How many burp cloths, receiving blankets, outfits?

sadie+w

I received quite a few burp cloths and receiving blankets at my showers.  I'm wondering if I should return some of them . . . how many of each do you think is a good number?

Also, what should my baby wardrobe look like, in terms of styles and numbers of outfits?

TIA!

bearkatjen

I used a 12 pack of cloth diapers for burb cloths, and I had three non-handmade blankets, so a little bigger than receiving blankets, and then a few large handmade blankets, it was all more than enough. My DS never needed more than one outfit a day, and honestly he could re-wear almost everything a second time, so one week of footed one pieces was more than enough. some babies spit up a lot or have blow outs so they need more. I did clothes laundry once a week, and was a SAHM, so we just didn't need a lot clothing wise. 

This baby will start daycare around 12+ weeks, so I will be more limited in laundry, and I'll need back-up outfits, so I'll probably make sure I have a week and a half of outfits at that point. 

pamiva1

I used receiving blankets for all sorts of things and liked to have them in several rooms of the house, in the car, in the diaper bag, etc so I don't really think you can have too many. Same with burp cloths. I would not return them.

As for outfits, I have kids born in both warm and cold seasons and I feel like the first few weeks/months, they lived in one piece rompers/sleepwear. With their belly buttons so raw, things with elastic around the waist didn't seem comfortable. Babies are also messy, so i would suggest at least 10 of these types of outfits so you're not doing wash daily. As they get a bit older, they can start wearing different style outfits more often.

angelfire02

I bought a pack of I think 10 cloth diapers from Target and used those as burp rags.  They are cheap so if they got ruined I didn't care, and they work great.  I was shocked at how many receiving blankets we actually use, I had to send my mom out to buy more!  With two babies we have a stash of about 15 blankets, with one I would think 6-8 would suffice.  We keep them in the car, diaper bag, use them as emergency lovies, burp rags, to cover them when they have to be naked at the doctors, keep the sun off of them, etc, etc, etc.  It's great for summer because they are so light weight.  As for outfits, I do dress my kids every day.  Even if we are just going to be home, it makes me feel like we have accomplished something!  I would think that 12ish outfits would be good?  That way you don't have to do laundry all the time.  There will be days where you need to change them more often due to diaper explosions (they happen to everyone) or a huge spit up, but for the most part we make it through the day with one outfit.  Same thing with sleepers, they will need to be changed at night some times so have more than you think you will need so you aren't washing them constantly.

drpayne

bearkatjen:

I used a 12 pack of cloth diapers for burb cloths, and I had three non-handmade blankets, so a little bigger than receiving blankets, and then a few large handmade blankets, it was all more than enough. My DS never needed more than one outfit a day, and honestly he could re-wear almost everything a second time, so one week of footed one pieces was more than enough. some babies spit up a lot or have blow outs so they need more. I did clothes laundry once a week, and was a SAHM, so we just didn't need a lot clothing wise. 

This baby will start daycare around 12+ weeks, so I will be more limited in laundry, and I'll need back-up outfits, so I'll probably make sure I have a week and a half of outfits at that point. 

This goes to show you how very different babies can be!  DS had reflux.  We literally had 50 burp cloths (prefolds) and he went through a TON of changes of clothes each day (as did we).  We used a lot of blankets because he always needed to be laying on one.  We did laundry every day.  If I had to err one way or the other, I'd prefer to not have enough (or at least not open everything) and then go buy it (we didn't start with that many burp cloths but learned that we needed a stack of of them everywhere) as needed rather than having too much and not using it.  If you have a ton of clothes and receiving blankets, keep gift receipts, preferably attached to items.  Don't wash everything all at once.  You'll develop your own preferences, as far as clothes go.  Some people really like footed sleepers... I thought they were a pain for diaper changes.  Anything more complicated than a onesie (cute little overalls, etc), he never wore.  People told me to get the sleeping gowns but DS was swaddled all of the time so he didn't need them.  GL!

MrsJetSet

pamiva1:

I used receiving blankets for all sorts of things and liked to have them in several rooms of the house, in the car, in the diaper bag, etc so I don't really think you can have too many. Same with burp cloths. I would not return them.

As for outfits, I have kids born in both warm and cold seasons and I feel like the first few weeks/months, they lived in one piece rompers/sleepwear. With their belly buttons so raw, things with elastic around the waist didn't seem comfortable. Babies are also messy, so i would suggest at least 10 of these types of outfits so you're not doing wash daily. As they get a bit older, they can start wearing different style outfits more often.

This was pretty accurate for us.  We have about 15-20 cheapo gerber cloth diapers for burp rags and 8 Aden + Anais blankets.  They all get used.  They are both all over the house for easy access.  DD lived in footed pjs for the first couple weeks. The ones with fold over hand mits were awesome.  We mostly just used onesies at that point as undershirts because she was low birth weight so she had to wear more clothing layers to keep warm.

g8trkim

I really didn't use receiving blankets at all, so maybe just keep a pack. DS was breastfed until 6 months so he rarely ever spit up. I always had a burp cloth but we could use the same one for days and days because it never got dirty. I would say one pack was good enough for us.

zaraceligon

I made my own receiving blankets and burp clothes,I have like 40 or more burp clothes than blankets,since my LO born I put a burp cloth because of the reflux and also for all the droling of the teething to avoid him get rash and for not to change to many clothes, I I use the blankets for everything.

drpayne

g8trkim:

I really didn't use receiving blankets at all, so maybe just keep a pack. DS was breastfed until 6 months so he rarely ever spit up. I always had a burp cloth but we could use the same one for days and days because it never got dirty. I would say one pack was good enough for us.

 

Breastfed babies can still spit up and can still have reflux.  Just sayin'...

TeacherVicky

It depends on your baby.

DS was a spitter. Burp cloths were useless. I own 35 receiving blankets and up until he was 9m old, I would have to do laundry 2x a week because I would use so many receiving blankets.

As for clothes, we didn't worry about it before DS was born. For one thing, we were team green and I didn't want a bunch of green/yellow/cream (neutral) clothes. We got his clothes when he was born. As for styles, it depends what you like to dress your LO in. I loved onesies and cotton pants for around the house.

That.Just.Happened

I probably had 2 12-packs of cloth diapers for burp cloths and that worked perfectly.  We had waaaaaay too many blankets.  People love to give those blankets and they just weren't that useful to me.  I quickly learned that it was a million trillion times easier to swaddle using a SwaddleMe, so we only used the blankets for warmth when out in the stroller/carseat. So we needed maybe 2-4 of them, max.  Which is a shame because they are really cute. 

For the first 3 months, E basically lived in footed PJs and onesies. Any complete outfits (i.e. that had separate pants & shirts) were useless, as were most of the cutesy dresses.  If it was cold, we would pair a long-sleeve onesie with babylegs, it was just easier.

TrudyCampbell

It really depends. I have WAY too many burp clothes because my baby literally never spits up, she's spit up maybe 5 times total, so we never ever use them. If you have a spitter upper you'll use a ton. I love the aden & anais swaddle blankets but I didn't have much use for any other blankets... we prob have 8 or 10 a&a though. As far as outfits I'd say like 10 sleeper outfits atleast. I felt like I didn;t have enough "going out" outfits in the NB size. My DD was in NB for over 2 months (7 lbs 6 oz at birth) and after a while I got really sick of her wardrobe because it was all onesies and sleepers and no cute outfits.