What I Wish Someone Told Me About Baby Clothes ♡
Baby clothes are adorable — and honestly, it’s very easy to overbuy during pregnancy. Looking back, there are a few things I genuinely wish someone had told me earlier as a first-time mom.
Don’t Buy Too Many Newborn-Sized Clothes
I repeat — don’t.
Many babies outgrow newborn sizing surprisingly fast, and some outfits did not even fit properly after just a few weeks because of the material and fit.
Personally, I found 0–3 month sizing much more practical and longer lasting. If I were buying again, I would purchase fewer newborn outfits and focus more on slightly bigger sizes instead.
Consider Your Baby’s Season of Birth
This is probably the biggest mistake we made.
I live in the Czech Republic, and my daughter was born in February when temperatures are often below freezing or close to 0°C. During those first months, she mostly wore footed onesies indoors and a warm footed outdoor suit whenever we went outside.
Because of that, many of the items we bought never got used at all. We purchased tiny newborn shoes, extra socks, mittens, and several winter outfits because they looked cute. The reality was that she was either sleeping, swaddled, in a footed onesie, or bundled inside her stroller.
Think Beyond The Current Season
During pregnancy, it’s easy to buy for the season you’re currently living in.
What I didn’t fully appreciate was how quickly seasons change when you have a newborn. We bought far too many winter clothes in both the 0–3 month and 3–6 month sizes.
Many of them were never worn even once because within a few months spring arrived, followed by warmer weather. Some outfits honestly stayed folded in a drawer until they were already too small.
Tiny Baby Shoes
They looked adorable, but we never actually needed them during the newborn stage.
Baby Socks
We bought too many, and even later we still made sizing mistakes.
Mittens
We barely used them because footed and covered outfits were more practical.
Mittens, Socks & Baby Shoes Weren’t Necessary For Us
This will obviously depend on your baby and climate, but we hardly used mittens, socks, or baby shoes.
Most of our daughter’s outfits already had built-in feet, so extra socks weren’t needed.
As the weather became warmer, I rarely put socks on her at home because I wanted her to freely kick, stretch, and feel her feet while playing. Her feet also tend to be naturally warm and slightly sweaty, so letting her skin breathe felt more comfortable.
Socks Can Be Tricky Too
We recently made another wrong call by purchasing 3–6 month long socks. Technically, they matched her age, but they were quite tight.
My baby is slightly on the chubbier side, and those socks pressed into her skin so much that we worried they might affect her blood flow.
Even after already learning about baby sizing, we still made this mistake again. So yes — baby clothes sizing really needs careful attention.
Button-Style Clothes Are Much Easier
For onesies, I personally recommend buying the ones that have buttons on the front. They are much easier to put on because you don’t have to struggle with pulling clothes over the baby’s head.
This makes a big difference during diaper changes, crying moments, or sleepy outfit changes. Honestly, my baby still dislikes outfit changes sometimes even now.
Always Size Up for Baby Clothes
Baby clothes sizing can be extremely misleading. If you are buying half-sleeve onesies or cotton outfits, I personally recommend sizing up generously.
My baby comfortably wears some 9–12 month outfits even at 3 months old. Cotton fabrics also tend to shrink slightly after the first wash, so buying a few months ahead in size feels much more practical long-term.
Practicality Matters More Than Aesthetics
The cutest outfits are not always the ones your baby wears most. In our house, simple footed onesies were the real winners because they were soft, warm, easy to manage, and practical for everyday life.
One thing I slowly learned is that practicality matters much more than aesthetics during the newborn phase. Soft fabrics, easy openings, comfortable sizing, and buying for the right season honestly make everyday life so much easier for both mom and baby. The cutest outfit is not always the one your baby wears most.
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