How could someone so small need all those clothes, toys, bottles, and blankets? Before the baby arrives, we grab the car keys, a jacket or sweater, a wallet, maybe our cell phone, and we go anywhere without worrying about hiring a van to bring all of our stuff! However, once that baby is born, we need to bring a lot more! The baby’s needs include feeding and dressing him for a few hours, however we tend to be prepared for Armageddon as we take him to visit a relative in the neighboring city. Some of those items that we consider necessary to carry may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Blankets

Sweater or shawl

T-shirt or two

Ankle boots and socks

Golden beanie hat

Sleepers (preferably with feet on them)

Diapers (maybe half a dozen or more)

Mittens

To break

Baby wipes

Baby bottles

Formula

Baby cereal

Baby spoon (for cereal)

A bib or two

Pacifier to calm the baby between meals

All of the above can fit in a large diaper bag. Now we carry a baby in his carrier, a large diaper bag full of baby clothes and diaper changes, and enough milk and cereal to feed the child for weeks. Parents are great at planning ahead! Baby’s clothes should be soft and warm and huggable.

A baby can go through several changes of clothes during a typical day because they tend to spit up or leak in some way. Conscientious parents prepare for that by buying lots of pajamas, T-shirts, booties, socks, etc. to make sure your baby stays clean and warm. Of course, the best way to acquire all those items and much more is at a baby shower. Friends and co-workers love to give everything from those little booties or hats to toys like mobiles to hang in the crib, rattles, pacifiers, as well as diaper bags to carry all those baby items to the expectant mother and Of course, to family members I will always help by donating things inherited from other children in the family that have outgrown yours. Those baby items that have been outgrown are very likely to have very little evidence of wear and tear because they were simply left behind before much use.

Baby clothes are preferred to give as gifts when mom brings home that newborn baby from the hospital and faces new experiences and exciting events ahead. That little baby will be demanding and needy for several years and what is most needed is baby clothes. As soon as the baby grows, it is obvious that soon he will need more clothes and a slightly larger size. Softness is important because that little baby has very soft and tender skin and deserves the best in materials.

Keeping the baby warm and cozy is what parenthood is all about at this stage. There will be a long time later for teaching and discipline, but for now that precious baby is innocent and deserves all the tenderness that his parents can give him. All those tiny clothes will soon be gone! If this is your first baby and you hope to add to your family in the future, buy good quality clothing that will last up to several babies. This is true for children of any age, as they continue to grow until they reach adulthood. Families often trade baby clothes when their own child outgrows them and this can be an ongoing fact that holds that family together.