The Complete Layette Checklist: Everything You Need Before Baby Arrives
A complete newborn layette checklist covers five key categories: bodysuits and onesies, sleepwear, and outerwear; accessories, care and cleanup items; and going-home extras. Most new parents need roughly 6 to 8 onesies, 4 to 6 footies, and 2 to 3 rompers to start, plus swaddles, bibs, burp cloths, and a few seasonal layers. Of course, keep in mind exact quantities shift depending on how much you’re doing the laundry (and if you don’t have in-unit laundry it’s time to get your hand-washing groove on) and which size you’re buying.
The checklist covers what to buy and how many. If you’ve gotten this far in the article and are furrowing your brow, questioning what we mean by the term “layette”, start with our guide to What is Layette? first.
TLDR
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A starter layette assortment includes 6 to 8 onesies, 4 to 5 footies, 2 to 3 rompers, 4 to 6 swaddles or sleep sacks, 4 to 6 bibs, 6 to 8 burp cloths, 2 to 3 hats, 4 to 6 pairs of socks and mittens, a season appropriate jacket and a going home outfit.
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Quantities assume laundry every 2-3 days. Adjust up or down if you’re doing laundry less often or have a baby prone to blowouts and spit up.
For the full breakdown by size and reasoning behind each number see Onesies , Footies, and Rompers: How Many of Each Do You Need?
Table of Contents
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Bodysuits and Onesies
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Sleepwear
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Outerwear and Accessories
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Care and Cleanup
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Going Home and First-Weeks Extras
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Newborn Size vs. 0-3 month: A Quick Flag
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Small Apartment Layette Tips
The Checklist
Bodysuits & Onesies
Recommended: 6 to 8 total, split across whichever sizes you’re starting with
Onesies are the workhorse of the layette. They’re worn constantly, layered under everything else, and the first thing that needs to be changed after a blowout. Envelope styles are our favorites, as they’re the easiest because you don’t have to pull them over the baby’s head.
Sleepwear
Recommended: 4 to 6 footies, plus 4 to 6 swaddles or sleep sacks
Footies are what baby sleeps in most nights, so this category gets heavy rotation. How many you need also depends on whether you’re using a swaddle or sleep sack layered over the footie. See Swaddle vs. Sleep Sack if you haven’t decided yet.
Outerwear & Accessories
Recommended 2 to 3 hats, 4 to 6 pairs of socks and mittens, and one season-appropriate outer layer
Mittens matter less for warmth and more for protecting delicate skin from sharp newborn nails. Outerwear should match your due date’s season: a February baby and a July baby need very different layette weighting here, so buy for the weather that baby’s going to be born into, don’t just snap up any baby coat to check a box.
Care & Clean up
Recommended 4 to 6 bibs, 6 to 8 burp cloths
As they say, spit happens! Babies spit up a lot so burp cloths and bibs get lost of use. Err toward the higher end of the range. For the full feeding-side setup, including bottles, nursing cover, and bottle racks, see the Feeding Station Checklist.
Going home and First Weeks Extras
Recommended: One special going-home outfit, plus a smaller buffer of newborn size basics.
Keep your Newborn clothing small and special rather than heavily stocked as most babies grow out of newborn size within two to four weeks. Always opt for breathable fabrics and outfits that are easy to get on and off (envelope style, magnetic closures).
Newborn size vs. 0-3 months
Don’t bulk-buy the NB sized clothes. As we said, this itty bitty size is normally grown out of in weeks and some (often boys) skip it nearly entirely. This checklist quantities assumes a mix of both sizes. For the full breakdown of how to split your registry between the two, see Newborn vs. 0-3 month: Which Size Should You Actually Register For?
Small Apartment Layette Tips
You’re a city family so you know the drill: space is at a premium (just ask your local Corcoran). Only buy what realistically fits in your dresser or closet. You don’t want to stuff drawers with outfits that will be grown out of before they are worn.
For storage solutions built for small NYC nurseries see Best Space Saving Layette Storage & Capsule Wardrobe Essentials.
Registering with Babesta
Ready to register? Babesta’s got your back. Add your favorites to The Ultimate City Baby Registry at Babesta, and take advantage of our expert advice and city-ready services.
We will hold your haul until you need it, build your stroller for you for free, and train you on it. We also have white glove services if you’re not feeling handy and can offer post-purchase support. Just wheel in and we’ll figure it all out together.
Don’t lose your cool shopping for your newborn baby. Shop Babesta.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the minimum layette I need to bring baby home?
At minimum, you need a going-home outfit, 3 to 4 onesies, 2 to 3 footies, a swaddle and a few bibs and burp cloths. This should be enough to get your through the first few days. After that, you can stock up some more, knowing your baby’s exact size and vibe!
Should I buy the full layette before baby arrives, or wait?
Buy the essentials before your due date, since you probably won’t have a lot of energy for shopping, given that baby’s taking up most of your hours. But you can hold off on stocking newborn size, as it’s outgrown in a blink. Just a few pieces is good.
What layette items do I need most of?
You need the most onesies and burp cloths, as these get the most use and have the fastest turnover (thank you spit up and blowouts!). Buy these in the higher end of the recommended range.
Is a layette checklist different from a baby registry checklist?
Yes: a layette checklist covers what to physically buy and set up for baby’s wardrobe, while a registry checklist is what you ask friends and family to gift before baby arrives. Most people put their layette items on the baby registry. We encourage you to use this list as a guide!
