Newborn (& other baby) clothes

DM718 · January 2015

We had our baby shower this weekend, and were completely spoiled. I've been sorting clothes we recieved by size, and had a couple of questions:

- how many btdt mums found that newborn sized clothes worked for their baby? I'm wondering if I should wash them all in advance, or possibly just wash a going home outfit, and be prepared to launder or return the rest once we know how big the baby is.

-how accurate is the month based sizing? We got a ton of 3-6 month clothes, which based on my due date would be June - August. I'm thinking of returning the wintery 3-6 month clothes. We'll occasionally take the baby out in the evening, and we're in New England, so a few warm items in size 3-6 month make sense, but I'm nervous that some stuff will never be used, so it may be better to return some for store credit now.

JenLa21 · January 2015

We only had a few newborn outfits, and mostly 0-3 month ones. I washed a few newborn things to be prepared, but I didn't wash all the NB stuff in case I had to exchange it for bigger sizes. You never know how big LO is going to be.

Also, if you really think you won't use a lot if the wintery 3-6 month items, definitely exchange them now. But things like onesies and sweaters do some in handy for nighttime and in the air conditioning.

DM718 · January 2015

Thanks! Given that the guest list included both mothers and childless ladies (and mothers who last gave birth as much as 50 years ago), I know there was a wealth of knowledge as well as a crazy amount of excitement for a new addition in the room, so I got some really helpful stuff, but also some of the "too cute to walk by" stuff as well.

jpavenski · January 2015

I would return most of the warmer 3-6 month stuff. I'm also in New England. My son was 7.5 pounds when he was born & was in newborn for like 6 weeks. Most of the newborn go up to 10 pounds, especially the Carter's brand. He continued to be a peanut & was in most of the sizes for longer than they say but you really never know I guess.

kmvisioli · January 2015

Really I think it depends more on the baby than the accuracy of the sizing. I was a tiny baby and didn't hit 20 lbs until I was one, but my cousin currently has a baby who is 3-6 months ahead of the "appropriate" clothing sizes.

mamajack86 · January 2015

I thought I'd have a big baby since I was 41weeks (induced) but he was a 6lb little guy who lost a little before coming home so he was a 5lb 9oz little one coming home. I had hardly any newborn outfits prepared. So my IL's and parents got him stuff while we were in the hospital. He ended up wearing NB for about 5weeks! Then finally caught up and wore 0-3 mos.
So despite everyone telling me "NB size only lasts a week" it wasn't accurate in my situation.

genmccarley · January 2015

Every baby is different and you just never know. When I was pregnant with DS everyone said how much of a waste nb clothes and diapers were so I hardly had any. He ended up just over 6.5lb and stayed in nb stuff for 6-8 weeks. He also stayed in clothes sizes about a month longer than what they were "sized" for, even longer than that after 12m size.

I would opt to have at least maybe 5 newborn sleepers & onsies. If I remember right DS fit them til past 10lb and I think they're rated up to 10lb. Most babies avg about 7.5lb so there's a good chance you'll get some use of nb sizes.

I would exchange some of the winter 3-6 stuff though, better to have stuff baby will get use of. Most people probably didn't think about the seasons and just didn't want to buy newborn and the winter stuff was what's been out at the store.
Eta spaces

RMama2012 · January 2015

Generally, by the time the child hits the month indicated on the size (3, 6,9) they are also outgrowing that size. So the clothes are always a little big or small. For example, once my son was turning 3m, he needed to start wearing 6m clothes. Then at 6m, we started moving to 9m. This holds true for most family and friends of mine.

For reference, my son was 7lb 8oz at birth, went down to 6-15 and then was pretty steady at 25-50th percentile in weight and 50-75th percentile in height until his first birthday. The onesies last a little longer depending on the brand. Carters has a nicer long and lean fit that I prefer.

As far as nb clothes, I only had 3 outfits and mixed those in with the 3m until he fit better into the 3m size. I didn't bother with nb onsies. I've done the same for this baby.

052806 · January 2015

My kids were 7.13 and 7.9 lbs- one was a fast grower and one was average. They both wore newborn for a month mixed in with 0-3.

3-6 months will def be in the warmer months for you.

bmstee03 · January 2015

My son was early and tiny. He wore newborn sizes for months. I would wait until baby gets here and exchange what isn't working.

cafecreme · January 2015

I would probably return some of the 3-6 month winter stuff. My daughter was smaller, and was born in May, so by the time it was October-Novemberish, she grew out of all her 6 month stuff.

Someone mentioned keeping some of the onesies and a cardigan/sweater which I think might be wise.

We also only have a few newborn outfits as well- mainly sleepers because they were awesome.

LilLambkins · January 2015

Sizes can be totally off. I was able to put my son in an outfit that was labeled new born after his 1st b day, it may be best to save until after baby is born so you can get some perspective on size. However if you just have way too much I would return extras

LadySnowblood · January 2015

You may just want to wash some and hold on to the rest. You never know, every baby is different. DS was small and wore NB for months. He has always been behind on the sizes. He just grew out of 18-24 M clothes and he's 2.5 years old. There's really no way to tell until they get here.

sdion27 · January 2015

My DD wore newborn clothes until about 8 weeks but she was tiny. 6lbs1oz at birth and went home at 5lbs 9oz. She's 2 1/2 now and finally in same size clothing (i.e. 2T). It's are to tell until they are here!

sweetmama17 · January 2015

RMama2012 said:
Generally, by the time the child hits the month indicated on the size (3, 6,9) they are also outgrowing that size. So the clothes are always a little big or small. For example, once my son was turning 3m, he needed to start wearing 6m clothes. Then at 6m, we started moving to 9m. This holds true for most family and friends of mine.

For reference, my son was 7lb 8oz at birth, went down to 6-15 and then was pretty steady at 25-50th percentile in weight and 50-75th percentile in height until his first birthday. The onesies last a little longer depending on the brand. Carters has a nicer long and lean fit that I prefer.

As far as nb clothes, I only had 3 outfits and mixed those in with the 3m until he fit better into the 3m size. I didn't bother with nb onsies. I've done the same for this baby.

It took awhile but I found that if the clothes only indicated 1 size it was the upper limit of the size. So a 3 months onsie was 0-3, 6 months was 3-6 and so on. Good to know when you are sorting clothes.

And yeah every baby is different. We were in newborn for about 1 month, 0-3 for about 1 month, 3-6 for about 3 months then he averaged out and has pretty much been true to size since.

If you have a peanut you may want to keep a few warm 3-6 months clothes because of where you live and by September it is getting cooler.

jleamoyer · January 2015

I'd have maybe 3 NB outfits (washed) & ready just in case but bring a 0-3 to the hospital too ... DS out weighed the NB size but was long and "skinny" so unless it was the footie outfits he wore them past 10lbs... (I think I have 5 total NB outfits from DS#1 that DS#2 will be using)
Take back the heavy winter outfits if they hit during summer time (fleece lined stuff) , but this southern girl was up in MA this summer and froze my tail off so keep some of the long sleeve/ jacket combos. LO will be colder than you. I think the "rule" is 1-2 layers more than an adult....?
Also, what ever you wash &dont use can be saved and used either for another or as I've done with friends (&siblings) offered them the clothes saying "I washed them but never used them or they were worn once..."

starsailorr26 · January 2015

It just depends on the baby as others have said. DD wore newborn for a week, maybe two. After that she wore 0-3 for a month, at just over a month she was wearing 3 month sizes. Also, Gerber runs ridiculously small, and she usually wore footed sleepers a size up. I would wash some of the newborn sizes for now and just wait and see.

ashleyrh661 · January 2015

I just sorted through all DS baby things for this baby and have just a few NB things. DS was 8lbs5oz at birth and gained weight quick so he wore NB for maybe a couple weeks. For this baby we are team green and I've bought a couple NB things and am basically waiting to get anything else ready till after baby's here.

atangiblewish · January 2015

DD was 8lbs and we only used nb for a week or two. If that. And then quickly into 0-3 mos. I find that she was in 3-6 and 6-9 mos the longest.

Mic512 · January 2015

DS was 7 lbs 1 oz at birth but 21 inches long so we only wore NB sizes for a short time, and most the sleep & plays then since it was May & AC was already on where we lived he needed some warmer things. I would keep a few warmer things for cool nights in June but really after that you should be good. DS grew fast so by the time we hit the Carter's month (3,6,9,12) he had outgrown that size. Gymboree ran much closer to size & Gerber ran very small. A few NB size things will come in handy if LO is on the smaller size. FYI we only used NB size diapers for a short time, so don't go into overload buying that size.