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[waywornwanderer]

This is a little strange, but I have very specific preferences when it comes to baby clothes. I don't need everything to be gender neutral, but I do favor warm earthy tones and textures, stripes, polka dots, and simple clothing patterns (i.e. simple sleepers/jumpers/sweaters + leggings). I don't mind dressing a little girl in pinks, purples, or ruffles (so long as that's not all she wears) and I don't mind dressing a little boy in blue... but I do strongly dislike cartoony characters+animals+"mommy''s princess"+"daddy's little slugger" on everything. 

I guess what I'm saying is, I prefer really plain, simple, and classic items for baby. Mostly sleepers, onesies, sweaters, and leggings for boy or girl. If I have a girl, I don't mind a few dresses that are really girly, and if I have a boy I don't mind a mini version of papa's clothes (cord's + sweaters), but in either case, I really do prefer that the bulk of clothing be comfortable, easy to get on/off, easy to wash, aesthetically appealing, but above all: simple.

Am I getting what I want across? Does anyone know where to find this kind of baby clothing? Without the explosion of characters, animals, "Daddy's/Mommy's boy/girl"?

(Note: I'm not completely against clothes with animals on them. I think some of the stuff with little bears and elephants on them are cute! But for the most part, I'd like to avoid even those and just keep.it.simple.)

[Adaline'sMama]

I find that you really just have to pick through stuff. That kind of clothing is everywhere, it's just among all the crap. We don't do characters either, and Im not a big fan of "daddys little slugger" or anything like that (although we do have some daddy's girl clothes).  Babies r us actually has a pretty big selection of stripes/polka dots/ gingham stuff and I love Target for the simple clothes and the mimi grown up clothes. I typically opt for plain dresses and brightly colored leggings for baby girls, and elephants and monkeys for boys. Etsy has some great handmade stuff. FAO Swartz just put out an adorable line of classic infant clothes, but a lot of them are white (we dont do white).

It's hard to register for these type of clothes, because it's specifically the type of clothes that most relatives dont want to buy. They want to buy the fun stuff.

[Michelle Renee]

I find Hanna Anderson has a lot of plain/simple/cute as does lands end but both are high end and pricey.

The easiest thing we do is hit thrift stores (lots over a period of time), consignment shops, and Mom to Mom sales.

A careful eye lets you put things together from different brands get you exactly what you want.
 

[typebug]

I've got mostly stuff from Chateau de Sable and Le Petit Bateau as hand-me-downs from my friend and my own little bit of shopping. It's all really high quality and there are no garish slogans and characters. I also registerred for some onesies and all our bedding stuff from Natures Purest. It's too hot here to put more than a onesie on a baby anyway so my shopping is pretty simple. 

[Teles]

I saw a onesie the other day that read "all mommy wanted was a backrub"

I've been buying all my clothes from local thrift stores so far, though I'm sure I'll buy a couple of new outfits once I find out the sex. I have very similar standards with baby's clothes (and mine too), especially in terms of brand names that are really prominent, but I've found that simple clothing at thrift stores tend to cost even less than those with slogans or cliches. Plus, I feel good about keeping the money in my community/supporting charities.

I really like sites like http://babysteals.stealnetwork.com/ for offering good quality, nice (often organic) clothes and accessories at really good prices.
 

[sweetestday]

My MIL works at a thrift store, and finally after baby #4 has gotten pretty good at knowing my tastes. She picks up the nice cotton clothes that are pretty void of fancy stuff, and brings it to me to go through. Then whatever I don't want, she brings back to the store. She only pays for what I decide to keep. It works out wonderfully!

[kellybeth]

thrift stores! the huge local thrift store here has a ton of baby clothes and I will only be buying thrift. we cant afford fancy baby clothes anyway.

[MaybeJ]

I also have good success with thrift stores and also agree that many brands have the types of clothing you are looking for, you just have to sift through things.

I received so many gifts and hand me downs for DD but when given the chance, I really liked the selection of clothing for babies at H&M if you have one that sells children's clothing near you.  Lots of rich colours and classic styles.  I feel like they have a nice European influence to them.  Oh, and they have a number of pieces in organic cotton...and they're affordable!

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by Teles 

I saw a onesie the other day that read "all mommy wanted was a backrub"

I've been buying all my clothes from local thrift stores so far, though I'm sure I'll buy a couple of new outfits once I find out the sex. I have very similar standards with baby's clothes (and mine too), especially in terms of brand names that are really prominent, but I've found that simple clothing at thrift stores tend to cost even less than those with slogans or cliches. Plus, I feel good about keeping the money in my community/supporting charities.

I really like sites like http://babysteals.stealnetwork.com/ for offering good quality, nice (often organic) clothes and accessories at really good prices.
 

lol- my husband saw that one and was like "hey, that's funny.  totally untrue, but funny."

we've been really blessed in hand-me-downs (many from nice brands and since i'm textile neurotic, usually only natural fibers).  but the best thing is that my mother sews, and she doesn't like kiddie patterns, so she will just make things she wants to make and email me asking what the kids need, and measurements.  i'm so spoiled.  my son had a great set of nice hand-me-downs, lots of Polo w/out labels, so cords, sweaters, just cute but not annoyingly cute boy clothes.  i second thrift stores, and also many people are looking to pass on kids clothes.  i have given away far more kids clothes than i could ever need just because i didn't say no, picked out one or two items, and then passed on the rest.  so, if you know other mama's, especially of kids 2-3 years older, check out their kids clothes!  

anything like nubby polyester?  TOSS.  anything that says 'flame retardent' on the label?  PASS.  my girls have worn boyish clothes, and sweaters especially, and my boy never had much choice.  i also save old clothes if the fabric is nice, and will take the time to make a small cashmere sweater for a baby (very useful in New england), or a little sack out of the sweater sleeve.  i love layering cotton and wool and cashmere. 

did i mention we don't buy clothes?  4 kids, 2 adults, and other than underwear and socks, we haven't purchased new clothing items for ourselves in over 5 years.  it's an experiment or an adventure, but it's been interesting to find out how much is out there that you never have to buy.  

[loveandgarbage]

I am the same way with baby clothes-- nice simple patterns, solid colors, 100% cotton, etc. But we were in no position to turn down hand-me-downs the first time around, so there were definitely some obnoxiously masculine clothes that DS1 had to wear-- including onesies with weird sayings. When we bought stuff we did so at Target and thrift stores. Target cares a Carter's line that's decently priced and even if there are animals on it, it's cute and the dumb sayings are kept to a minimum. I really really love Carter's for baby clothes because they make stuff that lasts.

[kellybeth]

i'm with you houseofpeace- i hadn't bought clothes in about 3 years, though i had to splurge and buy a couple pairs of maternity dress pants for a wedding i'm going to this weekend.

i make my own clothes, or my girlfriends and i have organized clothing trades monthly that always works out nicely for everyone. i end up trading a lot of my handmade linen scarves for winter clothes. :)

[Julia24]

My taste for baby clothes is even more complicated than that.  I want soft and comfortable, #1.  NO obnoxious words, characters, or animals - for sure #2 (though with the toddlers/preschoolers - I have caved and allow such things on jammies and undies.  It makes them happy even if I loathe it! lol)  But beyond that, I want it to FIT.  (so we must have a 'nb' sized stash - my babies stay in that for a good month, at least)  And I have noticed really specific likes - for example: pants for newbies MUST have a cuff at the bottom - no elastic, that leaves marks and looks uncomfy - but the cuff keeps it down.  Otherwise they end up with pants up around their thighs, and what good does that do?   Also, SOCKS make me want to pull my hair out!  I still haven't found a variety that actually stays on and I can't stand cold feet - but I also can't stand them having footie clothes on all the time.  It's a dilemma! LOL

My Mom already bought this baby guy a few new things:  Carters was actually a hit, I got a pack of ribbed LS onesies (with foldover cuffs on the hands) in NB in deep brown, dark blue, dark green, etc.  I figure they'll work awesome with any pants I get.  Plus 1 fleece sleeper, a blanket, and a couple of outfits. (with pants with cuffs! yay!) 

I just feel so entirely ill equipped!  I always had bins and bins of clothes for my new baby girls that I could pilfer through, wash and fold, and feel like i was preparing for them.  This poor little guy has absolutely ZILCH.  I hate it!  Not a blanket, not a onesie, not a burp cloth, not a SOCK.  Gah!

Having fun looking for diapers too.  Amazing how fast things change!

[waywornwanderer]

Thanks for the help, ladies! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who loathes a lot of the baby stuff out there. In fact, one of the main reasons we're not announcing gender is because we are afraid people will load us down with gifts that aren't at all our taste. (I realize how incredibly ungrateful that sounds. But I just don't want a lot of gender-specific, sparkly, and/or baseball-ridden garments! I want simple, and I know most don't understand what I mean.)

I am definitely going to the thrift store today to check it out. I don't feel a lot of pressure to get everything in order just yet (I know there's plenty of time), but as one of you suggested, it's nice to begin collecting little by little as I see things that fit my criteria.

Julia24, your criterion fit mine to a tee! I'm also looking into diapers and enjoying it. If it makes you feel ANY better, I am a first time mama and have absolutely nothing for this babe. I mean, no crib (not sure if we're doing a crib anyhow), no changing station (we do want a dedicated dresser+pad to change the baby on), no rocker, no clothes, no dipes. NOTHING. Besides a few books for the babe, which are totally important to have ;)

[kellybeth]

waywornwanderer, we have absolutely no baby stuff yet, either. i'm wondering how long i can go without completely freaking out. i am doing a changing pad on a dresser though, that makes life easier, and the dresser can be used since a changing table is pretty much a specific-use only item.

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by kellybeth 

waywornwanderer, we have absolutely no baby stuff yet, either. i'm wondering how long i can go without completely freaking out. i am doing a changing pad on a dresser though, that makes life easier, and the dresser can be used since a changing table is pretty much a specific-use only item.

Unless, you live by an IKEA ( I swear, they really should be paying me for how much I talk about them.)

They have this great (cheap) changing table. When babies are too big, you remove the shelf and it's just a bookcase.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S29828090/

[kellybeth]

yeah, i will be making an ikea run later on, but we have to buy a dresser anyway, since we don't own one. i really don't like putting my clothing in dressers, but baby clothes are just too tiny to hang up and all. i really love ikea, too! it's about 2 hours from where we live, but i've been there before and got our bed, couch, and lighting and some kitchen glasses.

i have my shopping list online already and have a crib that my friend raved about as well as a high chair, amongst a hundred other things. i can't wait! we have to move first (october 1st) before i go though.

[loveandgarbage]

If it makes the first timers feel better, with my first I didn't start collecting stuff until around 8 months. And then I neatly arranged and re-arranged everything and just stared at it all for 2 months.

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

If it makes the first timers feel better, with my first I didn't start collecting stuff until around 8 months. And then I neatly arranged and re-arranged everything and just stared at it all for 2 months.

lol- yup.  that sounds familiar.  

[Teles]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

If it makes the first timers feel better, with my first I didn't start collecting stuff until around 8 months. And then I neatly arranged and re-arranged everything and just stared at it all for 2 months.

I'm already in the arrange and rearrange part. I spent the other day cleaning my stroller with a toothbrush just so I could spend time with it...
 

[BaMo]

We also don't do licensed characters or slogans (like the ones you mention). I have pretty classic tastes (I'm also a sucker for anything smocked!). I like Hanna Annderson, Land's End, Janie & Jack and Gymbo. My mom and I both are really good at thrifting and are able to find (most) of what we need at thrift stores. Although, now that my son is 4 - I'm having to buy more things online (ebay and end of the season clearance sales) because the quality at thrift stores isn't what I like for my son to wear.

You can find what you want, you just may have to do some more searching.