How to dress your baby

Dressing and undressing a newborn can be tricky – just how do you get all those wiggly little limbs into that tiny babygrow? Just relax – while we show you how to dress your baby

On average your newborn will need about four changes of clothes every day – so you’re in for plenty of practice. Although some babies don’t like being dressed and undressed, persevere – they tend to get used to it as they get older. To keep your stress-levels to a minimum (and your baby’s) try and make sure you’re quick and fairly smooth in your movements and that the room your dressing your baby in is warm.

How to do it:

1 After you’ve topped and tailed your baby, put her nappy on (to prevent messy accidents) and then start with the vest. As newborns have very little head control, her head will flop (but not harmfully) unless it’s supported. So, make sure her head is resting on something – be it changing mat or your hand.

2 Scrunch up the vest and stretch the neck as wide as possible, so that you can slip it on in one go. Support her neck with one hand, and then ease the vest over her head, without letting it touch her face. This may sound like you’ve got to have as many arms as a friendly octopus, but with practice, you’ll be able to do this in seconds (promise).

3 It’s basically the same principal for the arms. Hold the armhole open as wide as you can, then concertina the sleeve up and ease your baby’s hand through the sleeve, and pull down over the arm. Do exactly the same with the other sleeve, and then do up the fastenings between her legs.

4 Lay out a stretchsuit and place your baby on top. Take one leg of the stretchsuit and gently ease your baby’s leg into it. Do the same with the other leg. The gather up one sleeve and hold it open while you guide your baby’s hand through. Repeat with the other side. Finally do up the fastenings.

Choosing clothes – seven things to remember

It’s hard not to go all gooey at all the cute clothes you can buy for you baby – but pick stuff thats practical and comfortable – as well as making you go aah…

1 Avoid tight necklines as most babies hate stuff pulled down over their heads, try and pick clothes which do up at the front or at the back.

2 Zips or front fastenings should be generous enough so you don’t have to bend your baby’s legs double to get them into the suit.

3 Avoid frills round the neck – they’ll get covered in dribble and food (nice) and will irritate your baby’s chin.

4 Make sure the feet of all in one suits, socks and tights have enough room. Too tight, and they could be uncomfortable for your baby’s feet.

5 Soft, stretchy fabrics are comfortable to wear and easier to dry than denim, cord or other tough fabrics.

6 Avoid open lacy-patterned cardigans and jumpers – little fingers can easily get caught in the holes.

7 Choose stretchsuits with fastenings down both legs, so you don’t have to take the whole thing off every time you change a nappy.

Courtesy of Pregnancy & Birth magazine