The Best Baby Clothes, According to Parents Who've Tried Them
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It’s safe to say there’s no shortage of options when it comes to buying baby clothes for your little bundle. This is a good thing, especially since you’re going to go through way more clothes than you can ever imagine in your baby’s first year. Every three months or so, your little one is going to require an almost entirely new wardrobe because she’s growing at rapid speed. What’s more: There will likely be some clothing items that you have to toss thanks to all those not-so-fun-to-clean blowouts.
Choosing the best baby clothes: What to consider
The number one most important factor to consider when purchasing baby clothes for your sweetheart is comfort. If she’s feeling itchy or irritated due to the clothes she’s wearing, she’ll let you know in the form of crying — a lot. The materials should feel soft, be breathable and should never be too restricting on any part of your child’s body. Here’s what else you should think about before shopping:
- Sizing. Remember that not every baby clothing brand sizes the same — some run on the small size while others run rather large. Before you order items in bulk from a store, make sure your baby has tried on at least one piece to get an idea of what size is best for him. Check out our sizing guide for popular clothing brands here.
- Ease of use. In other words: How easy is the clothing to put on and take off? Remember how many diapers you usually change in a single day. If it takes a couple minutes to take a piece of clothing off, that time is going to add up — and your baby might not be particularly patient!
- Safety. Avoid purchasing any item that could potentially pose a choking hazard (think buttons, easily removable bows or flowers, hooks, drawstrings, etc.). And keep tabs on clothing recalls by periodically checking the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)'s website.
- Style. Last, but certainly not least, you should like the baby clothes you buy! Style matters, especially since you’ll be snapping a bunch of pictures of your sweetheart in these clothes for the next few months.
Baby layette basics checklist
Your baby’s layette (or a set of essential clothing items) can be as large or small as you like, but there are several must-have pieces you’ll want to have as soon as you get home from the hospital (and a few you’ll need to pack along with you to bring baby home!). Here’s a list of what to include in your layette:
For wearing:
- 1 take-home outfit: a shirt, pants (footed or not), socks if not, and a hat
- 6-10 shirts or bodysuits
- 4 shirt and pant sets
- 4 footed coveralls
- 1-3 seasonal dress-up outfits
- 1-2 swimsuits for a summer baby
For feeding:
- 10-15 burp cloths
For sleeping:
- 6-8 one-piece pajamas and/or gowns
- 2 sleep sacks or swaddling cloths
For bathing:
- 3-6 hooded towels
- 4-6 washcloths
For warmth and protection:
- 2-4 receiving blankets
- 4-8 socks and/or booties (you won’t need shoes until she can walk)
- 2-4 no-scratch mittens
- 1-3 hats, sun hats for summer babies and knit hats for winter babies
- 1-3 sweaters, for winter babies
- 1 snowsuit, for winter babies
- 1 bunting or fleece snowsuit for a winter baby
Since the options are seemingly endless, we’re sharing the very best baby clothes brands, where you can find all of your bodysuits, pajamas, socks and more. These should help get you started in putting together the ultimate baby layette.
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Best Basics
Simple Joys by Carter's Baby 3-Pack Neutral Sleep and Play
- Affordable
- good quality
- Some parents say the products run small
Carter’s has been a trusted brand for children’s clothing since the 1860s (yes, really), and it’s easy to see why. Its latest line — Simple Joys by Carter's — brings its time-tested quality clothing to Amazon shoppers at a low price. You can find baby and toddler clothing, including shirts, pants, socks, onesies and pajamas, as well as blankets, bibs and other accessories. And everything is under $30.
Price range: $12 to $30
Sizes: Preemie-24 months, 2T-5T
Best Baby Pajamas
Moon and Back by Hanna Andersson 3-Pack Short Sleeve Bodysuits
- High quality materials at affordable price
- Some parents say the clothes run a little big
Swedish-inspired brand Hanna Andersson is beloved by parents for its beautiful, high-quality children’s clothes. Now, you can find its baby-focused line, Moon and Back, exclusively on Amazon for similar quality but at a lower price (and Prime shipping). Score beautiful pajamas, bodysuits, sleep sacks and other baby essentials — many of which are made with organic, pre-washed cotton — in a variety of fun, timeless patterns and designs. Parents say the products tend to run a little big, but that can be a plus for larger babies.
Price range: $7-$54 for baby clothes
Sizes: Preemie through 18-24 months; 2T through 5T
Best for Modern, Gender-Neutral Clothing
Primary Organic Long Sleeved Babysuit 5-Pack
Sometimes baby clothes can go hard into gendered cliches — frills galore for girls, monsters and dinos and trucks for boys. If that’s not your cup of tea, check out Primary instead. The brand’s simple, timeless clothes come in bright colors and gender-neutral designs to make it fun and fitting for any kid to wear. (Because neutral doesn’t have to mean grey!) All of their clothes are OEKO-TEX 100 Standard certified, meaning that no parts contain harmful materials. And if you love the brand now, you can keep buying the clothes for your kiddo as they grow, up to size 14Y.
Price range: $8-$58 for baby clothes
Sizes: 0-24M (babies), 2-14Y (kids), XS-XXL (adults)
Best for Plain Bodysuits
Gerber 5-Pack White Short Sleeve Onesies
- Affordable
- sold at lots of retailers
- Brand tends to run small
Between spit up and diaper blowouts, babies are messy. If you’re on the hunt for basic, cheap bodysuits that you don’t mind getting dirty, look no further than Gerber. While parents tend to report that this brand runs small and tends to shrink in the wash, it’s also affordable enough to stock up on plain clothes to have on hand when the inevitable mess strikes. And given that it’s sold at tons of retailers, you can easily find it on the go in a pinch. (Just remember to buy up a size or two.)
Price range: $14-$40 for baby clothes
Sizes: Preemie-24M (baby), 2T-5T (toddler)
Best for Trendy Babies
H&M 3-Pack Jumpsuits with Zipper
- Stylish
- lots of gender-neutral options
- Some items run a bit large
- not always the best quality
WTE parents agree: H&M secretly has some of the best baby clothes on the market. Deck out your little one in trendy tees, bodysuits, dresses and even tiny jeans, with prints and styles ideal for both staged #parenting IG posts or casual playtime. The brand’s newborn clothing is gender-neutral, although it does offer more traditional girl and boy baby clothes, too. (Its sustainable “Conscious” line also offers organic cotton baby clothes, if that’s your thing.) Just note that the sizing can run a bit large, and the cheaper items aren’t always the best quality.
Price range: $5-$50 for baby clothes
Sizes: 0-1M - 12-18M (baby), 2T-4T (toddler)
Best Baby Dress Clothes
Hope & Henry Jacquard Sweater Gift Set
- High-quality fabric and materials
- More expensive
- old-fashioned style might turn off some
Royal family fans, rejoice — you can dress your baby like Prince George or Princess Charlotte without breaking the bank thanks to clothing brand Hope and Henry. Parents love shopping this brand for preppy dress clothes (think family portrait or wedding outfits) and say the products look beautiful and hold up well in the wash. You can even find matching adult outfits, too. Just note that Hope and Henry caters to a very specific kind of style, so if you’re into bright colors or more modern styles, this brand likely won’t be for you.
Price range: $14-$50 for baby clothes
Sizes: 0-3 months - 18-24 months (babies), XX-small through X-Large (kids), S-XL (mens), 2-14 (women)
Best for Saving for Future Kids
Gap Baby First Favorite Bear Footed One-Piece
- Frequent sales
- washes well
- soft cotton
- Tends to run short
Babies need a lot of clothing as they grow, and even if you shop affordable brands, it’s still a big investment to buy new — especially if you have multiple children. That’s why many WTE parents say Gap baby clothes are an investment that’s worth it, as they’re fairly high-quality and hold up well over time. Translation: You’ll have hand-me-downs for your next little one that feel almost like new.
Price range: $10-$128
Sizes: 0-24M
Best for Bulk Buying
Amazon Essentials Baby 7-Pack Short-Sleeve Bodysuits
- Extremely affordable
- Price varies a lot depending on size
- not the best quality
Need more bodysuits or baby shirts fast? The Amazon Essentials brand actually makes baby clothes, many of which come with two-day Prime shipping. Most clothes are sold as multi-packs, too, making it easy to stock up on cheap outfits for your little one. However, designs and styles are somewhat limited, and the quality isn’t the best compared to other brands on this list.
Price range: $10-32
Sizes: Preemie-24 months
Best Sleepwear
Kyte Baby Zippered Footie
- Soft and lightweight fabric
- No sets or multi-packs
- expensive
If you’re looking for simple, high-quality baby clothes, look no further than Kyte Baby. The brand’s signature bamboo rayon fabric is stretchy and soft on baby’s skin, and you can choose from tons of gender-neutral styles in simple colors and patterns. This brand is more expensive for individual items than others on this list, but many WTE parents recommend waiting for a sale or splurging because the bodysuits and sleep sacks are worth it.
Price range: $16-$33 for baby clothes
Sizes: Preemie-18-24 months (baby), 2T-7T (toddler)
Best Organic Baby Clothes
Burt's Bees Bee Essentials Organic Short Sleeve Baby Bodysuits
- Organic clothing at affordable price
- lots of basics
- Parents say it runs big
You already love Burt’s Bees skin-care products, but new parents love the brand’s ultra-soft baby clothing too. You can find a surprisingly wide range of clothes here for your little one, including bodysuit multi-packs, dresses, jackets and even shoes. The clothes run a little big, but parents say they hold up well in the wash and feel soft after multiple wears.
Price range: $7-$70
Sizes: Preemie-24 months (baby), 2T-7 (toddler)
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