Newborn Questions

jendem8 · July 2014

Probably a dumb FTM question, but what should a baby wear before the umbilical cord stump falls off? I had heard that they shouldn't wear pants... then my mom said that they shouldn't wear onesies... so what should they wear??? Should I get some t-shirts I guess?

Also if you're a STM+, about how long did it take for your baby's stump to fall off?

Finally, about how long do you think babies generally fit into "newborn" clothing? I have quite a few things, from Carter's especially.

Thanks in advance! :-)

nikkotas · July 2014

my big boy (9lbs 2oz) wore newborn size for about 2 weeks max. we were just careful of the stump... he wore onesies and pants:)

tamarar5 · July 2014

Mine were winter babies so they always wow onsies and footed pajamas. I've heard the no onsies because it might rub the umbilical stump, but that's what I did. Both times their onsies would get a little crispy or a few drops of blood around where the stump was.

smfdjo · July 2014

With my son, his fell off about a week after he was born. He wore onesies and pants. If it seems to bother him/her then you can get these teeshirts that are designed for that reason but they were more of a pain for me. My son was 8.5 at birth and I think he was in newborn for 6 weeks or so.

https://www.carters.com/V_111A049.html?dwvar_V__111A049_color=White#prefn1=size&prefv1=NB&cm_mmc=SEM_Carters-_-Non-brand_Google-_-Carters_NB_Bodysuits_BroadAdv_General_-_NB_Bodysuits_Onesies_Baby_All_X-_-_onesies-broad&device=c&src=NONCARCOUPON&start=15&cgid=carters-baby-girl-bodysuits

marathonmommy82 · July 2014

Depends on baby's size at birth ! DS was a peanut and wore NB for about 4-8 weeks I think. 0-3 generally starts at 8 lbs

KittyMisha · July 2014

I found onsies to be a pain when DD was really little, because she pooped/peed every time I took off her diaper and constantly soiled them. I found separate shirts and pants much more convenient, which left room for the umbilical stump as well. I recommend shirts that snap down the front, just because I was uncomfortable about pulling a shirt over that squishy little head at first, too.

Her stump fell off within two weeks. I can't remember exactly how long.

Jolaine83 · July 2014

We had two winter babies so far, so definitely did onesies and sleepers/gowns. Like @tamarar5 said, there was sometimes a little blood or leakage from the stump on the onesies, but we were told it was fine. I did prefer onesies and gowns for easy diaper changes. The combinations of the tiny feet and buttons on the sleepers drove me nuts for those early weeks when they poop and need changed so often. FWIW, the onesies actually seemed to protect the stump more than when they were in separate top/bottoms. My kids could never keep their shirts down at that age, which meant the stump could be bump easier when we were picking them up.

DS lost his stump within the first week whereas DD lost her stump closer to 2 weeks.

DS was only in newborn sizes for 2 weeks. He was born 8 lbs/20 inches. DD was in newborn for at least a month. She was 6 lb 15 oz and 20 inches.

caballablanca · July 2014

Dd was 8.5 lbs at birth. I think nb sizes fit for 10 days. She is a July baby so we wore onesies and were swaddled. Just have to be gentle around the stump. I think it took a week or two for the stump to fall off.

+RBL+ · July 2014

Umbilical stump fell off within 2 weeks.

The stump really wasn't much of anything. I dressed DS in what I felt was easiest for me to deal with. Maybe if the stump was larger I would have been more concerned about the clothing choices.

DS was 8lbs4oz at birth and wore NB clothes for about 2 weeks.

rockyrollgirl · July 2014

I dressed her in whatever.

Cord fell off in about 2 weeks.

She was in NB clothes for less then a month. She was 7 lbs 13 oz at birth.

Raclla · July 2014

I just avoided pants that hit the belly button directly.

It took almost 3 weeks for DD to lose her stump.

haliebabyx3 · July 2014

FTM here but definitely came for the answers. My mom helped me get together LOs clothes to wash today. It was ridiculous how much newborn stuff we had. I wouldn't be surprised to have an 8lb baby. Guess I will see on Tuesday. Everything MIL has bought clothes wise is newborn.

PecanSam · July 2014

The stump fell off in about a week, no more than two.

My first was a winter baby. Her cloth diapers had a special place for the cord. But she wore everything. Onesies, gowns, sleepers, etc. I didn't like the shirt and pants when she was an infant b/c her shirt was always coming up.

Yes, they do pee or poop every time you change their diaper but you don't leave their clothes anywhere near their butt when changing. You pull the onesie up and under their back.

KittyMisha · July 2014

PecanSam said:
The stump fell off in about a week, no more than two.

My first was a winter baby. Her cloth diapers had a special place for the cord. But she wore everything. Onesies, gowns, sleepers, etc. I didn't like the shirt and pants when she was an infant b/c her shirt was always coming up.

Yes, they do pee or poop every time you change their diaper but you don't leave their clothes anywhere near their butt when changing. You pull the onesie up and under their back.

I hear you on this, but the onsie thing didn't work for us until DD was a few weeks old. My kiddo could spray fluids feet in every direction. We tried, believe me, but the only way to keep a onsie clean during a diaper change was to remove it entirely. Maybe this next kid will be less explosive - I can hope.

Valancyy · July 2014

My boys were 6 lbs 12 oz and 7 lbs 2 oz at birth. They wore NB for probably 1 month. I can't really remember exactly, but not very long. We had them in 0-3 and NB at the same time. I didn't mind that the 0-3 were a little big.

They also used onesies from the start. I prefer them over separate shirts, because the shirts ride up constantly.

My 1st lost his stump in about a week, my 2nd was a little longer, maybe 2 weeks...no more than that. I don't remember and I didn't write it down!

ungraceful13 · July 2014

DD was a winter baby but she wore onesies and pants, sleepers, etc. The stump fell of at about 2 weeks. She was in newborn for about 3-4 weeks.

GinnyJ2012 · July 2014

DS wore mostly onesies and pants. He was in NB size for a few weeks, and was 8lbs 4.4oz at birth. He was long and thin, but he got chunky fast so we moved up to 0-3. I also found the T-shirts rode up and were annoying. I think his stump fell off in just over a week. I never had any issues with blood on clothes or irritation from the clothes on his cord.

caybeh · July 2014

DS was a Mar baby, so onesies and sleepers. He was 6 lb 13 at birth but only wore NB for about 2 weeks as by then he was 9 lbs. Yeah.....he grew really really fast.

jendem8 · July 2014

Thanks for all the advice so far ladies!

Now I'm worried that I just don't have enough clothes! I definitely have a ton of NB and 3-6 month stuff, but I've been finding the 0-3 month range difficult to find. Any good suggestions on stores?

pmpkn219 · July 2014

They can wear whatever, if there a little rubbing against the cord it'll just help loosen it a tiny bit faster no harm. J's fell off At his newborn photo shoot! He was 11 or 12 days old

his going home outfit was NB,a sleep n play style but with open ankles (no feet), it looked like high waters pants, a couple inches of legs stuck out! So he wore 0-3 right after we got home. They were a touch baggy, but better than the nb one piece rompers that wouldn't snap at his crotch!! Eta: he was 8/4 and 21.5" big but not giant

if you have pieces labeled just "3 month" those are 0-3 range. I see a bunch at carters, target, etc

caballablanca · July 2014

jendem8 said:

Thanks for all the advice so far ladies!

Now I'm worried that I just don't have enough clothes! I definitely have a ton of NB and 3-6 month stuff, but I've been finding the 0-3 month range difficult to find. Any good suggestions on stores?

I think Carters is pretty true to size. Gerber runs small. You can always order online. I get lots of stuff from Old Navy, Gap and Carters. Babies R Us has lots of clothes too.

jendem8 · July 2014

pmpkn219 said:

They can wear whatever, if there a little rubbing against the cord it'll just help loosen it a tiny bit faster no harm. J's fell off At his newborn photo shoot! He was 11 or 12 days old

his going home outfit was NB,a sleep n play style but with open ankles (no feet), it looked like high waters pants, a couple inches of legs stuck out! So he wore 0-3 right after we got home. They were a touch baggy, but better than the nb one piece rompers that wouldn't snap at his crotch!! Eta: he was 8/4 and 21.5" big but not giant

if you have pieces labeled just "3 month" those are 0-3 range. I see a bunch at carters, target, etc

Thanks! I was just checking Carter's website and saw that their "3 month" clothes are in the 0-3 month range, so that's good because I think I have a few of those (I'm going to go through everything again today). I also saw that Carter's has some pretty good deals going on, so I might stock up on a few more things!

CanadianintheSouth · July 2014

I have another newborn question regarding the stump. I heard that the baby shouldn't go swimming until it falls off, is this correct? I ask this because someone got me a newborn swimsuit as a gift, and was wondering if there will even be a time I can use it, or if they will grow out of it before they should go swimming?

tamarar5 · July 2014

@Kelsbeno‌ I think the current recommendation is not to take newborns swimming until 6 months? I don't really remember because I'd already has both mine in the lake or pool before the Dr told me not to. I think both mine were about 4 or 5 months old though — and not just because I had winter babies.

CanadianintheSouth · July 2014

@tamarar5‌ so I wonder why they make the newborn swimsuit? It's super cute, but looks like I should probably just return that one.

babypants11 · July 2014

Kelsbeno said:
I have another newborn question regarding the stump. I heard that the baby shouldn't go swimming until it falls off, is this correct? I ask this because someone got me a newborn swimsuit as a gift, and was wondering if there will even be a time I can use it, or if they will grow out of it before they should go swimming?

From what I recall, you should not submerge their bodies/the stump until it falls off. We did sponge baths until DD's stump came off.

Raclla · July 2014

No submersion until the stump comes off.
We had DD in the pool for a minute or two around 10 weeks. She went to the beach around the same time.

Just remember they still can't regulate body temp that well.

KittyMisha · July 2014

I'm pretty sure newborn swimsuits exist mainly for photo opportunities. I have a picture of DD in one at about 3 months next to my parents' pool and it's so cute! We didn't take her swimming, though.

caballablanca · July 2014

Kelsbeno said:
I have another newborn question regarding the stump. I heard that the baby shouldn't go swimming until it falls off, is this correct? I ask this because someone got me a newborn swimsuit as a gift, and was wondering if there will even be a time I can use it, or if they will grow out of it before they should go swimming?

You won't even bathe them until it falls off either. Just wipe them down with a rag. Once it falls off you can put them in their tub. Swimming is recommended after 6 mos because of the rotovirus vaccine I believe is in full effect by then. Or it could have something to do with chlorine too, I'm not sure.

CanadianintheSouth · July 2014

KittyMisha said:

I'm pretty sure newborn swimsuits exist mainly for photo opportunities. I have a picture of DD in one at about 3 months next to my parents' pool and it's so cute! We didn't take her swimming, though.

haha thanks! It is super cute, I was trying to figure out why I would actually need it. Thanks all

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