Buying guide
Newborn clothes – sizes and quantities
Size 56 or 62? How many bodysuits you need, which fabrics to choose, how to dress your baby indoors and outdoors, and why not to buy everything for the first month.
In short
- Baby clothes sizes are the child's height in centimetres. A typical newborn wears 56 for a few weeks, then 62.
- Buy half the clothes in size 56 and half in 62. Size 50 only if the scans show a small baby.
- Cotton, poppers at the front or on the shoulder, no zips at the neck and no drawstrings.
- The rule for dressing – one layer more than you are wearing, not three.
Baby clothes are the nicest purchase of the pregnancy and the easiest to overdo. They look wonderful, each one costs little, and they quickly pile up in a drawer of clothes that your child outgrows in six weeks. The list below is deliberately short: it’s enough until you find out how fast your baby grows and what you get from relatives.
Sizes, explained
On baby clothes labels, the size is the child’s height in centimetres. A size 62 bodysuit is for a child up to about 62 cm.
| Size | Approximate height | Approximate age |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | up to 50 cm | premature babies, small newborns |
| 56 | 51–56 cm | first 4–6 weeks |
| 62 | 57–62 cm | 1–3 months |
| 68 | 63–68 cm | 3–6 months |
| 74 | 69–74 cm | 6–9 months |
The ages are only a guide. A child born at 4 kg and 55 cm may jump straight to 62. One born at 2.8 kg may wear 50 for a month. That’s why you don’t buy a lot in a single size.
How many you need
For the first weeks, washing every two or three days:
| What | How many | Worth remembering |
|---|---|---|
| Bodysuit with poppers | 6–8 | Half long-sleeved, half according to the season |
| Sleepsuit or full pyjamas | 4–6 | With feet, so you don’t have to look for socks |
| Thin cotton hat | 2 | For outdoors and the first days; not for sleeping |
| Socks | 4 pairs | They fall off often; choose ones with soft elastic |
| Thin blankets | 2 | For the pushchair and over the car seat harness |
| Thick snowsuit or padded all-in-one | 1 | Only in the cold season; not in the car seat |
| Mittens | 1–2 pairs | Optional; sleeves with a folded-over cuff do the same job |
You’ll find sleeping bags for the night in the guide to the sleeping bag, and what goes in the hospital bag in the hospital bag guide.
What to check on each garment
- Cotton or another breathable fabric, soft, with no thick plastic prints on the chest.
- Poppers that open easily, preferably at the front or on the shoulder, so you don’t pull the garment over a newborn’s head. “Envelope” bodysuits, with an overlapping neckline, are pulled down, not over the head.
- An opening at the feet on sleepsuits, for night changes.
- No drawstrings, cords or ribbons at the neck or on the hood.
- No decorative buttons, sequins or appliqués that can come off and be swallowed.
- A zip with a protective flap at the top end, if it has a zip.
- Soft labels or labels printed directly onto the fabric.
Washing
Wash everything new before the first wear, with a fragrance-free detergent. You don’t necessarily need a “baby” detergent: what matters is that it isn’t perfumed and that you rinse well. No fabric softener, especially on towels and bodysuits.
If the skin turns red or dry, change the detergent first and only then the clothes. For any irritation that doesn’t go away, ask your paediatrician.
What can wait
- Sizes 68 and up. You’ll almost certainly get clothes as gifts, including from relatives. See what’s missing after the first months.
- “Going out” clothes, with collars, bows and separate trousers. They look good in photos and are hard to change.
- Booties and shoes. A child who isn’t walking doesn’t need them.
- Large quantities of mittens and hats. One on the baby, one in the wash.
Second-hand, baby clothes are one of the best choices: they’re worn little and wash easily. See what to buy second-hand.
Our recommendation
Six to eight bodysuits and four to six sleepsuits, half 56 and half 62, all cotton, with poppers, washed beforehand. Plus two hats, four pairs of socks and two thin blankets. Buy the rest when you see how fast your baby grows and what you’ve already been given.
Frequently asked questions
What size of clothes should I buy for a newborn?
Size 56 for the first weeks and 62 for months 1–3. Most newborns are 48–54 cm long at birth, so 56 fits them well for a few weeks. Size 50 is only worth it for small or premature babies. Sizes differ slightly from one brand to another, so check the manufacturer's chart.
How many bodysuits does a newborn need?
Between 6 and 8, if you wash every two or three days. Spit-ups and leaking nappies often mean two or three changes a day. If you wash daily, 5 are enough.
Do new clothes need washing before the first wear?
Yes. Wash them with a fragrance-free detergent, to remove manufacturing residues and finishing agents. You don't need a special baby detergent, but it's best to avoid fabric softener and strong fragrances.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.