Start with a bodysuit, and getting your baby dressed is a snap.
A new baby is so much joy, and part of the fun is dressing him up and showing him off. He’s arriving with just one look, his birthday suit, so where do you build his wardrobe from there?
The same principles of your wardrobe—style, comfort, versatility and starting with the basics—apply to his. A baby essential is the bodysuit, which is great for year-round wear. Soft and comfy, a one-piece cotton bodysuit is perfect for eating, playing and more. Overlapped shoulder seams and snaps at the bottom make it easy to dress or change a wriggling baby.
When it’s time to go out, add a pair of pants to his bodysuit or leggings or a skirt to hers, and they’ll be ready to take on the town. If there’s a chill in the air, layer on a coordinating cotton jacket or sweater.
Choose a cute print or pattern to be ready for any photo op moment.
The Basics and Beyond
To get your baby’s wardrobe started, stock up on about a dozen bodysuits, four to six bottoms and four to six side-snap shirts that coordinate for more versatility. Then take it from basic to adorable with six to 10 additional outfits in cute prints or patterns.
Babies go from napping to playing and back to snoozing again, so sleep-and-play attire is a huge part of a baby’s stylebook. Eight to 12 sleeping gowns and sleep-and-play outfits will keep your little one comfy. Go for easy-access pieces with snaps or self-adhesive closures so you can quickly change a diaper without waking your baby.
For cooler temps, you’ll want four to six coveralls or sleepsacks. An alternative to traditional blankets, sleepsacks have a roomy, enclosed bottom so he can kick his legs without kicking off a blanket.
It’s all about layers. Add some slip-on bottoms or a soft sweater when cooler temps are in the forecast.
Be Ready for Any Adventure
You want your baby to look cool, but not be cold. Make sure your baby’s wardrobe includes plenty of hats, booties and mittens, along with four to six blankets for swaddling. If yours is a winter baby, add a one-piece fleece snowsuit or stroller sack for outings. Choose a snowsuit that’s thin but warm. Or warm up the car, take off the snowsuit and cover him with it after he’s buckled into his car seat. The straps of the car seat should be tight against the baby’s chest, which might not be possible if a snowsuit is too bulky.
To keep mealtimes and nightly baths more pleasant for both you and him, stock up on eight to 10 bibs, a half dozen burp cloths, about a dozen washcloths and four to six hooded bath towels.
Sizing Up the Situation
Many babies change sizes four times in the first year of life, so choose sizes based on height and weight, not age. A small six-month-old baby might wear a size 3-6 months. But if he’s larger or growing quickly, he could easily be in a size 6-12 months.
Fill his wardrobe with a variety of sizes, and check periodically to see if he’s grown into the larger sizes. Many moms have shed a tear over an adorable outfit in a 9-month size that they’ve been saving in the closet, only to discover that their baby has outgrown it by the time they try it on him.
So now your little guy is stylish, comfy and oh-so-handsome, with a well-stocked closet full of cuteness. He’s totally ready to rock his look!
