The good, the bad, and the ugly .... part 1 - baby clothes.

   When you are pregnant with your baby, especially when it's your first baby, it's really easy to get sucked into buying a million products that offer to "make your life easier" or "give you more time" or "make your baby smarter, more independent, better sleeper ...." I was there too. What I have learned over the years that babies need very little, and all these "things" just end up clogging up your house and making life harder for you. I am not even mentioning the money I have spent on useless things that were supposed to make my life easier. So what is really needed  for the baby in the first few months? Here is a list of the good, the bad, and the ugly.The Good are the items that I found absolutely necessary or very, very helpful in the first few months (I will tackle toddler items in a later post). The Bad are the items that I really made without or that they didn't make any difference. The Ugly are the things that are really a waste of my money, or that I found useless, or were downright dangerous.

The Good

Baby clothes:

about 6 100% cotton diaper shirts (in 0-3 month size, and same for 3-6 month size then about 8 in 6-9 month size) - diaper shirts are awesome since they keep the diaper on baby's tush (babies have no waste so diapers tend to slide off). In hot weather my babies went just in diaper shirt. In cold weather they had a sleeper, or pull on pants and a shirt over it. 

5 sleepers (in 0-3 month size, 3-6 month size, and  about 4 in 6-9 month size)- sleepers are perfect for bed time or very early days when you are just getting used to changing babies. I pick 100% cotton ones with snaps. I find the zipper too harsh for baby's skin and there is a chance of pinching baby's skin in it. Ones with snaps down the legs are better if you want to save time and not have to take the whole thing for diaper changes. 

3-4 long sleeve cotton shirts for cold weather depending if the baby is born in warm month or cold month (in appropriate size for fall, winter, and spring, only 1-2 are needed for summer) - cotton is my choice. These can be layered over diaper shirts in really cold months and worn with pants. 

3-4 pairs of stretchy pants (in each size and in the appropriate gender) - I like the ones with snaps on the inside of legs, but I find the pull on ones quicker to change. Cotton is still my choice of fabric for delicate skin.

about 8 pairs of socks in sizes, 0-3 months, 3-6 months , and 10 pairs in size 6-12 - have plenty of these since they get pulled off and lost. 

1-2 sweaters with snaps - these are great for layering in cooler weather. 

for cold weather a fleece suit that will keep the baby warm without being bulky.

The Bad

any clothing next to baby's skin that is not 100% cotton. Babies have very sensitive skin and it can get irritated very quickly. Organic cotton is best but it's also very expensive. 

Anything with zippers on very young babies - I find zippers a bit worrisome since baby's skin can get pinched. It's also very irritating to have a zipper under baby's neck and chin. 

Anything jean for a baby under 6 months. Jean fabric doesn't move or stretch very easily and it's just not practical and comfortable for babies. 

Cute little dresses for girls under 6 months (except for a very special occasion).As much as parents want their baby girl to look like a girl, dresses are just not practical. In cold weather you still need leggings to keep baby warm, so dresses just get in a way of diaper changes. They bunch up in car seats and strollers and just get in the way.

The Ugly

Baby shoes for babies under 6 months - these are really just a waste of money. The idea among parents is that they help to keep socks on, but in my experience good fitting socks is all a baby will need for the first 6 months. 

Any clothing treated with flame retardant chemicals - sorry, but that should be obvious why putting heavy duty chemicals on clothing next to baby's skin is a bad idea. Choose clothing that fits close to baby's skin instead and skip chemical additives. 

Anything with decorations or buttons that could be pulled off and swallowed by the baby. Chocking hazard is something that all parents should keep in mind. 

Shirts with buttons or snaps on the back - since babies spend so much time on their back these things can deep into baby's skin or spine and cause bruising. Front or side snaps are much better choice. Also avoid anything with big bows, in the back, or buckles or belts. These are just not comfortable enough for the baby. 

Anything with drawstrings. They pose a strangulation hazard and should not be used.