For new parents, figuring out how often to change newborn clothes can be quite the puzzle.
Is it okay to only change out of necessity, like after a blowout?
Or do you need to set a routine and stick to it regardless of how dirty the outfit is? If so, then what exactly is the right frequency?
That’s what we set out to find in this article, so stick around!
Content:
- How Often Should You Change Newborn Clothes
- 7 Situations That Call for a Newborn Outfit Change
- 3 Tips for Changing Newborn Outfits
How Often to Change Newborn Clothes
Some parents like to plan ahead for the outfits throughout the day, while others like to play it by ear and only change the little ones if they get dirty.
The common rate is two changes daily, with room for more outfits for accidents or special occasions. That means you can expect to change the baby’s clothes 2-4 times per day, on average.
On the other hand, some babies will do just fine wearing the same onesies all day.
That said, it’s not unheard of for a newborn to need six changes in a single day.
So, don’t feel bad if your baby seems to go through outfits more than others his age; that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your parenting skills!
7 Situations That Call for a Newborn Outfit Change
There isn’t one hard-and-fast rule to follow. Sometimes, the outfit changes are purely for aesthetic reasons. So, it could be up to the parents’ preferences.
However, one way to determine how often to change newborn clothes is to consider the situations that actually call for a fresh outfit.
Let’s take a closer look at seven of the most common reasons why parents might swap their newborn’s outfit throughout the day.
1. There’s an Accident to Clean
Sure, all babies can be messy, but some are more chaotic than others. Some newborns are just absolute rascals and will ruin their clothes with blowouts, spills, and spit multiple times throughout the day.
So, you’ll have to balance your outfit changes based on how often accidents happen. For instance, if your baby has reflux, you’ll definitely have to put up with more changes daily to deal with all the extra puke and spit.
Just don’t let the baby sit in soaked clothes, no matter what. Not only does it look (and smell) bad, but all the moisture and germs rubbing on the baby’s sensitive skin can also cause nasty irritations and rashes!
2. You Need to Set a Routine for the Day
As it happens, newborns can’t tell the difference between day and night. So, some parents use outfit changes to mark the beginning and end of the day to help their bambino set into a routine, which can translate into better sleep.
Plus, the routine can do wonders for moms, especially those on maternity leave. After all, it can help make them feel ready for the day and restore the sense of time.
If the idea sounds appealing, you can change your newborn into sleep onesies for the night. Then, you can shift to day clothes early in the morning.
However, it might be better to change after the breakfast feeding to avoid spoiling the fresh outfit with spills.
3. The Little One’s Getting Fussy
If your newborn is getting cranky for seemingly no reason, you might want to check the outfit. It’s possible that a button or a seam is irritating their skin.
In these cases, you can change the baby into something a bit more comfortable, even if it’s not a day outfit.
4. The Baby Needs to Loosen up for a Nap
If your newborn is used to sleeping in special bedtime onesies or cocoon sleeping bags, you might have to change the outfit before naps. This can help the baby loosen up and sleep comfortably.
However, this swap doesn’t necessarily have to be a full-on outfit change since you can reuse same day clothes after the nap. However, it could mean dressing and undressing the little one about four times or so per day.
5. You’re Going Somewhere With the Newborn
You might have to change the clothes mid-day if you’re taking the baby outside. This also applies if you want your kid to wear something special when you have guests coming over.
Similarly, if you’re going to leave the newborn for someone to watch, make sure you pack at least one extra change of clothes.
Of course, you can always put on a jacket on the baby and call it a day if you don’t want to change the whole outfit just to grab something from around the corner.
6. You Just Bathed the Baby
After each bath, you’ll need to put a fresh outfit on your baby, even if the previous one wasn’t filthy just yet.
Thankfully, you don’t have to bathe your newborn every day. Instead, three times every week will do the trick for the most part.
Some people feel that throwing relatively clean clothes into the washer is a bit of a waste. So, you might want to push the scheduled bath to later in the day. By then, the outfit will probably need to be changed, anyway.
7. You Want to Put the Wardrobe Into Good Use Before It’s Too Late
For some parents, changing the newborn’s clothes isn’t as much of a chore, but it’s more of a fun activity.
After all, you might have a ton of adorable outfits in size 0-3 months, thanks to the baby shower gifts and your own shopping sprees. So, you’ll probably want to use all the cute pieces before your baby outgrows them!
That could be another reason to change your baby a few times throughout the day, regardless of the accidents and the bedtime routine.
You can even snap some pictures in different outfits and share them with family members with updates.
3 Tips for Changing Newborn Outfits
By now, it’s clear that the only way to know how often to change newborn clothes is with trial and error.
It sounds tough, but it’s true; you’ll need to try different changing schedules and techniques for your newborn until you find something that works.
That said, there are a few tips and tricks that can help new parents tackle frequent outfit changes throughout the day.
Here are three things to keep in mind:
1. Choose the Pieces Wisely
If accidents are way too frequent with your newborn, you can opt for two-piece outfits instead of onesies. This way, you can change the piece that got dirty only.
For instance, you can switch the top if it gets dirty with spit without having to grab pants and struggle to put them on the baby if they’re not necessarily dirty just yet.
You might also want to pick stuff that’s easy to put on and take off, like items with snap closures. These can take the hassle out of the equation and make the changing process easier for you and your munchkin!
2. Consider Some Naked Time
Sure, bibs can keep a lot of spit away from the clothes. However, not all newborns like wearing them, and you might have to ditch the extra protection layer if your little one is picky.
If that’s the case, odds are, you’ll need to change the baby’s clothes after feeding.
Unfortunately, these post-meal changes can really add up by the end of the day, considering how frequently newborns eat.
After a couple of meals with milk dripping from the baby’s mouth, the outfit could stink beyond toleration!
That’s why some parents could take off the babies’ clothes and feed them while they’re wearing diapers only. Then, they can put the outfit back after the meal. It doesn’t have to be a fresh one, either.
Of course, this is only a valid option if the temperature indoors is warm enough for the baby.
3. Don’t Overdo the layers
Putting on multiple layers can help keep your newborn warm, but it also makes the changes that much harder.
After all, taking off one onesie is bound to be less frustrating than undressing a baby wearing 3-4 layers, especially if the baby is already cranky from the heating.
Remember that babies don’t even sweat properly for the first few weeks of their life, and you need to keep them cool. So, unless the weather calls for layers, try to keep your newborn’s outfits as simple as possible.
Key Takeaways
Figuring out how often to change newborn clothes is all about understanding your baby’s needs and habits.
For one, heavy pukers and spitters can go through four or more outfits daily. A blowout alone can be enough of a reason for a change.
On the other hand, some parents tend to change their newborn’s outfit even if it’s not dirty yet. This could be because they want to set bedtime routines or get the baby ready to go out.
They might even do it just because they enjoy dressing up their little one!
Overall, it would be better to set a minimum limit of two outfits per day and see where you’ll go from there.
