When my niece was born, I remember the chaos of the first shopping trip. Everyone wanted to gift her something “cute” — polka-dot rompers, slogan T-shirts, lacy frocks. The pile looked adorable, but within a week half of it was useless. The seams scratched her skin, the bows got in the way during feeding, and the fancy tutu? She wore it for exactly four minutes before howling.

That’s the thing with newborn clothes: they seem simple, but the details make or break them. Here’s what most parents (myself included) miss until the baby lets us know — loudly.

Parents love saying, “Don’t worry, it’s cotton.” But cotton is not automatically safe. A lot of it is soaked in pesticides, finished with bleaches, and softened with chemicals that cling to the fibers. Babies have skin that’s thinner, more porous, and far less forgiving than ours.

So when you’re out shopping, don’t just stop at “100% cotton.” Hunt for the boring-looking tags that say GOTS or OEKO-TEX. They’re not marketing fluff — they’re proof the cloth hasn’t been drenched in toxins. My sister once washed a new cotton onesie three times and could still smell the dye. That’s when she switched to undyed, organic fabric, and her baby’s rash cleared up in two days.

Also Read: Baby’s First Year: What Science Really Says About Infant Sleep Patterns

You know that moment when you finally get the baby to sleep and ten minutes later they’re wriggling and wailing again? Often, it’s not hunger. It’s the tiny seam digging into their shoulder. Or the label stitched right where their neck folds.

Most parents, myself included, get seduced by the print — the tiny ducks, the cheerful stripes — and forget to flip the garment inside out. That’s where the battle is. The best baby clothes look almost boring inside: flat seams, no scratchy edges, no Velcro landmines. If you wouldn’t want to nap in it, why would they?

Everyone warns you babies grow fast, so what do we do? Buy one size up. The result? Sleeves dangling into formula, necklines drooping halfway down the chest, little legs trapped in a heap of fabric.

Oversized looks cute in photos, but in reality it’s impractical and sometimes unsafe. Too-tight clothes are just as bad — they bunch, restrict, and leave red marks. The sweet spot is flexible designs: kimono wraps, envelope necklines, roomy bottoms that actually account for diapers. I’ve seen parents tug and tug at a onesie just to get it over the head. Why do that to yourself at 2 AM?

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: a lot of newborn fashion is for the parents’ Instagram, not the baby’s comfort. Sequined slogans, nylon tutu skirts, stiff collars… it photographs well, but the baby can’t move, can’t nap, and sometimes can’t even breathe easily.

Meanwhile, the humble jhabla — soft cotton, side-ties, open for air flow — has survived in Indian households for centuries because it works. Same with quilted wraps in the north during winter. Babies don’t care about pink or blue. They care about whether the cloth itches. And here’s something we don’t talk about: your own clothes matter too. Babies spend hours pressed against your shoulder. That scratchy kurti embroidery? They feel it.

This one blindsides new parents. You spend hours picking “organic, safe” outfits… then dump them in with adult laundry, perfumed detergent, fabric softener, and the occasional bleach. Suddenly the baby has a rash and you don’t know why.

Baby clothes need boring, separate care: plant-based detergent, no perfumes, no fabric softener, and ideally washed inside out. My cousin once used a lavender-scented softener because she thought “it’ll smell nice.” The baby broke out in hives by morning. It’s that sensitive.

Newborn clothes don’t need to be many, or fancy. They need to be thoughtful. A handful of safe, breathable, well-made pieces are worth more than a closet full of Instagram-ready frills.

And if you ever forget the rules, just remember this: would you be able to sleep in it for twelve hours straight, without complaining? If the answer is no, neither will your baby.

Saurabh Joshi

About Saurabh Joshi

Saurabh Joshi is A Blogger, Author, and a speaker! Saurabh Joshi is recognized as a greater blogger and has experience of five years.

Likes to swim, read books, blogging.

Also, an award-winning blogger.