So, you're pregnant, and you've never had much to do with babies before, and you have to buy some stuff for the littl'un to wear. But what, besides a nappy (oy vey, whole other story)?
The basic outfit is a little all-in-one vest, armless and legless, underneath, with a full babygro on top. Babygros are also called rompers or combinations, I think. Essentially they cover the whole baby except for the little head.
When buying or requesting babygros for a newborn, what you want are the following features: Poppers, not buttons or zips or ties. Poppers for the nappy area, obviously. Must be cotton. Must not have scratchy labels or stiching on the inside. Ideally it should open all the way down the front so you don't have to pull it over your newborn's head while also fighting to get her little arms down the sleeves. No hood. Ideally no collar. Must have foldover sleeves so you can avoid scratching of her face and your breasts by those tiny, uncuttable, razorsharp claws. Must have feet to the legs. This is because scratchmitts and socks do not stay on, in general.
There are many ramifications for baby clothing for later on when the baby's a bit bigger (maybe two months old). But essentially, you'll probably be one of two kinds of mom, when it comes to dressing your baby: Cute or practical.
The kind of mom who wants her baby to look pretty will go for 'outfits', which can be quite complex. They can involve buttons and back fastenings and even little shoes. (There's no call for shoes till the baby's walking.) They have a huge 'oooh, aaah' factor, and tend to make the baby look older...like a little person, rather than like a little 'sausage'. They may be tailored to particular events or weather (rainsuits, swimsuits, dresses, mini-jeans etc). This kind of mom daydreams about her baby's wardrobe, shops for it ecstatically, and plans her baby's outfit for the day in advance. Possibly this mom will even be prepared to iron the baby's clothes. (Having said that, ironing is a good way to kill little bugs if you line-dry babyclothes.)
The other kind of mom wants her baby to be comfy, and for the clothes to be easy to take off and put on and wash. You guessed it, this means vests and babygros. It's easier to grasp your baby around the middle in a vest rather than a flappy, slithery dress. Flappy dresses also ride up and bunch when you carry your baby in a sling. In a babygro, your baby can't be assailed by chilly draughts or overheated in many decorative layers. Your baby's tummy can't be squeezed by knobbly waistlines and her shoulders can't be cut into by scratchy sundress straps. You won't have to peel off stockings or leggings or mini-jeans while trying to change a nappy. Babygros don't need ironing. In hot weather, nothing's cooler than just a vest, unless you go for just a nappy.
No prizes for guessing the kind of mom I am. I reckon babies look extremely cute in whatever you dress them in. Mine does, anyhoo...But I will admit that, having been given many an outfit, I do dress the Hungry Mouth up for some occasions, and they do make her look extra adorable and photogenic.
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