Baby clothes – sizes and washing advice
Everything looks so cute, and almost unbelievably tiny, when you’re standing there in the store buying clothes for your future baby. But it can be difficult to estimate the size of your baby. It’s also worth remembering that babies grow fast, especially in the beginning, and they don’t wear their clothes for long.
Buying baby gear is a way to prepare for life with a small child – and more importantly, it is concrete proof that a little one is on the way for the person not carrying the baby. But it’s hard to imagine how small the little bundle will actually be, and what sizes newborns actually wear. So here’s a little list to help – and hand out to generous friends and family who might want to buy something to welcome the baby.
Baby clothes sizes:
Size 40 – premature baby (preemie)
Size 50 – newborn baby
Size 56 – baby 1 month, or bigger newborns
Size 62 – baby 3 months
Size 68 – baby 6 months
Size 74 – baby 9 months
Size 80 – child 1 year
Size 86 – child 18 months
Size 92 – child 2 years
Size guide for baby hats:
Size 36 – premature baby (preemie)
Size 36–38 – newborn baby to 1 month old
Size 40–42 – baby 1–4 months
Size 44–46 – baby 4–9 months
Size 48–50 – baby 9 months to child 2 years old
Size 52–54 – children 2 years and up
Of course, measurements vary slightly between children – they’re different sizes when they’re born after all – so the tables above are just an average. Clothing sizes indicate the approximate height of the child and hat sizes the circumference of the head in centimetres. One thing to keep in mind is that your newborn baby will grow rapidly. Before you know it, the clothes that were recently too big will be way too small. Looking for second-hand baby clothes is a great idea – not only is it better for your wallet and the environment, they’ll also have been washed a few times and softened up nicely.
Washing advice for baby clothes
Whether you buy new or second-hand clothes, it’s good to wash new baby clothes before use. Most baby clothes can be washed at 60 degrees, but there is really no need for them to be washed at that heat – instead, follow the washing instructions on the garment. Modern laundry detergents clean clothes at lower temperatures, saving energy and the environment. But what about if clothes are really dirty? Babyhood is a time when clothes get tested to the limit – where clothes with poo, vomit or food stains will be in the laundry basket, and the best way to get rid of stubborn stains is to rub the stains with washing up liquid a little while before washing them. When you wash baby clothes, you should use a mild, fragrance-free detergent, preferably one that is eco- and allergy-labelled. You can skip the fabric softener altogether – not only are they bad for the environment, but they can also ruin clothes for both young and old alike.
If you have wool clothes, the thin kind that doesn’t itch and feels soft against your baby’s skin, they need to be washed gently at a low temperature using a special wool wash programme. These clothes can often only be cleaned with a little water if there is a food stain – wool is somewhat dirt-repellent.
Please note that all information above is based on Swedish recommendations.
