Babies are notoriously messy, and you might need to change their outfits 2-4 times a day just because they spat and got their onesie dirty again. Factor in the outfit needed for their 'outside' time, and you'll quickly come to learn you might need a few outfit changes throughout the day.
Full-term babies born with the average birth weight will typically wear newborn size clothes for anywhere from two to six weeks, but some might need to move up sooner while some might skip the newborn-size clothing altogether.
“Every baby is different, but it's smart for parents to remove the tags and wash a few — not all — newborn clothes before birth. This way, they can be returned if baby quickly jumps to the next size up.” “I recommend having a variety of sizes on hand for your newborn including newborn and 0-3 months.”
Washing baby clothes before use: is it necessary? The short answer to this is yes: it's always best to give new clothes a wash before your little one starts wearing them. Baby clothes can easily pick up dust, dirt, and other irritants between the warehouse and your home.
Do this around 4-6 weeks before the baby is due. This is close enough to the date so that the clothes aren't sitting for months on end collecting dust.
Although the newborn scent eventually fades (usually around six weeks of age) many parents (including this one) are known to take a deep whiff of their child's head (regardless of their age) and savor the unique scent and comfort it provides you.
How often does my newborn need a bath? There's no need to give your newborn baby a bath every day. Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out your baby's skin.
Babies are notoriously messy, and you might need to change their outfits 2-4 times a day just because they spat and got their onesie dirty again. Factor in the outfit needed for their 'outside' time, and you'll quickly come to learn you might need a few outfit changes throughout the day.
We recommend pre-washing muslins on a 30 degree wash with like colours. Never use harsh chemicals or detergents, always check the label first to ensure it's suitable for use on baby clothing. Non-bio detergents are usually a good option. Once washed, dry outside for ultimate freshness.
Their skin can become irritated by certain fabrics and materials quite easily. This also applies to whatever chemicals may have come into contact with your baby's clothes on the way to the store. Put simply, you just can't know where those clothes have been or what they've touched.
(And if they're on the smaller side, odds are they'll only fit into newborn sizes for a few weeks anyway.) Pick a few newborn items and then focus on 0-3 months since those clothes will fit babies up to around 12 or 13 pounds.
Newborn checklist: the essentials
Considering babies go through 1-2 outfit changes a day, it is a good idea to have 4-6 zip front onesies and bodysuits on hand. It is a good idea to have a mix of merino and organic cotton bodysuits, as well as short-sleeved and long-sleeved.
You Can't Spoil a Baby Through Baby Wearing
It's just not possible to spoil an infant by holding them too much, says the AAP. 1 Since baby wearing can reduce crying, that means less stress for everyone.
Some parents bathe their babies daily as part of a bedtime routine or due to regular baby messes, from extra spit-up to diaper blowouts. But for most families, bathing the baby two to three times a week is plenty after the first couple of weeks of life.
When can I start wearing baby? Right from birth! Slings and wraps are ideal for newborns (check the manufacturers weight guidelines) and can be used as baby grows through toddlerhood.
The rule of thumb is the child can stay in the wrap for as long as he and the wearer are happy and comfortable. Some mothers wear their babies for many hours in the day as it's a practical, simple way to look after a baby.
Since your swaddling blanket will be as close to your baby's skin as the clothing you dress them in, keeping your muslin, wool, or fleece swaddle blankets clean, soft, and soothing to sensitive baby skin means washing them in a baby safe detergent.
The general range of washing frequency is anywhere from washing after one use, to washing after an outing or obvious stain, to washing every third day.
We would recommend between 3-5 muslins so you're never running short! It's also handy to keep muslins in the areas you know you'll always need one, such as in your baby changing bag, a pram, in the nursery and one that you can keep to hand around the house.
On top of this your baby's day times clothes will have been gathering germs, dirt and bacteria all day (even if there is nothing visible) so it is essential that they get changed before bed. What is this? This is because they need clean clothes as dirty clothes can make them ill or cause rashes.
place your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot in the same room as you, for the first 6 months. keep your baby's head uncovered – their blanket should be tucked in no higher than their shoulders. if wearing your baby in a sling or carrier, do not cover their head with the sling material or with a muslin.
Dressing babies for bed: the basics
You can add or take away layers as the temperature changes. Babies cool themselves down by releasing heat from their heads and faces. Babies can quickly overheat if they fall asleep wearing hats or beanies. So it's important to keep your baby's head uncovered during sleep.
Too much bathing can decrease babies' natural bacteria count and make them more susceptible to infections and rash, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP advises, however, that it's best to bathe babies at least three times a week.
3. When your baby is asleep. Don't panic that you can't hear your baby for the few minutes that you have a shower. I can assure you, if you left them warm, dry and settled before you jumped in the shower, then they will come to absolutely no harm for the few minutes you take to refresh yourself.
Delayed bathing fits into the Baby-Friendly practices by promoting skin-to-skin contact right from birth and throughout the breastfeeding process. Studies have shown that increasing skin-to-skin contact early after birth decreases the stress on the newborn and starts the bonding process more quickly.