Layette question

Maybe this would be a better question for the first year forum. Or maybe there are some first year parents lurking on this board?

In any case, we've been given some baby clothes by a really nice woman at my DH's workplace, stuff for boys and girls, as well as some bits and pieces of clothing from other friends and families. We're really grateful for everyone's kindness! Most of the stuff we've been given is for newborns. We still have a couple showers coming up (I know, it's getting late for a twin shower, but we just moved a few months ago!), and when people ask us, we've been telling them that we're pretty set on newborn stuff, but still need a lot for 6 months on.

At my parent's request, we made them a list of what we have for newborns, and now they're saying that it's not nearly enough, that we'll be changing each of the babies' clothes 6-12x a day, and that we're being really naive. <_< It feels like a lot of stuff to DH and me (especially because a lot of it is neutral and could be worn by either child), and we figure we can fill in any gaps with stuff that people give us, or a run out to the local consignment shop. We really do think that clothing for 6 months and on would be more beneficial. But we're first-time parents, so maybe we're wrong

So, here's the list of what we have, sized newborn to 3 months. I hope this isn't a silly question. Do you think it's reasonable? Are there any big gaps? Thanks so much for your input!!!

BOY Newborn and 0-3 months
6 long sleeve sleepers (can probably be used when older)
7 prs. Pants
18 onesies, shirts, all-in-one outfits, some long-sleeve, some short
1 winter sweater/warm shirt outfit
1 2-piece warm velveteen outfit

GIRL Newborn and 0-3 months
5 sleepers, PJs (some can be used when older)
13 onesies, shirts (long/short, some neutral)
2 dresses
3 long sleeve play outfits (neutral)
1 2-piece pants/onesies outfit

ETC. (mostly for both)
Socks—20 pairs (including booties, neutral, B/G)
2 hooded towels
6 towels/burp cloths
3 burp cloths
6 hats, including 4 caps and 2 warm, winter hats

 

I think you have a good start but not enough- especially if it is all 0-3 month things. You may want to invest in some newborn outfits- and I would think you may want at least 2 oufits per kid per day. With my son I always put a onesie on undereverthing- he was a fall baby- and if he messed his diaper bad enough it would get his onesie before his outfit- but little babies tend to make big messes requiring clothing changes! So I think it would be wise to get few more things for that younger age, unless yout want to do laundry everyday

 

Sweety, You do need more than that, but you won't be changing outfits THAT often, puhlease! Maybe they are combining the two (like 3x's a day x's 2 which does sound realistic) It doesn't hurt to have more than you need, but it will be a pain if you have less.
It's good you're going to have some baby showers, and if your area has garage sales (ours are still going on but once it's too cold they will be all gone so we are doing what we can RIGHT NOW.) its been a big boon to our stash - look in the papers for baby items and clothes, usually baby items means clothes too. One lady had 2 huge tables stacked with baby clothes (for 1 baby, mind you!) and she was giving them away at 25 cents an item... we grabbed so much she went ahead and gave it to us for waaaaay less. My mom and I actually debated if we should have just snagged the whole table (she wants clothes at her house too which is a HUGE help when I'm there and not at home or somewhere nearer her house than mine).

Keep on putting the word out that you need baby clothes, any stage is good... and tell your friends to tell their friends, coworkers, etc, and anyone they know that has babies and don't mind giving clothes away. I've gotten through very well with my 1st one by doing that. I also gave most of my DD's away to my sister and her friend and I know that when these babies come, they'll give me what they have left of theirs.... it's so nice to have that available.

We actually had a coworker that was DESPERATE to get rid of accumulating clothes and we are so glad we took her up on her offer! Don't, and I mean NEVER, look a gift-horse in the mouth! Take it all and be greedy because the babies always need something more... I feel like there is no such thing as too much, and if you honestly find yourself not reaching the bottom of the drawer or using certain items, after the babies have been here for a bit, take them back and exchange for things you DO need still.

 

My son was born 4 weeks early, so we had some preemie clothes and when he outgrew them he was still too small for his newborn so a friend of mine sent me some Gymboree up to 7lb clothes and then he went into newborn and then finally at about 2 months he was able to wear his 0-3 stuff. He is just 1 yr now and can still wear some 6-9, 9-12 and 12 month stuff.


We used lots of onesies, he was born in September. Also a lot of sleepers in terry cloth and fleece, instead of actual "outfits" This way we didn't need to worry so much about socks or getting a really nice outfit so messed up. he had a few outfits for special times.

We just hit our local multiples sale this past weekend and got mostly small stuff for our twins and a few pieces for my son. We ended up with 38 clothing items (jacket for son and clothes) and a little chair for our son for $134. Some matching outfits, some not.

 

My babies don't fit into any of their 0-3 month stuff yet and they were both over 6 pounds. I would suggest buying a back of preemie or Just Born onesies (Gerber makes them, target sells them) to have on hand, we bought them but didn't open them until after the babies are born and they are living in them now!

 

Thanks for the tips all! Do you have any advice on the kinds of things that we should get to round out our stuff? I'll definitely look for some of the "just born" things you suggested (I didn't even realize that was a size!). It's kind of nice--I discovered our local Walmart has lots of preemie stuff, so if they come too early, I'll send DH out for a baby clothes run.

QUOTE
Sweety, You do need more than that, but you won't be changing outfits THAT often, puhlease! Maybe they are combining the two (like 3x's a day x's 2 which does sound realistic)


Yeah, that's how often my mom said she changed me and later my brother. She can, uh, color things sometimes, so that's part of why I was questioning exactly how many things we needed. 12 outfits seemed ridiculous--I mean, I can understand 12 diaper changes when they're little, but couldn't quite picture changing clothes that often!! :lol:

 

I'd definitely add a lot of bibs to that list. If you keep bibs on the babies, you can keep their clothes dryer and then only change the bibs. Babies drool a lot and they also spill milk down their chins and cheeks.

As the others said, I'd round out your stash with some smaller clothes and maybe some more sleepers. You probably don't need any more outfits. I'm in the minority on this, but I usually don't change the baby unless he gets a diaper leak. Drool doesn't faze me. I can't remember how often we changed the girls but it couldn't have been more than twice a day and Dax only goes through two outfits on a really messy day.

 

I would probably get some newborn sleepers and onesies. Carter's makes some in that size and they sell them at Walmart and Target. My kids were both over 5 lbs but the 0-3 mos didn't fit them for sometimer (My mom actually ran to walmart for some preemie stuff the night we brought them home)

Burp Cloths: I would get more. I had a couple of packages of the cloth diapers for this.
Socks: You should be all set....they'll be wearing the sleepers so you won't need them too much.


I know a lot of people do change their babies a couple of times a day. That wasn't the case with us. I only changed them if there was a leak in the diaper or spit up on the outfit.

 

For my singleton's, I went through so many receiving blankets during nursing..it was crazy! That's one item, I'll be stocking up on...just an FYI!

 

My girls wore 1-2 outfits a day. They were spitters but we used lots of burp clothes. They rarely leaked through a diaper.

We could have easily gotten away with about 4-5 outfits a piece (although we were bombarded with clothing).

I do agree on needing lots of receiving blankets, we had like 40 of them and used them all.

 

I second more bibs. I would have had to change the girls more if I didn't have bibs. Also my mom got a TON of those cheap white wash clothes (I think they come 10 to a pack) and we used those during feedings under the girls chins. They also came in handy for cleanups!

Gift cards might be a good idea for you. You may want to wait to see what you need more of. I thought we would put the girls in those cute one piece outfits but they ended up in onsies most of the time. I don't think they wore a dress at all.

You can always do laundry Don't forget that. In the beginning I was washing clothes for the girls every other day.

 

My kids were never one to spit up a lot, they never wore bibs 24/7 like some kids do and mine NEVER went through more than 2 outfits in a day. We have OVERKILL on a ton of stuff. It was too much. We returned so much. Even now, at 27 months, I've never had to put more than 2 outfits on in a day. We are either lucky or NOT normal...lol! I saw go with what you have and then if you need more after they come, then get some more.

 

My DD spit up a lot and I found out quickly that those cute cloth bibs just soak it up. But if they have a backing to block the clothes underneath from getting soaked, that's what I had/used. But make sure it's not the kind that spit up rolls off of! She ended up getting bacterial problems around her mouth, chin, and neck (always smelled of cheese curds, lol) from all of that.

 

I don't know how girls are but my boys managed to pee out of their diaper all the time no matter how well I thought I had their diaper on. So we went through tons of onesies every day probably six between the two of them. Going into the winter months I think that the things you will get the most out of are sleepers and plain onesies to go under them. I wouldn't worry about too many winter outfits because in the beginning you probably won't take them out a ton and worry about them being dressed cute. My boys wear onesies and sleepers all day everyday. The boys were each almost 6lbs at birth and didn't fit into 0-3month stuff we had a lot of Just Born size by Gerber and newborn stuff that they actually were able to wear for about a month and a half to 2months. I can still cram mine into a 0-3 month sleeper now so you really will get a lot of use out of the smaller sizes even if they aren't super small at birth.

 

Wow, guys! Great advice from everyone!!!!

We've added some more newborn and 0-3 month clothes to our registry--turns out I have two aunts (one with a boy and one with a girl) who have saved tons of stuff from 6 months on, so maybe that's the area we have covered better. And we've added more bibs, onesies, receiving blankets and sleepers to our list.

And I just found a terrific thrift store right across from my OB's office--$.60 an outfit, and most of the clothes are very lightly worn (and some are absolutely adorable!!). So, I should be able to fill in some gaps after our showers, if necessary.