Baby Clothes 101: How to Find the Best Baby Clothes

Newborns grow incredibly fast!  I was shocked to see the rate at which my new born baby grew.  When he was 3 months he was wearing 6 month clothing, and when he was 5 months he was wearing 9 months to 12 month clothing!  I was amazed at how fast he grew!  Not to mention upset that the cute little 3 month old outfit only fit him for 1 month. 

Therefore, I would advise you to buy clothing for a bigger baby, rather than a newborn.  If the baby you are buying the clothes for is around 6 weeks I recommend you consider purchasing clothes for a 6 month old or older.  Chances are the new mother or expectant mother already has an abundance of newborn clothes, and by purchasing a bigger size you are increasing your chances of buying a useful baby shower gift.

If you are buying for an unborn baby you should consider looking at some of the cute unisex baby clothes.  There are tones of unisex clothes for babies that come in yellow, pale green, or white.  Overalls are always a favourite that can be worn by either a baby boy or baby girl.

Clothing fabric is important when shopping for a baby.  I advise you to feel the fabric to make sure that it is soft and will not scratch the baby’s sensitive skin.  Also, check the inside of the clothing for uncomfortable decals or logos that may irritate baby’s skin.  Comfort is the most important thing to consider when shopping for infant clothing. 

Sometimes the cutest clothes will have extremely uncomfortable collars or waist bands.  High collars that could potentially ride over the baby’s face should be avoided.  Waist bands that are too tight should also be avoided.  Shorter shirts that ride up the baby’s back have the potential to give the baby a cold, so I recommend buying an outfit with a shirt that snaps between the baby’s legs to keep it from riding up his or her back.

I recommend you look for outfits that come with a bib.  Baby’s are constantly spitting up or drooling for the entire first year of their life.  Therefore, a new mother will find it very useful if the outfit comes with a bib.  Mothers can never have too many bibs!

If you are considering buying the baby a pair of pyjamas I can only recommend one style of pyjamas: the sleeper!  A sleeper that covers baby’s feet and zips up the front is the best pyjama choice.  Not only is it the most comfortable for baby, the chances are greater that the baby will stay warm in the middle of the night, and the zipper up the front allows for easy access to change diapers. 

I also ask you to keep in mind the baby’s age and the current seasons.  You want to make sure you will match the baby’s size with the season that he or she will wear that size.  This will help you to avoid buying a sweatshirt for a 9 month old and forget that the baby will most likely be in this sized clothing during the peak of summer. 

Lastly, make sure that the fabric is washable!  Do not purchase baby clothes that are hand wash only.  Chances are the mother will pack them away in the closet or hang them on the wall as a decoration.  As a new mother, the last thing you want to be doing is hand washing baby clothing.  Therefore, even if you have to sacrifice cuteness for wash-ability, you will make the mother much happier giving her something that she can get a lot of use out of.

When trying to decide on the perfect baby outfit there are a few things you should think about:

1. Baby’s age
2. Baby’s size
3. Baby’s gender
4. Current season
5. Comfort
   1. Is the fabric soft
   2. Are there uncomfortable collars and waistbands
   3. Will it keep the baby warm
6. Is the fabric washable