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“How much clothing do I really need for my new baby?"

It's one of the biggest questions pregnant moms ask. Baby clothes are the cutest, and picking out those teeny tiny onesies, sleepers, and socks is for sure one of the most fun parts about becoming a new mom—but it can also be confusing to anticipate what's worth buying, what to skip, and how many of each clothing item you'll actually need when the time comes.

Enter the capsule wardrobe.

If you're not familiar with this (genius) idea, we can't wait to fill you in: a capsule wardrobe is a collection of essential, classic, and versatile pieces of clothing that can all be mixed + matched together. Capsule wardrobes embrace the idea that less is more, and that buying a small group of staple items that are easily interchangeable is the best way to maximize your wardrobe and minimize your spending.

We are all about the idea of fewer, better, beautiful. We swoon over must-have minimalist baby products, and we think a toy capsule collection is genius. So when it comes to dressing baby? It's a no-brainer: a baby capsule wardrobe is the way to go.

Considering that every family's laundry situation may be different, here's our master list for a basic baby capsule wardrobe. Remember, these are the basics—you can always add on with more accessories, an extra sweater or two for colder climates, and shorts or a swimsuit for warmer ones.

What's in a baby capsule wardrobe

  • 3-5 undershirts/base layers
  • 4-6 sleepers
  • 8-10 onesies/bodysuits (long + short sleeved)
  • 4-6 pairs of pants/leggings
  • 1-2 rompers/overalls
  • 1-2 layering pieces (sweater or hoodie)
  • 1 cap/bonnet
  • 6-8 pairs of socks
  • 1 pair soft shoe/moccasin

We also recommend keeping the following guidelines in mind while you're shopping:

  • Keep it simple + streamlined. Stick to a few brands you love + color palette that fits your style. Capsule wardrobes are all about simplifying your life; don't overcomplicate things with too many options. Choose basic, easy pieces that all work together and can be mixed + matched with ease.
  • Choose comfort + practicality over style. I know, I know—those cute little dresses and tiny little baby shoes are calling your name. But practically speaking, they're probably not the right choice for your little one, who wants soft, comfortable clothing that's easy to move around in and won't irritate sensitive newborn skin.
  • Balance quality + affordability. If you're only buying a limited number of clothing items, you want to make sure they can withstand lots of wear + tear and multiple washings. (Because...spit-up.) You want to find a balance that works for you by choosing brands that fit within your budget, but also stand the test of time.

And now onto the fun part, mamas—shopping! We've pulled together our absolute favorite, gender-neutral baby basics that you'll need to build your little one's capsule wardrobe below. We can't wait to see what you choose!

Base layer bodysuits

Think of the basic white bodysuit as the (much cheaper!) little black dress of your baby's capsule wardrobe collection. It's simple, versatile, and an absolute must-have. This foundation piece is the perfect base layer when it's chilly, under either daytime clothing or as an extra layer at night.

It works with a simple pant or legging for a cute, clean look, or it can be tossed in your diaper bag as an emergency outfit change for those messy moments.



A classic baby registry item for a reason—the price and quality here simply cannot be beat. We recommend a few packs of these in every size, for the first 18 months or so of baby's life, in both the long sleeve and short sleeve styles.

4-Pack Long-Sleeve Original Bodysuits
$13.00, Carter's


BUY

Sleepers

Sleepers are a baby staple for so many reasons, but mainly because babies sleep + lounge around quite a bit in that first year (we hope!) and need something comfy to do it in. A cute sleeper can also double as a daytime outfit, so keep that in mind when choosing colors + patterns.

And because we think snaps are the last thing you need to be fumbling around with during middle-of-the-night diaper changes, we have a hard and fast “zippers only" rule when it comes to sleepers. We're also partial to organic materials; they may cost a bit more, but we truly think they are worth it for the comfort and durability factors.

Here are a few of our favorite picks:



Primary is one of our go-to's for capsule wardrobe pieces. This zip footie is simple, soft, and comes in a huge variety of colors.

The Zip Footie
$18, Primary

BUY



One of our favorites of all time, these legendary sleepers are the perfect combo of style + function. They don't come cheap, but they're hand-me-down quality and we swear they magically grow with baby and last for months!

Night Night Sleepers In Organic Cotton
$32.00, Hanna Andersson

BUY




These super affordable zip footies make a perfect pajama and are ideal for playtime, too.

Zip-Front One-Piece for Baby
$13.00, Old Navy

BUY

Onesies + bodysuits

Onesies + bodysuits are will make up the bulk of your baby's capsule wardrobe. Depending on the season, they can be worn alone or with pants, and they can be a mix of short and long sleeved.

Here are a few we're swooning over:


Bodysuit packs are a great way to get more bang for your buck. We love the natural, muted colors of these cotton bodysuits, and the kimono-style neck, which means you don't have to worry about squeezing baby's head through a tiny neck opening.

Cloud Island Short Sleeve Kimono Bodysuit 4-Pack
$9.99, Target

BUY



This soft cotton footed one-piece features a sweet, gender neutral pattern and a zipper for easy diaper changes.

Favorite Print Footed Zip One-Piece
$18.00, Gap

BUY




These basic bodysuits come in every color of the rainbow and hold up to lots of washes. At only $8 each ($7 if you buy more than three), they're a great value.

The Babysuit
$8, Primary

BUY



We love the sweet pattern on this footed one-piece and the ultra soft feel of the 100% cotton fabric.

Footed Romper
$24.50, Tea Collection

BUY




The sweet graphic and stripe on these one-pieces add will add a touch of flair + style to your baby's capsule wardrobe. We also love the easy on/easy off necklines.

2-Pack One-Piece Set for Baby
$18.00, Old Navy

BUY

Pants + leggings

When shopping for baby pants + leggings, soft material + stretchy fabric are key. Make sure baby has plenty of freedom to move, kick, and eventually crawl.

The options below fit perfectly into a baby capsule wardrobe:


These pants go with just about anything, and the button details add a cute touch of style.

2-Pack Babysoft Pants
$11.00, Carters

BUY


Wiggle pants—the name alone just makes us smile! We're swooning over the stripes, bright colors, and great fit of these super cute baby pants.

Bright Baby Basics Wiggle Pants in Organic Cotton
$20.00, Hanna Andersson

BUY



Everyone needs a pair of joggers, and your baby is no exception ? The pique fabric earns these extra points for style.

Burt's Bees Baby Organic Cotton Loose Pique Pants
$14.95, Target

BUY



The versatility of leggings (aka the best, most comfy pant ever invented) can't be beat. We love these because of the wide, no-roll waistband and the flat seams that won't rub against baby's skin.

The Baby Legging
$10, Primary

BUY

Rompers + overalls

Confession: babies in rompers make us swoon. ? Rompers + overalls are perfect for adding some fun to your capsule wardrobe. Pair them with a cute bodysuit, and you'll have a perfect outfit picked out in no time,


No baby wardrobe is complete without an adorable pair of overalls. These work with almost any onesie, and look great on either a little boy or girl.

Twill Dungarees
$27.90, Zara

BUY




This sleeveless jumpsuit is soft, comfy, and can be worn with or without a onesie underneath.

Sleeveless Jersey Jumpsuit
$12.99, H&M;

BUY



We realize this doesn't quite fit into our “stick with the basics" rule, but...AVOCADOS! We just couldn't resist.

Racerback Shortall
$22.00, Monica + Andy

BUY

Layering pieces

Even in warmer climates, it's important to remember that babies get chilly pretty easily. It's always important to have a few go-to warmer pieces in your capsule, whether for wearing on their own, or as an extra layer.


This chunky knit hooded cardigan couldn't be any cuter. Make sure to size up so you'll get plenty of use out of it as baby grows.

Organic Cotton Hoodie Cardigan
$35.00, Nordstrom

BUY


We heart the simple style of this sweater romper. It's made of 100% cotton so it won't itch baby's skin, and it can be thrown in the washing machine for easy care.

Mixed Knit Jumpsuit
$29.90, Zara

BUY


This sweatshirt jumpsuit works great on its own, or as an added layer on chilly days.

Sweatshirt Jumpsuit
$24.99, H&M;

BUY

Shoes + accessories

Unlike us, mamas, babies don't need all that much in the way of accessories! A cute bonnet, patterned socks, and a neutral bootie can go a long way in changing up the look of an outfit and livening up your capsule.

Here are just a few of our favorites!


Our favorite baby “shoe" around, these moccasins can be paired with any outfit and, most importantly, stay put on tiny feet. They're also easy to take on and off, and make a great soft-soled shoe for very early walkers.

Freshly Picked Classic Moccasin
$49.00, Nordstrom

BUY

This sweet ribbed hat will keep baby's head warm when the temperature dips!

Ribbed Hat with Ears
$14.90, Zara

BUY


Socks that look like sneakers? Yes, please. And, they actually stay put on baby's squirmy feet!

Trumpette Rad Johnny 6-Pack Socks
$26.00, Nordstrom

BUY

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Motherly is your daily #momlife manual; we are here to help you easily find the best, most beautiful products for your life that actually work. We share what we love—and we may receive a commission if you choose to buy. You've got this.

 Jennifer LaBracio

MotherlyLoves Editor

clothing pregnancy. registry
Who said motherhood doesn't come with a manual?

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5 essentials to make your next trip outdoors with 2 kids stress-free

With two babies in tow, getting out the door often becomes doubly challenging. From the extra things to carry to the extra space needed in your backseat, it can be easy to feel daunted at the prospect of a day out. But before you resign yourself to life indoors, try incorporating these five genius products from Nuna to get you and the littles out the door. (Because Vitamin D is important, mama!)

1. A brilliant double stroller

You've got more to carry—and this stroller gets it. The DEMI™ grow stroller from Nuna easily converts from a single ride to a double stroller thanks to a few easy-to-install accessories. And with 23 potential configurations, you're ready to hit the road no matter what life throws at you.

DEMI™ grow stroller
$799.95, Nuna

BUY

2. A light car seat

Lugging a heavy car seat is the last thing a mama of two needs to have on her hands. Instead, pick up the PIPA™ lite, a safe, svelte design that weighs in at just 5.3 pounds (not counting the canopy or insert)—that's less than the average newborn! When you need to transition from car to stroller, this little beauty works seamlessly with Nuna's DEMI™ grow.

PIPA™ lite car seat
$349.95, Nuna

BUY

3. A super safe car seat base

The thing new moms of multiples really need to get out the door? A little peace of mind. The PIPA™ base features a steel stability leg for maximum security that helps to minimize forward rotation during impact by up to 90% (compared to non-stability leg systems) and 5-second installation for busy mamas.

PIPA™ base
(included with purchase of PIPA™ series car seat or) Nuna, $159.95

BUY

4. A diaper bag you want to carry

It's hard to find an accessory that's as stylish as it is functional. But the Nuna diaper bag pulls out all the stops with a sleek design that perfectly conceals a deceptively roomy interior (that safely stores everything from extra diapers to your laptop!). And with three ways to wear it, even Dad will want to take this one to the park.

Diaper bag
$179.95, Nuna

BUY

5. A crib that travels

Getting a new baby on a nap schedule—while still getting out of the house—is hard. But with the SENA™ aire mini, you can have a crib ready no matter where your day takes you. It folds down and pops up easily for sleepovers at grandma's or unexpected naps at your friend's house, and the 360-degree ventilation ensures a comfortable sleep.

SENA aire mini
$199.95, Nuna

BUY


With 5 essentials that are as flexible as you need to be, the only thing we're left asking is, where are you going to go, mama?

This article was sponsored by Nuna. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Motherly and mamas.


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strollers moms of multiples second baby nuna our partners our-partners baby gear

New Jersey expands paid family leave 👏

Parents in New Jersey will soon get more money and more time for parental leave after welcoming a baby.

This week New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed off on legislation that extends New Jersey's paid family leave from six weeks to 12.

It also increases the benefit cap from 53% of the average weekly wage to 70%, meaning the maximum benefit for a parent on family leave will be $860 a week, up from $650.

It might not seem like a huge difference, but by raising the benefit from two-thirds of a parent's pay to 85%, lawmakers in New Jersey are hoping to encourage more parents to actually take leave, which is good for the parents, their baby and their family. "Especially for that new mom and dad, we know that more time spent bonding with a child can lead to a better long-term outcome for that child," Murphy said at a press conference this week.

The law will also make it easier for people to take time off when a family member is sick.

Because NJ's paid leave is funded through payroll deductions, workers could see an increase in those deductions, but Murphy is betting that workers and businesses will see the benefits in increasing paid leave benefits. "Morale goes up, productivity goes up, and more money goes into the system," Murphy said. "And increasingly, companies big and small realize that a happy workforce and a secure workforce is a key ingredient to their success."

The new benefits will go into effect in July 2020 (making next Halloween a good time to get pregnant in the Garden State).

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Walmart is having a huge baby gear + product sale this weekend!

Whether you just need to stock up on diapers or you've had your eye on a specific piece of baby gear, you might want to swing by your local Walmart this Saturday, February 23rd.

Walmart's big "Baby Savings Day" is happening from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at participating Walmarts (but more deals can be found online at Walmart.com already and the website deals are happening for the rest of the month).

About 3,000 of the 3,570 Supercenter locations are participating in the sale (check here to see if your local Walmart is).

The deals vary, but in general you can expect up to 30% off on items like cribs, strollers, car seats, wipes, diapers and formula.

Some items, like this Graco Modes 3 Lite Travel System have been marked down by more than $100. Other hot items include this Lille Baby Complete Carrier (It's usually $119, going for $99 during the sale) and the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat (for as low as $199).

So if you're in need of baby gear, you should check out this sale. Travel gear isn't the only category that's been marked down, there are some steep discounts on breast pumps, too.

Many of the Walmart locations will also be offering samples and expert demos of certain products on Saturday so it's worth checking out!

Motherly is your daily #momlife manual; we are here to help you easily find the best, most beautiful products for your life that actually work. We share what we love—and we may receive a commission if you choose to buy. You've got this.

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walmart sale baby day walmart walmart baby sale deals deals for moms sale

Pregnant Amy Schumer cancels tour due to hyperemesis 😢

Any Schumer has not had an easy pregnancy. She intended to keep working, but if you follow her on social media you know she's been very sick through each trimester.

And now in her final trimester she's had to cancel her tour due to hyperemesis gravidarum, also known as HG. It's a rare but very serious form of extreme morning sickness, and on Friday evening Schumer announced she is canceling the rest of her tour because of it.

“I vomit every time [I] ride in a car even for 5 minutes," Schumer explained in an Instagram post.

Due to the constant vomiting she's not cleared to fly and just can't continue to the tour.

This is not the first time Schumer has had to make an announcement about HG. Back in November, just weeks after announcing her pregnancy, she had to cancel shows and again broke the news via Instagram.

She posted a photo of herself in a hospital bed with her little dog Tati, and spelled out the details of her health issues in the caption. "I have hyperemesis and it blows," Schumer wrote.

Poor Amy. Hyperemesis gravidarum is really tough.

Kate Middleton, Ayesha Curry and Motherly co-founder Elizabeth Tenety are among those who, like Schumer, have suffered from this form of severe morning sickness that can be totally debilitating.

As she previously wrote for Motherly, Tenety remembers becoming desperately ill, being confined to her apartment (mostly her bed) and never being far from a trash can, "I lost 10% of my body weight. I became severely dehydrated. I couldn't work. I couldn't even get out of bed. I could barely talk on the phone to tell my doctor how sick I was—begging them to please give me something, anything—to help."

Thankfully, she found relief through a prescription for Zofran, an anti-nausea drug.


Schumer probably knows all about that drug. It looks she is getting the medical help she obviously needs, and she was totally right to cancel the tour in order to stay as healthy as possible.

We're glad to see Schumer is getting help, and totally understand why she would have to cancel her shows. Any mama who has been through HG will tell you, that wouldn't be a show you'd want front row seats for anyway.

Get well soon, Amy!

[A version of this post was published November 15, 2018. It has been updated.]

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hyperemesis gravidarum extreme morning sickness amy schumer

This viral video of a soldier surprising his wife after she gave birth is 😭

As a military spouse, Cydney Cooper is used to doing things alone. But when she delivered her twin daughters early after complications due to Influenza A, she was missing her husband Skylar more than ever.

Recovering from the flu and an emergency C-section, and trying to parent the couple's two older boys and be with her new infant daughters in the NICU, Cydney was exhausted and scared and just wanted her husband who was deployed in Kuwait with the Army and wasn't expected home for weeks.

Alone in the NICU 12 days after giving birth, Cydney was texting an update on the twins to her husband when he walked through the door to shoulder some of the massive burden this mama was carrying.

"I was typing up their summary as best I could and trying to remember every detail to tell him when I looked up and saw him standing there. Shock, relief, and the feeling that everything was just alright hit me at once. I just finally let go," she explains in a statement to Motherly.

The moment was captured on video thanks to a family member who was in on Skylar's surprise and the reunion has now gone viral, having been viewed millions of times. It's an incredible moment for the couple who hadn't seen each other since Skylar had a three-day pass in seven months earlier.

Cydney had been caring for the couple's two boys and progressing in her pregnancy when, just over a week before the viral video was taken, she tested positive for Influenza A and went into preterm labor. "My husband was gone, my babies were early, I had the flu, and I was terrified," she tells Motherly.

"Over the next 48 hours they were able to stop my labor and I was discharged from the hospital. It only lasted two days and I went right back up and was in full on labor that was too far to stop."

Cydney needed an emergency C-section due to the babies' positioning, and her medical team could not allow anyone who had previously been around her into the operating room because anyone close to Cydney had been exposed to the flu.

"So I went in alone. The nurses and doctors were wonderful and held my hand through the entire thing but at the same time, I felt very very alone and scared. [Skylar] had been present for our first two and he was my rock and I didn't have him when I wanted him the most. But I did it! He was messaging me the second they wheeled me to recovery. Little did I know he was already working on being on his way."

When he found out his baby girls were coming early Skylar did everything he could to get home, and seeing him walk into the NICU is a moment Cydney will hold in her heart and her memory forever. "I had been having to hop back and forth from our sons to our daughters and felt guilty constantly because I couldn't be with all of them especially with their dad gone. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life and I won't be forgetting it."

It's so hard for a military spouse to do everything alone after a baby comes, and the military does recognize this. Just last month the Army doubled the amount of leave qualifying secondary caregivers (most often dads) can take after a birth or adoption, from 10 days to 21 so that moms like Cydney don't have to do it all alone.

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