Boutique guide · Expecting
The coming-home outfit: size, fabric and season
Bodysuit, sleepsuit, hat, socks and blanket: what you really need for the first day out, which size to choose, which fabric suits the season and how to dress your baby for the car journey home.
By The Noi da piccoli boutiqueUpdated November 20266 min read
What do you need for the coming-home outfit?
The first-day outfit is simpler than it seems: five pieces, chosen to go on and come off quickly. The hospital room is warm, outside may not be, and in between there's the car journey. The NHS, the UK's health service, recommends comfortable clothes for newborns that are easy to put on: for us, that means front openings and press studs, which also help when you're still getting the hang of things.
- Bodysuit: the first layer, next to the skin. Long-sleeved when it's cool, light cotton in summer.
- Sleepsuit or outfit: an all-in-one sleepsuit, the easiest to put on, or a two-piece outfit or one with dungarees, if you'd like a more dressed-up look.
- Hat: for going out when it's cold, along with socks and mittens, as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) points out. Take it off indoors, in the room and at home.
- Socks or soft shoes: socks if the sleepsuit has no feet, or soft booties for an extra touch.
- Blanket: for the journey, placed over the car seat harness and never under it. More on this below.
How much should you cover your baby? The AAP has an easy rule to remember: a newborn wears one more layer than you'd need in the same setting (AAP). Think of it as a maximum, not a starting point. For everything else to take to hospital, see our guide How to pack your hospital bag: here we're focusing on the outfit alone.
Our picks for coming home
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What size should you choose for the first few days?
This is the hardest decision, because the answer depends on two things: your baby and the brand. Every brand fits differently, and the labels vary too: in our catalogue, for the very first days, you'll find 0 months, 0–1 month, 1 month or 0–3 months depending on the brand. The same number on two different garments doesn't mean the same fit.
You can request a return within 14 days of delivery, for items that are unworn, unwashed and still have their tags. If you order a little in advance, open the parcel as soon as it arrives and check everything straight away: that way you'll have time to decide without rushing.
Which fabric should you choose for the season?
More than the colour, it's the month you bring your baby home that decides the fabric. Here's what to choose, season by season, and where to find it.
| Baby's arrival | Fabrics | The outfit | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn and winter | Wool, chenille, warm cotton and warm knit. | Long-sleeved bodysuit and a chenille or warm cotton sleepsuit, or a warm-knit outfit. Hat, socks or booties. A wool or warm cotton blanket for the journey. | SleepsuitsHatsBootiesBlankets |
| In-between seasons | Cotton, with a knitted layer to add or remove. | Cotton bodysuit and sleepsuit, with a cardigan on top that comes off in a moment. Socks and a light blanket for the journey. | BodysuitsCardigansSocks |
| Spring and summer | Light cotton. | Bodysuit and a light cotton sleepsuit or romper. Thin socks. Instead of a blanket, a light muslin to keep close to hand. | BodysuitsRompersMuslins |
These are the boutique's starting suggestions, not medical advice: every baby is different. If you have any doubts, ask your paediatrician.
Whatever the season, several thin layers are better than one heavy garment: that's the AAP's advice, and it means you can take something off as soon as you step into the warm.
Is a newborn matching set worth it?
A newborn matching set brings together pieces designed to go well side by side: the same fabric, the same colour, sometimes the same pattern, from the sleepsuit to the hat and the blanket. It's not essential, but it takes the guesswork out of putting things together, and it shows in the first-day photos.
If you'd rather put it together yourself, pick one colour and repeat it in two pieces, such as the hat and the blanket: the rest can stay neutral. Below is a winter set from the same line, in warm cotton with hot-air balloons: outfit, hat and blanket.
A winter matching set: outfit, hat and blanket
How do you get the outfit ready for the first-day photo?
The photo as you leave hospital is one you'll look back on again and again. A few practical tips make it easier:
- Dress your baby calmly in the room, before you're discharged: bodysuit first, then the sleepsuit.
- Hat and blanket last, just as you're leaving: indoors, hats and extra layers come off, as the NHS reminds us.
- A spare bodysuit and sleepsuit in your bag: if there's a little spit-up just before the photo, you can change them without rushing.
- Soft shades such as cream, sky blue or powder pink go with almost any blanket and look lovely in photos.
How should you dress your baby for the car journey home?
Even for the short trip from hospital to home, you need an approved car seat suited to your baby's weight and height: this is a reminder from the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute), which also points out that in Italy an anti-abandonment device is compulsory for children under 4.
The outfit has to work with the harness. Here's how, according to the AAP and the NHS:
- Dress your baby in thin, close-fitting layers, bodysuit and sleepsuit: no coats or pramsuits under the harness (AAP).
- Fasten the harness and do the pinch test: if you can pinch the strap, tighten it a little more.
- Only then, place the blanket over the harness.
- If the car is warm, remove the hat and extra layers as soon as you get in, even if your baby is asleep (NHS).
- To check how your baby is, feel their chest or the back of their neck: cool hands and feet are normal (NHS).
That's why, for a winter homecoming, a chenille or wool sleepsuit with the blanket on top is more practical than a pramsuit: it keeps your baby warm without bulk under the harness. If you have any doubts about your baby, ask your paediatrician.
Which bag should you pack for mum?
On the day you go home, your hands will be busy with your baby. A roomy changing bag, with a small pouch for your baby's little bits, keeps the spare change of clothes and everything you need for the journey in order. You'll find what to pack in our guide to the hospital bag.
Changing bags and pouches
You'll find everything you need for the first day in our collections:
The guidance on car travel, layers and temperature comes from the sources below and does not replace your paediatrician's advice: if you have any doubts about your baby, ask them.
Sources
- Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute), ‘Bambini e sicurezza in auto’ (Children and car safety)
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, ‘Winter Car Seat Safety Tips’
- American Academy of Pediatrics, ‘Winter Safety Tips: Puffy Coats Should Not Be Worn in Car Seats’
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org, ‘Winter Safety’
- NHS, ‘Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)’
- NHS Start for Life, ‘How to dress a newborn’
Ready to go home
Sleepsuits, hats and blankets for the first day, hand-picked by our boutique, with free shipping in Italy from €99 and returns within 14 days of delivery. You can also collect your order free of charge from our boutique in Frattamaggiore (Naples). Not sure about the size? Message us on WhatsApp, Monday to Saturday.
