Newborn Baby Clothes Checklist: What You Actually Need
Newborn shopping lists have a habit of getting very long and very expensive. The truth is that a new baby needs far less than the shops would like you to believe. This checklist covers what you actually need, and how many of each.
Buy from this list and you will be well prepared without a drawer full of clothes your baby never wears. Sizes and quantities are a guide, so adjust for your baby and your weather.
The newborn clothing checklist
Here is a sensible starting wardrobe for the first couple of months. It assumes you will do washing every two or three days.
| Item | How many | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Zip suits (long sleeve) | 5 to 7 | The everyday and sleep workhorse, warm and easy to change |
| Short sleeve rompers | 4 to 6 | For warm days and layering |
| Bodysuits / singlets | 5 to 7 | Base layer under other clothes |
| Swaddles or sleep bags | 2 to 3 | For safe, settled sleep |
| Hats (soft, seasonal) | 1 to 2 | To keep a small head warm outdoors |
| Socks or booties | 3 pairs | For cooler days, if suits do not cover feet |
| A warm layer (jacket or cardigan) | 1 to 2 | For going out in cool weather |
Why these numbers work
Newborns go through more outfits than you expect thanks to spills, leaks and the occasional nappy surprise, so you want enough to get through a couple of days between washes. But they also grow quickly, so buying twenty of anything in newborn size is money you will not get back. Five to seven of the pieces worn most, and fewer of the extras, is the balance that keeps you covered without waste.
What sizes to buy
Do not buy only newborn size. Many babies grow out of 0000 within a fortnight, and some arrive too big for it. A safer split is a few pieces in 0000 and more in 000, then a few 00 ready for the growth spurt that always comes. Our Australian baby clothes sizing guide shows exactly what each size fits by weight and height.
What you can skip at first
Plenty of adorable items look essential and are not, at least not in the newborn stage:
- Shoes. A newborn does not need them. Soft socks or footed suits keep feet warm.
- Jeans and stiff outfits. Anything with hard waistbands or lots of fastenings makes changes harder and is rarely comfortable for lying down all day.
- Special occasion outfits. One is lovely to have, but babies grow so fast that a wardrobe of them goes unworn.
- Scratchy knits and anything over the head. Front opening and soft wins every time in these weeks.
Dressing for sleep
A big share of a newborn's day is sleep, so sleepwear matters. The aim is comfortable and the right warmth, without loose blankets in the cot. A zip suit paired with a swaddle or sleep bag suited to the room temperature is a simple, safe setup. Our guide on how to dress your baby for sleep walks through this in detail.
Fabric matters more than quantity
If you take one thing from this list, let it be quality over quantity for the pieces worn against the skin all day. Soft organic cotton breathes, is gentle on newborn skin and lasts through constant washing. A smaller number of well made suits and rompers will serve you better, and hand down to a second child better, than a large pile of cheaper pieces that wear out fast.
A quick packing note for the hospital
For the hospital bag, you need only a little: two or three zip suits, a couple of bodysuits, a hat and a going home outfit, plus swaddles if your hospital allows your own. Keep the rest at home. You will not need a full wardrobe in the ward, and simple front opening pieces are easiest while you and your baby are finding your feet.
Frequently asked questions
What clothes does a newborn actually need?
A workable starter set is five to seven long sleeve zip suits, four to six short sleeve rompers, five to seven bodysuits, two or three swaddles or sleep bags, a hat, some socks and one warm layer. Adjust for your weather and how often you wash.
How many newborn outfits should I buy?
Enough to cover two or three days between washes, so around five to seven of the pieces worn most. Avoid buying many of one size, since babies outgrow newborn clothes quickly.
What size newborn clothes should I get?
Buy a few in 0000 and more in 000, plus a few 00 ready for growth. Many babies grow out of newborn size fast and some are born too big for it, so spreading sizes avoids waste.
What newborn clothes can I skip?
Shoes, stiff outfits with hard waistbands, lots of special occasion clothes and anything scratchy or pulled over the head. Soft, front opening pieces are far more practical in the early weeks.
