It’s always exciting and so much fun to look out for a perfect dress for your baby when you are taking your baby home for the first time from the hospital. Apart from fun it is too confusing as well to choose a dress with so many different products and brands available. So let’s work on few facts which can help us select a perfect dress for your baby that is comfortable, travels well and photographs well.

Shop according to the season

Infants always need an additional layer of clothing over what adults’ wear, except when it’s too hot. Plan according to the season when the baby arrives. If you think it will be too cold then the baby’s going home outfit should have a fleece coat or suit, and a warm hat as well. On the contrary if it’s hot then a single layer of clothing will do, but you may still want to have a sun hat or shade blanket to protect the baby’s skin.

Comfort is the key

Infants have a very sensitive skin so the kind of outfit you choose must be made up of soft, breathable fabrics and stretchy arm, leg and neck openings. If you choose to take an opening which has elastic in it to gather the cloth, then make sure that the elastic is not too tight and it is not in direct contact with the skin, to avoid irritation. There must be a layer of fabric in between the elastic and the skin. Make sure the buttons and the snap are attached well and do not scratch the baby’s skin. It’s obvious that the parents would like the best dress for their baby and at times want some fancy stuff. But remember fancy clothes get too fussy and uncomfortable for the babies at times. Those types of clothes often aren’t soft and comfy.

Check for the sizes

Most of the parents prefer to buy clothes in slightly bigger sizes with the intention that they will be able to wear those special clothes for a longer time. This is a good strategy for the babies who are a bit older in age, but for infants this is a bad idea. The newborns that are just few pounds in weight will look like they are swimming in those outfits. Look at the weight tags rather than going by the age. Compare the clothes of different brands to look for the right size.

Easy to put on and off

Most of us buy clothes thinking that the manufacturers will keep all the aspects in mind and then make the clothes for babies, but that isn’t the case. Most of them don’t actually fit the babies. Look for the openings which are wide enough and opens further with snaps or buttons. Remember that few diaper changes are necessary, so look for the snap openings at the bottom and or outfits that are easy to remove entirely. Double check whether the clothes are machine washable.

Simple clothing is best for babies

Don’t look for too complicated and detailed clothes they will look out of place on babies. Look for simple clothes with solid colors or fairly low-key patterns which look best on the newborns. This type of clothes looks best on babies and can be photographed well.

Carry a spare piece

Unfortunately your baby doesn’t understand the importance of the carefully selected dress for him or her. So it’s possible that one of the baby’s first messes land up on the newly selected outfit.  So always be ready with the second pair just in case the first one gets soiled up. This is a good practice as well for the coming next few years. Always carry a spare piece of outfit whenever you travel until the baby is potty trained.

Traveling clothes

If you’re driving home along with the baby then you need to put the baby in the car seat. Very long dresses or sleep sack-type outfits that would need to be bunched up in order to buckle the car seat may not be a good idea. You don’t want to bundle up that extra fabric under the car seat or behind the baby for comfort and safety reasons. If it’s too cold then put the baby in the car seat and then cover the baby by tucking a warm blanket over the top of the harness, or else put baby in a thin fleece suit. Do not put thick snow suit on the baby as the baby might not be comfortable sitting in that car seat.