Aspiring Spirit

When buying baby clothes, it’s recommended to stick to one color scheme. Bright colors are unisex, more easily seen, and less easily soiled than pastels. They’re a really good idea for outerwear, as it’s a lot easier to see a child wearing a bright red jacket in a busy supermarket than one wearing light pink.

Be practical. Infants and babies aren’t exactly the neatest things on earth, so you’ll want everything to be machine washable. Fancy clothes aren’t practical at all. They often interfere with movement and aren’t usually comfortable. Clothes made of cotton and other natural fabrics are more comfortable, especially when the weather is hot.

Speaking of the weather, the climate where you live and the season in which your child is born determine your initial layette needs. If you’re not sure what you need, you can talk to other parents and get some helpful ideas, or you can also observe how the other babies are dressed. Newborn-sizes are only good for most infants until around 2 to 3 weeks. Overdressing your baby is a definite no-no, especially when there is hot weather. If you want a guide, just put as many layers of clothing on your baby as you are wearing. So if you’re warm, your baby probably is, too.

If you need more ideas about putting together your initial layette, here are some suggestions:

Underwear - Get at least 4 to 6 undershirts for 3 to 6-month old sizes. These are usually made of cotton and has a tendency to shrink to some degree. Some parents find the undershirts with side snaps easier to put on a new baby. Undershirts typically come in white, prints, and solid colors.

Socks and Booties - 4 to 6 pairs of socks should do fine. Make sure they fit the infant’s feet snugly. Cuffed booties and socks made of stretchy material seem to work best, since babies often kick off other styles.

Sleeping Wear - Plan on six to ten sleep outfits. Stretchy, footed, or gowns all work great. Blanket sleepers, which are heavier than stretch garments, are good for colder climates. Parents like sleeping gowns because it makes diaper changing easier, aside from allowing more freedom of movement for the older infant. If you do select sleepwear with feet, forget about putting socks on your baby. They will cause the baby’s feet to become too warm, and this may cause a condition known as sweaty sock dermatitis.

Hats and Caps - Buying 2 hats or caps should suffice. They come in various styles and fabrics, lightweight cotton stretchable caps to acrylic. The type you choose depends upon the climate. Make sure hats and caps are small enough so they stay on and so you can place them well away from the baby’s face, so that he won’t suffocate himself when he turns his head.

Julie Vega is a researcher and writer working for http://www.gobohemian.com, where you can get all your infant and children’s clothing at the best prices. Visit us for all your against designer babies.

- Julie Vega