Let’s talk baby clothes for a minute. They are just so darn cute and as a new first time mom I didn’t have a clue how much per size I was going to need or really what kind of what I would now call practical outfits. I was really lucky to be able to have the opportunity to try out so many different options because I was gifted tubs full of hand me down barely used or not used at all clothes from my sister.

Now let me say when I first was putting together my baby girls room in my third trimester, I was a bit overwhelmed in really knowing what I needed and how to organize. I also fell into the first time mom trap of rewashing everything even though my sister had washed and folded before she put into tubs. I even did as the internet said and washed all the new clothes I got too.  This was a task! My  Sister had given me 12 months worth of clothes and even though it wasn’t that many loads to wash really, the clothes are so tiny and take forever to fold. I mean how do you even really fold things that small!

Anyway, after I got them washed I separated into size piles based on their tags.  Premie, Newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months and 9-12 months. But what about the ones that just say 3 months or 6 months. What pile should I put those in! I’m telling you it is a bit overwhelming when you don’t have a clue and then once you have the baby its like oh I get it. That’s why I am sharing what I learned along my journey and what I wish I would have known.

First off it was definitely overkill for me to wash all the clothes again.  I know it is recommended to wash all new store bought clothes and to use baby sensitive laundry detergent (and who knows if my sister used that type of detergent), but unless you have a family history of sensitive skin it is really overkill.  I quickly learned it is usually a new mommy thing and my newborn did just fine with store bought clothes not being washed and using my normal detergent.  So I would say test it out before you decide to do heaps of pre-washing.

Now depending on what type of space you have or how many dresser drawers you have, I would recommend keeping out 2 sizes and storing the rest.  I used an ikea cuby shelf in the closet and stored other sizes in those bins to pull out when she was ready, but it would have been fine keeping them in tubs in the garage also.

honestly the amount of clothes I was gifted was overkill, so not knowing what I would used I found space for it all.  I will get into the amount of clothes needed after I share how I first organized. I had 4 large drawers and 3 small drawers in my dresser. So I put the newborn clothes in 2 large drawers and the 0-3 months in the other 2 large drawers.  I also had a drawer in the changing table for her pajamas and sleep sacks and dresses hanging in the closet . The other 3 small drawers I use for this that will last a while like hats, socks, mittens, diaper covers, tights leggings etc.

I would recommend putting those 3 month clothes in the smaller pile so put it with the 0-3 months.

Ok so how many clothes do you really need per size. Obviously the early clothes like premie and newborn will depend on how big your baby is when born. My baby girl M was 8lbs 9oz and 21” long. She fit into newborn clothes when born and they lasted for about 3.5 weeks and that is only because she lost a little more than normal weight in the first week. She went down to 7lbs 6 oz but that’s a whole other story. Anyway I had 2 drawers full of newborn clothes and barely wore 1/4 of them. Plus I quickly found out which outfits were easiest

Hangers with felt

Clips on amazon

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