By: Christine Clark on Wed Mar 12, 2008

I have to admit that, in spite of all of the hours spent in front of the recommended parenting books, after little Tiffany finally grew out of her first pink jumper, shopping for clothes seemed a matter of labyrinthine complexity, at best. Many people, particularly new parents, find that the activity of buying clothes for a newborn is over-whelming and daunting. Uncertainty about sizing, comfort and durability add to the stress of picking what's right for the baby in question (and let's not forget keeping the tyke stylish and cool!). With all of that in mind, and given my own experiences, I've put together this guide with the aim to assist friends, family, and even a couple of you readers select clothing that's suitable for that little bundle of joy.

Have 4-6 pairs of clothes per growing stage
A rule to keep in mind, and one that's served me well, is that each 3 month period, you should have four to six pieces of clothing, in order to meet your baby's needs. That's not to say that purchasing a few more outfits more is all-in-all a foolish idea: but do remember that healthy babies grow up fast and can very well outgrow outfits before ever wearing them, or even before they go out of style!

Be aware of your fabrics
Baby clothing should be both comfortable and made of a breathable fabric. Clothing with a high cotton content (anywhere from 80% to 100% is what Tiffany likes) is preferable, allows the baby's skin to breathe and goes far in preventing skin rashes and irritations. (If your baby was meant to be clad in polyester, he or she would have been born 70 years old.) Even the cleanest kept house and tidiest nursery can have environmental elements that are abrasive on babies' skin. Cladding babies in suitable fabrics will let babies grow acclimatized to the harsh world outside the womb.

One-piece outfits over two-piece outfits
If we've learned nothing from Elvis' Las Vegas stage spectaculars in the 70s it's this, you can avoid the potential discomfort that pants cause a belly by opting for one-piece outfits. Jumpsuits or one-piece outfits allow for more breathing room and are infinitely more comfortable for the baby as he or she grows throughout nursing.

Snaps, not sew-through buttons
For me, it's not a hard-&-fast rule, but as any new parent knows, time is a precious resource with a new-born, so it's mostly a matter of convenience. Snap buttons are far easier to fasten and unfasten than the conventional sew-through buttons used in adult clothing. It's an important thing to keep in mind when the situation calls for a quick change of clothes in case of discomfort or an (ahem) mishap.

Opt for high-end clothing brands
It doesn't have to always be Gucci over Gerber, but better quality clothing is more often than not manufactured with higher end fabrics and is, in most cases, more comfortable for the baby. They also tend to last longer, a fact not lost on me when I handed clothing down from Tiffany to our most recent addition, Tate! If you're worried about pricing, there are numerous comparison shopping sites that let you seek out bargains, deals and discounts that might not be available in your retail market.


Christine Clark is a proud stay-at-home mother of two and novelist living in Tacoma, Washington.