A Year of Baby Blessings… Time To Shop For Gifts!

It seems the stork has been quite busy this year! My BFF is having a daughter before the year ends, another great friend is having her third child, my cousin is due to give birth next month and even our househelp is four months on the way. It’s high time to go shopping for those adorable baby clothes. I’m not complaining though, I happen to love shopping for baby clothes!

Baby clothes are so cute and dainty that you’d most likely go overboard shopping for them. But I have two preschoolers now and know better which ones to buy and which ones would just end up stuck in the closet until the baby becomes a preschooler. When my babies were born, friends and family showered us with gifts and among them were dozens of clothing. A lot were left unused though like the frilly dress that we never found any occasion to use. But some were used until they were paper thin from being worn too many times or until the babies outgrew them, whichever came first.

If you are also shopping for baby clothes to give as gifts to expectant moms, you may want to get rompers, booties, coveralls or even onesies. Rompers, those shorts-and-shirt-in-one outfits, are very comfortable and easy to put on. Those with snaps at the crotch make diaper changing a snap. Plus, moms won’t have to worry about shirts running up their babies tummy. Booties or socks are some of the most used baby clothing but hese are probably the most difficult to buy as babies are wont to kick them off. After a dozen or so pairs, we found out that those made of soft stretchy materials worked best. Babies don’t really require shoes but their outfit seems incomplete without any. Socks designed to look like shoes are great alternatives though and keep little babies very comfortable. Coveralls kept my little babies comfy during their sleep. We live in the tropics so it doesn’t get cold at night. The coveralls provided just enough warmth that the babies had no need for blankets. Onesies: If we were looking for something fancy for babies though, something that was practical but also fun, we’d often look at getting onesies. They come in so many different designs now and are often soft and comfortable with a hood to keep the baby warm.

Aside from those four that my children used often, babies also require plenty of bibs, towels, and diapers.
Now before you go shopping for baby clothes, do keep these two things in mind:

Comfort. Don’t sacrifice a baby’s comfort for fashion. Those frilly lace dresses may make her look like a princess but they may also be impending her movement. Keep them for special occassions instead. Always opt for cotton or other natural fabrics. Another thing you need to consider is keeping the baby comfortable when putting on and taking off clothes. This is where long front zippers come in handy – just make sure though that the zippers are lined with fabric so they’re not rubbing on your baby’s skin. Look also for clothes that have snap openings at the crotch which really are heaven sent when it come to diaper changes.

Safety. Always check clothing for loose buttons or embellishments, sharp zippers, and loose thread. If you’re shopping for newborns especially, keep clothing simple and free from beads and other embellishments. Check also if it adheres to flame retardant standards. Babies love to put things in their mouths so don’t get them anything that may pose as a choking hazard.