It’s easy to get lost for hours in the baby-clothing store—everything’s just so cute. How much cute should you buy? Keep these tips in mind.
Hit the sack. Given that your baby’s going to be mostly snoozing during his first couple of months, a sleep sack is a trés chic choice. "They’re foolproof as far as fit goes—they just cover the baby head to toe," says Pam DiCapo, a mom of two and owner of the children’s boutique Lauren Alexandra in Kansas City, Missouri. "Also, there are no snaps or buttons so diaper changes are easier, and they don’t rub against the umbilical stump, which is a sensitive area. Buy about five or six in newborn size."
"Zero" is bigger than you think. "Most newborns are quite skinny—those rolls and dimples don’t show up until later," says DiCapo. "Even 10-pound infants wear size 0 to 3." Pick up four outfits in size 0 to 3, to be worn for visitors and photos, and let baby spend his downtime in sacks.
Don’t get too much in size 3 to 6 months. Moms tend to get a lot of baby clothes in that size at the shower or as gifts.
Forget the footies. To get the most mileage out of outfits, consider steering clear of footie pajamas for the first few months, which cram tiny toes as baby gets longer. Instead, invest in five or six pairs of baby socks. They’ll keep your little one’s feet warm—plus, they’re absolutely adorable!
New? Not totally necessary. "While I was pregnant, I hit every garage sale that advertised it was selling newborn clothes in good condition," says mom of one Kristy Norton of Little Falls, Minnesota. "I couldn’t justify spending much money on clothes that my child would spit up on and immediately outgrow. That’s not to say I never bought anything new—I did for special occasions or when I saw an adorable outfit I simply had to have—but buying the basics secondhand worked out great."