What to Buy for Baby: Layette Newborn Clothing Essentials
Shopping for baby can be exhilarating, but also overwhelming. There are so many products that it’s hard to know where to start! But if you have some knowledge of what you need, and how many of each, you’ll be one step ahead of the game.
A newborn layette consists of onesies, gowns, receiving blankets and other items you’ll need when you bring baby home.
Below you will find a list of Baby Lists recommended products that I think are the most useful, versatile, and the best buy for your money. Online shopping links are included.
The quantity of each item needed will appear in each product category for:
…a single baby 
…twins
…or triplets!
Onesies
Onesies or bodysuits are one-piece undershirts. They snap at the crotch to prevent the fabric from riding up around baby’s chest and neck.
When baby wears a two piece outfit, wearing a onesie underneath helps keep little tummies warm by preventing skin from being exposed.
I’ve used the onesies listed below on dozens of babies. They are made of 100% cotton, don’t fall apart after repeated washings and the snaps won’t break.
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• 
Circo Short and Long Sleeve Body Suits
Gowns
One size fits all, and the longer the gown, the better; you can roll up the sleeves for newborns.
Gowns are especially nice for nighttime wear because you don’t have to fumble with snaps when you’re changing your baby’s diaper.
I recommend the gowns listed below because they are longer than other brands on the market, the sleeves are wider so it’s easier to dress baby and there are no snaps or buttons to fasten.
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•Lovable Friends Infant Gowns 2-Pack
•SpaSilk100% Cotton Lap Shoulder 2-Pack Gown
•Carter’s Gowns
•Gerber Assorted Newborn Gowns
•Just One Year Infants’ Sleepbag
Footed Rompers
Keep baby warm and cozy in one-piece rompers, and you won’t have to worry about socks.
I recommend rompers with snaps or a zipper up the front and between the legs because they are easiest to use.
Rompers with snaps or a zipper in the back means you have to turn baby over to fasten and that becomes a hassle.
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• 3-Pack Sleep N Play
• Carter’s Sleep N Play
• Sozo Footed Rompers
• Bambolino Footed Rompers
• Hatley Footed Rompers
Sleep Sacks
Use a sleep sack when your little one outgrows receiving blankets and wiggles out from under loose crib blankets. Some sleep sacks have a zipper from collar to foot, and a snap flap at the top for easy opening. Others have a zipper that opens from the top downward. The sleepsacks listed below have slightly different features but they are all highly recommended.
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I think the Halo Sleepsack is a wonderful replacement for loose blankets. The fact that it opens from the bottom makes it harder for baby to unzip, protects baby’s chin from the zipper and makes it easier to change diapers.
• Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket
I like the fact that the Prince Lionheart Back-to-Sleep Sack is made of satin. This sleep sack keeps baby cool in the summer and warm in the winter. No need to buy different weight sleepsacks for different seasons.
• Prince Lionheart Back-to-Sleep Sack
A great feature of the Kiddopotamus BeddieBye blanket is the adjustable shoulder tabs that let the BeddieBye grow with your baby. Plus the side zipper opens easily without disturbing your baby for diaper changes.
•Kiddopotamus BeddieBye Zip-Around Safety Blanket
The Dreamsie Sleeper has long sleeves for those cold winter nights. I also like the full-length zipper which makes it easy to change diapers at night.
• Kiddopotamus Dreamsie Sleeper with Sleeves
I think the Halo Early Walker Sleepsack is great for babies that are mobile and for toddlers. They can run around the house until its bedtime and move freely once they are in their crib or bed.
Blanket Sleepers
Blanket sleepers are used just like a sleep sack only they have arms and feet. Great for cold winter nights. The Gerber sleepers get a big thumbs up from me as they are 100% inherently flame-resistant and have non-skid soles to prevent your child from slipping.
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• Gerber Blanket Sleepers
Booties & Socks
Keep little footsies warm when baby wears an outfit without feet. Socks or booties should be snug enough to stay on, but not so tight that they cut off circulation or cause any indentation on baby’s feet or legs.
I recommend all socks listed below because they are super soft and comfy, great for everyday wear and machine washable.
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• Kids Fleece Booties for Infants
• 4-Pack Cushion Booties for Newborns
• Loveable Friends Newborn Socks
Hats
Babies lose heat through their heads, so wearing a hat will keep them nice and warm.
Make sure the hat fits properly. If it’s too big, it will slip down over baby’s eyes and nose. Your baby’s head will grow quickly so it’s a good idea to have several different size hats on hand.
What’s nice about the hats below is that they are all 100% cotton knit, are machine washable, come in a variety of colors and sizes preemie to newborn.
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• Knotted Solid Color Hats – Newborn and Preemie Sizes
• NICU Preemie and Newborn Cotton Knit Hats
• Loveable Friends 3-Pack Infant Caps-Blue-Newborn
Bibs
Bibs protect clothing and keep baby dry when drooling starts as the result of teething. I suggest buying bibs with easy adjustable closures such as snaps, pull over the head, or close with Velcro in back.
Bibs should have a waterproof backing to keep moisture away from baby clothes and skin. The bibs listed below have adjustable closures, come in a variety of colors, have waterproof backing and are machine washable.
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• Green Sprout Eco-friendly Fashion Waterproof Terry Bib 5-Pack, Boys
• Green Sprout Eco-friendly Fashion Waterproof Terry Bib 5 Pack, Girls
• Bumkins Waterproof SuperBib 3-Pack
• Baby Bjorn Soft Bib 2 Pack
Receiving Blankets
You can use receiving blankets for swaddling baby to make him feel safe and secure. I prefer stretchy thermal receiving blankets for swaddling because they don’t come loose as easily as cotton or flannel receiving blankets.
I’ve listed several thermal receiving blankets as well as some flannel receiving blankets because some expectant parents prefer cotton flannel to thermal. Even though the Swaddle Design Ultimate Receiving Blanket is made of 100% cotton flannel, it is extra large and swaddles well.
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• Gerber 2-Pack Thermal Blanket
• Gerber 5-Pack Flannel Receiving Blankets
• Swaddle Designs Ultimate Receiving Blankets
• Circo Receiving Blankets
Swaddling Blankets
Swaddling blankets wrap like a receiving blanket but fasten with Velcro tabs. A swaddling blanket hugs your baby to prevent the startle reflex, allowing your baby to sleep more soundly. A pre-shaped pocket prevents baby from kicking off the swaddling blanket. I recommend using cotton swaddling blankets as fleece can make baby too hot.
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The SwaddleMe is great for newborns and older babies until they don’t want to be swaddled anymore. I think the Velcro tabs are easy to use and keep baby tightly swaddled.
Tip: Before putting the SwaddleMe in the wash, velcro the tabs together so the SwaddleMe doesn’t stick to other clothing in the wash.
• Kiddopotamus – SwaddleMe Swaddling Blankets
I like the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle Blanket because it can be used as a swaddle blanket for newborns and once your baby is done being swaddled the swaddle feature can be removed and the wearable blanket can be used alone. The roomy sack design allows baby to kick but the sack can’t be kicked off so baby stays warm all night.
• Halo SleepSack Swaddle Blanket
The Miracle Swaddling Blanket is great for an older, bigger baby. I recommend the Miracle Blanket for babies that are a couple months old. Because it is so big and has to wrap around a small baby so many times, it’s too hot and bulky for a newborn. I also like the fact that one size fits all and there are no Velcro tabs, zippers or other types of closures to contend with.
The Swaddleaze is another version of a sleepsack, swaddle blanket combination. What I like best about the Swaddleaze is that the swaddle wing fastens in the back so that the Velcro won’t scratch baby’s delicate skin.
