• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
At Home On The Prairie
  • Meet Elizabeth
    • Contact
    • Disclaimer and Privacy Policy
  • CLEANING
    • ROUTINES
    • TIPS AND TRICKS
    • LAUNDRY
  • RECIPES
    • DESSERTS
    • SNACKS
    • BREAKFASTS
  • HANDMADE
    • DIY PROJECTS
    • CLEANING PRODUCTS
    • SEWING
    • TOILETRIES
  • ORGANIZING
    • DECLUTTERING
    • STORAGE IDEAS
  • KIDS AND BABIES
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
HOME I Minimalist Newborn Capsule Wardrobe (What Baby Actually Needs)

Minimalist Newborn Capsule Wardrobe (What Baby Actually Needs)

by: Elizabeth Kaiser 5 comments updated: February 25, 2023

508 shares
  • Facebook16
  • Twitter
a graphic showing a minimalist newborn capsule wardrobe
a graphic that shows how many clothes a newborn needs for a minimal capsule wardrobe
a graphic showing a minimalist newborn capsule wardrobe

Less is more, and having a minimalist capsule wardrobe for your newborn can help keep you from ending up with more than your baby will actually use. How much does your baby really need when it comes time to buy clothes?

a graphic showing a minimalist newborn capsule wardrobe

Shopping for a new baby, its hard to know where to stop. Everything is just so sweet. And oh those teeny tiny things are just so fun to hoard! Babies poop and spit up a lot, so they need multiples of everything, right? But how much is too much? Ask Google, and you’ll see lists of baby “necessities”.

The list is long, and your head starts to spin when you think about how you’re going to afford to clothe this little human for the next 20 years!

Spoiler: Those lists are highly influenced by retailers who want you to think you need all the things, when really, half of those things will end up in a garage sale a few years down the road.

Not all babies have the same needs, so we want to be prepared for sure, but not to the point of buying too many unnecessary things.

Here’s my checklist of minimalist newborn gear essentials.

As a mom of 7, I’ve learned a thing or two with each baby. I’ve realized that when it comes to newborn clothes, less is more. Having a few comfy, quality outfits is much better than a whole dresser full of scratchy, layers of separates your baby will probably never use.

With my last few kids, I’ve stuck to a minimalist baby’s capsule wardrobe and it has been so much easier in a lot of ways!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure here.

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing items that work well together, and when layered different ways can create different looks and outfits. It is usually made up of a limited number of basic pieces with a gender neutral color palette and patterns.

But there’s no rule that say’s a capsule wardrobe has to be made up of neutral colors and earthen tones! It’s more about making sure all of the clothing items coordinate well together.

So how does this work with newborn clothing since they are notorious for messing out of multiple outfits a day? Its the same general idea.

Choosing function and quality over quantity. Being intentional and really thinking before purchasing anything for your baby.

Read more about how to create a capsule wardrobe for your kids

Questions to ask yourself before buying for baby:

  • Is it comfortable? – They’re only newborns for a very short time. Newborns should be comfy and cozy with as few straps and snaps as possible. They’ll be in overalls and jeans soon! For now, let them live in PJs.
  • How long will my baby fit it? – Consider going with a little bit larger sizes if your baby is probably going to be big or chunk out quickly. My babies are almost 9 pounds and gain weight like champs, so I buy one or two newborn size outfits for the hospital and the rest in 0-3 month size. They fit a bit big for a few weeks but before long at all, they’re out of newborn clothes altogether!
  • Is it the right size and season for my baby? Shopping second hand or on the clearance racks can be dangerous if you aren’t thinking about season and size with everything you pick up. Just because its 50 cents and absolutely adorable, doesn’t mean its going to fit your baby at the right time of year.
  • How many other outfits will this item match? That purple polka dot hat is cute, but will probably only match one outfit. Its better to choose the cream or white one that will go with everything.
  • Is it practical? How many snaps do you want to undo and do back up when you change a diaper during the night? Socks never stay on those newborn feet! Looking for footed outfits is a smart choice.
  • Do we actually need it?? Set yourself a limit of how many outfits you can have for your newborn and stick with it.

why you’ll like having a minimalist capsule wardrobe for your newborn

Less baby laundry to wash

Having less clothes to wash and dry means your baby has less “back up” clothes, so it kind of forces you to stay up on laundry.

Less time spent keeping track of clothing

Sorting it, storing it and figuring out what to do with it when baby has outgrown the newborn sizes.

Less space taken up in your home

The less clothing you own, the less room needed. Fewer bins in the basement and less crowded closets!

Budget friendly

The less clothes you allow yourself to buy for your kids, the less money you’ll end up spending.

Hand me downs are much easier to keep track of

Storing clothes baby has outgrown and pulling hand me down’s out for future babies is a breeze when you only keep a minimal amount.

You can afford to buy better quality

When you’re buying less for your newborn, you end up having the money to put towards higher quality items that will last through more than one newborn.

Tips for Making a newborn Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe:

One Piece Outfits

Buying one piece outfits means, you need half the amount of clothing items as you would if you bought separates. Tops and bottoms need to be matched making laundry more work. And maybe its just my babies, but their bellies always stick out under the shirts!

One-piece outfits usually cost less too!

neutral colored baby sleepers

Living in PJs

Babies should be comfortable always. And the most comfy type of clothing are pajamas! Newborn babies nap half the day so it just makes sense to let them live in pajamas.

Buying clothes for your baby that work for pajamas and are cute enough for day time clothes is the best way to save yourself time and energy.

I love Hanna Andersson organic cotton baby sleepers. Keep an eye out for sales because they aren’t cheap, but they hold up really well.

Wait on shoes

I know, I know, teeny tiny shoes are as cute as can be, but your baby will have the rest of his or her life to be required to wear shoes. Let your baby stretch those little feet and stay as comfortable as possible, at least for the first year of life.

Skip Socks

Baby socks never stay on! Sticking to footie sleepers is so much more practical.

Unless you want your baby to end up with bare feet half the time.

Hats and Hairbows

When buying accessories, try and picture them with outfits your baby has already. Will this bow match 4 or 5 outfits in her wardrobe? Or only one?

a cream colored neutral baby hat

How many Clothes/Outfits does a newborn need?

Sleepers -8-10 sleepers/one piece outfits (for a Summer newborn, 5 sleepers and 5 short sleeve rompers)

Onesies – 4-6 onesies to go under sleepers for Winter newborns

Hats – 2-3 neutral colored hats (plus one thick ones for Winter babies)

Outerwear – 2 cardigans or jackets. For Winter babies, a thick coat in size 3 months for room to grow.

Not all babies are the same, but from my experience with my own 6 newborns, babies can go through between 10 and 12 outfits every few days.

This is the minimalist capsule wardrobe list I’m using for my 7th newborn to make sure we have enough, but not too much!

a graphic that shows how many clothes a newborn needs for a minimal capsule wardrobe

How to Start a Newborn Capsule Wardrobe When This Isn’t Your First Baby

If you aren’t a new mom, or this isn’t your first pregnancy and you already have plenty of newborn clothes, can you start a capsule wardrobe? Of course!

The first step is to go through what you already have and make a pile of items that work in a capsule wardrobe (footie PJs, one-piece rompers etc.). See where you stand. Do you have enough to make 8-10 one piece outfits? 4-6 onesies? A few neutral hats?

If you do, consider donating the rest of the items you have that your baby won’t need. I promise you won’t miss them when you see how much easier a capsule wardrobe is to maintain!

If you don’t have enough, its always fun to buy a couple of new outfits for each new baby. Just look for things that are practical and good quality. Things you absolutely love.

My Favorite Newborn Clothing one piece outfits:

newborn baby capsule wardrobe ideas for boys:

a graphic showing a baby boy minimalist capsule wardrobe made up of pastel colors

One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight // Nine // Ten // Eleven // Twelve

Baby girl newborn capsule wardrobe ideas:

a graphic showing a baby girl minimalist capsule wardrobe made up of pastel colors

One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six // Seven // Eight // Nine // Ten // Eleven // Twelve

If you find it hard to imagine only having a limited number of outfits for your baby, just remember, babies grow so fast! Before you know it, you will need to buy a whole new wardrobe for your little one!

But if this doesn’t sound like something you are interested in, just know that having a minimalist lifestyle isn’t for everyone. There’s no right or wrong amount to buy for your baby! Do what feels right for your family.

More Minimalist Posts You might enjoy:

If you think having a minimalist newborn capsule wardrobe is a good idea, I think you might enjoy these other posts for minimalist moms!

  • How to Create a Kids Capsule Wardrobe {Free Checklists}
  • How To Declutter Your Kids Toys
  • Minimalist Baby Essentials For The First 3 Months
  • 100 Minimalist Gift Ideas For The Whole Family
  • How to Store and Organize Kids Clothing

I hope you found this post helpful in knowing what to buy for your newborn’s capsule wardrobe. Would you add anything to this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Pin these steps to try later. Tag @athomeontheprairie on Instagram to share what you’ve made with us!

508 shares
  • Facebook16
  • Twitter

you might enjoy

a girl holding a wood bead garland

How To Make a DIY Wood Bead Garland

free printable chore chart for kids, with chore lists by age

Free Printable Chore Charts For Kids – By Age

a jar of beeswax furniture polish with a chair in the background

DIY Beeswax Furniture Polish Recipe

a glass amber spray bottle with a label that reads "leather cleaner". A leather couch is in the background

The Best DIY Leather Couch Cleaner

Previous Post: « Gluten Free Funfetti Icebox Cake
Next Post: Healthy Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah

    August 12, 2021 at 11:04 pm

    Hi! I love the idea of a minimalist wardrobe. I have not “gotten there” yet but working on it. A question I have is, how do you handle (clothing/accessory) gifts or donations that do not fit (wrong color/style or even you already have too many of said items) in your minimalist wardrobe?

    Reply
    • athomeontheprairie

      August 13, 2021 at 8:51 pm

      Hi Sarah! If I have enough for my baby in the size, I’ll donate, gift or consign what we don’t need. Each baby, I like to be able to buy a couple new things to make it more special having a new baby so I don’t hold onto extras in case something gets ruined.
      I hope that answers your question! I have a section in this post https://athomeontheprairie.com/kids-capsule-wardrobe-checklist/ that talks about how to deal with gifted clothing.
      Elizabeth

      Reply
  2. Lisa

    October 30, 2021 at 9:09 pm

    After 3 children and 3 grandchildren, I’ve learned many lessons concerning wardrobes for babies. I always buy the layette sets. It’s tradition. It’s been 6 years since my daughter had a baby; therefore, she needs everything. The baby will be a winter baby. I haven’t bought clothes for a winter baby in 37 years. We live in the Northeast. It goes from freezing back to moderate weather throughout the winter.

    We do not buy newborn. Many brands 0-3 months clothing start at 8 pounds, and some 7. There are some newborn that go up to 9 pounds. I have bought all organic clothing. My grandchildren all have mild to moderate eczema. Here was my minimalist list. This is a boy. My experience is that boys wet their clothing more than girls. My daughter has 2 older children to get to school, sports, clubs. All are in 0-3 months except 2 pieces.

    4 long sleeve white onesies
    4 short sleeve white onesies
    Hospital set. Goumi kids Many Moons gown, swaddle, etc.
    Bonsei baby gown (newborn) and 2 one piece footed sleepers (1 newborn) with foldover mitts. This brand promotes skin to skin contact. It is designed to open without taking clothes off.
    3 footed and mitted bamboo sleepers.
    2 fleece sleepers.
    4 swaddle blankets
    2 receiving blankets
    2 stroller/heavier blankets
    Miracle Swaddle
    3 bamboo pants and 3 bamboo kimono style onesie shirts.
    2 sweater sets with hats from GAP organic section.
    2 sleep sacks size small.

    Reply
  3. Thea

    September 19, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    Thank you so much for this list and advise. As a 3rd pregnancy I agree that keeping it simple and minimalistic really helps to lower the parenting stress. We don’t need all the extra fluff!

    Reply
    • athomeontheprairie

      September 19, 2022 at 7:46 pm

      I feel like the more kids I’ve had, the more I realize it doesn’t take nearly as much as you’re told to raise a baby. Congratulations on your 3rd little one, Thea!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

a photo of a large family on the prairie

Hi! I’m Elizabeth, mama of 7 living on the beautiful Kansas Prairie.

I love finding and sharing ways to simplify this busy life, making more time to really enjoy homemaking. Stick around if you enjoy making things from scratch and healthy, kid-friendly recipes! Read more here

Follow Along

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Check Out My Homemaking Planner!

a homemaking planner printable

Footer

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

© At Home on the Prairie 2023, all rights reserved

508 shares
  • 16