- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Preemie Attire
The Art of Dressing Your Very Little One
By Katherine Bontrager
Desroses says specialty shops that specialize in preemie clothing, like Nursing Moms, Etc., and other online stores are the most likely places to find clothing that meets the needs of such tiny little ones. But finding the clothes is only one hurdle. Desroses advises parents to ensure that any micro-preemie clothing purchased is NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) safe.
"The clothing should breathe well and allow for easy access for monitor leads and IV tubes," Desroses says. "It should also be easy-to-remove without causing too much disturbance to the baby. Soft fabrics, such as 100-percent cotton, are the most comfortable for these delicate little babies."
For those on a budget, previously purchased newborn clothes can be altered to fit the preemie – if you're quite talented with a sewing machine. "Newborn baby clothes can be altered to fit premature babies," Desroses says, though she admits it's a challenge. "Just be sure that the seams are smooth and won't rub or irritate the baby's skin."
Angi Orsini from Little Rock, Ark., had double the clothes to find upon the birth of her twins. Thankfully, friends and relatives rallied and turned out to be the best source for preemie clothes, as the family had its hands full with the twins and a son at home. The family found that Kohl's and Target had a limited selection, which was easy to locate and reasonably priced.
"And with our need for two, we were always able to find matching/coordinating outfits," Orsini says. "The time infants spend in the preemie clothing is so short that I felt the selection and choices were adequate to meet our need. After Jacob and Noah grew out of those items, we donated them back to the NICU that took care of them. They were running short when we were patients."
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
