What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff Page A

the stump does fall off, you can switch to the pullover onesie style, which is smoother and more comfortable for baby. These one-piece bodysuits (also called creepers) have snap openings on the bottom for easy diaper access and don’t ride up, keeping tummies covered in cool weather. Look for a wide opening at the neck for easy on, easy off. Once style starts to matter more, you can graduate to bodysuits that look more like shirts (long or short sleeved), made to be worn under pants, skirts, or leggings. For now, consider buying 5 to 10 undershirts (newborn size) and 7 to 10 onesies.
    Stretchies with feet. Footed outfits keep tootsies toasty without socks, making them especially practical (as you’ll soon find out, socks and booties—cute as they are—rarely stay put for long). Make sure they have snaps or zippers at the crotch for easy access to baby’s bottom, which you’ll be visiting quite often. Otherwise, you’ll be undressing and redressing at every diaper change. You may find that zippers have the edge, since they’ll save you the frustration of trying to line up all those little snaps when you’re sleep-deprived or in a rush, or baby’s crying for a feed. Consider buying around 7 footed stretchies.
    Rompers. These are one-piece, short-or long-sleeved outfits with or without legs that typically snap at the crotch and down the legs. Consider buying 3 to 6.
    Two-piece outfits. These are smart-looking but not as sensible as one-piece (two pieces are twice as tricky to put on and take off), so try to limit yourself—it will be hard!—to 1 or 2 of them. Look for two-piecers that snap together at the waist so the pants don’t slide down and the shirt doesn’t ride up.
    Nightgowns with elastic bottoms. While stretchies can also stand in as sleepwear, some parents prefer nightgowns for their babies, especially in the early weeks, when the easy-open bottoms make those middle-of-the-night diaper changes a snap (without the snaps). Consider buying 3 to 6 nightgowns—and avoid gowns that close at the bottom with drawstrings (strings over 6 inches are a safety hazard). Sleepwear for children must meet federal standards for flame resistance—a label will tell you whether or not a particular outfit is designated as safe-for-sleep or not.
    Blanket sleepers or sleep sacks. These sleepers keep baby cuddly warm without a comforter or blanket (which should be avoided because of the risk of suffocation or SIDS; click here ). These wearable blankets provide plenty of kicking and arm-waving room and can keep a baby cozy during those nights when a stretchy or nightgown doesn’t provide enough warmth. They come in lightweight cotton (for summer nights when the AC is on) and fleece (for winter sleeping—though to avoid overheating be sure not to dress your baby too warmly underneath the sleep sack). Consider buying 2 to 3 seasonally appropriate ones.
    Sweaters. One lightweight sweater will do the trick for a warm-weather baby, 1 to 2 heavier ones will be needed if baby’s arriving in winter. Look for sweaters (or sweatshirts or hoodies, but without strings) that are washable and dryable as well as easy on, easy off.
    Hats. Summer babies need at least 1 lightweight hat with a brim (for sun protection). Winter babies need 1 or more heavier-weight hats to stay warm (a lot of the body’s heat escapes through the head, and since a baby’s head is disproportionately large, there’s a lot of potential for heat loss). Hats should be shaped to cover the ears snugly but not too tightly. Another outdoor accessory to consider for an older baby: good-quality sunglasses ( click here for more).
    Bunting bag or snowsuit with attached mitts, for a late fall or winter baby living in a four-season climate. A bunting bag is easier on, easier off than a snowsuit (no trying to negotiate feet into leg holes), but it may have to be retired once baby is more active. Some buntings