What Kind of Clothes Should a Newborn Wear?

Newborns depend on their caregivers to dress them warmly and comfortably. As a general rule, newborns should be dressed similarly to their caregivers. If the caregiver needs a sweater, then usually the newborn will need a sweater as well. The basic clothing items needed for a newborn are usually referred to as the layette.

T-shirts and Onesies

• Newborns will need about four to seven T-shirts or onesies. If the weather is warm, these may be worn alone with a diaper. However, if the weather is cool, T-shirts or onesies can be worn under other clothing. Often T-shirts will have buttons on the side to make dressing a newborn easier and many T-shirts and onesies are now tagless so that the tags will not irritate the newborn's skin.

Sleepers or Pajamas

• Infants will need four to seven sleepers or pajamas to wear at night. Lightweight sleepers or pajamas should be used during warmer seasons and thicker ones should be used during colder months. Also, parents may want to purchase a blanket that can be worn on the newborn to keep them warm at night.

Jacket or Sweater

• Most newborns, regardless of season, will need some type of jacket or sweater. Even spring and summer newborns may need a lightweight sweater for cool nights.

Booties and Socks

• Newborns need four to seven pairs of socks or booties to keep their feet warm. Booties with a Velcro closure around the ankle area are good for newborns who continually kick off their socks.

Caps

• Newborns will also need at least one cap. Newborns can get too cool if their head is not covered during the first few weeks of life.

Dress-up Outfits

• Most parents want to find cute clothing for their newborns. When choosing dress-up outfits, opt for soft cotton fabrics and also look for clothing that is easy to put on and take off.