What Size Baby Clothes Should I Buy Before Birth?
If you’re pregnant and staring at tiny newborn clothes wondering how many you actually need, my advice after two babies is simple: don’t try to buy your baby’s entire first-year wardrobe before they’re born.
You really have no idea how big your baby will be at birth, how quickly they’ll grow, or what size they’ll be wearing when a particular season rolls around. Instead, I’d have a small selection of newborn clothes ready, stock up a little more on 0–3 month clothes, and wait on most of the larger sizes.
For the newborn stage, you also need far fewer types of clothes than baby registries and clothing stores might make you think. I put together a full guide to what newborn clothes you actually need, but my babies essentially lived in footed sleepers.
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What Baby Clothes Should You Buy Before Birth?
If I were preparing for a baby today, this is what I’d have ready:
Newborn: 3–6 footed sleepers
0–3 months: 5–7 footed sleepers
Short-sleeve bodysuits: A few for warmer days or layering
3–6 months and larger: I’d wait or only have a few pieces
You can obviously buy more if you want to do laundry less frequently, but I don't think you need a dresser overflowing with newborn clothes.
The biggest thing I would stock up on is comfortable, practical clothing that can be washed over and over again. In those first few weeks, babies spit up, diapers leak, and clothes get dirty constantly. You want things you don't mind throwing in the wash repeatedly.
Do You Actually Need Newborn Size Clothes?
I wouldn't skip newborn clothes. Before my first baby was born, I was fortunate because my twin sister had a son two years before me and gave me a lot of her hand-me-downs. I had a handful of double-zip footed sleepers in each size but didn't go out and buy an entire wardrobe.
He was 7 pounds, 9 ounces at birth, and newborn clothes fit him immediately. They weren't even perfectly snug at first. He ended up wearing newborn size for about a month.
Some larger babies may move through newborn clothes very quickly, but I wouldn't try to predict that before your baby is born. Having at least a few newborn sleepers means you're covered if newborn size is exactly what they need.
Should I Buy More Newborn or 0–3 Month Clothes?
If you're deciding where to put your money, I would buy fewer newborn clothes and a little more in 0–3 months. If you're trying to figure out the difference between the two sizes, I also broke down newborn vs. 0–3 month clothes based on how they actually fit my babies.
I think 3–6 newborn sleepers is a good starting point. For 0–3 months, I'd have closer to 5–7. Your baby may only wear newborn clothes for a few weeks, while 0–3 month clothes will likely get more use. That said, babies grow at completely different rates, which is exactly why I wouldn't go overboard with either size.
My second baby is the perfect example.
She was born seven weeks early, and I had absolutely no preemie clothes waiting for her. She was also the first girl among my kids and my sister's kids, so unlike the first time around, I didn't have a stash of hand-me-downs ready to go.
My aunts ended up mailing us preemie clothes after she was born. One sent Magnetic Me preemie pajamas, which she wore in the NICU. The NICU nurses loved them because the magnetic closures made them so easy to get on and off around everything she had attached to her.
She continued wearing preemie clothes for about a month after coming home, then wore newborn clothes for another month or two. She didn't start wearing 0–3 month clothes until she was around four months old.
Now at six months, she can still wear some 0–3 month clothes. My two babies had completely different clothing timelines, which is why I wouldn't try to plan too far ahead.
What Should a Newborn Actually Wear?
For us, the answer was almost always a footed sleeper.
I love long-sleeve, footed sleepers with double zippers because they're comfortable, easy to change, and babies can sleep in them. Instead of putting together separate shirts, pants, and socks every day, you can zip them into one thing and be done.
Even living in Southern California, my newborns wore long-sleeve sleepers a lot because we have air conditioning. If it's 90 degrees outside and you're spending time in the heat, obviously a short-sleeve bodysuit may make more sense.
You don't need an elaborate newborn wardrobe. They're sleeping, eating, and being held most of the day. Practical wins. Clothes are only one part of what you'll need during those first few months. Here's my full list of newborn essentials for the first 3 months.
Are Expensive Baby Pajamas Worth It?
You absolutely do not need expensive baby pajamas. There are plenty of affordable double-zip sleepers that do exactly what you need them to do. That said, I personally love Magnetic Me.
The magnetic closures are incredibly convenient during diaper changes, and I've found the quality good enough that the pajamas can be saved for another baby or passed along afterward. After seeing how useful the preemie version was during my daughter's NICU stay, I appreciated them even more.
I think they're worth the money if they're within your budget, but they're definitely a nice-to-have rather than a necessity.
Do You Need Cute Newborn Outfits?
Not really. This is one area where I would save your money. Tiny newborn outfits are adorable, but in my experience, you're going to reach for the sleeper over and over again.
I'd rather have five great sleepers that can survive constant washing than a drawer full of tiny outfits that get worn once. There will be plenty of time for cute clothes later. Around six months and beyond, when babies are sturdier, awake for longer stretches, and doing more, I find the outfits much more fun.
Should You Buy Baby Clothes in Larger Sizes Before Birth?
I wouldn't stock up. There's nothing wrong with having a few 3–6 or 6–9 month pieces, especially if you receive them as gifts. But I wouldn't buy an entire wardrobe in those sizes before your baby arrives.
One reason is growth. Babies don't necessarily move into the size printed on the tag when they reach that age. A six-month-old isn't automatically wearing 6–9 month clothing. The other issue is seasonality.
You could buy adorable sweaters in a larger size assuming your baby will fit into them during winter, only to find that they reach that size when it's warm outside. It's much easier to buy clothes as you go once you have a better idea of your baby's growth.
What Sizes Should You Put on Your Baby Registry?
I wouldn't dedicate a huge portion of your registry to clothes because people tend to give baby clothes as gifts anyway. Clothes are one of those categories where I'd keep things simple and prioritize your baby registry must-haves over the nice-to-haves.
If you do want to register for clothing, I'd focus on a small newborn starter collection and practical 0–3 month pieces. You can also add a few larger sizes so people have options, but I wouldn't try to build a complete wardrobe through the registry.
I'd much rather use registry space for the baby gear and everyday essentials you'll need from the beginning. If you're building yours now, here's exactly what I recommend putting on a baby registry after creating one for my first baby.
Should You Wash Baby Clothes Before Birth?
I wash the clothes I know my baby is going to wear before putting them on. Before birth, I'd wash the newborn and 0–3 month sleepers and onesies that you expect to use right away. That way, they're clean, folded, and ready when you come home from the hospital.
For cute outfits and larger sizes, I'd leave the tags on until you're closer to actually using them. You may realize the size doesn't line up with the season, or your baby may grow differently than you expected. You can always wash those pieces when you're ready to use them.
Baby Clothing Sizes Aren't an Exact Science
One of the biggest things I've learned is that the age printed on a baby clothing tag is a guideline, not a schedule. Your three-month-old might still fit into newborn clothes. Your six-month-old might wear 0–3 months. Another baby might move into 3–6 months much earlier.
Brand and material matter too. Stretchier clothing can sometimes fit for much longer than a more structured outfit in the exact same labeled size. Instead of worrying about what size your baby "should" be wearing, pay attention to how the clothes actually fit.
My Biggest Advice: Don't Overbuy Before Your Baby Is Born
It's tempting to prepare for every possibility before your baby arrives. I understand it. You're nesting, you're excited, and baby clothes are very easy to keep adding to your cart. But this is one area where I think less is more.
Have enough newborn and 0–3 month sleepers to get you through those early days without doing laundry constantly. Have a few short-sleeve bodysuits. Then stop.
Once your baby is here, you'll quickly learn how they grow, what brands fit them best, what types of clothes you actually reach for, and what size you need next.
You can always buy more clothes. It's much harder to find a use for an adorable unworn outfit your baby outgrew before the weather was ever right for it.
FAQs
How many newborn clothes should I buy before birth?
I would start with about 3–6 newborn footed sleepers. Some babies wear newborn clothes for several weeks, while others move through the size quickly, so I wouldn't buy a huge newborn wardrobe before birth.
How many 0–3 month clothes should I buy?
I'd have around 5–7 practical 0–3 month sleepers ready. I would stock slightly more heavily in 0–3 months than newborn because there's a good chance you'll get more use out of them.
Can a newborn wear 0–3 month clothes?
It depends on your baby's size and the brand. Some newborns can wear 0–3 months immediately, but the clothes may be quite roomy on a smaller baby. Having at least a few newborn-size pieces ready is helpful.
Should I buy preemie clothes before birth?
Unless you know there's a reason your baby may arrive early or be particularly small, I wouldn't stock up on preemie clothes just in case. My daughter unexpectedly arrived seven weeks early, and our family sent preemie clothes after she was born. We were able to get what we needed once we knew we needed it.
What size baby clothes should I bring to the hospital?
I'd bring newborn and 0–3 month options for a full-term baby so you have some flexibility depending on your baby's size. If you know your baby is expected to be particularly small or arrive prematurely, ask your care team whether bringing preemie clothing makes sense.
Are footed sleepers enough for a newborn?
They were the foundation of my newborn wardrobe. My babies lived in long-sleeve footed sleepers because they're comfortable, easy for diaper changes, and can be worn for both daytime and sleep. I would also have a few short-sleeve onesies available for warm weather.
When should I buy 3–6 month baby clothes?
I would wait until your baby is getting closer to needing them. You'll have a much better idea of their growth pattern and what season they'll be in when the size actually fits.
