The best baby clothes for newborns to add to your shopping list

Baby clothes for newborns

by Adejumoke Ilori |
Updated on

There is nothing more exciting than filling those nursery drawers with the cutest little baby grows. But it can be hard trying to find affordable, hard-wearing baby clothes for a newborn, and there's always the question of how many do you actually need?

When preparing for the arrival of a newborn, many parents find themselves worrying about choosing the right clothes for their baby. With countless options available, from sizes and materials to styles and functionality, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Parents often worry about whether the clothes will be soft enough for sensitive skin, warm enough for varying temperatures, and practical enough for frequent changes. These concerns are natural, as the right clothing plays a crucial role in ensuring a newborn’s comfort, safety, and overall well-being

To help make your nesting stress-free, we've done the searching and handpicked the best baby clothes for newborns...

What baby clothes do I need to buy for my newborn?

As adorable as those baby Converses might seem, you probably won't be putting your newborn in them for the first few weeks. Instead, stock up on these:

Babygros or bodysuits - You can never have too many of these. However, it all depends on how often you want to be washing. It's good to get a mix of long sleeves and shorts too, depending on the weather. Check out these coming home outfits.

Sleepsuits - Make sure when choosing sleepsuits that you look for popper fastenings. These will make changing your baby easier, especially during the night.

Blanket or sleeping bag - It's always good to have spare of these for any nighttime accidents. Whether you're choosing to swaddle or to use a sleeping bag make sure you're stocked up on at least three!

A hat - Buying a couple of hats for your newborn is a good idea. You won't need them in the house but they are ideal for even that short walk to the car.

Scratch mitts and socks - You won't need too many of these, so just add a couple of pairs to your shopping list.

Pramsuit- Depending on the season, you might need to get a warm, snuggly onesie for your baby when you go out.

The best baby clothes for newborns

Best short-sleeve bodysuits

You will need plenty of bodysuits for sunny days or for layering up your newborn! This pack of five from M&S is perfect to pop away in your nursery drawers. It's made of pure cotton and has been designed with flat seams to be kind on baby's sensitive skin. We love the mix of playful designs but you can also find other designs from M&S including cute whale motifs and safari prints.

Pros

  • Sizes available: Tiny, 0M, 1M, 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-9M, 9-12M, 12-18M, 18-24M, and 2-3Y
  • Popper fastening
  • 5 pack
  • Added Stretch

Cons

  • Do not dry clean

Best sleepsuits

These adorable sleepsuits feature the popper fasteners we recommend buying for a quick and easy nappy change in the night. Made of pure cotton, they're super soft and durable to survive wash after wash - essential for little nighttime accidents. It comes in a trio of pink shades to add a bit of character to the sleepsuits, with one review saying: "I'm so impressed with these sleepsuits - lovely shades of pink, comfortable ribbing, a good size and the double zips are so practical for nappy changes and, in my daughter's case, access for medical monitoring. Excellent quality and the value for money is fantastic."

Pros

  • Sizes available: Newborn, 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-9M, 9-12M, 12-18M, and 18-24M
  • Made from soft and breathable cotton 
  • Subtle ribbed texture

Cons

  • One review said the fabric is a little thin

Best socks

These soft, fine-knit, neutral little socks will be ideal for keeping those little feet cosy! They have a fold-down shaft and anti-slip protectors - while this feature might not be necessary for a newborn, it'll come in useful for babies as they learn to crawl and walk, with one new mum saying: "I found it difficult to find a fitted pair of socks for my little girl who’s just turned 1 year old. These have been the only ones that stay on her feet. Also, the grips are amazing. No accidents as of yet.". Loved by parents, you can choose from a range of colours with more shades of neutral available, pastel pinks, pastel blues, and plain white packs.

Pros

  • Sizes available: 0, 0.5-2, 3-4.5, 5.5-7, and 7.5-9
  • Anti-slip protectors
  • Soft and versatile natural fibre harvested from the cotton plant

Cons

  • Not ideal if you prefer brighter colours

Best sleeping bag

This clever invention from Tommee Tippee makes swaddling your baby simple. It's extremely easy to use with no folding needed and a long zip that opens from the bottom for easy nappy changes. The soft fabric also helps mimic the closeness of the womb and suppresses the startle reflex, which can wake babies up, meaning newborns (and mums and dads) can enjoy more sleep**.** "Love this product! Wish I'd bought it with my first baby. He has lots of room to wiggle his hips and legs, plenty of room around the neck, it just keeps his little arms all snug to his body which he seems to like. Highly recommend." said one mum.

Pros

  • No complicated fastenings or wrapping
  • Made with cosy, bamboo rich fabric
  • Cotton blend infused with naturally soothing Aloe Vera 
  • Come in two sizes: 0-3 months (7-13lbs 8oz/3.2-6.1kg and up to 62cm in height) and 3-6 months (from 13lbs 8oz – 18lbs/6.1-8.2kg and 62-68cm in height) 

Cons

  • Hand wash only

Whilst most newborn sleepsuits will come with fold-over cuffs, bodies often don’t. Stock up on these pure cotton, super soft bear hats, designed to stay put on even the wriggliest of babies. With their sweet little bear ears, these cotton-rich hats have a super-cute look. They come in a pack of three, all made with added stretch in the lining for a snug fit. One of the hats feature an all-over bear print, while the others come in matching block colours, to match any outifit.

Pros

  • Sizes available: 1 month, 0 - 6 months, 6 - 12 months
  • Added Stretch
  • A pack of three hats

Cons

  • Can not be dry cleaned

Best wrapover bodysuits

This cute pack of bodysuits are suitable for both boys and girls and are available in a number of different sizes. With popper fastenings for easy changing, these soft organic cotton jersey bodysuits are a great addition to your newborn’s wardrobe and also add a pop of colour most mums, were happy with its button designs, with one saying: "I love these bodysuits and they’re the only ones I buy for my baby. The wrap over design is so convenient, and I feel like they fit for a long time. I also like that it has 3 buttons on the crotch to properly cover the nappy and not slide to one side, like the 2 button designs."

Pros

  • Sizes available: <0-1M, 0-1M, 1-2M, 2-4M, 4-6M, and 6-9M
  • Long-sleeved bodysuits in supersoft cotton jersey
  • Faetures press-studs down one side and at the crotch

Cons

  • Line dry only

Best baby clothing gift set

In a gorgeous Buzzy Bee print, this sweet set contains a long-sleeved babygrow, coordinating short-sleeved body, and knotted hat which is presented in a handy drawstring bag. Made from super soft organic cotton, making it ideal for delicate new baby skin, it also has a printed back label for extra comfort. Bought as a gift, one buyer said: "I've brought a few of these now as new baby gift sets, the pattern is cute and gender neutral, the quality is lovely. They've been well received". The long-sleeved babygrow is fully poppered for stress-free dressing, with one handy brass coloured popper to help new parents spot where to pop first.

Pros

  • Sizes available: Newborn and 6-12M
  •  Made from 100% Organic Cotton Interlock
  • Super-soft next to delicate new baby skin
  • Designed to fit over cloth nappies

Cons

  • Bag warning: not suitable for children under 36 months due to long cords

Best summer sleepuit

Perfect for summer babes, this Mori sleepsuit is made from a breathable bamboo and organic cotton blend to keep your youngster comfortable at night. Happy with the softness, one reviewer said: "Very soft and very easy to change diapers at night I will always buy for every age.". It also comes with a zip on the front makes dressing and changing quick and simple. Also available in a bunch of different gender-neutral colours.

Pros

  • Sizes available: 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-9M, 9-12M, 12-18M, and 18-24M
  • Made from our ribbed fabric: 67% bamboo, 28% organic cotton, and 5% elastane
  • Safety tab on zipper

Cons

  • Not ideal if you prefer long-sleeve trousers

Best puffer pramsuit

An excellent choice for keeping babies warm and comfortable, especially during colder weather. This prasm suit is designed to provide full-body coverage, keeping the baby warm from head to toe, and made made with 100% polyester, lining 100% polyester, and wadding 100% recycled polyester, which help trap heat and keep your baby cozy. The all-in-one style is super easy to put on and looks cute on little ones, with the waterproof fabric and taped seams, protecting your bubba from the rain and wind.

Pros

  • Double front zip openings and fully taped seams
  • Elasticated wrists and ankles
  • Mittens with popper fastenings to attach to sleeves

Cons

  • Machine wash only

Best newborn scratch mitts

Baby scratch mitts are a small but essential item for newborns and infants. Newborns often have sharp fingernails and limited control over their movements, which can lead to accidental scratching of their delicate skin, particularly on the face. Scratch mitts help prevent these self-inflicted scratches. And, these cute blue and white mitts, will have your newborn feeling more snug and less likely to be disturbed by their own movements.

Pros

  • 3 x Mittens Main
  • 100% Cotton

Cons

  • No reviews yet

Best wrapover baby bodysuit

Set in soft cotton jersey designed to grow with your baby. Long-sleeved, wrapover bodysuit with press-studs at the sides and two rows of press-studs at the crotch for an adjustable length. Extra-long trims at the cuffs that can be folded down as your baby grows, and gathered seams around the legs for a more comfortable and snug fit around the nappy. Trousers with a wide, foldover panel at the waist and extra-long cuffs at the hems. Hat with a turn-up at the hem.

Pros

  • Sizes available: 0-1 month, 1-2 month, 2-4 month, 4-6month, 6-9 month
  • Wrapover style
  •  Press-studs at the sides and two rows of press-studs at the crotch

Cons

  • No dry clean

Yellow Duck Print Cotton Baby HatJoJo Maman Bébé

An outfit isn't complete without accessories, and this adorable duck-themed hat is the perfect way to finish off your newborn's look. The knotted top is super cute and the brim can be turned over to adjust the fit too.

Pros

  • Made from 100% cotton so it's soft and breathable
  • Hat is fully lined
  • Machine washable

Cons

  • Limited size range, only for up to 3-6 months
Sizes available: 0-3mths, 3-6mths
Material:100% Cotton
  • Turn back brim
  • Supersoft touch cotton
  • Knotted top
  • Fully lined in soft cotton

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Remember, newborn clothes are essential for ensuring a baby’s comfort, safety, and well-being during the early stages of life.

They provide the warmth needed to regulate a newborn's body temperature, protect delicate skin, and offer ease of dressing with practical designs. Additionally, newborn clothes are often made from soft, hypoallergenic materials, ensuring that the baby is comfortable and protected from potential irritants.

With their thoughtful design, newborn clothes cater to the specific needs of a baby's first few months, making them an indispensable part of a newborn's care.

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