Did you know a newborn baby will only wear newborn-size clothing from four to six weeks? They’ll be in the next bracket up (zero to three months) in the blink of an eye. So new parents need to learn what to shop for and where fast!
There are plenty of baby clothing checklists online for bewildered first-time moms and dads to refer to. But they only advise you on what to buy, not where to buy it from or what to look out for in a top-notch (or low-rate) online baby clothes store.
We’re here to help cut through the confusion with this guide to selecting quality baby clothing web stores.
Fabric
When buying clothes online for babies or toddlers, one of the hardest things to judge is whether the fabric is high quality or not. The skin of our littlest ones is sensitive, and scratchy, non-absorbent synthetic materials can cause rashes or irritability.
Seek out online retailers that list clothing made from natural fabrics. While delicate, sustainably sourced, organic cotton is the go-to standard, you could also consider bamboo or soy-based fabrics. If you have a larger budget, consider cashmere or linen.
Natural fabrics have the bonus of helping babies better regulate their body temperature.
Price Range
When comparing prices for clothes online, it’s often tempting to start at the lowest. While this might be fine for adult clothing, you should be wary of a baby clothes store that sells its products too cheaply.
This is because low-priced baby clothes are often crafted from synthetic fabrics, are poorly designed, and may even be unsafe for babies in the chemicals they contain or the notions they’re fitted with.
When it comes to top brands like Hanna Andersson baby clothes, their offerings start at a price point that indicates a commitment to quality.
Reputation
You need to carefully check the online customer reviews on the site you’re considering purchasing baby clothes from–just as you would when buying an appliance or tech gadget.
Do the reviews read as they came from a real person? Does someone from the store’s customer service team reply to each review? Is the reply sympathetic and informative?
Other things you can do to confirm the legitimacy of an online retailer include:
- Check the URL for errors
- Click the padlock icon in the address bar to check for a secure connection
- Run the URL through an online verification service
- Don’t visit any site that pops up with the “Your connection is not private” notification
- Look for a trust seal from a reputable organization like TRUSTe, Google, Better Business Bureau, or PayPal
Finally, if you’re not sure which store to buy from, ask your friends and family for recommendations. If they’ve got a favorite store they use all the time, there’s a high chance it’s safe.
Look for Sales
If you’re shopping online in an attempt to cut your baby clothing budget down, choose sites that hold regular sales. They may be getting rid of old or less popular stock or having seasonal sales. You may even be able to get top brands or designer clothing cheaper by visiting stores at sale time.
Follow your favorite family and parent bloggers or social media influencers and see where they ship. Look out on their socials for discount codes and coupons you can use. Sign up to the email newsletter lists of your favorite stores, so you’re notified of flash sales.
Seasonal Selection
Babies don’t fit clothing for very long, so shopping for baby outfits is highly dependent on the season you’re shopping in–as well as the upcoming seasons.
Make sure the online retailer you choose has clothing for every season on the racks. This is because you may need to buy a few seasons (and sizes) in advance to keep up with your baby’s growth spurts.
The fabric choices and styles offered by the retailer should also reflect the seasons: light and breathable for the warmer months; cozy for the cooler months.
Return Policy
Always review the return policy before buying from an online store–and this is particularly crucial for baby clothing. Not only will this ensure you can correct sizing errors, but it also gives you an out if the product that arrives on your doorstep is inferior to the one advertised online.
The industry standard is a 30-day return policy, and ideally, the retailer should pay the return shipping. If the retailer doesn’t offer a return policy, be wary, especially if the baby clothing is cheaper. It may signal the store isn’t trustworthy.
Safety
If you’re buying baby clothes brands only because they’re on-trend, you may be going about it the wrong way. Instead, you should select an online store for its dedication to safety rather than fashion.
A store that knows its stuff will stock safe clothing. This means no tight waistbands, which may result in strangulation, or accessories like hooks, bows, or buttons, which can pose a choking hazard. Their clothes will feature secure fasteners like zippers and snaps.
Ideally, you should be able to find information about whether heavy metals or harsh chemicals like bleach or formaldehyde were used in the manufacturing process.
Practicality
A reputable online store should carry practical clothes for babies. This means the clothes are machine washable in warm water, have loose cuffs and wide necks, feature easy-to-use fastenings, and are quick to take on and off.
They should stock lots of long-sleeved tops since they’re easier to remove, and you can shorten the sleeves when it’s hot.
Online Baby Clothes Store: Trust Is Essential
Whether you’re shopping for a newborn or a toddler, it’s vital to shop somewhere you can trust. And that can be tricky to find in an online baby clothes store. So long as you do your research, read reviews, consider the online store’s supply chain and material quality, you should be able to make your purchases without concern for your baby’s safety.
For more advice on caring for kids, read the other articles on our website.
