In a previous post in The Pulse, we discussed what expecting mothers could wear during the length of their pregnancy (see here). This time around, we are going to provide tips on how to dress your baby, especially during the newborn period.
How many layers of clothes should your baby wear?
The answer to this question may seem obvious: the number and type of layers of clothes depend on what the weather is like outside. In hot summer weather, it is appropriate to dress your baby in a single layer of clothing, wearing more than this would probably make him/her uncomfortable. However, when it’s cold, your baby must wear several layers of clothes. For these cold days, as a rule of thumb, your baby should have one more layer of clothing than what you wear.
However, do not overdo it. New parents should avoid over-layering their babies, sicne this could lead to overheat. As discussed in The Pulse before, overheating while sleeping is a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). When you bring your baby back indoors after having spent the day out in the cold, make sure you remove some of layers of clothing to avoid overheating. Test your baby’s skin periodically to make sure that he or she is not too hot.
What size of clothing should your baby wear?
The size “preemie” (P) usually fits babies up to 17 inches long and five pounds. “Newborn” (NB) represents an average baby at birth up to 21.5 inches long and five to eight pounds. Another way to look at it is that 0 to 3 months usually fits babies anywhere between eight to 12.5 pounds. Be aware that clothing size varies depending on the manufacturer. And buy only a minimum number of clothes per size, since your baby will grow really fast!
What materials should be used in your baby’s clothes?
You should keep an eye out for soft, comfortable, and easy-to-wash clothes for your baby. If possible, get clothes made from organic fabrics to lower the chance of your baby’s skin reacting to the material. Also, make sure that the fabrics fit the weather where your baby is going to be (think about the nursery, vacation, etc.). Also, try to avoid buying clothes with ribbons or strings that can unravel, as these are a choking hazard.
How should you dress and undress your baby?
Some new parents have trouble changing their baby’s clothes during the first weeks or even months after birth. If your baby is fussy, so you may find yourself dealing with a squirming, squalling bundle during the process of changing his or her clothes! To make the process easier for you, lay your baby face up on a flat surface. Make sure to support the head during the process to avoid injury. Use gentle motions when taking off and putting on new clothes, all the while talking to him/her with a calm, soothing tone to calm them down. While this can be challenging at times, it could also be fun and a great time to bond with your baby. The more you know your baby, the better you will be at predicting what he or she likes or dislikes when it comes to being dressed.
About the contributor:
MommyRJ is a tech ed blogger and life slash career-coach advocate. Recently, she’s been helping job seekers find their career paths. She also keeps up with the latest job and mobile trends. @r_am_jones.
Note: The thoughts expressed here are of guest blogger MommyRJ only.
