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Building Baby's Layette - What You Really Need
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Baby booties and hats are part of the layette. Credit: >>>WonderMike<<, Flickr
The exact number of burp cloths, towels and other linens needed really depends on how often you want to do laundry -- and how often your baby pees, pukes or poops on himself. But this list of must-haves should get you through the early months -- unless you're having multiples. Then you'll need at least double the numbers listed here:
Bath
- 3-4 hooded towels
- 4-5 washcloths
Clothing
- 10 onesies
- 5-6 sleep sacks
- 7-10 footed outfits
- 1 outfit to wear home from the hospital
- 10 pairs of socks (can also be used as mittens if baby scratches her face)
- 4-5 hats
- 1-2 sweaters
- 1 snowsuit
- 4 receiving blankets
- 3-4 crib sheets
- plenty of burp cloths
- diapers, diapers, diapers
Technically, the term layette refers to a baby's clothes and linens, but it can also describe the other gear, like a car seat, stroller, bottles (all must-haves) and more. Here, some items that you may or may not need:
Worth It:
- Glider: These rocking chairs aren't cheap, but when you're rocking a screaming baby for hours in the middle of the night, you'll be so glad you invested in one.
- Sling or other baby carrier: When your little one just won't let you put her down, you'll be glad you've got a hands-free carrier so you can get things done. Bonus: You may find that fewer strangers are compelled to touch your baby when she's strapped to your chest.
- Breast pump: They can cost a few hundred dollars, but if you're breastfeeding, pumping is the only way anyone else can feed baby.
- Bassinet: If you're not ready to have your newborn sleep in his own room, a bassinet by your bed is a safe alternative.
- Wipes warmer: It's a good idea, in theory: Warm those wipes so they don't freeze baby's bottom, but you'll be so rushed when changing diapers that you'll have no time for this gadget. Same goes for a bottle warmer: You'll save time if you get baby used to lukewarm milk.
- High-end stroller: Sure, it may have extra bells and whistles, but you're only paying for the label -- and within a year, the stroller will be covered in spit-up, spilled milk, juice, crumbs and more. Just look for a lightweight stroller that's easy to fold and unfold.
- Baby monitor: If you're like many new parents, you'll probably never let baby out of your sight for the first few months, so you won't need a monitor. Other parents find that monitors only keep them up all night: Every slight noise baby makes is another reason to go check on her.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-02-2010 @ 9:25AM
Mary Caitlin said...Hooded towels are absolutely not necessary. Baby can be dried with regular towels just as well. They are cute but frivolous. So are baby washcloths-if you have soft facecloths those work just as well. Also, sleep sacks aren't good for everyone. Swaddle blankets work really well in those early days!
Reply
2-02-2010 @ 11:12AM
justanotherjen said...Totally agree about the towels and wash clothes. We had a few as gifts and hand me downs and I rarely ever used them. Towels from our linen closet worked just as well and are softer and bigger.
We also didn't need that many socks. The baby usually kicked them off anyway. My kids never wore hats (hated them) but we had a few (mostly hand me downs).
The thing we used the most were receiving blankets. We bought the XL ones for my son because he was huge as a newborn and had to use 2 at a time to wrap all around him. The older, cheaper, smaller ones were used as burp cloths because he had reflux. Those came in way more handy then baby towels.
I'm having a baby in July (my 5th) and I play to have a few packs of onesies, a pack of socks, about 5 or 6 footie jammies, probably a few outfits (I have some saved from my older kids) and I will be stocking up on receiving blankets. I won't be buying hats (will probably knit my own this time around), towels, wash cloths, mittens, sweaters (what a pain to try and get on a baby), sleep sacks (rarely ever used them even for my winter babies).
I also never had or needed a changing table (never saw a point to them when the floor or bed are so handy). As for furniture I plan to get a new pack n play, a swing and stroller/carseat (since I got rid of all that stuff after my last kid who is almost 4). I never really used anything else.
2-02-2010 @ 10:48AM
T-O said...I never use burp cloths. If your baby has a bib on, that should catch anything that may come up. Burp cloths are definitely a waste.
Reply
2-02-2010 @ 11:23AM
Mary Caitlin said...I disagree about the burp cloths-they saved my shirts multiple times daily. I threw them over my shoulder and used them there. Bibs only save the baby's shirt :) I used cheap gerber cloth diapers as burp cloths though-the ones they sell in stores aren't big enough!
3-30-2010 @ 11:17AM
Katie E said...Two piece outfits are nice in the beginning for newborns. It helps to have regular T-shirts or bring home the shirts that the hospital dresses the baby in. They work nice b/c they don’t rub up against the umbilical cord stump. Onsies can be irritating in the first 2 weeks. Pants with feet are easier than trying to keep their socks on too.
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