Baby gear

• Babies need lots of stuff to stay safe and comfortable.
• Get a car seat and make sure you can install it correctly.
• Be sure any pre-owned items are cleaned and the right size.

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Newborns do not need a lot of clothing. Used clothing is fine as long as buttons and snaps are on tight and none of the thread is unraveling. We suggest the following items:

• 4 sleeping outfits or one-piece sleepers with attached feet
• 6 side-snap T-shirts
• 4 to 6 one-piece undershirts that snap at the crotch
• 1 baby cap (the hospital may send one home with your baby)
• 6 pairs of soft, snug socks or booties with elastic
• 2 to 3 soft, comfortable outfits for daytime
• 1 soft cotton sweater or light jacket
• A hat with a brim and an elastic chin strap for summer
• A warm knit hat with an elastic chin strap for winter
• A snowsuit for cold winters

Shopping tips

• Look for fabrics and seams that are soft and sturdy. Do not use clothes with scratchy appliqués, metal zippers, drawstrings, or tight or scratchy elastic bands.
• Make sure sleepwear is made of flame-resistant fabric or that it fits snugly. Loose-fitting sleepwear that is not flame-resistant is a fire hazard.
• Look for clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Try tops that open in the front or snap on the sides. Choose pants that have loose elastic waists and legs that snap open or open and close with Velcro.

Safety tips

• Check that buttons, hooks, snaps, bows, pompons and sequins cannot come off easily. Check that snaps are not rough or uneven.
• Turn socks or booties inside out and remove any loose threads that your baby could catch her toes in.
• Avoid loosely knitted sweaters, booties, hats, and other clothing. Your baby’s fingers or toes could get caught in the thread.
• Use sleepers and sleep-sacks instead of blankets when your baby sleeps. Babies can suffocate in blankets.

For more information, visit Babies & Kids on the Consumers Report Web site.

June 2008

Copyright 2008, Consumers Union of United States, Inc. All rights reserved. No redistribution allowed.