First of all, congratulations! Like many expectant moms, you may find that the rush of joy and anticipation makes you yearn to bring your future reality to full-color life right now. The months ahead may seem interminable, but it's wise from an emotional-- as well as a practical--standpoint to hold off on purchases until you're well into your second or third trimester.
As hard as it is to think about, most miscarriages happen in the first trimester, so keep things low-key. Having to pack away baby clothes and crib gear might only make a loss that much more wrenching. In the same spirit, you might want to only tell close friends and family about your pregnancy until you're statistically out of the woods.
Should the worst happen, you can count on them to support and grieve with you, while protecting yourself from the pain of repeating the sad news over and over to others you aren't so close to. On a happier note, waiting until about the fifth month, when you're showing, gives you something to look forward to, and a way to mark the time passing.
But don't rush to the store once your news is out, either. You'll probably be inundated with hand-me-downs from parents with older babies—another reason to wait to buy. Before the baby arrives, you might want to re-launder hand-me-downs in dye- and fragrance-free detergent (like Tide Free or Seventh Generation Natural Baby Laundry Detergent, which is plant-derived and nontoxic)—and you should certainly do so for new clothes.
When you do shop, consider what season your baby will be born in, so you're not stuck with wee fleece vests in May. I recommend buying clothes for sizes 3 months and up; wait until you're closer to your due date to buy smaller sizes, if you must. By then you'll have a better idea of how much your baby will weigh as a newborn. Many babies skip the newborn size entirely, or grow out of them after one or two wearings, so it might be better to buy clothes with legs and arms that are easy to roll up so your baby can grow into them..
Focus on easy-on-and-off clothes—snaps and Velcro beat buttons—that feel soft, especially around the neck and cuffs. Light colors actually hide newborn spit-up pretty well. (Once your baby's onto solid food, the more colorful the clothes the better).
Speaking of which, don't forget to pick up bibs in soft terry or cotton, And—do I even need to say it?—everything should be machine-washable. Leave the fancy duds to doting grandparents and your friends with no kids.
So what to do between now and shopping day? If you can't stand not feathering your nest at all, invest in information! You may have a classic or two like What to Expect When You're Expecting, but I also loved A Child is Born by Lennart Nilsson, with its breathtaking in-utero photos as well as the hilarious and poignant Operating Instructions, by Anne Lamott. They'll help pass the time while you wait and wait and wait.....
Andrea Messina
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Just a word of advice.. I went out as soon as i found out I was pregnant I went out and bought clothes.. Then after I had him he was a lot smaller than we expected so I didn't have anything he could wear... I would say with clothes a month or two before your baby is born is when I would start buying clothes
Keep clearance racks in mind. I had a family member who was due in December. She found out she was pregnant in early spring, when winter stuff was on clearance. We were able to get newborn winter stuff on clearance. We packed it away until the baby was born. Now the he is here, we see is is going to be a little bit bigger than normal, we are buying size 18 months clothes on clearance to store away so he can wear next winter. Shopping off season clearance racks works great, even through elementary school if you have the storage space.
Talk about bibs, I got these very useful bibs as gift from sis-in-law.
Whenever my daughter spits up/ dribbles it never gets unto her clothes.
check them out at www.awowbaby.com
and
http://www.mommie911.com/content/wow-baby-bib-and-bib-liner-giveaway
My husband and I are expecting our first, i'm going on 25 weeks. A bit of advice from one first time mother to another...buy NOTHING in the way of clothes. Really! You'd be so surprisd (especially if it's your first) how much people will send/give/lend to you. We were lucky to have multiple family members who gave us gifts of clothes. And, really, the baby will grow SO fast that really you'd be able to spend money on much better useful items for him/her. One thing I did to pass my pregnancy time is I painted our nursery with my husband and fixed up the walls. Buy your rocking chair early (I love to sit in mine, it takes pain off of my back!)
Thank you for good advice, on when to buy clothes for a baby.
For me personally I buy after the 3month booking in and scan. I normal fear the worst in those 3 months and as soon as i hear the heart beat and see him/her on screen, I then feel safe enough to start buying. I hate being told to wait untill as late as possible to buy stuff because anything could happen, go wrong etc.. I spent my first pregnancy in fear.. and didnt enjoy one second of it! Now im 14 weeks pregnant with 2nd and ive seen the baby, heard the baby, i intend on making the most of this pregnancy and celebrate it as early as i can. If something is going to go wrong with a pregnancy, it will... and it could happen at anytime.. and at the same time, it could so smoothly and youve spent the best of your pregnancy hiding away and waiting... Forget it... go shopping... enjoy it! And congratulation x
My recommendation is to check out freecycle.org and join a group in your area. I have gotten clothes for my now 1 year old daughter until she reaches about 4! All free in good condition and it has saved me soooo much! I have a new little girl due in Nov so all those clothes will come in handy. ( I chose to save them as I knew we'd be trying again soon). I also got a crib for the new baby from freecycle. It's the best, good for the environment (keeping items out of the landfill), and good for people - both for those who need stuff and those looking for a good home for their used stuff.