Lay-what?

In honour of great pregnancy news I've recently heard, I've put together a list of clothes a baby will need in the first six weeks of life. Fun fact, this stuff is called layette.

A few things to consider first

• Your baby won't be spitting up in the first few weeks. If you stay on top of changing her diapers every 2-4 hours, her clothes won't become that soiled. Because you won't need to change her clothes frequently, you won't need a large quantity of basics like sleepers or onesies. That being said, you'll want to have a great poo stain remover on hand just in case.
• Look for clothing that opens in the front and close easily with a zipper or snaps. You'll want dressing your baby to be as fuss-free as possible.
• Dress your baby in layers and consider that babies only require one more layer of clothing than an adult. It's important to not over dress your baby as babies can't regulate their own body temperature like adults.

Sleepers (4-6)
Easy to put on and take off, sleepers will be your best friend for the first six weeks after your baby is born.

Consider having at least a couple of newborn sized sleepers for your baby to wear in the first two to three weeks after giving birth. She'll quickly out grow them but it's nice to have at least one or two things that fit well. You'll also want to have a few sleepers in the next size up, 0-3 months. She'll be swimming in them at first, but will quickly fill them out.

Onesies (5-7)
Now that you're pregnant you should know what a onesie is. Collect an assortment of short and long-sleeved onesies. Look for onesies that open or expand at the neck to pull easily over baby's head. I was fond of kimono oneises because they are so easy to put on.

Leggings (1-3 pairs)
Pair leggings or stretchy pants with a onesie for comfortable day-time wear. Dressing your baby in separate pieces lets you mix and match your baby's wardrobe and allows you to wash what is only soiled.

Pants should have an elastic waist to accommodate growth and movement. If you're cloth diapering your baby, look for pants that have a lot of room in the seat.

Socks (2-3 pairs)
When your baby isn't wearing footed sleepers, you'll likely want to cover her feet with infant-sized socks. She'll be able to wear the same socks for a while without washing them, so you won't need many pairs. Buy snugly-fitting socks but be prepared to lose a few.

Outerwear (1-2 pieces)
Where you live and the time of year your baby is born will influence the type and quantity of outerwear your baby will need in the first six weeks. For fall and winter babies, have one snowsuit. If that seems like overkill, probably a fleece sleeper with room for layers underneath will do.

For spring and summer babies, one or two hoodies or knitted sweaters will be adequate. Winter and fall babies will need these too.

Hat (1-2)
If you're baby is born in the fall or winter, you'll want a couple of warm toques, which cover his ears, to wear outside. Otherwise, a jersey, knit beanie will suffice. Let your baby go bare-headed while inside and reserve the hats for when you venture out. 

Sleep sac (2)
Forget crib blankets, a safe and snug way to dress your baby for sleeping is with a sleep sac. Sleep sacs come in varying degrees of thickness. Consider having a thick, lined sleep sac for night and a lighter one for day-time naps. Pair a sleep sac with either a sleeper or a onesie depending on the temperature indoors. I recommend the Halo SleepSack. 

Where do you get layette?
Ask your mum-friends for second-hand clothes (they likely be pushing them on you), hit a thrift-store, wait for your baby shower. No need to shell out for newborn baby clothes, your kid will grow out them quickly. But if need a hit of retail therapy, check out Sweet Peanut. Their baby clothes are made of cotton and use modern, adult and baby-friendly prints.