"Stuff" Questions - what kind of clothes for a New York March baby? « Back to Group Discussions

[Meggsy]

Hi all,

Well, I am finally thinking about what I will need or really like to have in terms of clothing and am a bit stumped. I grew up in a much colder climate than New York, but have heard babies need a bit of an extra layer as newborns so I don't really trust my sense of cold. Plus, since it will be spring, the weather will likely be all over the place - coldish and warm. I just have no idea what are good things to have.

First off, I look at all the footies and onsies and am not sure which ones to get or how many of each to make sure I have? Are kimono tops or play suits better for the belly botton stump? Another question is, assuming the weather could be either sunny or snowy through early April, should get him a warm winter type of bunting, or just a fleece suit with blankets as needed?

I am putting together a registry right now and just pulled out my sewing machine so all this is coming to mind. What I really could use is a checklist of must haves and nice to haves... After finally figuring out cloth diapering options, and choosing a crib and a car seat, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the things babies seem to need! I guess it is fun at times, but it is also a little tiresome since I am not big on shopping in general. So I appreciate any guidance from moms out there.

Thanks!

[mariee]

How awesome that you are thinking about all of these things!!  Most of the clothing questions didn't even dawn on me until after DS was here!

So, as he was a February baby and we were living in Indiana, this is what worked well for us.

The side snap long sleeve tshirts are really useful in the beginning (especially before the stump falls off).  I would get a couple packages of those in NB or 0-3.  You can always pair them with any random pair of pants or just swaddle with a blanket for warmth.

I also felt like I could never have enough long sleeve onesies.  I put one on DS every day as a base layer.  I especially like the ones with mitten cuffs because they seem to add a little extra warmth for the hands.  Then I would just dress him in whatever his outfit was for the day, a footed one piece or whatever. If you want to use them everyday, I'd suggest at least 6.  More if you don't want to be doing laundry every two days!

Footed one pieces or footed pants are great for the cold months.  I like putting socks on baby, then the footed one piece over it.  I'm a huge fan of layers, as I am always freezing :-)  Perhaps 6+ one pieces?  

I never bought a bunting.  I think it would only be useful if you were planning to take the baby outside for outdoor activities or something, like hiking?  For us, the JJ Cole Bundle Me was essential.  It goes right into your carseat and zips around baby and is so snuggly and warm.  In the first few months when it was freezing outside, I would put him into the carseat and zip up the Bundle Me inside the house, and then just bring the whole carseat out to the car.  I also walked with him in the carseat/stoller combo a lot in the first few months, and we used the Bundle Me every day.  

I'm a little freakish about socks and using really good, warm ones.  Gap has relatively inexpensive but thick baby socks.  I hate those flimsy little cotton things that are in all of the other baby stores.  

[spughy]

Well I'm not buying anything until I see what the weather is like and what this baby is like.  There are many good consignment stores here and I have 3 or 4 neighbours who've recently (in the last year) had babies all itching to give me stuff and I don't want to stock up on ANYTHING because we had SO much with DD and a lot of it never got worn or used.  And here, too, March could be warm and sunny or even snowy, although the latter isn't particularly probable, it has happened.

So I have some onesies and a couple of footie sleepers and that's all I'm going to have until after the baby is born.  (I also have no idea how big this little critter is going to be, but if I were putting money on it I'd bet against actually being able to use newborn-sized stuff.)  I found socks to be fairly useless until DD was older.  She grew out of them too fast, they're so tiny they get lost everywhere and they don't stay on the little feet unless you put robeez on top. 

Also I'm a total moby-wrap user and that plus a onesie is really all you need in the house.  Or just the moby, if you're prone to having a warm house.  Babies that are held or in wraps/slings most of the time DO NOT need an extra layer - it just makes them too hot and cranky and then mom says "oh, he HATES the wrap" and abandons a perfectly awesome tool.  I've seen this a LOT with clients.  Then I come in, undress the poor things, pop them in the wrap and they sleep for 3 hours straight and the mom thinks I'm some kind of baby-whispering genius, LOL.  Don't overdo the clothes unless your baby is happy not being held!

[Melany]

I always dressed baby in one layer more than I put on myself. I figured, if I was cold, I was at least moving around carrying baby and baby was not. I also would use socks inside of sleepers because no matter how high I put the heat at our old house, it was always cold. (I can tell the story of how we discovered none of the exterior walls had insulation on another day). And, those little cotton hats were great for when it got chilly inside. 

[Meggsy]

Thanks everyone!

This is very helpful. I did read that babies get colder until they stock up on fat, so I might borrow Melany's one extra layer rule of thumb. I am still a little bewildered about the numbers of things I will need. I saw one list that had what seemed like a lot of stuff. I guess my instincts to go minimalist and just take it easy are right on based on what you said, Spughy. We have a lot of consignment stores in Brooklyn, too, and a lot neighbourhood clothing swaps so I guess I will rest assured and not put too much stuff on our registry. But I may stock up on socks just in case - I get cold toes and fingers so I am sure I will project on the little guy and worry about his toes!

I am still a little confused about the little suits with and without feet. Which are better? I have no idea which ones to get. Is there a reason to not just get all footies since socks fall off a lot?

Also, I have no idea how big my guy is going to be - not sure how much newborn stuff to actually buy. Can anyone tell me what an 8+ pound baby wears? I have my hunches that this baby will be about 8.5 pounds - seems to be the size of babies in my family.

Thanks for answering all my questions! :)

[spughy]

If your baby is around the 8 1/2 lb mark, don't get ANY newborn stuff.  Things labeled 0-3 mo. will probably work - but honestly, baby clothing sizes are even more crazy than women's clothing sizes.  At one point I think my DD was wearing some stuff that was 3 mo and some that was 12 mo.   I wish I was kidding.  You sorta have to eyeball things - which is easier once the baby is actually here and you can put something on that fits, look at it lying flat, and get an idea of what's going to work.  Babies also vary a lot in leg length and torso length and width, which admittedly makes it difficult for clothing manufacturers to please everyone.  You'll start to get an idea of what brands work, too.  Some brands are better for long slim babies and some are better for the more compact models

[Melany]

Originally Posted by Meggsy 

I am still a little confused about the little suits with and without feet. Which are better? I have no idea which ones to get. Is there a reason to not just get all footies since socks fall off a lot?

I had a few of the footless sleepers when baby was really little, but in our cold house I tended to gravitate towards the stuff with feet. When baby was older, and learning to walk, the footless ones are nice because baby can be barefoot and not slip. You also can buy big and roll the cuffs up. If we did put something on that was footless when baby was little, I would use robeez. There appear to be tons of different soft shoe brands. They keep the socks on and keep feet warm when they are cold. 

On the plus side, you'll probably have baby stripped down to a onsie or just a diaper come June in NY. 

[akind1]

I'm having the same dilemma, but I'm in SC - which means we could have a freak snowstorm, or it might feel nearly like summer. *sigh* Anything with cuffs is awesome - mitten cuffs work better than any sort of mittens/socks to protect baby from him/herself.  Also, footed things, because IME, socks just don't stay well on baby feet. Well, unless you also plan on using shoes.

How many . . . that depends on how often you want to do laundry, if your baby is prone to blow outs or spit up . . .etc. Right now, I have (as hand-me-downs from DS who was a November baby) maybe 6-8 gowns (I love gowns) and maybe 5-6 zipper sleepers in light cotton, a couple of sleep sacks, some fleecey sleepers and a couple outfits for cool/cold weather. I probably should get some warm weather ones, JIC.

In regards to layers: DS I layered up, maybe not as much as some (but again, it's SC and its really not ever THAT cold), and DD not much at all - she was hot natured and didn't really like being in anything that might make her sweat.  I agree though, long sleeve onesies as a base layer are nice, because shirts will ride up, making babies back cold. Plus it holds in up-the-back blow outs when that happens. I like the simple, non kimono style onesies, bc I have come to detest snaps on everything except cloth diapers (for those, snaps are so much better than velcro!).

We tend to also be out and about alot, so I like having more outfits than maybe a mom who stays home more and just needs sleep and plays. I'm a sucker for cute. And yes, totally buy at consignment! or yard sales!

[Chapsie]

My babies were both 9.5 lbs and I squished them into newborn stuff for a month, but it was a tight squeeze, haha.  I only did it because that's what I had from the baby showers.  

It is also recommended that babies not be OVERbundled either... especially during sleep.  I always advise: if you feel comfortable, baby feels comfortable at that room temperature.  maybe one extra thin-ish cotton layer from what you are wearing.  I sometimes see babies out in WAY too many thick fleecey layers and it makes me nervous.  :)   Just make sure that baby isn't wet or in a drafty place.  You can always feel the baby's back or chest to feel if they feel cold (hands and feet will naturally be colder than their trunks).  Hats are pretty important, imo, for the first week or so because babies lose a lot of heat out of their heads.

I second the comment about long sleeved onesies!  I always base layered every outfit with one of those in the fall and spring.  I could never have enough of those!  I also used robeez slippers over my baby socks to keep them on!  They did have some nice looking cheaper slippers at target not too long ago that seemed like they would stay on baby feet pretty well, too.  

We live in NYS, but my other babies were summer babies and we actually had a hard time with heat rash from all the nursing and  skin to skin contact.  I'm looking forward to actually being able to snuggle close with my baby and not worry about the heat!  :)  

As for your actual questions:  As long as it isn't a super tight fitting onesie, onesies are fine over the umbilical stump if you don't want to buy extra T-shirts.  The stump is only there for about a week and a half anyway and it is pretty resilient.  It may be a little goopy when it first falls off though, FYI.  I am planning on using a bunting for the car seat for the baby, just because I already have one, but I think blankets and a fleecey outfit would work, too.  It's up to you on that one.  

The other thing is be aware of pant size with cloth diapers.  Cloth bums are usually really fluffy on a newborn and the pant size may beed to be sized up a bit (like a 0-3 on a newborn and a 6 month size on a 3 month old, etc.)  

[spughy]

Originally Posted by Chapsie 

The other thing is be aware of pant size with cloth diapers.  Cloth bums are usually really fluffy on a newborn and the pant size may beed to be sized up a bit (like a 0-3 on a newborn and a 6 month size on a 3 month old, etc.)  

Oh, that's a very good point too.  And also, hang on to ALL your pants from about 12 mo size and up - because once your kiddo is out of diapers, all the pants will suddenly be too big and you will need to step back a size or two.  DD lost the dipes just after 2 and suddenly she was back in pants she hadn't worn in a year.  For once my slacker "I'll get to the consignment store NEXT week" ways paid off!

[LightForest]

All great suggestions. I don't remember whether anyone mentioned one thing to watch out for about onesies or footie PJ's and cloth diapers, which is that baby's torso will probably be much longer because of the CDs, so you should size way way up (or, for onesies, you can buy crotch extenders to give a few more inches of room, which I suppose would be a nice investment if you are a true onesie devotee).

My only other thought for you is very NYC specific (we lived there for a number of years, just left when DD turned 2). The type of cold weather wear you need will depend largely on your lifestyle when you're out and about in the city. Honestly, I'd recommend that you just look at your current commuting tendencies and sort of magnify them. For example, do you take a lot of taxis, or do you own a car and drive it a lot, or do you walk everywhere, or do you use public transit? My "getting around the city" habits did not change dramatically once I had a baby. I didn't personally take taxis any more frequently. I supposed I walked more once she was born, and the awesome stroller eventually became my best friend (even though i didn't initially think I'd want one, and didn't buy one till DD was 3 or 4 months). 

If baby will spend a lot of time transiting in a car and you choose to use a car seat for that (it is not legally required in NYC taxis), then a bundle me type cover is a fab solution, and you'll be able to use it again next winter.

If you plan to babywear, then I recommend that you not overdress a March baby in crazy buntings and things, but instead wear a large jacket that zips over baby and get him/her some awesome warm hats. I prefer wool pilot caps like those sold at Polarn O Pyret (there are 2 stores in NYC). They are not crazy thick so they layer well and will last you into spring. A new baby will be "froggy style" (legs tucked in/under) in most any baby carrier you use for the first couple of months anyway, so I don't think you need to stress about ultra warm clothes for a newborn in the the carrier.

If you plan to use a stroller, then again, the bundle me is the most convenient nyc option. You can use a blanket, but it's just harder to keep it covering the baby in a cozy way. With DD, I chose to put her in a bunting once she was mobile in winter, because we were always stopping off at playgrounds and I wanted her warm while playing. But that won't be an issue for you till next year.

Anywho - I think the most important thing to remember is that spring weather will arrive in NYC when the baby is still very tiny. Before you know it you'll have a 6 week old and the April weather will be warm and lovely. It's always a nice idea to have a range of clothing options, but I don't see much of a need for any out of the ordinary winter wear for a March nyc baby, except for a thin wool pilot cap and maybe a bundle me cover if you plan to transport baby in a car seat frequently.

I know that lists are helpful sometimes with this stuff - here's what I'll aim to have on hand that should fit when baby is born (due March 9, we now live in Chicago so weather is a bit colder than NYC):

3 cotton hats

2 cotton pilot caps (hanna andersson and polarn o pyret)

1 wool pilot cap (polarn o pyret)

1 warm fleece hat

4 cotton gowns

5 cotton long sleeve onesies

1 wool onesie

1 pair of cotton footed pants (might get another pair - i like under the nile brand)

3 or 4 pairs cotton pants will cuffs on the legs (hanna andersson wiggle pants are my fave. i also like polarn o pyret)

1 or 2 cotton footie sleepers

6 cotton short sleeve shirts

2 cotton cardigans/sweaters

6 pairs warm, well-fitting socks

1 pair swedish moccasins (heavy socks with leather soles, you can get then at h&m or hanna andersson)

1 lightweight fleece bunting

5 swaddle blankets

3 pairs baby leg warmers

(i personally prefer baby gowns and pants with shirts or dresses, as opposed to one piece outfits.)

[LightForest]

I should add to my list: a couple of pairs of hand knit wool pants and 3 or 4 wool soakers - all to be used as diaper covers and baby will wear (at most) a swaddle blanket over them. I also need to knit some soft wool knee socks

Your mention of getting a warm bunting for a newborn sent me on a web search... Seems like the options will be limited for a fleece type bunting that will actually fit baby from 0-6 weeks old... Maybe the Hanna Andersson fleece bunting in size 50? I had one of those for DD in size 60 and it fit her from around 4-8 months, but I didn't care for it because it didn't have hand or foot covers built in. Polarn O Pyret used to sell a thin fleece bunting type thing that seemed perfect for a newborn, but I no longer see it on their website . I love the Patagonia fleece buntings, but I don't know whether their smallest size would fit a newborn or swallow the poor thing up. Their sizing seems to run big on baby stuff but I love their products.

(BTW baby stuff in all of these brands can be found cheaply on ebay. Hanna is also having a big sale right now.)

The Suse Kinder Coat people have a babywearing blanket (http://www.suseskinder.com/babywrapblanket.htm) that looks lovely but probably too large for a newborn. With even minimal sewing skilz I'll bet you could make one of those though. Here's a photo of the wool version from Lana that would perhaps be more useful for figuring out a sewing pattern: http://danishwool.com/shop/lanacare/baby-carrier-blanket

[Melany]

Originally Posted by LightForest 
 

 I love the Patagonia fleece buntings, but I don't know whether their smallest size would fit a newborn or swallow the poor thing up. Their sizing seems to run big on baby stuff but I love their products. (BTW baby stuff in all of these brands can be found cheaply on ebay. Hanna is also having a big sale right now.)

We have an old patagonia that was given to us when my son was an infant that is size small. My son was due on March 5th, but he was a little early and very tiny (5 lbs 7 oz).  It didn't fit until the following fall, when he was wearing 6-9 month sizing and it fit the entire winter.

Columbia makes one that is very similar and I believe it also had the fold over sleeves, but I'm not sure about the feet. When we were using those, we needed the feet free so he could walk in it, too. 

I will say for a Seattle winter, that patagonia suit was great for most of the winter. That suit, a hand knit hat, and a blanket was enough to keep him warm when it was nice enough to be outside. 

[Melany]

Replying to myself. I suddenly remembered a photo my sister has of me wearing my daughter in a front carry baby carrier. I had flown out with my daughter to visit her when she lived in Maine near the end of my maternity leave (Baby was 16 weeks or so?) and my daughter (8lbs 9 oz at birth) was wearing the size small patagonia suit at 3 months old and it fit great. SO, I take back my earlier assessment on the size running REALLY large.

[MissMuffet]

Originally Posted by spughy 

Also I'm a total moby-wrap user and that plus a onesie is really all you need in the house.  Or just the moby, if you're prone to having a warm house.  Babies that are held or in wraps/slings most of the time DO NOT need an extra layer - it just makes them too hot and cranky and then mom says "oh, he HATES the wrap" and abandons a perfectly awesome tool.  I've seen this a LOT with clients.  Then I come in, undress the poor things, pop them in the wrap and they sleep for 3 hours straight and the mom thinks I'm some kind of baby-whispering genius, LOL.  Don't overdo the clothes unless your baby is happy not being held!

I've had a moby wrap since pregnant with my first child and tried using it with her and with each child after - and failed each time. I'm really hoping to use it with my fourth but knowing my history I don't think it's likely. I've tried following the instructions online, to no avail. No matter what I do, the baby always ends up drooping off of me in half an hour, and I end up with an aching back and pelvis. Do you have any suggestions?

[spughy]

Originally Posted by MissMuffet 


I've had a moby wrap since pregnant with my first child and tried using it with her and with each child after - and failed each time. I'm really hoping to use it with my fourth but knowing my history I don't think it's likely. I've tried following the instructions online, to no avail. No matter what I do, the baby always ends up drooping off of me in half an hour, and I end up with an aching back and pelvis. Do you have any suggestions?

Yup - you're not tying it tight enough or high enough.  Baby needs to be pretty squished against you in order for it to be comfortable for both of you, and you probably want to tie it a bit higher up towards your waist if you can to alleviate the back & pelvic pain.  It's not like a backpack where you want the weight on your hips.  My doula - who has worked with and sold wraps for a gazillion years, once told me that babies can't possibly be held too tightly by a wrap - as long as you can get the little critter in it, it's fine - and they prefer to be held snugly and securely. My own experience with a whole lotta babies bears that out - the snugger they are, the happier they are, and the more comfortable it is on your back.  Another thing that helps is making sure the parts that cross at the back and come over your shoulders aren't twisted, and make sure that when you put the baby in, you spread BOTH pieces that go over its little bum out as wide as possible (ensuring that the little legs frog out properly rather than dangle) before you pull the wide horizontal section over the baby.  Baby should be fairly high on your body so he/she can turn his head to one side and not be smothered by a boob.

I should post a video of me putting one on... although I can't right now because my big belly kinda gets in the way and I have no actual baby to put in it.  As soon as this one comes out I will post a "how to use a moby wrap effectively, entirely ignoring what the DVD that came with it says" video - promise!  (I haven't actually watched the video, but the one that came with my Maya Wrap sling was bloody useless, so I'm just assuming that one is too.)

[scruffy too]

Originally Posted by spughy 

 As soon as this one comes out I will post a "how to use a moby wrap effectively, entirely ignoring what the DVD that came with it says" video - promise!  (I haven't actually watched the video, but the one that came with my Maya Wrap sling was bloody useless, so I'm just assuming that one is too.)

I look forward to this!!!  So far I've only wrapped my teddy bear, but I've eyed up the cat a few times... I'm sure I'll be re-learning with a real life baby.

[Melany]

Originally Posted by scruffy too 

I look forward to this!!!  So far I've only wrapped my teddy bear, but I've eyed up the cat a few times... I'm sure I'll be re-learning with a real life baby.

I bet one of my cats would be up for it, but the other would be the cause for some stitches... ;) 

Will be watching for the how-to. I'm going to hold you to it!

[spughy]

Originally Posted by scruffy too 

I look forward to this!!!  So far I've only wrapped my teddy bear, but I've eyed up the cat a few times... I'm sure I'll be re-learning with a real life baby.

OMG I just pictured me doing that with MY cat - I'm half laughing and half wincing in imagined pain.  And wanting to go put "cat moby wrap" into the youtube search engine...

edit: yup, it's been done.  Amusingly, this woman does the best job of showing how to put on the wrap that I've seen.  The cat doesn't go in the same way that a human baby does (well, you CAN put them in this way but if you have large boobs, it's not going to be so great).   But notice how snug she has the carrier, and how nice and flat the over-the-shoulder parts are.  She even tightens it up, which is great.  Cat looks comfy, no?

edit again: don't try that if your cat is anything like mine (who is named Hercules for very good reason.  Athletic doesn't even begin to describe him.  Also, spazzy and none too bright.)

[scruffy too]

That just made my day!!!!!!!  That's how my cat would be, pretty chill about the whole thing (I think...)  Thanks for posting!