The Ultimate Baby Clothes Shopping List: How Many of Each Item Do You Need?
When it comes to shopping for baby clothes, there are a lot of things to consider. How many sets of clothes do you need? What sizes will your child need? What types of clothes will your child wear the most? In this blog post, we will help you answer these questions and figure out how many baby clothes you need!
A baby is a wonderful bundle of joy that comes with a lot of clothes. Every baby is different, so it can be difficult to determine how many baby clothes you need. Here is a guide to help you figure out how many baby clothes you need for your little one.
Babies grow fast. Like, really fast. It seems like they outgrow their clothes every other day. You might be tempted to go overboard and buy a ton of clothes, but trust me, you don’t need nearly as much as you think you do.
Here’s a baby clothes checklist of how much baby clothes do I need, by age group:
0-3 months:
You’ll want around 10 bodysuits or one-pieces, 12 sleepers or footed pajamas, 12 shirts or blouses, three sweaters or sweatshirts, three sets of pants or leggings, and three jackets or coats. You’ll also need two pairs of shoes and socks and one hat or beanie.
3-6 months:
For this age group, you’ll need around eight bodysuits or one-pieces, eight sleepers or footed pajamas, eight shirts or blouses, two sweaters or sweatshirts, two sets of pants or leggings, and two jackets or coats. You’ll also need two pairs of shoes and socks and one hat or beanie.
6-9 months:
At this point, you’ll only need six bodysuits or one-pieces, six sleepers or footed pajamas, six shirts or blouses, one sweater or sweatshirt, one set of pants or leggings, and one jacket or coat. You’ll also need two pairs of shoes and socks and one hat or beanie.
9-12 months:
For the last stretch of baby’s first year, you’ll only need four bodysuits or one-pieces , four sleepers or footed pajamas , four shirts blouses ,one sweater sweatshirt ,one set of pants leggings ,and one jacket coat .You’ll also need two pairs of shoes and socks and one hat beanie .
How to Build Your Baby’s Wardrobe
There are a few things to think about when you’re trying to figure out how many baby clothes you’ll need and how you should add clothing to your registry.
1. Think About Laundry
Your access to laundry (and how often you actually do it) makes a big difference in how many items of baby clothing you’ll need on hand.
Our list of newborn essentials below assumes you do a few loads of laundry throughout the week. If this isn’t the case, though, you may need more or less clothing. Here’s how to adjust:
- If you’re only planning on doing laundry once a week, multiply the numbers below by two.
- If you will be doing laundry every day, cut the numbers below in half.
2. What About Baby Clothes Sizes
Figuring out sizing and how many pieces in each size to add to your registry can be tricky as it’s tough to anticipate how big your baby will be at birth and how quickly it’ll grow. Keep these tips in mind:
- Think big. Most newborn sizes top out around eight pounds, so if you have a bigger baby, they may need 0-3 months’ sizes from the start. (And if they’re on the smaller side, odds are they’ll only fit into newborn sizes for a few weeks anyway.) Pick a few newborn items and then focus on 0-3 months since those clothes will fit babies up to around 12 or 13 pounds.
- Mix it up. Each baby brand runs differently when it comes to sizing. Some brands run roomier and are great for larger babies, while others run on the slim side and work better if your baby is long and lean. Since you won’t know your baby’s body type before birth, try to mix in clothes from several different brands so you’ll have a few different fit options.
3. Stay Organized
Teeny, tiny baby clothes sure are cute—and they sure are easy to lose track of too. Organizing your baby’s wardrobe by size is the best way to know what fits right now and what you have available in the next size when the time comes.
- If you’re storing most of the baby’s clothes in a dresser, drawer dividers are a great investment. They help keep everything in one place (we’re looking at you, tiny baby socks) and can be set up by clothing type, size or any other way you’d like.
- If you’re using a closet to store your little one’s wardrobe, check out closet dividers. These little sturdy hanging signs separate clothes into sizes (this set goes from newborn all the way through 2T) so you’ll be able to easily see what you have and less likely to forget about clothes before they’re too small.
One more organizational tip:
Rotate out clothing items as soon as your baby outgrows them. Staying on top of this onerous task goes a long way in helping you manage your baby’s wardrobe. Keep a storage bin (or two) on hand so you’ll always have somewhere to stash them; then you can decide if you want to hang onto them for the future or pass them on to someone else.
Sample Baby Clothing Registry
This list breaks down the standard number of clothing items you’ll want on hand for your newborn’s wardrobe. We’ve also included items to add specifically for summer and winter babies and a few things for special occasions.
Seven Bodysuits or Rompers
Bodysuits can serve as an easy, no-fuss outfit in summer or a basic layer in winter and come in both long- and short-sleeve styles. With seven, if you wash a couple of loads a week, you’ll always have clean ones on hand.
Three to Five Pants
Babies don’t really need to wear pants, but having a few pairs on hand to pull over bodysuits can help keep their legs warm when it’s chilly.
Four Sleepers, Footies, or Gowns
Sleepers and footies are for much more than just sleep—they work for daytime, too. They can also be paired with a swaddle for nighttime in colder climates. And a gown is a great wardrobe addition. especially during those first few months when you want something quick and easy for frequent diaper changes.
Two Hats
Beanie-style hats are important in the early weeks and months to keep your baby warm. (Just remember no hats when the baby is sleeping!) Start with two—one for your little one to wear and one for the wash. In colder climates, fleece hats are also nice to have.
Five Pairs of Socks
Even in summer, you’ll want to make sure your baby’s feet are cozy in socks.
Two to Three Swaddles
Swaddles aren’t clothes, per se, but many babies spend a lot of time in them. Why? Many babies like to be swaddled for the first few months—it’s very womblike and helps prevent their startle reflex from waking them up. For newborn sleep time, you may find many nights you just put the baby in a diaper and swaddle for sleep.
Expecting a Winter Baby?
Two Sweaters or Sweatshirts
A cardigan or zip-up hoodie is great for when there’s a chill in the air, and it’s easy to take off if the baby gets too warm.
One Pair of Mittens
Cover up little hands with cozy mittens. This particular pair is extra smart: the cord keeps the pair together so one of the mittens won’t go missing.
One Winter Coat or Bunting
Winter babies need at least one layer of extra-warm outerwear. In warmer climates, a winter coat with warm pants is enough, but for colder regions, get full-body outerwear (like a bunting sack—a sort of baby sleeping bag—or a stroller bunting) to make sure the baby stays snug in any weather.
Two Slippers or Booties
Babies don’t need shoes (in fact, they aren’t necessary until the baby starts walking), but booties are great for extra warmth.
Best practices for buying newborn clothes
Take a look at these tips when buying your baby’s clothes:
- Get more basics and fewer outfits. Cute newborn baby clothes are great for special occasions or photos. But for daily wear, basics are your best bet, especially for frequent changing.
- Buy seasonal or cute outfits as you go. If you are going to buy cute outfits, do so when the event is going to happen within the month. For instance, don’t buy your baby’s Halloween costume in the middle of summer yet. Even seasonal clothing like jackets are best purchased closer to when you’ll need it.
- Add clothes to your baby registry. Then, wait until after your baby shower to buy the rest that you want that others hadn’t gifted you.
- Find free or affordable baby clothes. I’m a big fan of local Buy Nothing groups (often found on Facebook). Make an ask for baby clothes, and I’m certain plenty of parents will be more than happy to pass their gently-used items to you. Hand-me-downs from friends are fantastic, as are consignment stores for affordable clothes.
- Bring one baby outfit for the hospital. Many hospitals will provide the baby’s first clothes while you’re there, but you’ll need an outfit to dress him in to go home.
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So, how much baby clothes do you need? The answer: not as much as you think. By following the general guidelines and Shopping List, you can be sure that you’re getting everything you need without overspending or ending up with a closet full of clothes your child will never wear. And remember, the key to survival is flexibility. If you find yourself short on sleepers for one month, don’t sweat it – chances are good that someone you know will have an extra that they would be happy to let you borrow. Happy shopping!