What No One Tells You About Baby Clothes: A Mum of Three Shares Her Experience

Before I had my first baby, I spent hours buying clothes. Tiny outfits, matching sets, little jeans, special occasion outfits and all the cute things that first-time parents get drawn to. I genuinely thought we would use everything.

What nobody told me was that babies grow incredibly quickly and that practicality matters far more than having a wardrobe full of outfits.

Now, after three children, there are so many things I wish someone had told me before I started buying baby clothes.

Babies Grow Out of Clothes Faster Than You Expect

The biggest surprise for me was how quickly babies move through the smaller sizes.

My first baby was 9lb 6oz and only wore newborn clothes for around six weeks. My second baby was smaller at 7lb 6oz and still only spent about ten days in newborn clothing before moving up a size.

When you're pregnant, it is easy to imagine your baby wearing all those tiny outfits for months. The reality is often very different. Many babies move through newborn, 0-3 months and 3-6 months sizes much faster than parents expect.

Looking back, I would have bought far less in the smaller sizes and focused more on having a few good basics.

You Probably Won't Use All Those Cute Outfits

One of my biggest mistakes was buying lots of outfits.

I imagined dressing my babies in little tops, trousers, jumpers and matching sets every day. In reality, we mostly used sleepsuits.

They were comfortable, practical and easy to change. When you are dealing with frequent nappy changes, feeding and very little sleep, the last thing you want is clothing that is difficult to put on.

I would say we didn't really start using proper outfits regularly until somewhere between six and nine months old. Before that, sleepsuits were by far the most useful item we owned.

Vests Are the Real Essential

If there is one item I would recommend buying plenty of, it is vests.

We used them under sleepsuits, under outfits and under rompers during warmer weather. They helped keep the babies comfortable and always seemed to be in the wash.

Across all three of my children, vests and sleepsuits were the items we used most. If I was starting over again, I would spend less money on fancy outfits and more on good quality everyday basics.

Every Baby Is Different

One thing I quickly learned is that every baby is completely different.

My eldest had reflux, which meant we were changing clothes constantly. Some days we would go through six or seven outfit changes before bedtime.

With my other children, it was usually one or two changes a day.

Before becoming a parent, I never imagined how much washing I would be doing. If your baby has reflux or is particularly sicky, practical clothing becomes even more important. Comfortable sleepsuits, vests and plenty of spare bibs quickly become your best friends.

Sleeping Bags Were One of My Best Purchases

Another item that got a lot of use in our house was sleeping bags.

We used them from a very young age with all three children and they became part of our bedtime routine. They helped keep the babies comfortable at night and gave me one less thing to worry about.

Some baby products barely get used, but sleeping bags were definitely worth having for us.

Don't Buy Everything Before Baby Arrives

As a first-time parent, it is easy to feel like you need to have everything ready before your baby is born.

The reality is that family and friends are often very generous. You may receive gifts, hand-me-downs and clothes from relatives that you weren't expecting.

Because of this, I would recommend focusing on the basics before baby arrives rather than filling every drawer. Once your baby is here, you will quickly work out what you actually use and what you don't.

Buy Ahead When You Can

One of the best habits I developed after my first child was buying ahead.

If I found a bargain or spotted something I loved in the next size up, I would buy it and put it away. Children seem to grow overnight and having the next size ready makes life much easier.

Now I almost always have the next size waiting. It saves money, avoids last-minute shopping and means I can take advantage of great preloved finds when I see them.

My Advice for New Parents

If I could give one piece of advice to a first-time parent, it would be to keep things simple.

Buy good quality basics. Focus on vests, sleepsuits and practical everyday clothing. Don't worry about filling wardrobes with lots of outfits because babies often grow out of them before they have a chance to wear them.

Preloved baby clothes can also be a brilliant option. Many items have only been worn a handful of times before being outgrown, which means you can often buy high-quality brands for much less than their original price.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, I definitely overbought with my first child. I thought I needed far more clothes than I actually did.

Three children later, I know that a small collection of comfortable, practical clothing goes much further than a wardrobe full of outfits.

Babies don't care how many clothes they own. What matters is that they are comfortable, and that life is made a little easier for the parents looking after them.