Aside from shopping for themselves, most moms will find the experience of buying clothes for their newborn a fun and exciting process. With the different types of outfits, accessories, and gear for infants available to choose from, moms will find it hard to stop themselves from buying every piece of clothing they find cute and adorable.
Shopping for the Best Infant Clothes
Most moms will certainly think that all newborn clothes are perfect for their babies. But just like when buying breastfeeding dresses, you need to be smart when shopping because not all nursing outfits are the same.
This is also true when buying newborn clothes. It is essential to make smart decisions when shopping for different pieces of infant wear due to the following important reasons and benefits:
1. To ensure the health and safety of your newborn.
Not all infant clothes are created the same. They are made of different materials and come in various styles or designs and sizes. Many manufacturers of newborn clothes use certain chemicals in the fabric that are harmful to babies. These include formaldehyde and perfluorochemicals (PFCs) which are added as anti-wrinkling and stain-resistant agents, and Benzidine-based azo dyes for coloring fabric. These substances contain carcinogens and are toxic.
If you don’t take the time to read the garment’s label and details about the manufacturing process of clothing brands, you run the risk of dressing your child in outfits that are unhealthy and unsafe.
Infant clothes that wrap around your baby’s neck too tightly, and that have cords or ties, buttons, ribbons, and other small accessories that can be easily removed, are choking hazards. As such, it is best to stay away from such garments if you want to make sure your newborn is safe all the time.
2. To make sure your baby is comfortable.
The right fabric plays an important role in ensuring the comfort of your baby in the garment he or she is wearing. Light fabrics are often the best option since they provide a cooling effect on the baby. For newborns, the most comfortable pieces of clothing are those made with fabric that “breathe” since this enables body moisture to evaporate and cool the infant.
Cotton and cotton blends have been proven effective in providing this cooling effect. Terry knit fabrics also feature great breathability during warm weather and also provide a soft feel against baby’s skin. Helpful tips for choosing the most comfortable fabrics and clothes for newborns can guide you accordingly.
3. To get the most out of the clothes.
According to an article on the Baby Center, an infant can outgrow newborn or 0- to 3-month clothes quickly. There are also larger babies that skip the newborn sizes completely and start with 3-months and upward sizes. A good general tip to keep in mind, therefore, is to buy clothes that are a little bit bigger since these will fit your baby as time goes by and your child can wear them longer.
Choosing the right fabric can also help prolong the purpose of the garment. Stains will be a big factor that affects the look of a newborn’s clothes. If you don’t want to hide or throw away unsightly, blemished newborn clothes, choose garments made of cotton since stains are easier to remove from them and your baby will be able to wear them for a longer period of time.
4. To ensure the garment serves a particular use of purpose.
Aside from buying newborn clothes that can be worn every day, you will also have to get garments that your baby will wear for particular occasions or purposes. After all, you can’t just dress your baby in a onesie if you want to take him or her swimming. If you will bring your baby to a formal party, you will also need to dress him or her in an outfit that is suitable for the event.
As such, when shopping for newborn clothes, choose garments that your baby can wear for a particular occasion to avoid the hassles of rushing out and finding one that suits the event.
5. For twinning purposes.
Lastly, even though your baby is still small, it shouldn’t stop you from getting on the trend of twinning and having adorable photos taken with your newborn that you can keep and share with your family, friends, and other people.
If you love wearing bright colored breastfeeding tops, get some newborn shirts in the same colors. Make sure you and your baby wear tops in the same color when you go out or if you simply want to have and share some cute new photos that will make other people swoon with delight.
When buying newborn clothes, be a discerning and responsible shopper. By doing so, you safeguard the health and comfort of your baby and you can make sure you and your baby get the most out of these garments.
My brother is trying to buy clothes for his newborn baby. I should tell him to make sure that his baby is comfortable in whatever clothes he chooses. If his baby is uncomfortable it would be really unfortunate.