What kinds of clothes should I register for, for a newborn?

[bobcat]

Hi, everyone. A little clueless here. I am pregnant with my first baby (a boy), and I find myself really confused by the clothes out there that I need to add to my registries at Target and Babies R Us (yes, not glamourous, but that's where I'm registering). I don't care too much about what's cute, though of course that's fun....I am just wondering what I need. What is comfortable for the baby. What is easy for diaper changes (we'll be using disposables). What is easy in general (less fussing around).

He is due May 28th, and we live in a hot part of southern California, but temps dip at night, unlike other parts of the country. So days will be up to 95 outside, over 100 in the hot months, and at night, it dips to 60! Desert-like climate. We have central A/C though too.

I am confused about what he wears while sleeping. I am actually planning on having him sleep in a normal crib next to my bed, I have a sleep disorder so it is best for his safety. There will be no sheets or blankets really (I read that's what you're supposed to do in cribs?) So I think we will likely swaddle him, or use one of those "swaddle sacks." So do babies just wear a diaper underneath the swaddling cloth? And then if he isn't swaddled while sleeping, what should he wear? should he be pretty covered? He'll need socks and mittens even though it's summer, right?

Then during the day, what do newborns wear indoors in summer? Do they need pants and long sleeves? Or do they wear short sleeves and diapers or shorts?

Thanks for any advice!!!! My baby shower is before any "infant care" classes we'll be taking....so I think that is part of the problem. I am hoping if I put some good things on my registry, I won't have to buy too many clothes on my own.

[fruitfulmomma]

12 short sleeve onesies and 6 long sleeve plus 6 pants

6 pajamas, long sleeve, 

Sleeper sack  for colder nights

A dozen pairs of socks

3 hats, though mine would never keep them on

Maybe 3 fun outfits

A pair or 2 of babylegs

I think that would be a good supply. If it is hot you can use the onesies without any pants.

I love the Taggies clothes from Target and they have some cute jammies and 3pc outfits.

Eta: they grow out of newborn clothes fast! So get enough in a few different sizes.

[katelove]

I hate having to constantly adjust baby clothes so I don't use pants or t-shirts until they're mobile. Before that it's all body suits. Short sleeves or singlet style for hot weather and long sleeves and long legs with feet for cold weather. If its really cold I put a singlet under the suit. At night both my babes wore long sleeved suits with feet. One didn't like being wrapped but I wrap this babe with her arms out. We have the a/c on in the bedroom to sleep in summer and she's been fine with a long sleeved suit made of t-shirt material and wrapped in a flannelette bunny rug.

I've never been able to keep socks on them. If it's cold I use suits with feet. I don't like mittens for babies because I want them to be able to use their hands. I'm quite happy clipping their nails while they're asleep.

I live in a hot climate so I use sun hats but not hats for warmth. It can be hard to get newborn sun hats so I often drape a nappy or wrap over them instead.

You can use sheets and blankets in the cot. You just need to make it so the babe is at the foot of the cot with the covers tucked in firmly so they don't cover baby's face. And avoid using puffy doonas or quilts.

A lot of it comes down to preferences. I was given a couple of baby outfits (pants and top) and they're very cute but a real pain and I hardly use them. I'd never buy one or suggest someone buy one for us as a gift. I save those type of clothes for mobile babies/toddlers. And I do think little babies look adorable in body suits.

[clairebear3]

I found it really tricky getting socks on a newborn so I would definitely get pants/pajamas with feet attached to them.   Our DD had cute baby-grow/pajamas on for about the first 6-8 weeks before I started putting her in real clothes daily, like pants, dresses etc.  It's so much easier in the beginning.  Before I had her I bought lots of those body suits with poppers on each side so that they open completely flat, thinking it would be easier for me (and especially DH) to use instead of pulling a body suit over her head but really just the regular ones were fine.  You get used to it very quickly and the flat ones weren't so easy to get them laying right before you put them on.  I only put hats on her when we were in the hospital or out and about, never at home, it was warm enough for her indoors then.  Hope this helps and good luck!
 

[Jaxy]

Mine hates anything that you have to put over his head. I'd say some thin and some thick bodysuits (with a zipper is easier although can break easily too if it's too cheap). dh liked to put only a (buttoned) shirt on him during the day so it's easy to change his diaper. A sleeper sack is definitely useful for the first few months (easy to change the diaper and the blanket doesn't get on his face (bc you dont need to use one :P))

[MichelleZB]

Yeah, for a newborn? Keep it really simple.

A very tiny newborn can just be wrapped in the swaddle and that's it. Eventually, you want to dress them, but one piece is good. Get some onsies and some sleepers with feet. Make sure they snap up the front for easy changing. Don't bother with socks or other fiddly stuff on a newborn.

As for hats, use them if you want. Honestly, I never put a hat on my newborn unless we were going outside, and I had him in the dead of winter in Northern Ontario.

Also: feel free to register for shirts and pants and sleepers in sizes 3 months-18 months! You will use them faster than you think.

[Katherine73]

My son was born in the dead of summer in CA. He wore onesies during the day and sleepers at night. I had maybe 2 pairs of pants for him and 1 light jacket. It can be hard getting newborns in and out of more complicated outfits, plus you're changing their clothes a lot in the beginning since those little legs don't seal the diapers very well.

My son REFUSED to be swaddled even in the hospital so we didn't try a sleep sack or swaddling him at all when we were home.

[Jaxy]

I would invest in a good baby carrier & a nursing pillow :) (I used both everyday)

[chel]

A lot depends on what you like.
I dressed my newborns in simple clothes. I didn't use pj vs "real clothes". Newborns sleep so much, though not always at night, I wanted my babies comfortable all day long. So for my summer baby I did mostly onesies and rompers
If you birth at a hospital they will give you a hat.
Unless you plan on lots of outside activities, take public transit, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about weather extremes. You can use a blanket for that extra layer of warmth either on the carseat, stroller. Babies stay very warm in carriers.
Babylegs are a great way to add an extra layer of warmth/sun protection.

[Angelorum]

I didn't see anyone mention those little baby sleep-gowns.  They are my favorite for night time and days when we are just hanging around the house.  I really appreciate not having any snaps to fuss with for diaper changes, especially in the middle of the night.  The ones I've seen all have those little foldover cuffs, if baby needs mittens.  And I always put them on from the bottom up, instead of trying to get the whole thing over a floppy newborn head.  Their little bodies are plenty small enough to fit through the necks of most all baby clothes. 

[Escaping]

If I could do it all over, I'd by 7 onesies, a bunch of bibs and call it a day  I received SO many clothes that I just didn't have time for and sadly they never got worn, every time I see it all I just feel bad. In the first few days if you're breastfeeding, you're encouraged to do skin-to-skin so your baby might be naked and just in receiving blankets a lot of the time anyway. I've been told that you're supposed to put a diaper shirt under a onesie... but I never did  They even have short sleeved onesies with short legs like this which are good in the summer, they don't bunch up in the carseat: 

And as my son got older, I started to find jeans/shorts and tshirts the easiest and most efficient, if I need to check if he pooped I just look down his bum from the back. 

Boys are awesome because they don't need ruffles, leggings, headbands, matching socks, shoes, etc 

[Quinalla]

Another one who recommends keeping it simple, socks and stuff that goes over the head are a PITA with a newborn. For hot weather, onesie or onepiece or side-snap shirt, for cold add some pants or a blanket swaddled or put them in long sleeve/footed one piece (these are the PJ-ish outfits that can be clothes too). Some people really love gowns, I loved side-snap shirts myself and some people/babies love swaddler things, I just liked using a blanket. My DD lived in side-snap shirts, diaper & swaddle (adding a second blanket occasionally when it was cold) during the early weeks, it was just easier. I never really "dressed" her unless we were going somewhere or having company (and even then, if it was just my family, I didn't care). Make sure to register for simple stuff, people will probably buy you some fancy stuff anyway, so don't bother even if you want it. I do recommend getting one outfit that is a little more fun and can be a bit fussy for your take-home or first-picture outfit, it's fun to pick out one fancier thing yourself IMO and to have for some cute photos

[Jaxy]

And I'd say that even if it's a boy, to ask for different color than BLUE. At my shower EVERYTHING was blue and although I was grateful for everything that was given to me, I wished for some different colors... Red, orange green, purple, even brown and black (everything but pink right :P) are fun colors to see your baby in. Believe me, even if you get stuff in every shade of blue possible, it gets old! And I agree that you shouldn't only ask fr newborn stuff, since it will probably only fit for a month or 2 (some of the stuff I got NEVER fit). Ask for some 0-3, 3-6, 6-9. You got the idea ;)