| When buying baby clothes, it's recommended to | | | | Undershirts with side snaps are easy to put on |
| stick to one color scheme. Bright colors are the | | | | babies, so they're popular with parents. |
| best, since they aren't easily soiled like pastels, | | | | Undershirts typically come in white, prints, and |
| more easily seen, and are unisex. They're a really | | | | solid colors. |
| good idea for outerwear, since it's a lot easier to | | | | Socks and Booties - You'll probably want four to |
| see a child wearing a bright red jacket in a busy | | | | six pairs of socks. Make sure they fit the infant's |
| supermarket than one wearing light pink. | | | | feet snugly. Get cuffed socks and booties made |
| Being practical is important. Infants and babies | | | | out of stretchy material, since they don't get |
| aren't exactly the neatest things on earth, so | | | | kicked off your baby's feet as easily as other |
| you'll want everything to be machine washable. | | | | styles. |
| Avoid buying those fancy outfits. First of all, | | | | Sleeping Wear - Plan on six to ten sleep outfits. |
| they're not very comfortable at all, and second, | | | | These items can either be footed, stretchy |
| they can interfere with your baby's movements. | | | | garments or gowns. Blanket sleepers, which are |
| The more comfortable clothes are those made of | | | | heavier than stretch garments, are good for |
| cotton and other natural fabrics, especially in hot | | | | colder climates. The advantage of gowns is that |
| weather. | | | | they allow for easier diaper changing, aside from |
| Obviously, your layette purchases should be | | | | allowing more freedom of movement for the |
| influenced by the climate in which you live and the | | | | older infant. If you do select sleepwear with feet, |
| season in which your baby is born. If you're not | | | | do not also put socks on your baby. Doing so will |
| sure what you need, get some ideas by talking to | | | | make the baby's feet become too warm, and this |
| other parents, or you can also observe how the | | | | may cause a condition known as sweaty sock |
| other babies are dressed. Keep in mind that most | | | | dermatitis. |
| babies wear newborn sizes for only a couple of | | | | Hats and Caps - Buying 2 hats or caps should be |
| weeks. Overdressing your baby is a definite | | | | enough. Baby hats and caps come in all sorts of |
| no-no, particularly when the temperature is hot. If | | | | styles and made out of a variety of fabrics, from |
| you want a guide, just put as many layers of | | | | lightweight cotton stretchable caps to heavy |
| clothing on your baby as you are wearing. Also | | | | cotton or acrylic hats. Again, the climate where |
| remember that if you're warm, your baby | | | | you live in should be your guide in choosing what |
| probably is, too. | | | | type of hat to buy. When buying caps or hats, |
| If you need more ideas about putting together | | | | check to see that they are small enough to stay |
| your initial layette, here are some suggestions: | | | | on your baby's head and allow you to position |
| Underwear - Buy four to six undershirts in the | | | | them away from the infant's face, so he can't |
| three- to six-month-old size. These are usually | | | | turn his head and suffocate in them. |
| made of cotton and can shrink to some degree. | | | | |