When a new baby arrives it's common for the proud parents to be given lots of baby clothes as a gift but it is difficult to know which items are best for your baby when you first start shopping for an infant yourself. There's no shortage of advice from medical staff, friends and family on the healthcare aspects of caring for a newborn but seemingly simple things like buying clothes can be completely baffling.

Babies and children get through an astounding amount of clothing as they outgrow outfits so quickly. A great way to save a bit of money is to pick up some inexpensive garments from second hand stores or from friends or relatives with older children. Remember to wash and dry any clothes thoroughly, whether second hand or brand new, before putting them on your baby. You will want to make sure that all the baby clothing you buy is machine washable as, realistically, it's all going to get dirty sooner or later.

Sizes and styles
You will find that almost all childrens' clothing is clearly labelled with age ranges to assist you in choosing the right size. However, these serve as a guide only, as not all babies grow at the same rate, so don't be afraid to use your own judgement. It's a good idea to take some of your baby's current wardrobe with you when you go shopping for new items to compare the sizes with what fits well now.

When choosing clothes for your baby it is sometimes tempting to pick up a posh dress or tiny designer jeans but it's worth bearing in mind that more expensive clothes are not always better and are in fact often impractical as they can impede your baby's movement. Also remember that baby will need to be changed several times a day so to avoid excess hassle, choose clothes with easily removable studs or buttons. Woollen tights might look adorable on a baby girl but once you've had to remove them to change a few nappies they quickly start to become less appealing.

Colours
Many clothes shops still seem to stick to the traditional colour schemes of pastel pink for baby girls and light blue for boys but the range of clothing colours around today is much more extensive. Bold, bright colours are fantastic for babies as they will not show up stains as easily as pastel hues. Moreover, if you are likely to have any more children in the future, bright clothing is great for passing down to younger siblings as it looks great on babies of either gender. As new babies grow so quickly, it is worth keeping this in mind to get maximum use out of your purchases.

Blankets and shawls
Newborns in particular enjoy the comfort and safety of being wrapped tightly in a blanket or shawl when sleeping so you will want to have around 4 or 5 coverlets. Blankets should be machine washable and made from cotton or flannel as this will feel soft against baby's skin. Try to have one or two heavier blankets on standby too to place over a sleeping baby on colder nights.

Choosing clothes for your baby can seem daunting at first but there are plenty of people around to turn to for advice. Talk to other parents and exchange tips on what works well and what doesn't.