve been combing the malls looking at baby clothing stores and thinking about the perfect garb to wrap your little precious one in. Just like parenting, there’s no one book to tell you what is the best baby clothing. For the most part, you need to use some common sense. A baby’s skin is so tender and sensitive, and it’s best to have a soft material up against their baby skin.

Cotton is the most common fabric in baby clothes. It’s soft, absorbent and gentle on a baby’s skin. As you probably already know, cotton will shrink up to approximately 10 percent with the first wash and dry. Cotton and polyester blends are also soft and tend to be slightly less expensive than 100 percent cotton. This blend is popular among parents because it is resistant to wrinkles and is easy to care for.

Cotton with spandex is one of the most popular choices among new parents due to its softness and stretchiness. This blend is the ultimate in softness and allows your baby to move with ease. You can be assured your baby will let you know he does not like to be restricted and loves to move about freely.

Fuzzy and warm, fleece is a popular fabric featured in baby outerwear. Fleece comes in a variety of weights, and it’s great for layering. Lighter weight fleece is perfect for the summer time, and heavy weight is more appropriate for the cooler seasons. The… Read the rest

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Blankets

When it comes to baby shower gifts, certain items are more popular than others. Why does everyone seem to pick onesies, booties and blankets? If it’s your first baby, it might not make sense. Your new baby will go through onesies like they’re tissues, every feeding may require a wardrobe change. Booties are easily lost when their little legs start kicking and being so small, the cute booties and socks easy to lose. And how about blankets? Babies need a blanket at many times throughout the day. It’s a comforting feel for the little one to be swaddled in a soft comfy blanket. Having a variety of baby blankets will come in very handy.

When sorting out your baby’s wonderful new gifts before they arrive, arrange the blankets by weight. Light and thin blankets are great for indoors, a nice thermal blanket wrapped around an infant can be enough to ensure they’re snuggled comfortably. A selection of somewhat warmer mid-weight baby blankets can be great for in-between weather or an extra layer to protect the baby from a breeze in drafty places. The heaviest blankets are best for an over layer when taking your baby out, perhaps for visits to see family. Having a lightweight blanket underneath and using a heavier one to cover them in a car seat can make sure they’re cozy on car trips. It never hurts to have an extra blanket or two in the diaper bag. As the baby grows, having a soft quilted… Read the rest

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Receiving Blankets

No matter how many receiving blankets come your way at baby showers, you can be guaranteed that you will never have quite enough. In case you’re not sure, receiving blankets are very lightweight, soft blankets that are great for swaddling your newborn. Oddly enough, after being scrunched up in the womb for so long, babies seem to find it comforting to be swaddled, or wrapped fairly tightly in a receiving blanket. Another reason to wrap your little one is that newborns aren’t as good as older kids at maintaining their body temperature. Unless it’s blazing hot in the middle of summer, a receiving blanket helps baby to keep his or her body temperature stable.

You can certainly buy yourself some extras, but they’re so easy to make you can whip up a pile of them during a couple of naptimes with hardly any effort. You’ll want to pick up some lightweight fabric. Baby flannel would be a good choice, but whatever you buy, be sure to look for the tags that say the fabric has been certified as safe for children’s sleepwear. Never, never use flammable material for children’s clothing or blankets. If you are unsure, ask a sales attendant where to find fabric for children’s sleepwear. This is definitely not the place to cut corners.

For each blanket you should buy a yard of fabric. That will give you plenty for a generous size blanket with some leftovers to turn into burp cloths or changing pads. All you… Read the rest

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Baby Socks and Booties

Babies need many things, and that includes items to cover their feet, even though it seems a shame because their feet are so precious and should be on display all the time.

Baby booties are traditional and take the place of shoes before shoes become necessary. They come in dozens of styles and they are among the most treasured items when children are tiny, especially if the booties have been handmade by a loving friend or family member.

Socks are a clothing staple and because some styles fall off the foot very easily, it is helpful to buy the type with a generously sized folded cuff.

Socks are available in thin knits, like dress socks, and thick, like tube socks. As the baby begins to walk, socks with grippers on the bottom are recommended to help prevent slipping, although, grippers can be difficult to stuff into shoes, so be sure to have plenty of both gripper socks and gripper-free at the ready.

One overlooked item that deserves a mention is the legwarmer. They are available in many colors and styles, and are indispensable! While babies will quickly outgrow socks and booties, they will take much longer to outgrow legwarmers, so they are a wonderful investment. A single pair of legwarmers purchased in infancy can be used until the child is four years old, possibly even longer.

Legwarmers make diaper changes a snap! Use them in place of leggings or pants for easy access to the diaper area. Not only… Read the rest

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Sleepers and Stretch Suits

Two must-have items on every baby registry should include baby sleepers and stretch suits. These simple and comfortable articles of clothing are ideal for newborns. They afford the child an easy-to-wear ensemble, allowing their mother to feel secure knowing that her child is in a no-fuss, safe outfit.

When it comes to newborn clothing options, the adorable factor is often valued over actual utility. Wardrobes mirroring Mommy or Daddy’s own strike a cuteness chord, but simplicity is key. Tiny jeans, sweaters, and likenesses of popular footwear make for a special outfit to wear short-term, but all of that calculated clothing is cumbersome for everyday. The comfy sleeper and stretch suit options are appropriate both in and outside of the home, satisfying the oohing and aahing needs of his or her already adoring public.

A sleeper is a newborn sized sack with arms and a zipper or series of snaps that is a wonderful blanket alternative to place baby in for naps or bedtime. With the danger of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), mothers can feel at ease knowing there is no risk of crib bedding accidentally covering the child’s face, prohibiting their breathing. A stretch suit for baby offers the same benefits of comfort and security; however, the stretch suit has definite leg and feet features. This is a nice option for longer daytime wear and for taking baby out and about. It is easy to transport the child in their car seat or a shopping cart, which is… Read the rest

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Baby Pajamas

One of the most important outfits your baby will need to wear will be his/her pajamas. As a new mother, it can be daunting to know what kind of baby pajamas are the best. There are numerous types of baby pajamas available, which can make the decision even harder! Thankfully, when you know what to look for in baby pajamas, you should have no problem in selecting the best pajamas for your new baby.

The Important Stuff:

You don’t just want your baby pajamas to look cute; they also need to serve a purpose. You will want to find pajamas that allow your baby to keep a steady temperature, while maintaining safety and comfort. Although some sources may tell you that your baby’s pajamas have to be flame resistant, that’s not necessarily the case. However, based on a law passed in 2000, if not flame resistant, your baby’s pajamas will have to be deemed “snug-fitting” by the label on the pajamas. Furthermore, you will want to be extremely careful that your baby’s pajamas do not have ribbons, string, or any other decorative pieces that your baby could potentially choke on.

Types of Pajamas:

Depending on the time of year and age of your baby, there are a variety of different baby pajama’s. One of the most common types of baby’s pajamas, nightgowns, are designed for both boy and girl infants. Nightgowns will often have elastic bottoms that will close around your baby’s feet. There are also footsies that are… Read the rest

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Baby Onesies

New babies need lots of things: diapers, wipes, strollers and highchairs. They need booties, blankets, sippy-cups, and piles of clothes. But of all the things they need, the onesie is the most indispensable. Onesies are truly God’s gift to new mothers. Anyone at a loss for what gift to bring to a baby shower, should consider buying a onesie as a gift.

A onesie is simply a tiny baby t-shirt cut long enough to fasten with a set of snaps at the crotch. The name comes from the fact that they are one piece, not two. They are usually made from soft cotton, like most undershirts, and come in hundreds of adorable colors and prints. What makes onesies so wonderful is their versatility. Babies can literally wear them all year long. In the summer, when it’s hot, a diaper and a onesie is all a baby needs. Baby is completely dressed, but her arms and legs are bare and cool. In the winter, the onesie makes the perfect undergarment with any outfit, keeping baby cozy and warm. They come with long sleeves, too, so simply adding a little pair of pants, makes a complete outfit. In a pinch, a onesie can also substitute for pajamas or a swim suit.

The other beautiful thing about onesies, is that they eliminate one layer of clothing. Newborn babies are so tiny and fragile. Sometimes they seem to simply swim in all the clothes we put on them. The onesie solves the problem… Read the rest

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Baby Clothes

Most babies outgrow newborn clothing within the first month and are ready for 0-3 month sized clothes. Since they are still not doing much besides sleeping, their clothing will stay clean most of the time. This is a good size to buy used because it usually looks like new.

The next size is the one where you will start using more outfits. They will start eating solids and making messes, requiring clothing changes. As they get older, they will be more active, which will make it harder for you to get things done. One way to make things easier on you is by having extra outfits so that you don’t have to do laundry as often.

Listing clothing in your registry in older sizes is a practical way to get more clothes that you will need and use. There are some items that you will need more of such as nightwear and socks. Onesies are a popular baby item for most parents because they keep your baby warm and can be worn day or night. They can be worn alone in warm weather or under other clothes when it’s cold.

While it’s tempting to buy frilly dresses for girls and fancy outfits for boys, they are not practical and are often uncomfortable for the baby. Once they start trying to move around, that kind of clothing can hamper them. Save it for photos and choose comfortable clothes for every day.

Knowing how to find clothing for less money is… Read the rest

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