Choosing the right layette
Newborn clothing can be a bit confusing. It can be vastly
different than the garb we wear as we get older. Choosing your
layette carefully can be important, because these clothes will
make like easier for a few weeks, but because you will only need
them for a short time, you don't want to buy too many. This is
also a great time to take advantage of hand-me-downs, since most
layette items will be very gently used.
One important thing to consider before deciding what you need is
how often you plan to do the laundry. Babies often need clean
clothes two or three times a day, so unless you plan to wash a
load of baby clothes every day, plan on a larger number of the
most used items, like onesies and drawstring gowns. Another
important thing to consider is the season, as you will obviously
need more caps and heavier pajamas in winter than in summer. But
don't be fooled, even summer babies will need a few hats, footed
items, and socks. Babies often get chilled easier than we do.
Here are some popular items to get you started. Stores that sell
baby clothing will also offer some good lists, but they tend to
be on the high side in terms of numbers.