If there's one item that every new parent buys too few of, it's babygrows. And if there's one item that varies more in quality than you'd expect, it's also babygrows. I know this because I've bought a lot of them — six babies will do that — and the difference between a cheap babygrow and a well-made one is felt almost immediately.
Here's everything I'd look for if I were buying babygrows for a newborn today. ☽
Why Babygrows Are the Newborn Essential
In those first weeks, a baby spends most of their time in a babygrow. They're warm, they're enclosed, they're easy to put on and take off for nappy changes, and they're comfortable for a baby who's still getting used to being in the world.
A good babygrow isn't just practical — it's also where your baby lives. So it's worth choosing well.
What to Look for in a Newborn Babygrow
1. Fabric: Cotton Is King
The single most important factor. Look for 100% cotton — ideally interlock cotton, which is soft, breathable, and holds its shape after washing. Avoid anything with a significant synthetic content (polyester, acrylic) as it doesn't breathe the same way and can feel scratchy on delicate skin.
Organic cotton is worth considering if skin sensitivity is a concern. It's grown without pesticides and tends to be even softer.
2. Fastenings: Poppers, Not Zips
Poppers along the inside leg are the standard for a reason — they make nappy changes much easier, especially at 3am when you're not quite awake. Look for poppers that feel secure but not stiff. Fastenings that are too tight to do up one-handed are more frustrating than you'd think.
Avoid anything with buttons down the front on a very small baby — fiddly in daylight, infuriating in the dark.
3. Neckline: Envelope or Wide
The best babygrows have an envelope neckline — the kind that can be folded down so you can pull the babygrow off downwards rather than over the head. This is invaluable when a nappy has, let's say, not contained what it should have.
4. Sizing: Go Up, Not Down
Newborn sizing varies wildly between brands. A baby born at 7lb may be in newborn for a few weeks, or may go straight into 0–3. If you're buying in advance and you're not sure of the birth weight, buying a size up is always the safer bet — you'll grow into it, and babies grow faster than you think.
5. Design: Simple Is Timeless
You want something that photographs well and that you'd actually be happy to use for hand-me-downs. Simple colours, gentle prints, classic patterns. Avoid anything that feels overly of-the-moment — in a few months you'll be looking back at photos, and you want to love what your baby was wearing.
What to Avoid in Newborn Babygrows
- Rough or scratchy seams — turn them inside out and run your hand along the seams before buying
- Loose appliqués or decorations that could come away — safety first
- Non-breathable synthetic fabrics — warmth without breathability causes sweating
- Very fiddly fastenings — you will do these in the dark
- Tight necklines with no give — getting a babygrow over a baby's head is already an adventure
How Many Babygrows Does a Newborn Need?
More than you think. If you're doing laundry every day or two, eight to ten is a reasonable starting point. Newborns are messy — milk, nappies, general newborn chaos — and you'll get through more than one a day in those early weeks.
Buy a mix of newborn and 0–3 month sizes. Some babies barely touch newborn, others live in it for the full four weeks.
Babygrows at Milkmoon
Every babygrow and romper we stock at Milkmoon has been chosen by me with all of the above in mind. Soft fabrics, thoughtful fastenings, designs I love. Nothing is on our shelves just to fill space — every piece is something I'd genuinely put one of my own babies in.
We stock babygrows for newborns up to 36 months, from brands including Dandelion, Pex, and Kleo Kids — all chosen for quality, softness, and that particular kind of sweetness that makes a baby outfit really special.