Dressing Baby: The Top Tips for Buying Baby Clothes
Buttons, ribbons, and bows, oh my!
Everyone knows how adorable baby clothes are. In fact, buying baby clothes is the number one reason why ladies love going to baby showers. (That and the cake, of course).
Before you go buying every adorable outfit in sight, take a look at these handy tips. First and foremost, your baby should be safe and comfortable, and you don't want to blow your whole budget on clothes.
These tips will help keep you on track when you're swooning over the adorable outfits at the store.
1. Size Up
Babies do three things — eat, sleep, and grow. By 5 months, the average baby has doubled their birth weight.
That means those cute little newborn outfits won't last long. Some of them might never even have a chance to be worn. Bigger babies never fit newborn sizes and skip out of 0-3 within just a few weeks.
What if your baby ends up to be smaller? You can always roll up the sleeves of a onesie that is too big, but you can't cram a baby into clothing that is too small.
2. Focus on Essentials
Don't buy all the cutesy outfits that you see. They're adorable, true, but babies barely use them. Buy a couple of special outfits and don't forget to space out the sizing.
Fill the bulk of your baby's wardrobe with everyday onesies that are comfortable and easy to get on and off. Trust us, you'll be changing baby's clothes several times throughout the day and you don't want to be in a wrestling match each time.
3. Shop the Sales
Always check out the sale racks. You can get some great deals on brand-new baby clothes that way. Simply plan ahead for the correct season.
For example, if your baby is 3 months old at the summer end sales, buy 12-month clothes or bigger to be ready for the next summer. The only drawback is you have to wait almost a year to use them.
4. Second-Hand Stores
We've established that babies grow fast and barely use their clothes, so that makes second-hand stores an excellent option. You'll find tons of gently used items, many of which will still have the tags on them.
Dress your baby in the cutest fashions without breaking the bank!
5. Choking Hazards
On a practical note, while bows, buttons, and other adornments are adorable, they can also pose a choking hazard. This can be more of an issue with baby girl clothes, but there are plenty of outfits for boys you need to watch for as well.
It's best to avoid them altogether, but what if you have an adorable outfit you're dying to use? Tug on the adornments each time before dressing your baby to ensure they are firmly attached.
Baby Clothes Galore
By keeping these tips in mind as you go shopping for baby clothes, you can let loose and have fun! Picking out baby outfits is only one of the joys that you'll experience on this journey.
Written by Tammy Jones for The Healthy Moms Magazine and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.
