The Best Newborn Clothes to Stock Up on, According to Parents
Buying newborn clothes is one of the most exciting parts of preparing for a new baby. The miniature socks, hats, and bodysuits are so small they almost seem too cute to be real. But it can also feel overwhelming to start a wardrobe from scratch. How many onesies do you really need? What about socks? And how can you figure out sizing? It’s important to point out that there’s no perfect science here. I stocked up on a bunch of newborn clothes before welcoming my first child, only to need to buy new gear when my little one was too tiny for his onesies. But I’ve done the newborn thing three more times since then, with babies of various sizes, and I’ve picked up a few hacks along the way to get the most out of newborn baby clothes.
In general, it’s best to look for newborn clothes made from soft, breathable fabrics, like cotton, bamboo blends, or light merino wool, says Erica Manto Paulson, certified doula and childbirth educator based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Plan to dress baby in one more layer than you’d wear in the same environment, and try to size clothes so that your child will have room to move, but not so much that they’re swimming in their gear. “Choose simple clothing without loose accessories or decorative elements that could come off,” Paulson advises. You’ll also want to look for features that allow for easy access to the diaper area, like two-way zippers, snaps at the bottom of bodysuits, or gowns with elastic bottoms.
Even armed with this knowledge though, it can be tricky to figure out exactly what you’ll need in the clothing department those first few months. To make this process easier, we put together this guide to help you navigate the world of newborn clothing.
Here’s how we helped narrow down the list:
- We surveyed almost 350 parents about their favorite newborn clothing brands, styles, and features to consider.
- We looked at the experiences of real parents in The Bump community forums, and included some of their thoughts below.
- We interviewed three experts and asked them what types of newborn clothing are essential to have on hand.
- We leveraged our familiarity with leading baby clothes brands that parents (including our editors) have relied on over the years.
- We consulted guidelines from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to ensure all the baby clothing we recommend is safe for newborns.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read more about how The Bump develops our product reviews.
Newborn bodysuit
When stocking up for baby, one absolute essential is the classic baby bodysuit—aka the onesie. These essential basics form the backbone of your newborn’s wardrobe, but with so many styles and brands to choose from, finding the right ones can feel overwhelming. As Lauren Gregor, founder and CEO of Rent-a-Romper notes, “There are so many styles, so it can be confusing to know what you need.” She recommends trying a variety of bodysuit styles—sleeveless, long-sleeved, crewneck and even magnetic closures—to see which one works best for your baby.
Once you’ve found your preferred style, it’s time to stock up; we suggest having at least four to eight bodysuits on hand—although from my experience as a mama of four, I made sure to have at least 10. (If baby has multiple blowouts and spit-ups a day, you don’t want to be caught off-guard.) Sizing can vary across brands, and if you have a little one who spits up a lot, you'll want plenty of extras while the others are in the wash. McCann agrees: “You can never have enough bodysuits!” She adds that they’re great for layering during colder months and can be worn on their own during hot weather.
For parents looking to stock up at low cost, this baby bodysuit multipack from Carter’s is affordable and adorable. I relied on Carter’s for all four of my children. They’re soft and cozy, with nickel-free fasteners at the crotch that are easy to undo one-handed during diaper changes. They’re also durable enough to pass on to future siblings. Christine, a Bump survey respondent and mom of one, tells us that she appreciates the sizing, too. “Carter's baby clothes are quality baby clothes that always seem to fit the weight/height range that is described on the tag,” she says. “Depending on how you want to dress your baby, there are always so many style and color options.” I appreciate that these bodysuits go up to 24 months, which allowed me to just pick up a larger size in the same style when my kids started to grow out of them.
When it comes to onesies, Carter’s is a favorite brand of Daniel C., dad of one and associate director of e-commerce content for The Bump, who told us, “When my daughter was born, we loaded up on basics from Carter’s. They’re quality clothes at an affordable price, so you can really build the wardrobe you need.” And parents in our survey agreed—Carter’s was the preferred newborn clothing brand of more than a third of our respondents.
Size range: Preemie to 24 months | Material: 60% cotton/40% polyester | Care instructions: Machine wash
Our community says:
I like that Carter's newborn clothing is soft, durable, and is easy to take on and off, and change diapers. – Lindsey, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Love the softness and easy access to diaper for changes. – Paula*, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Newborn wrap shirt
Wrap shirts—also known as kimono tops—are another essential newborn clothing item identified by the experts. “Wrap shirts are popular with newborns because you don’t need to pull them over the baby’s head and they do not have any irritating buttons, zippers, seams or snaps near your newborn’s stomach or umbilical cord stump,” explains Gregor. “Once their belly has healed, you can switch to another style.” Our favorite pick is the Monica + Andy Hello Baby Top—these adorable little wrap shirts are made of organic, breathable cotton that's gentle on baby’s skin. The cross-body snaps allow for a snug but not too-tight fit against your little one’s healing belly button, and fold-over mitts protect delicate newborn skin from accidental scratching. This adorable little basic is a perfect outfit builder and makes dressing and undressing super convenient.
Want to make this kimono top extra special for baby’s arrival? The brand offers custom embroidery, making it a thoughtful gift or a unique way to announce your baby’s name to the world once they’re here. I used several kimono tops with my babies, but found that Monica + Andy had thicker fabric and a more high-quality construction compared to the competition. As a result, I was able to hand a few of these down to younger siblings. Just be aware that you may need to size up if your baby is long. One of my children was teeny but had an elongated torso—the first size I tried left his belly hanging out. The next size up was perfect.
Available in eight solid colors and two prints, these are a staple for those early weeks. As forum member ckred27 says, “the first chunk of weeks the kiddo needs like 5-10 diaper changes a day… the kimono shirts with a diaper and swaddle are just easier for all those extra changing sessions.” Pick up a few of these, but don’t go overboard, as baby will outgrow them quickly.
Size range: Preemie to 3-6 months | Material: Cotton | Care instructions: Machine wash, tumble dry low
Newborn beanie
Baby beanies have long been considered an essential item in a newborn’s wardrobe. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now advises against infants wearing hats indoors after leaving the hospital, as this can lead to overheating. That said, newborn beanies still play a vital role in your baby’s outdoor clothing. "Depending on the climate where you live, beanies can help your baby regulate their temperature during those first few weeks of life," explains Gregor.
When it comes to baby beanies, you want to have three or four on hand according to Katie McCann, a mom of two, breastfeeding counselor and former paramedic. "As a medical professional, I know that newborns lose heat rapidly through their heads. Hats are crucial in the first few months for temperature regulation." She also cautions against hats with ties under the chin, as they can pose a choking hazard for newborns.
Our team loves Carter’s Little Planet 2-Pack Organic Cotton Rib Caps. Made of ultra-soft organic cotton in sweet neutral colors, these double-layered beanies are thoughtfully designed without seams, ensuring the utmost of comfort. Three of my babies were born in the wintertime, and all of them were bald for months, making these soft beanies excellent for keeping them cozy. They’re also thick enough to use outdoors, per AAP guidelines, and provide four-way stretch, meaning they’ll expand to fit your growing child. That’s handy when you want to keep baby cozy while you’re only briefly outside, like when you’re headed to the car or grabbing the mail. They’re roomy enough to grow with your baby’s head, but not so large that they’ll droop down over baby’s eyes. The stretchiness and muted tones mean you can get plenty of use out of each pair, too.
Size range: 0-3 months to 3-9 months | Materials: 95% organic cotton/5% spandex | Care instructions: Machine wash
Our community says:
I love Carter’s for style, accessibility, and price. – Kaitlin, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
I like that it's a long standing and trusted brand for babies. The quality of the clothes is nice and durable and soft. They seem to last outside of the sizes too. – Kristina, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Newborn romper
Baby rompers are a practical and adorable clothing option that combines both top and bottom, typically featuring snaps at the crotch for quick and easy diaper changes. This single garment simplifies dressing by eliminating the need for separate pieces, making them especially convenient for dressing a wriggly baby. Gregor calls rompers an everyday staple for new babies. “They offer the one-and-done benefit to parents of not having to match pieces, and they come with a variety of closures to make dressing your baby easier (zippers, snaps, and even magnetic closures),” she explains.
Primary’s Baby Sweatshort Shortie is made from jersey fabric for a lived-in feel that’s soft against your little one’s skin. Each of these rompers comes in a different bold shade, making it easy to match your child’s outfit with their socks and beanie (if you go that route). Snaps at the neck and bottom make it easy to get baby in and out, along with providing quick access for diaper changes.
The romper’s fabric is thick enough to keep baby warm, but still breathable enough to feel cool on warmer days. The overall design is also simple but adorable, with a kangaroo pocket in front for baby, just like a cozy sweatshirt. Primary thoughtfully pre-washed their rompers to lower the risk of shrinkage. Something else to consider: The monochromatic palette looks chic and slightly dressy, making for a versatile all-in-one outfit.
Size range: 0-3 months to 18-24 months | Materials: 100% cotton French terry | Care instructions: Unspecified
Our community says:
I love the durability and ease-of-use for Primary clothes. They seem like they will last a long time and come in gender-neutral colors, so I was able to keep the clothes from my baby and save them in case I have more kids. I’m really glad a friend told me about Primary and I will definitely keep buying their clothes as my little one grows up! —Katie, The Bump survey respondent and mom of one.
Newborn leggings
Soft, stretchy leggings are a must-have for layering over bodysuits or under dresses. When shopping for newborn leggings, choosing fabrics like cotton that are gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin is crucial. Gregor advises considering how stretchy the fabric is and whether the leggings have feet included—feet eliminate the need for socks, but might not work for taller newborns. She also cautions, “you want to make sure any elastic at the belly is not pressing too hard on your baby’s tummy during those first days, as their belly is healing from the umbilical cord.”
Target brand Cloud Island delivers affordable, high-quality, and stylish baby clothes, and this leggings three-pack from the line is no exception. These leggings are made from 100% cotton and are Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX certified to be safe for baby’s health. “Cloud Island is a great clothing line for kids. It is super affordable and easy to get on and off the baby,” says Samantha, a Bump survey respondent and mom of one.
These leggings have wide ribbing at the ankle to seal in warmth and keep them from riding up. But that cuff is also handy for rolling up in case baby still has room to grow. The elastic waistband keeps these pants up, but isn’t so tight that it will dig into baby’s belly. And with a variety of neutral shades, you can easily mix and match these with your go-to onesies.
Size range: Newborn to 24 months | Material: 100% cotton | Care instructions: Machine wash
Our community says:
I like that the clothing is affordable. I also like that the clothes were cute and practical. – Jamie, The Bump survey respondent and mom of one
They're affordable and come in cute, gender-neutral styles. They're easy to machine wash and dry. And they are Oeko-Tek certified. – Sarah*, The Bump survey respondent and mom of one
Newborn sleeper
When it comes to versatility, the newborn sleeper, often called a "sleep and play," is an absolute wardrobe essential. This all-in-one outfit, usually made from soft cotton or fleece, keeps newborns warm and cozy as they snooze. But sleepers aren’t just for bedtime; they’re perfect for tummy time, lounging at home, or even outings. Most sleepers have long sleeves and cover baby’s feet, ensuring your little one stays snug wherever they are. Gregor recommends looking for brands that include hand covers to prevent babies from scratching themselves with their surprisingly sharp nails. “Look for brands that include hand covers to keep your baby from scratching themselves,” she advises.
In keeping with Gregor’s advice, Hanna Andersson’s HannaSoft Stretch Sleeper comes with foldover mittens on each sleeve (up to size 6 months), helping to prevent injury during the early weeks when babies tend to scratch themselves accidentally. This sleeper is made with a modal and spandex blend for a soft, stretchy feel baby will happily lounge all day in. The one-piece outfit has thoughtful features, like a two-way zipper from the neck to the ankle cuff to make diaper changes a breeze. It’s also prewashed to lower the risk it’ll shrink when you wash it. This sleeper admittedly isn’t the cheapest you’ll find, but its high quality and durable construction ensures you’ll be able to pass it down to a younger sibling or two.
Size range: Newborn to 2 years | Material: 95% tencel/5% spandex | Care instructions: Machine wash gentle and inside-out, lay flat to dry
Newborn sleeper gown
Knot gowns are another popular option for newborn sleepwear. Functional yet cute, sleep gowns are one-piece garments that are either open or can be tied in a knot at the bottom. “Even easier than the one-piece rompers, sleeper gowns allow for very quick changing and particularly great for those middle-of-the night, half-awake diaper changes,” Gregor says. We love aden + anais Snuggle Knit Knotted Newborn Baby Gown & Hat Set. This incredibly supple and stretchy material is perfect for a newborn.
I used this set with my fourth baby, and it was one of those baby items I wish I’d discovered sooner. The tie bottom makes diaper changing simple, and the gown is easy to adjust as baby grows. The matching hat makes these a perfect gender-neutral and size-neutral giftable set, too.
Not only are gowns, particularly the aden + anais set, adorable, but the convenience is incomparable. Mom of one Rebecca T. agrees; “Gowns are a must!! These make it so easy to do changes and easy to put on! Also, NO snaps!! We only do gowns or zippers, snaps take too long when the baby gets fussy!” The only thing to keep in mind is that knotted gowns aren’t the best choice for take-me-home outfits, as you’d need to untie the bottom to properly position the car seat buckle between the baby’s legs.
Size range: 0-3 months | Material: 74% viscose/21% polyester/5% spandex | Care instructions: Machine washable
Our community says:
Soft and smooth material, wet lightweight, easy to clean and beautiful colors and patterns. – Meghan, mom of one and The Bump survey respondent
Newborn socks
Just a heads up: You will need more baby socks than you think. Baby socks get lost easily, so you’ll need to have extras on standby. (I quickly learned that I needed to keep at least one pair of spares in my diaper bag in case a sock or two got kicked off on the go.) “Tiny baby socks get lost easily, so have at least five to seven pairs on standby,” says McCann. And our favorites are Burt’s Bees Solid Organic Cotton Baby Ankle Socks. Made primarily of organic cotton, these socks provide warmth but are naturally breathable, which helps keep your baby's feet warm and comfortable without overheating, while the gentle ankle rib band ensures they stay in place without being too tight on baby’s delicate skin. I fell in love with this six-pack after originally buying busy patterned baby socks. These come in neutral shades and match everything, making it easy to grab a pair from baby’s drawer and move on without thinking twice. These socks are even durable and high-quality enough to become hand me downs. Cassandra, a Bump survey respondent and a mom of one, loves Burt’s Bees' quality, as well. The Bump survey respondent says, “Burt’s Bees is soft on my baby’s skin. It is easy to take on and off and does not get ruined in the wash.”
Size range: 0-3 months to 4-5 Toddler | Material: 72% organic cotton/26% recycled polyester/2% spandex | Care instructions: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle
Our community says:
Soft fabric, cute designs, colorful. – Teresita, mom of two and The Bump survey respondent
*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.
When you go out on your first newborn clothing shopping trip, you’ll realize there are multiple sizing options—clothes can come in either 0-3 months, or the slightly smaller “NB” or newborn size. Some brands also offer preemie sizes for the littlest babies.
So do you really need clothes in newborn sizes? Well, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. I’ve had newborns fit into 0-3 month clothing perfectly, while another required preemie gear, even though he arrived on time. Keep in mind that your child will eventually require larger clothes, so you’ll want to have some in that 0-3 month range just in case your baby is on the bigger side. (If you’re having regular ultrasounds, you can also ask your healthcare provider about the size of your child to try to get a ballpark on what size clothes they’ll fit into, although this isn’t a perfect science.)
Ultimately, we looked to the parents in The Bump’s community for their experiences, and found that it really comes down to your baby.
I have a handful of newborn outfits, mostly just onesies and PJs. It depends on how big your baby is, mine are all about 9 lbs. but have a big range in length. – yellingbanana, The Bump forum member
My [baby] fit into newborn for 6 weeks after she was born. She was born just before 40 weeks at 7 lbs., 1 oz. She was a pretty average size… I was not prepared to have to put her in newborn size! – BekW2009, The Bump forum member
It all depends on the size of your baby, [mine] was only 6 pounds and wore newborn for 3 months. We have a TON leftover that we'll reuse this time. But I have friends whose kids wore newborn for a week or two. – RootBeer29, The Bump forum member
I only have one actual newborn-sized outfit. Then about half a dozen onesies and PJs. I've been told to not waste money on actual newborn size because a big baby may not wear it at all. – Schell2013, The Bump forum member
[My baby] was 7 lbs., 8 oz. at birth but dropped down to 6 lbs., 10 oz. She was in NB for 6 to 8 weeks. We went out shopping when she was 5 days old because I had no NB clothes. – jesselayne8, The Bump forum member
About the writer:
Korin Miller is a writer who’s penned dozens of health and shopping features for The Bump. She specializes in commerce, wellness and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, AOL, SELF and more. Korin is a mom to four kids, ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old, so she’s done more than her share of newborn clothes shopping. She has a master’s degree from American University and lives by the beach.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Erica Manto Paulson is a certified doula, childbirth educator and founder of Nurture, a doula and ultrasound service based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Lauren Gregor is a mom of two and founder and CEO at Rent-a-Romper, a rental clothing subscription service.
Katie McCann is a mom of two, a former paramedic, breastfeeding counselor and founder of parenting blog From Bump to Bubble.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Evidence Base for 2022 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment to Reduce the Risk of Sleep-Related Infant Deaths, July 2022
The Bump March 2024 Survey. Editors conducted a survey of almost 350 parents from among The Bump community. We asked about their favorite newborn clothes brands, as well as what they liked and did not like about those brands.
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