You may have come across terms like "micro," "teeny," "preemie," and "NICU-friendly." What's the difference? What do they refer to? Which size should you choose?
When a parent has a premature baby and plans on purchasing preemie clothing, they frequently ask themselves these questions. Whether the baby weighs two pounds or five pounds, it can be difficult to find clothes that fit properly and can wear for longer. In addition to determining what size preemie clothing to buy, you might find that various brands have different requirements for preemie clothes sizing. What do you do, then? This blog will answer all your questions regarding preemie clothing.
Sizes of Preemie Clothes
You’ll find that baby clothes are labeled by age (e.g 0-3 months, 3-6 months, etc) but for premature babies, weight and length are two major indicators that will help you choose the right preemie clothes. Their clothing is specifically designed to meet the needs of preemies and therefore comes with qualities like soft fabric, small arm and leg hole and other NICU friendly features.
|
Size Label |
Weight Range |
Length Range |
Best For |
|
Micro Preemie |
1–3 lbs (0.45–1.36 kg) |
Up to 14" (35.5 cm) |
Extremely premature or NICU babies |
|
Teeny Preemie |
2–4 lbs (0.9–1.8 kg) |
14–16" (35.5–40.6 cm) |
Slightly larger preemies or early NICU discharge |
|
Preemie |
3–6 lbs (1.36–2.72 kg) |
17–18" (43.2–45.7 cm) |
Late preterm babies or healthy preemies |
|
Newborn |
5–8 lbs (2.27–3.63 kg) |
18–21" (45.7–53.3 cm) |
Full-term newborns or large preemies ready to size up |
How To Choose The Right Size
Check the Size Tag
When you’re buying Preemie clothing for the first time, it's best to order the following size up if your infant is almost at the weight limit specified for the item. If your baby weighs 2-4 lbs, it’s best to choose Teeny preemie size. Little ones who weigh between two and three pounds and may fall somewhere between the two sizes - one being too small, the other too big benefit from this size. There are hospitals who won't let preemies wear clothes until they reach a specific weight, which is sad because the microsized clothing will be outgrown before then. Therefore, it’s best to go for sizes between 2 and 4 pounds.
Check the Length
Take into account the baby's length while making your purchase. Because we know that some babies have long arms and legs while others have shorter arms and legs, buying clothes for both body types that weigh four pounds is very different. If the tiny boy/girl is shorter, you can think of a closed base, and if he/she is slimmer, you might want to think of an open bottom gown.
Consider Layering
Speaking of layering, you can buy mittens, shirts/gowns, leg warmers, caps, and booties that will be a great addition to your preemie clothing since preemies can wear the accessories for a long amount of time before they can wear the clothing. Therefore, begin with what you are certain will work and pair it up with your baby clothes.
Factors To Consider Before Buying Preemie Clothes
Understand How Sizing Works
Sizing for newborn and preemie clothes varies from brand to brand. Therefore, choose the size according to the weight and length of your baby. Check out the sizing chart of the brand before making a purchase.
Choose soft and breathable fabric
Newborns have soft and sensitive skin, particularly preemie babies who are more sensitive than full-term babies. Therefore, you should go for gentle fabrics that will keep your baby comfy. It’s best to go for cotton blends.
Buy Clothes That Can Easily Be Removed
Preemie clothes should be gentle and should be easy to put on and take off. Hook and loop closures, side-snap, plastic snaps at the legs and overlap shoulder for easy removal are some of the features that will make your NICU experience easier. Choose Pajamas that have zippers or hems that will make diaper changing sessions easier for you.
Avoid Stocking
Babies grow in the blink of an eye. Instead of buying clothes in large quantities, buy minimal clothes because newborns outgrow clothes quickly so buy only what you need in each size.
Buy Warm Clothing
For the cold season, don’t forget to buy caps, socks and mittens to keep your babies warm. Choose caps according to the weight of your baby. Ensure that they are made of soft fabric and have a comfortable lining. Mittens can protect newborns from scratching themselves and also keep their hands warm. Choose mittens that can easily be put on and taken off.
Minimal Decorations
Frills and decorations do look adorable but they may not be practical. Therefore, buy clothes with minimalistic designs so that it doesn’t irritate your baby’s skin.
Hospital Restrictions
Until the infant reaches a specific weight, some hospitals won't let them wear preemie clothes. Sadly, micro-sized clothing is frequently outgrown before reaching this milestone. Therefore, it might be more practical to have products that weigh between two and four pounds. When your child hits the milestone of wearing clothes, it's always ideal to be ready for those wonderful times!
Final Thoughts:
When buying preemie clothes for the first time, it’s best to consider factors that will help you make a great purchase. At first, it might be very difficult to choose the correct size and style of clothing for a preterm infant, but with the correct help, it gets much simpler. You can make sure your baby stays comfy and safe by being aware of preemie sizing charts, choosing soft, NICU-friendly clothing, and taking the baby's weight and length into account. Be mindful that preemies grow rapidly, so avoid purchasing the smallest sizes. Instead, concentrate on a small number of clothing with features like adjustable size, soft materials, and side snaps.
