Don't put Baby in Corner (or a dirty onesie)
A pregnant friend recently asked whether the layette suggestions from stores and baby books were actually necessary or just another way for companies to squeeze every last dollar from inexperienced and anxious parents. I was happy to do a little research and came up with the following report.
According to About.com. new babies need the following:
- 5-10 onesies or rompers (depending on how often you want to do laundry)
Personally, I'd say this is a low estimate. One thing seldom mentioned in baby books is how often bodily fluids come flying out of those tiny little bodies. Since onesies are at ground zero and that handy little snap crotch tab so easily flops down into the mess during diaper changes, having 20 on hand decreases the likelihood of your husband discovering you crying while holding a naked baby in the laundry room waiting for the dryer to finish.
- 5-7 baby sleepers or nightgowns
I didn't bother putting clothes on my babies until they were about 3 months old because of the aforementioned bodily fluid issue, so my kids lived in their sleepers. The simplification of their clothing made changing them out of icked up outfits every 14.7 minutes much easier.
- 1 cold weather sleeper if necessary
This is a really funny suggestion! Having only one piece of ANY baby apparel triggers a biological spit-up reflex in ALL infants. Unless you want to be known as Barf Baby's mother, always have a back-up.
- 5-7 pairs of baby socks
Sure, you could get only 5 pairs of twee baby socks, but after the washer and dryer eat 75% of them (and NEVER a full pair, you'll always be left with orphaned, mismatched ones) you're going have to buy more. Why not just go ahead and buy 20 pairs the first time and be done with it?!
- 1-2 newborn hats, depending on climate
Babies can poop on their hats too. Don't ask how, just know you need more than 2.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LS 11-13-2008 @ 9:19AM
When I go to baby showers, I often deviate from the registry, and put together a package containing the things that I found most helpful as a new mom. Here are some of the things I include.
~ Coming, as we are, into winter, I would add Long Sleeved Onesies to the list. Onesies are awesome, yes, but you can't beat those long-sleeved ones. And they're difficult to find, so when you see them? Snatch up two or three packages, at least. I also had a couple of turtle-necked ones for the really bitterly cold days.
~ Look in the laundry aisle of Target or Wal-mart and find yourself a couple of those mesh lingerie bags. These are awesome tools for keeping in Baby's Room (and in the diaper bag, and anywhere else you'll be changing baby). When the socks come off, put them in there immediately. Won't guarantee that socks will never get lost, but it sure cuts down on it. And it's a lot easier for folding once they come out of the dryer.
~ I also found that preserving Mommy Sanity was a little easier with a carabiner (those cheapies from - you guessed it - Walmart) to attach my keys to the outside of my purse. I always knew where they were. Always.
~ Those keychains with the keyring on one end and the clip on the other, connected by the plastic phone-style cord are invaluable when they're attached on one end to the stroller, and the other end to the toy/bottle that baby is playing with. When baby pitches the toy/bottle out of the stroller, you can find it again! (this is, of course, with the understanding that you're keeping an eye that baby doesn't get that cord around the neck.)
~ Baseball caps. Not only are they devastatingly cute, they're handy when the sun is really, really bright. And the earlier you get them used to those hats, the less problem it'll be to keep them on their heads.
I could go on forever, but I won't. Happy New baby!
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Erin 11-13-2008 @ 10:05AM
Diapers!!!! I always buy my friends tons of diapers in different sizes and a couple packs of cloth diapers. I make sure to get the hypoallergenic ones and throw in the gift receipt in case they are allergic then they can return the unopened package. Forget the clothes!! Grandma can do that. Get diapers and maybe some baby detergent.
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ame s 11-13-2008 @ 10:51AM
I had two January babies, the first born during Ice Storm 98 as we called it in West TN, the second born 2 days before her sister turned 2. I was a fan of what I called The Baby Bag. I think they are actually called a zippered sleeper, no feet, just sleves. My girls freaked out as infants if their legs couldn't touch. It was easier to change diapers without having to wrestle their little legs out of and back into the pant legs of the sleepers.
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Sean 11-13-2008 @ 2:32PM
I was came here just to add the same thing. We've been calling them "Sleep Sacks" and we have our four month old in one of them almost every night. I don't remember them being available for our older ones but they are a great addition to the arsenal.
ame s 11-13-2008 @ 9:14PM
Ah, yes, I think Sleep Sack is a much better description.
To tell on myself, I'll admit to finding one my 2nd daughter wore that I evidently didn't wash before putting in a box, because when I found it, it still had that baby smell on it. I love me some baby smell!
dee 11-13-2008 @ 2:34PM
It also really depends on the time of year when your kid is born.
My kid was born in the middle of July. He wore a diaper and an undershirt for the first 8 weeks of his life. And even though he was under 6lbs at birth . . . by week 8, all the newborn and 0-3 month sized clothing, as well as some of the 3-6 month sized clothing, had been outgrown. We have quite a bit of clothing he wore once, if at all.
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ame s 11-13-2008 @ 9:48PM
Summer babies are easier to dress. When my girls hit 6 months old, they didn't want any clothing on at all. Who can blame them? There are days in the summer where I wish I could get away with walking around the house in nothing but underwear. The kids find it disturbing, so I don't ;) At 8 and 10, they do. Double standards, grumble grumble grumble.
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Jason 11-14-2008 @ 6:12PM
Don't forget about the bibs!!!!
My daughter has been moving from just bottles to stage 1 foods and you can never have too many bibs. This helps keep (as long as hands and feet don't get involved in the feeding process) the onsies and other outfits clean"er" than without them. Especially when she experiences a new flavor.
Bibs are a lot easier to change and are a great baby "accessory" as my wife would put it.
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Jennypen 11-20-2008 @ 8:47AM
I agree with the buy a million rompers and onesies, but socks!? I gave up on socks until mine was about 8 months old and wearing shoes as anything you put on her feet that wasn't attached to whatever was around her waist came off waaay too often. If you're worrying about covering up every spare bit, then your house is too cold - babas only need about the same level of clothing as you, and I bet you wander around in your bare feet at home! Abandon socks (but if not, then let it be known that gap ones are the only ones that stand a chance of keeping on baby's feet!)
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HumpsNBump 11-28-2008 @ 5:10PM
I am having my first baby in April. This post, and the comments, were really helpful. Thank you so much for the honesty.
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