Clothes for the baby

Babies grow very quickly. All you need for the first few weeks are enough clothes to make sure that your baby will be warm and clean.

You’ll probably need:

• six stretch suits for both day and night or four stretch suits and two nighties for the night – use socks or bootees with the nightie if it’s cold;
• two cardigans, wool or cotton rather than nylon, light rather than heavy – several light layers of clothing are best for warmth;
• four vests;
• a shawl or blanket to wrap your baby in;
• a woolly or cotton hat, mittens, socks or bootees for going out if the weather is cold – it’s better to choose close-knitted patterns for safety;
• a sun hat for going out if the weather is hot or the sun is bright.

Washing baby clothes

If you use a washing machine, don’t use enzyme (bio) powders, as they may irritate your baby’s skin. Always rinse very thoroughly. Fabric softener may also cause a skin reaction.

Information provided by Health Promotion England