What a newborn actually needs: a clothing list without buying too much

The newborn size lasts a very short time, sometimes only a few weeks, and some babies arrive ready for the next one. So it does not pay to buy much of this stage. Better to have a few garments, wash them often and only top up if needed.

Most families end up using a fraction of what they prepared. Starting small and adding once you see what your baby is like works out better than filling drawers in advance.

For the first weeks, six to eight bodysuits, four or five pyjamas or sleepsuits, a couple of light cardigans and a few pairs of socks usually cover it. Depending on the season, add a hat, mittens and something warmer. That handles daily life without the fuss.

Favour garments that are easy to put on and take off, with wide openings and simple fastenings. At this stage you will change clothes several times a day, so practicality matters far more than the design.

Newborn clothing is among the best to buy second-hand, precisely because it is worn for so little time. Many garments arrive almost unused, and at that price the gap with buying new is huge.

Bodysuits, pyjamas and basics are ideal to get handed down or swapped. Keep the budget for the few things you genuinely want to buy new and solve the rest by reusing.

If you are given larger sizes, do not mix them with what you use now. Separate them by size and store them labelled, so you find them when they fit instead of discovering them once they no longer do.

And when the newborn size gets too small, move it quickly. In good condition it is in high demand from families coming right behind you, so passing it on or swapping it closes the loop before it sits idle in a drawer.