Practical and Adorable Going Home Outfits for Bringing Home Baby
Planning for your new baby’s arrival is thrilling! Choosing their layette and newborn hospital outfits is such a fun part of the process, giving you a chance to express your personal style while you anticipate the arrival of your precious little one. Include yourself in the fun with Mommy and Me hospital outfits that will make your first days together even more special.
What to Consider When Choosing a Newborn Hospital Outfit
As you plan your newborn’s going home outfit, there are a few guidelines that will ensure your baby looks picture-perfect on their big day, and that your hospital stay and trip home are as easy and comfy as possible. Clothing safety is always of primary importance when dressing baby. Ensure that your chosen newborn hospital outfits are the right fabric (cooling fabric is always great) as babies cannot regulate their temperatures and overheating can be a risk factor for SIDs.
You’ll also want to consider how easy the clothes will be to get on and off. Newborns can go through 12 diapers a day, which means lots of changes! And selecting newborn hospital outfits with double zippers that provide easy access can save time and keep baby more comfortable as they are adjusting to their big new world.
Finally, enjoy the fun part of choosing hospital outfits for your newborn: expressing your unique style and aesthetic. If you’re planning Mommy and Me matching newborn outfits, consider fabrics, patterns, and colors that you love so you’ll enjoy wearing your items for years to come.
Essential Features of the Ideal Newborn Going Home Outfit
In your baby’s earliest weeks, you may find that the perfect daywear is actually the same as what you’d choose when you dress baby for bed! Sometimes, the simplest options are really the best options. All our favorite newborn going home outfits prioritize the following features so that bringing home baby is as easy as can be:
- Easy diaper changing access through separates, snaps, or zippers
- Simple dressing
- Gentle, breathable fabrics
- Car seat safe
- Appropriate sizing for your newborn—whether preemie, average, or tipping the scales!
Popular Styles of Newborn Hospital Outfits
While the options for dressing baby are virtually endless, you can group most infant layettes into three broad categories, each with its own benefits. Newborn gowns, footed sleepers, and separates can all make wonderfully adorable newborn hospital outfits depending on your personal priorities.
Gowns for Newborn Going Home Outfits
Sweet newborn gowns are a classic for a reason! This beautiful style of infant clothing gives a slight nod to vintage fashions and has become especially popular for newborn photos. Our knotted gowns photograph beautifully with sweet details like wooden buttons and matching hats and are extra special as part of a matching Mommy and Me newborn outfit.
Achieve simple diaper changes with a variation on the classic gown in a snap-up bundler. Free baby’s feet without unknotting with simple snaps in a T-shaped design. Knotted gowns and bundlers are adorable options for your newborn’s going home outfit.
For the car ride home, simply untie or unsnap the garment to expose baby’s legs, then fasten the car seat buckle. The loose fabric from the tail of the gown may be draped back over their legs to keep them warm.
Footed Sleepers for Every Day (and Every Night!)
Perhaps more than any other baby clothing item, the footie pajama is the workhorse of infant layette. Supremely practical, with built-in socks to keep tiny feet warm and fold-over mittens to prevent scratches, the footed sleeper can comfortably take baby from day to night and is an excellent choice for a newborn hospital outfit.
With options featuring snap and zipper closures, you can choose the style that works best for you. Classic snaps give our footies a timeless look that’s precious for photos in your newborn’s going home outfit. Our dual zippers make for quick and simple diapering, even when you’re bleary-eyed.
Pro tip: If your baby needs a trip to the NICU, the snap closures make it easy to dress baby around the leads and tubes.
Newborn’s Going Home Outfit in Sweet Separates
If separates are more your style, thoughtfully designed Take Me Home sets tick all the boxes for a beautiful and practical newborn going home outfit. A kimono-style snap-up shirt makes it easy to dress baby without pulling anything over their head. Footed pants mean you don’t have to keep up with socks, and a wide, comfort-fit waistband is non-irritating to gently cover baby’s umbilical stump.
Choosing Season-Appropriate Newborn Hospital Outfits
Newborns are still developing the ability to regulate their own temperature, so it’s important to dress them appropriately for the season when planning your newborn’s going home outfit. In summer, choose 0.5 TOG sleep bags and breathable fabrics to ensure baby isn’t overdressed.
In winter, follow car seat safety protocols by avoiding thick layers beneath the straps. Instead, top baby with a car seat cover or tuck a newborn hospital blanket over them when transitioning from the hospital to the car.
Transitional seasons like spring and fall can be tricky, with temperatures that fluctuate. Planning for long sleeves and layering options like a hat and matching newborn hospital blanket or sleep bag can keep your baby cozy and adorable in their newborn going home outfit, no matter the weather.
Packing Your Hospital Bag: Planning Hospital Outfits for Mom
While you’ll likely only be in the hospital for a day or two, you’ll want to plan a few different hospital outfits for your newborn and yourself. Prioritizing comfort is key during these first days, and you may want to have something that’s both practical and beautiful to slip into, like cozy loungewear and a matching pregnancy hospital robe.
Small details like soft, breathable fabrics in a pretty color or print can help nurture your body so you feel more like yourself. Additionally, postpartum hot flashes might mean you alternate between warm and cool, so having breathable layers can be helpful. A soft pregnancy hospital robe is a wonderful option for combining both style and comfort in those first days postpartum.
What to Pack for Baby in Your Hospital Bag
For baby, plan a few backup newborn hospital outfits to account for spit-up and diapering mishaps. Consider packing more than one size, as you never really know how big baby is going to be!
You should also bring any accessories you may want for your hospital newborn photos, like hats, toys, nameplates, or a special newborn hospital blanket. Don’t worry about packing things like diapers, wipes, bottles, or other necessities in your bag – the hospital should provide you with at least enough feeding, diapering, and care essentials to get you home.
Double the Cute with Matching Mommy and Me Newborn Outfits
Match your mini with adorable coordinating Mommy and Me sets. Our matching Mommy and Me newborn outfits are designed with comfort in mind for both you and baby, helping you feel both put together and nurtured in those first postpartum hours. Stylish prints in the softest fabrics will help you feel beautiful in our mommy and me hospital outfits, even if you aren’t quite getting the beauty sleep you’re used to.
Choose your favorite color or pattern in a style that offers all the comfort you need during your hospital stay. Then, pick a matching mommy and me newborn outfit from a gown, footie, or Take Me Home set of the same print!
Big siblings can also join in the fun, with toddler and big kid styles like basic tees and twirl dresses to match your newborn’s going home outfit. Some of our favorite Mommy and Me matching prints to consider for your newborn’s hospital outfit are:
- Blush butterfly
- Bow
- Fluffy Dog
- Hibiscus
- Humpback
- Midnight Leopard
- Pineapple
- Teddy Bear
Hospital Bag Packing Checklist
Don’t forget to include these items when you pack your hospital bag:
- Multiple copies of your birth plan
- Personal identification and insurance cards
- Robe and comfortable loungewear
- Nursing tanks or bras, if breastfeeding
- Warm socks and slippers
- Toiletries that help you feel like yourself with minimal effort, like lip balm, moisturizer, and dry shampoo
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- An extra-long cell phone charger and any electronics you enjoy
- Simple pajamas or bodysuits for baby, with backups
- Matching mommy and me hospital outfits for in-room photos
- A newborn going home outfit
- A newborn hospital blanket
- Photo accessories
Pregnancy Hospital Robes for Style and Comfort
A must-have accessory for your hospital stay is a lusciously soft pregnancy hospital robe that offers cozy comfort in chilly hospital rooms and quick modesty when visitors stop by. While baby is figuring out feeding, it can be simplest to ditch shirts altogether so you can have a full view of baby’s face to ensure a correct latch. A luxurious pregnancy hospital robe is a beautiful and practical way to make breastfeeding more comfortable in those early days.
Mommy and Me hospital outfits are made even better with a coordinating pregnancy hospital robe that you can wear and enjoy throughout your postpartum season and beyond. Choose a robe in the same print as baby’s newborn hospital outfit or select a coordinating solid color.
Our wide range of playful prints, core colors, and special seasonal solids means it’s easy to mix and match your pregnancy hospital robe for a picture-perfect look. Some of our favorite prints and solids to mix and match are:
- Big Midnight Magnolia + Thyme
- Blush Butterfly + Fog or Midnight
- Bow + Apple Blossom
- Thyme Lily + Cloud
- Teddy Bear + Slate
Tips for Great Newborn Hospital Photos
You’ll be so enamored with your new bundle of joy that you’ll want to capture every detail on film, from their tiny nose and toes to their perfectly selected newborn hospital outfit. You can hire a professional photographer, or you can capture these precious moments yourself with a little planning and DIY newborn photography know-how.
Dress baby in a simple newborn hospital outfit to avoid distracting from all the adorable details you’ll want to remember about their first hours. Whether you hire a professional or do it yourself, make the most of your photos by packing a few items that will add an extra special touch:
- A classic knotted gown and hat set or coordinating bow
- A custom name plate or plaque with birth stats
- A swaddle blanket for baby
- A coordinating pregnancy hospital robe for mom
Don’t Forget a Newborn Hospital Blanket!
No newborn going home outfit is complete without the all-important newborn hospital blanket. A quality baby blanket will serve your little one for years to come, from swaddling them in their first hours to soothing them during toddlerhood. Choose a swaddle blanket in a matching print to add to the cuteness of your Mommy and Me hospital outfits.
Get the most out of your newborn hospital blanket and use it as your go-to swaddle, as a car seat cover on chilly days, or as a breathable nursing cover. Throw it over your shoulder to double as a burp cloth or lay it out on the floor for that all-important tummy time! With the endless uses for a newborn hospital blanket, make sure you stock up on several so you’ve always got a clean one handy.
Newborn Swaddling Tips
Baby swaddling is an art that is almost magical. Choose a generously sized swaddle blanket to ensure you have plenty of fabric to work with. Then, wrap snugly, but not too tightly, for proper hip health during swaddling. Watching a few swaddling how-to videos can help you perfect your technique before you even get to the hospital!
Or try out a swaddler that makes swaddling your newborn easier with the combination of our sleep bag and a Velcro-close swaddle wrap.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Newborn’s Hospital Outfits
While newborns are universally small, “small” can vary widely in terms of baby clothing. It’s important that your newborn hospital outfits are sized appropriately to ensure safe sleep and to keep them warm.
Your ultrasounds and fundal height measurements can give you a good idea of what size baby you’ll be welcoming, but it’s not a bad idea to have a backup outfit in a size up to ensure a proper fit. Kyte Baby newborn hospital outfits are available in three sizes:
- Preemie: up to 7 lbs. and 19 inches
- Newborn: 6-9 lbs. and 18-21 inches
- 0-3 Months: 9-12 lbs. and 21-23 inches
The Benefits of Bamboo Newborn Hospital Outfits for Sensitive Baby Skin
Nurture your baby’s delicate skin from day one with gentle fabrics that will be soothing on their skin. Kyte Baby newborn hospital outfits are lovingly crafted from hypoallergenic, buttery soft rayon made from 97% bamboo. Our signature fabric feels like a dream and boasts OEKO-TEX standard 100 certification, so you know your newborn’s going home outfit is free from harmful chemicals.
The benefits of bamboo baby clothing are nearly endless, from the ultra-soft feel that’s comfortable, even for eczema-prone skin, to the breathability that makes the fabric quick to dry and naturally antimicrobial for easy laundering. It also helps with temperature regulation, keeping your fresh newborn at the perfect temperature.
As you await the arrival of your bundle of joy, enjoy the process of selecting their layette. Thoughtfully designed gowns, footed pajamas, and comfort-waistband separates in beautiful hues are the perfect choice for your newborn’s hospital outfits.
Don’t forget to treat yourself to a beautifully matched robe or loungewear with Mommy and Me hospital outfits that will help nurture your body and spirit in those sweet first days together. You’ll look forward to bringing home baby in an adorable newborn going home outfit and look back on those treasured photos with the sweetest remembrance.
