Every person involved in having a baby is understandably excited.
We all want the birth, whether it’s our first or our fifth, to go smoothly. A big part of that is having everything you need on the day it happens.
Some people pack for the hospital months in advance. You’ve got your bottles, pacifiers, diapers, wipes, and other supplies.
But what about clothing? How much should you bring and how do you make sure it’s the right size?
Most baby clothes run a bit big these days. Bringing newborn clothes for your infant may be too big if the baby is going to be less than 9 pounds.
If your baby is measuring like they are going to weigh less than 9 pounds at birth, they can still wear infant-sized baby clothing, but you may want to also pack something smaller like newborn-specific clothing.
Baby clothing manufacturers make clothes in sizes for premature babies as well, so you should be able to find something easily.
You can always play it safe and bring multiple outfits.
Of course, your baby will look just as cute in something a bit too big for them.
The most important thing is that they are comfortable and warm for the trip home.
Most people want to dress their babies in something specific because they want to take pictures that will be a keepsake forever.
Here’s some advice on what to bring and how big it should be.
Baby Clothing Sizes
Coming home outfits are a long tradition. You’re going to be taking a lot of snaps of the baby in what is essentially their first outfit.
The entire process of checking out of the hospital and driving home at very low speeds is something parents have been doing for decades.
It’s an amazing moment that will be memorialized in pictures forever. It’s no wonder most parents want everyone to look their best.
When it comes to baby clothing, there is some variance in sizes.
Companies have to cover a wide range of baby weights, lengths, and sizes.
Babies grow incredibly fast in their first few months, and companies typically oversize their clothes so parents can use them more than just a couple of times.
The majority of the infant clothing you’ll buy today is more for a baby that’s two to three months old, especially if the label reads 0-3 months like a lot of them do.
Parent Hacks for Coming Home from the Hospital
Parents have been making mistakes with hospital packing for as long as there have been hospitals.
If you bring something too big or too small, there is usually a workaround, and you can always take solace in the fact that your baby won’t mind all that much.
Here are some things you can do to make things work even if the clothing doesn’t fit just right.
If It’s Too Big – This happens all the time. A lot of people aren’t prepared for how small their newborn is going to be.
All those tiny fingers and toes! As a result, we often bring oversized clothing.
Or, we buy something that’s labeled 0-3 months and is more for a three-month-old than a newborn.
If that happens, you can always roll up the sleeves and pant legs. One great hack is to pack an outfit that’s like pajamas with an elastic bottom that covers your infant’s legs.
It won’t matter how big it is because it will hang loosely no matter what size they are wearing.
If It’s Too Small – Even having something too small isn’t usually a big deal.
Most baby clothes have pop buttons that snap open and shut. You can leave a few unsnapped to make the clothes more comfortable for your child.
If it is a zipper, leave it a bit unzipped and just wrap them in a blanket or put a jacket on top of whatever they are wearing.
Items to Bring for Your Baby’s First Day
A lot of parents are worried that they will forget something they should have brought to the hospital for the birth.
It happens. Don’t worry too much about it.
Someone can always run home to grab it and the hospitals usually have extra items that they can give to parents who need something in a pinch.
However, if you’re a planner like us, here’s what you will need to bring:
- The staple outfit – Buy something that you think will fit your baby well and look cute.
If you can, buy it in both newborn and 0-3 months and pack it in the hospital bag. You can always return the item you don’t use. You can’t go wrong with something colorful.
Opt for something long-sleeved that will keep your baby comfortable and warm. - A hat – Babies lose a lot of body heat from their heads, so bring a beanie or some other baby hat that will keep them cozy.
Most of these that are made for babies come in adjustable sizes. - Something to cover their fingernails – Babies don’t have full control over their limbs when they are first born, and they can easily cut themselves with fingernails.
Bring gloves or buy a long-sleeved outfit that covers your baby’s hands and fingers. - A change of clothes – The same struggles that you’ll have with baby clothing sizes, you’ll have with baby diapers.
Get used to the idea that your baby is going to have messes and will ruin a ton of outfits.
Don’t get too emotionally tied to a certain outfit because odds are, they may not be wearing it for long.
If you absolutely must have pictures of your baby in a specific onesie or shirt, buy a couple of them in case of emergency.
Final Thoughts
These are just some ideas to help you have clothes in the right size for your new baby.
It’s an exciting time that only happens once in their lifetime.
Be flexible and enjoy the ride. Remember, your baby won’t mind as long as they are nice and warm!