Fashion TrendsNewbornNursery EssentialsWhat to Wear
Parents of babies may disagree on many things, but one thing they can all agree on is this: Newborn clothes are ridiculously adorable. From the sweetest, newborn outfit sets to the tiniest socks and booties, there’s just something irresistible about newborn clothing. That may explain why first-time moms-to-be usually receive a tsunami of newborn clothes at their baby shower!
But while it may be tempting to buy every newborn outfit set for baby, new parents should try to resist the urge. Since newborns grow so rapidly, they might not get around to wearing all of those new baby clothes you buy for them.
So, how long do babies wear newborn clothes? And if you don’t pick up newborn clothes for the baby, what should you buy instead? In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.
Whether you’re asking this question as a soon-to-be parent or as a thoughtful gift-giver, it’s good information to know either way. After all, you probably don’t want to spend too much money on newborn clothes if the baby will outgrow them in a matter of weeks.
So, how long do babies wear newborn clothes? Here are a few factors that may influence the answer:
Size: Healthy babies come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. This can make buying newborn clothing somewhat tricky because baby clothing sizes are typically sized by age—not weight or height. So, if you have a smaller baby, they could potentially stay in newborn clothing for a couple of months.
Growth Rate: Like we said, babies grow quickly! During the first month, most newborns grow ½ to 1 inch a month and gain an ounce per day, according to KidsHealth from Nemours. If your little one grows at a faster rate, they’ll naturally spend less time in newborn clothing.
Baby Clothing Brands: To complicate matters further, baby clothing sizes can vary widely across baby clothing brands. Some brands run small, while others run large. (Hint: If you’re shopping at Gerber Childrenswear, be sure to check out our helpful size chart.)
Put simply, there is no straightforward answer to the question, “How long do babies wear newborn clothes?” But, here is a general rule of thumb: If your baby weighs eight pounds or less at birth, you can probably expect them to be in newborn sizes for about three to five weeks. If your baby weighs more than eight pounds at birth, they will outgrow newborn clothing even faster. (In case you’re wondering, the average birth weight for newborns is about 7.5 pounds, according to Healthwise Staff at the University of Michigan.)
How Much Newborn Clothing Should You Buy?
Stocking up on the right amount of newborn clothes can be tricky. How much newborn clothing do you really need for your baby?
When shopping for newborn clothes, ask yourself this question: How much laundry do you want to do? Although it’s true that newborns grow fast, they also make a lot of messes. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to have extra Onesies® Brand Bodysuits and sleepers on hand.
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We typically recommend getting 15 Onesies® Brand Bodysuits and seven sleepers. This provides new parents with two outfits a day and one set of pajamas each night, which the baby can wear again if they wake up clean. If you’re having a baby in the colder months, consider buying a couple of pairs of pants for your newborn as well.
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What to Buy Instead of Newborn Clothes
Since baby will grow out of newborn clothes fairly quickly, try not to go too crazy with newborn outfits. Instead, get enough newborn clothing for two or three outfit changes a day and then stop while you’re ahead. Remember, you can always buy more newborn clothing postpartum if you need to!
Instead of going overboard with newborn clothes, consider stocking up on baby clothing in sizes 0-3M and 3-6M. Your little one will likely get lots of mileage out of these two sizes, especially if they are on the smaller side at birth. Keep in mind that you can always roll up the sleeves or pant legs if baby’s clothes are just a little too big.
Shopping for Baby Clothing Made Easy
The newborn phase goes by fast (too fast for some parents). It’s a phase marked by rapid growth and development, so make sure that you have extra Onesies bodysuits and pajamas in a range of sizes to accommodate your little one’s changing body.
Ready to start shopping for your newborn? Check out Gerber Childrenswear for quality newborn clothes at prices you’ll love!
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More from:Fashion TrendsNewbornNursery EssentialsWhat to Wear
How long do babies fit in newborn clothes? This will depend on your baby, but typically infant clothing sizes fit for 4-6 weeks after you bring him home from the hospital.
Put simply, there is no straightforward answer to the question, “How long do babies wear newborn clothes?” But, here is a general rule of thumb: If your baby weighs eight pounds or less at birth, you can probably expect them to be in newborn sizes for about three to five weeks.
All babies outgrow clothes quickly, so they only wear them for a short period of time. In summary, newborn clothes usually last around three to six weeks. After that, babies need to move up to the next size.
While the size marked on the label make it seem like it's based on baby's age, it's really based on size. For example, “preemie” § usually fits babies up to 17 inches long and five pounds. “Newborn” (NB) represents an average baby at birth up to 21.5 inches long and five to eight pounds.
The general rule of thumb is to make sure baby wears one additional layer than what you're comfortable wearing—if you're feeling chilly, your baby probably is too.
You can start using a baby carrier right away! There are baby carrier options suited for all ages, from newborns to toddlers. Your child's age and developmental milestones will determine what baby carrier you should purchase. Like mentioned, there are carriers that are designed for babies 0-4 months old and up.
The Pampers newborn size offers a fit for infants who weigh less than 10 pounds at birth but don't require premature sizing. Size 1 diapers. These diapers are designed for babies weighing between 8 and 14 pounds.
Whereas size 0-3 months should fit your baby up to 12 pounds, and you can always roll up sleeves and pant legs for a few weeks while baby grows into the larger size. If your baby is predicted to be petite, or you have a preemie, Newborn or Preemie sizes make a little more sense.
Some parents make the switch after their baby's first birthday, while others wait closer to the second birthday because of comfort, convenience, or habit. There are no hard or fast rules when it comes to ditching the onesies or bodysuits, so just do what feels right to you and make the transition when you're ready!
Newborn clothes are typically designed to fit babies 6-9 pounds and up to 21.5 inches long. Infant clothing is typically sized using a three-month range: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, etc. Once baby turns one year old, sizes start to use a six month range: 12-18 months and 18-24 months.
Stick to the two outfits a day rule, making sure you have at least 14 different options to experiment with. Onesies and rompers are still excellent choices here. You'll also need to think about the seasons. If it's warm, you might want to stick with layers like onesies and short-sleeved shirts.
What is a big baby? The medical term for big baby is macrosomia, which literally means “big body.” Some researchers consider a baby to be big when it weighs 4,000 grams (8 lbs., 13 oz.) or more at birth, and others say a baby is big if it weighs 4,500 grams (9 lbs., 15 oz.) or more (Rouse et al.
We generally include 8-10 onesies for the newborn and early months sizes. We always include at least some long sleeve onesies in our sets for skin protection from the sun. Many new parents like to use kimono bodysuits for the first few weeks.
It's also important to look out for clothes with a low fire hazard label. Newborn rompers and jumpsuits should have this label. It's best to avoid buying newborn clothes with beading, threads, ties, drawstrings and attachments. These can be choking risks and strangulation or suffocation risks.
And the answer is: it depends. Babies are notoriously messy, and you might need to change their outfits 2-4 times a day just because they spat and got their onesie dirty again. Factor in the outfit needed for their 'outside' time, and you'll quickly come to learn you might need a few outfit changes throughout the day.
Newborn babies generally feed between 10 and 14 times in 24 hours, with feeds becoming a little less frequent as they grow. If you are exclusively bottle feeding your baby, whether formula or expressed breastmilk, you might want around four to six bottles and teats to get you started.
If your sling supports your little one safely and in a spread squat position then you don't have to limit their time in a sling. Carrying your baby in a wide-based, ergonomic sling is great for their physiological development.
Babies are notoriously messy, and you might need to change their outfits 2-4 times a day just because they spat and got their onesie dirty again. Factor in the outfit needed for their 'outside' time, and you'll quickly come to learn you might need a few outfit changes throughout the day.
Whether it's short-sleeved bodysuits for sunny days or cozy rompers for bedtime, onesies are the go-to choice. However, as your baby grows and you size up, you'll eventually come to the bittersweet realization: Most onesies stop after 18-24 months.
Muscles are still undeveloped along the spine, therefore a carrier with ideal support is needed so baby does not slouch while being worn. Ideal carriers for this stage are wraps and ring slings, since the wearer can customize it to fit baby's unique size.
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