New parents overdress newborns far more often than they underdress them. In most of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, for most of the year, a newborn needs one layer of soft cotton and a muslin. Here is the rule, the fabrics, the sizes and the quantities.
The layer rule
Dress the baby in the same number of layers you are comfortable in, plus one thin layer only if the room is cool or air-conditioned. Then check the back of the neck or the chest: warm and dry is right. Sweaty means remove a layer; cool means add one. Hands and feet are always a little cool and are not a good guide.
Fabrics
- 100% cotton for anything touching the skin: jhablas, bodysuits, sleepsuits, caps and mittens.
- Mul-mul or muslin for swaddles and wrap sheets; they breathe and wash soft.
- No polyester, no wool directly on the skin, no stiff embroidery or sequins on the inside.
- Wash every new piece in a mild baby detergent before the first wear.
Styles that make life easy
- Front-open jhablas with ties or snaps for the first weeks, when you avoid pulling anything over the head.
- Envelope-neck bodysuits that stretch over the head and can be pulled down after a nappy leak.
- Sleepsuits with foot covers for nights and AC rooms.
- Mittens and caps for the hospital and AC; skip them indoors in summer.
Sizes explained
| Label | Typically fits | How many to buy |
|---|---|---|
| NB (newborn) | Up to about 3.5 to 4 kg | 2 to 3 pieces only |
| 0–3 months | About 3.5 to 6 kg | Most of the first wardrobe |
| 3–6 months | About 6 to 8 kg | A few pieces ready for month two |
Brands differ, so check the weight on the label rather than the age. Keep the bills: we exchange unworn clothes with tags at any of our stores.
By situation
- Hospital: a front-open jhabla, cap, mittens, socks and a muslin wrap; hospitals run cold.
- Home in summer: a sleeveless vest and nappy, or a short-sleeve bodysuit.
- AC room: a full-sleeve sleepsuit or a bodysuit plus a muslin layer.
- Outings: a cotton suit, a cap for sun or wind, and a muslin for shade. Never a blanket over the pram opening.
- Winter mornings (December to January): a full-sleeve sleepsuit, a soft cotton cap and a light cotton blanket in the pram; a thin fleece only if you are wearing one.
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Questions parents ask us
How many layers should a newborn wear?
What size should I buy for a newborn?
Does a newborn need a cap and mittens?
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