When To Start Buying Baby Clothes?

Wondering when to start buying baby clothes?

It’s a common question many new parents have, so let’s take a look at the best time to buy baby clothes.

There is no denying baby clothes are adorable!

And buying them, in anticipation of your baby’s arrival, is one of the greatest joys during pregnancy.

But once you’ve discovered your pregnant and worked out how many baby clothes you need should you rush out and buy them? Or should you wait till your third trimester? Or till after your baby has arrived?

Honestly, there is no right or wrong answer. But there are some things you should consider first.

So, we’re going to discuss the pros and cons on when to buy your baby clothes so you can best gauge what will work for your and your family.

And if you love this guide on when do you start buying baby clothes, then make sure to check out these guides on should you wash new baby clothes, different types of baby clothes names, and clever ways to organize baby clothes.

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When To Start Buying Baby Clothes

Let’s dive in and look at the when to start buying newborn clothes and their pros and cons.

Buying Baby Clothes Prior to Pregnancy

If your planning your pregnancy or actively trying then you may have started to prepare for your future baby. Whilst buying baby clothes at this stage may seem very premature for many, there can be some benefits.

Pros

• Easy to buy baby clothes at bargain prices when on sale
• Able to buy a range of baby clothes for the different seasons
• It can give you something to look forward to

Cons

• You don’t know your baby’s gender
• You don’t know what season your baby will be born in
• Can be difficult if falling pregnant isn’t an easy journey

Buying Baby Clothes in First Trimester

If you’ve found out you’re pregnant then your first instinct may be to rush out and buy all the baby items you need so you’re prepared. This can be great it you’re a person that likes to be organized or if you’re needing to budget in your baby spends. But, there are also some cons to starting to buy baby clothes in your first triemester.

Pros

• Easy to buy baby clothes at bargain prices when on sale
• Able to spread out baby costs over your pregnancy
• You know you’ll be organized for when your baby arrives
• You know you’re due date so can buy clothes appropriate for the season
• It can give you something to look forward to

Cons

• You don’t know your baby’s gender
• You don’t know the size of your baby so you may end up buying clothes for your baby that they will never wear
• You may be given baby clothes so again you may end up buying clothes for your baby that they will never wear
• You may be suffering from morning sickness and simply don’t feel up to it
• Can be difficult if you have a miscarriage

Buying Baby Clothes in Second Trimester

Starting to buy baby clothes in your second trimester is probably the most common time parents start to buy baby clothes. By now, if you have chosen, you will know your baby’s gender, miscarriage is less of a risk, and you can ensure you’re prepared for your baby if they arrive early.

Pros

• You know your baby’s gender
• Easy to buy baby clothes at bargain prices when on sale
• Still able to spread out baby costs over the last 2 trimesters of pregnancy
• You know you’ll be organized for when your baby arrives
• You know you’re due date so can buy clothes appropriate for the season
• It can give you something to look forward to

Cons

• You don’t know the size of your baby so you may end up buying clothes for your baby that they will never wear
• You may be given baby clothes so again you may end up buying clothes for your baby that they will never wear

Buying Baby Clothes in Third Trimester

Again buying baby clothes in your third trimester is common time. If you’re had a gender reveal or baby shower then you would have no doubt been gifted plenty of baby clothes and items, so you will be able to see the gaps in essential baby items that you’ll need. It will be less likely to find clothes on sale, especially if you’re trying to buy for specific seasons and spreading out the cost over time will obviously be more difficult.

Pros

• You know your baby’s gender
• You know what items you’ll need after being gifted baby clothes in baby gender reveal/baby shower
• You know you’re due date so can buy clothes appropriate for the season
• It can give you something to look forward to
• If you’re working you may be given maternity leave to prepare for your baby

Cons

• You don’t know the size of your baby so you may end up buying clothes for your baby that they will never wear
• Spreading costs out is more difficult
• Your baby may come early leaving you underprepared
• Less likely to find clothes on sale

Buying Baby Clothes After Your Baby Has Been Born

Whilst we recommend having a few basic baby clothes, there can be some benefits to waiting till your baby has been born before you buy the bulk of your baby clothes. Especially if you have waiting till their birth to learn their gender.

Pros

• You know the size of clothes your baby will need
• You know your baby’s gender
• You know exactly what items you’ll need after being gifted baby clothes and items

Cons

• You may be underprepared meaning you need to rush out and buy the basics
• You mostly likely don’t want to be heading to the shops to buy baby clothes straight after giving birth
• Spreading costs out is not really possible
• Unlikely to find clothes on sale
• May be difficult to find items you need especially if it’s between seasons

Things To Consider Before You Start Buying Baby Clothes

Whilst we’ve talked lots about the pros and cons for starting to buy baby clothes at each stage. Here are a few more factors you may want to consider before you start shopping.

Think About Making A Gift Registry

You can also look into making a baby gift registry for your baby clothes and other items. This way you can send out invitations to family and friends who would like to give you gifts for your new arrival.

It will make it easier for people to know exactly what type of things to buy you.

Having a registry doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t go out and buy your own adorable baby outfits, but it does however mean that you will hopefully have to buy less, end up with less double ups, and you end up with baby clothes that match your style.

Consider Whether You Are Having A Gender Reveal 

Another thing to consider is whether you are going to hold a gender reveal party.

These parties are often held in the weeks leading up to the birth of a baby boy or girl where guests dress up in fancy dresses and hats to guess the sex of the baby. 

Gender reveals are becoming more and more common and often occurring earlier and earlier in pregnancy.

It is typically common courtesy for guests to bring gifts to the party which frequently include clothes.

So, if you are holding a gender reveal party then you may wish to wait until after the party to do the bulk of your shopping.

However, there is nothing stopping you from buying little bits and bobs before. 

Consider Whether You Are Having A Baby Shower

A baby shower is another event where lots of people come together to celebrate the impending arrival of a baby. Typically, the mother-to-be receives lots of presents including clothes.

As such, you may wish to hold off on buying too many baby clothes until after the baby shower.

However, this may not be practical as baby showers are frequently held towards the end of the pregnancy, so you could end up giving birth not long after!

A baby shower is a great opportunity to get some fun clothing but maybe don’t bank on getting all the most practical gifts here as people typically prefer to buy cute outfits rather than seven packs of plain white vests. 

Are You Using Hand Me Downs?

If you are using hand-me-downs then you may want to think about waiting until after the baby arrives to get any more items.

It’s important to remember that you can not only use hand-me-downs from your other children but perhaps from other friends or relatives.

Hand-me-downs can be a great way of saving money. 

Think About The Season That Your Baby Is Due To Be Born In

The season that your baby is due to be born in can play an essential role in what kind of clothes you need to buy.

For example, if you are having a winter baby then you may find yourself needing warmer clothes than if you were having a summer baby.

It’s also worth noting that the seasons change throughout the year, so it might be better to wait until closer to your baby’s birth to get their clothes. 

Depending upon the climate where you live the weather may be variable in which case you will need to buy more clothes for your baby to allow for layering and different weather conditions.

In these cases you may need to start shopping for baby clothes quicker than you would have had you needed simple summer clothes for a guaranteed hot climate. 

Final Thoughts on When Do You Start Buying Baby Clothes

So, hopefully now you have a good idea of when you should start buying baby clothes. Remember though, that you don’t necessarily need to rush into things.

If you feel like you need to make sure you’re prepared for everything then you can always start sooner but don’t be afraid to take the time to shop around for the best prices and deals. 

Remember, when should you start buying baby clothes is really a personal preference. There are no right or wrong answers. It comes down to choosing a time that works best for you and your family.

And if you’re looking for more great baby guides, then check out these clothing guides on should you hang or fold baby clothes, how many bibs do I need, how many swaddles do I need, and best baby dressers for nursery.