The Ultimate Guide to Buying Newborn and Toddler Clothing

First-time parents have a huge learning curve when it comes to caring for their little ones. There is so much essential information to absorb, sometimes even seemingly simple tasks, such as buying baby clothes, can be confusing. How do baby sizes work? What styles are most comfortable for those differently-shaped little bodies? Newborn clothes must be purchased before the baby arrives, adding one more item to the long list of things new parents must do before the birth. Even as children get older, buying clothes is not always easy, and babies and toddlers cannot articulate exactly what they want from clothing, so parents must interpret their feelings themselves. Even the best new parents can use a little helpful advice. Read on for tips on how to choose clothing for babies and toddlers that is comfortable, sized correctly, convenient for parents, and affordable.

Factors to Consider When Buying Newborn and Toddler Clothing

Dressing babies is difficult, in part, because their bodies are differently proportioned and they wiggle and squirm in unexpected ways. Babies also grow quickly; some newborns triple their weight in the first three months. As a result, parents quickly cycle through whole wardrobes of baby clothes, making budget extremely important. Here are several issues to keep in mind when shopping.

Clothing Sizes

Babies not only grow quickly, they also grow at different rates. Normal birth weight can be anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds, and children's weight varies even more as they grow. Buying clothing before a baby is born is particularly difficult, because even though doctors can measure the size of a fetus, no one knows how much the little one will grow between being measured and being born. The best bet is to buy a first wardrobe in a range of sizes, keep the receipts, and return whatever ends up being too small. After the baby is born, it is still a good idea to buy clothes a size or two too big so that the child can grow into them.

Clothing Styles

When it comes to newborn and toddler clothing, there are two style considerations: practicality and appearance. These are not mutually exclusive because children's clothes must always be practical, no matter how good they look. Instead, these are different ways of looking at a single garment. Regardless of other style considerations, always remember to check baby clothes for buttons or ties that could come off and become a choking hazard.

Practical Style

Clothing for very young children must be comfortable, durable, and easy to clean. Babies are too young to keep themselves clean and they become quickly frustrated with uncomfortable clothing. Garments should be loose, soft, and appropriate for the weather. Babies have trouble maintaining their own temperature, so warm clothing is important, especially in winter. At the same time, even in winter, a baby needs clothing that will not be too hot indoors. Choose styles that are easy to take on and off, both for temperature regulation and for diaperchanges. Make sure that necklines are loose and stretchy or buttoned so they can slip easily over the large heads babies have. Many babies dislike having clothing pulled over their heads, so jackets and sweaters with buttons are better outerwear items than pullovers. Very young babies often prefer one-piece garments, because shirts often bunch up uncomfortably when the wearer is too young to sit up unassisted. Pants can be pulled on over a onesie for warmth.

Clothing Trends

Some parents enjoy dressing their babies in beautiful and stylish clothing. Since babies themselves probably do not care, this is a matter of parental preference. By the time a baby becomes a toddler, he or she is old enough to have opinions about clothing. Parents can support the child's fledgeling sense of self by supporting his or her clothing choices, after setting certain parameters.

Clothing Materials

Babies have very sensitive skin, and some people believe that makes them more vulnerable to pesticide residues and flame retardants found in clothing. Organic baby clothing is made from naturally grown cotton or other similar materials and some garments are made without toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Aside from whether organic clothing is actually healthier for babies to wear, organic cotton production causes much less pollution than conventional cotton production does. Some people prefer organic products for this reason alone.

Parents should research these types of products before buying in order to find out exactly what they are getting. Phrases such as "green" or "eco" are vague and do not necessarily mean anything about the product. Even the word "organic," which does have a legal definition, does not always guarantee the high standards buyers are looking for.

Affordability of Clothing

Babies and toddlers go through clothing so quickly that keeping up can get very expensive. The simplest way to keep costs down is to use hand-me-downs from relatives or friends. If no hand-me-downs are available, other options for affordable baby clothes include yard sales, second-hand shops, and discount shops. Parents who prefer new, name-brand clothing can take advantage of sales and coupons; buy the clothing the child will need in the future whenever the price is right. Clothing keeps, and baby and toddler clothing is compact enough to store easily.

Sizing Clothing for Newborns, Babies, and Toddlers

Having covered the various considerations for buying baby clothes, it is time to look at specifics. It is important that new parents know how sizes work for very young children. Baby clothing comes in three different size ranges, and each range lists size differently. The three ranges are preemie sizes for premature babies, newborn sizes for babies under 2 years old, and toddler sizes for children between 2 to 4 years old. It is important to remember that children grow at different rates, and sizes vary somewhat between brands. Some preemies can wear newborn clothing, while some toddlers are small enough to stay in baby sizes for a while. Parents should always buy clothing based on what fits the child best versus what the tag says.

Preemie Clothing

Preemie clothing is usually sized by inches, meaning parents must measure their babies before going shopping. For parents who anticipate a premature baby, there are guides available online listing the typical sizes of premature babies at each gestational week. Premature babies also have their own particular clothing needs. Their arms may be relatively long, so finding clothing that fits well can be difficult. These babies can also grow quickly, so buying large and choosing stretchy or expandable styles is even more important. Finally, premature babies who are still hospitalized may have to wear tubes or wires of various kinds, so their clothing must button up the front (not zip) to allow this technology to pass through.

Newborn Sizes

Newborn sizes are expressed in months and usually written as a number or number range followed by the letter M, indicating months. These sizes are based on the size of an average baby, but most babies are either smaller or larger. This table shows the length and weight that each clothing size usually refers to.