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When buying baby clothes, it's recommended to stick to one color scheme. Bright colors are unisex, more easily seen, and less easily soiled than pastels. They are also great for babies' outerwear, since it's a lot easier to see a child wearing a bright red jacket in a busy supermarket than one wearing light pink.

Be practical. Infants and babies aren't exactly the neatest things on earth, so getting machine-washable clothing will be invaluable. Fancy clothes aren't practical at all. First of all, they're not very comfortable at all, and second, they can interfere with your baby's movements. The more comfortable clothes are those made of cotton and other natural fabrics, especially in hot weather.

Obviously, your layette purchases should be influenced by the climate in which you live and the season in which your baby is born. If you're not sure what you need, get some ideas by talking to other parents, or you can also observe how the other babies are dressed. Newborn-sizes are only good for most infants until around 2 to 3 weeks. It is important not to overdress your baby, particularly when the temperature is hot. If you want a guide, just put as many layers of clothing on your baby as you are wearing. So if you're warm, your baby probably is, too.

If you need more ideas about putting together your initial layette, here are some suggestions:

Underwear - Buy four to six undershirts in the three- to six-month-old size. These are usually made of cotton and can shrink to some degree. Some parents find the undershirts with side snaps easier to put on a new baby. All styles of undershirts are usually available in white, solid colors, and prints.

Socks and Booties - 4 to 6 pairs of socks should do fine. Make sure that they fit your baby's feet snugly, but not too tight. Get cuffed socks and booties made out of stretchy material, since they don't get kicked off your baby's feet as easily as other styles.

Sleeping Wear - Plan on six to ten sleep outfits. Stretchy, footed, or gowns all work great. If you live in colder climates, go for blanket sleepers, which are a bit heavier than stretch garments. Parents like sleeping gowns because it makes diaper changing easier, and they also allow an older infant more freedom of movement. If you do select sleepwear with feet, do not also put socks on your baby. Doing so will make the baby's feet become too warm, and this may cause a condition called sweaty sock dermatitis.

Hats and Caps - Buying 2 hats or caps should be enough. They come in various styles and fabrics, from lightweight cotton stretchable caps to heavy cotton or acrylic hats. The type you choose depends upon the climate. When buying caps or hats, check to see that they are small enough so they stay on and so you can place them well away from the baby's face, so that he won't suffocate himself when he turns his head.