Infant Clothing Stores

Retailers selling clothing for newborns and infants

Infant clothing stores serve the first year of life, stocking newborn through 24-month sizes in the soft, easy-change garments infants wear around the clock. The core range is practical: bodysuits and onesies with envelope necklines and inseam snaps, footed sleepers, soft pants, gowns that open at the hem for night changes, hats, socks and mittens, all in cotton and cotton blends chosen for gentleness and constant washing. Sizes are labeled by age range and backed by weight and length charts, and because infants grow fastest in the first months, experienced retailers advise buying the current size plus a small stock of the next, rather than a full wardrobe ahead. These stores also carry the gift side of infancy: layette sets, keepsake outfits, christening and coming-home pieces, and blankets, with the formal infant styles covered in depth in the baptism and christening pages of this section. Safety standards shape the department: sleepwear is sold snug-fitting or in flame-resistant fabrics as labeled, drawstrings are absent from infant garments, and snaps and fasteners are checked for security, details worth verifying on any infant purchase.

Infant clothing in soft colors folded on a store display: bodysuits, sleepers, tiny pants and hats, products only

An infant is the very young offspring of a human.  The term is usually considered synonymous with baby.  The term infant is typically applied to young children between the ages of 1 month and 12 months; however, definitions may vary between birth and 1 year of age, or even between birth and 2 years of age. A newborn is an infant who is only hours, days, or up to a few weeks old.  When child learns to walk, the term toddler may be used instead.

Infant and toddler clothing size is typically based on age.  These are usually preemie for a preterm birth baby, 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months, 9 to 12 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months, though there is no industry standard definition for those sizes.  Most retailers provide sizing charts based on a child's weight, height, or both, and the child's weight and height percentile may also be used for properly sizing clothing for the infant.

It has been said that close-fitting nightwear is "invariably safer than long, loose nightwear".  This is in regard to flamability relevant issues.  You should review safety relevant issues regarding babies clothing and it may also be a good idea to learn about organic fabrics.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Clothing & Accessories: CPSC provides free safety alerts, guides, posters, brochures, handbooks and other materials which you can use to help spread consumer product safety information in your community.

Children's Sleepwear Safety

infant clothing

Infant clothing store directory:

Carter's: Carter's, Inc. is a well-established company with history dating back to 1865. They are the largest branded marketer of baby and children's clothing in the U.S., marketing apparel under 2 of the most recognized and enduring brands in the nation, Carter's and OshKosh B'gosh. Their heritage of quality, innovation, and value has earned them the trust of generations of families. There's a reason why Carter's is the leading brand of baby clothes in the United States today.  Quality fabrics, adorable designs and attention to detail come together to create a brand moms have trusted for generations. From their comfy baby jeans to their practical baby pajamas, moms can count on Carter's to keep babies every need at the forefront. Baby-friendly features like expandable shoulders to help guide clothing over baby's head or rompers that snap from top to toe for easy wardrobe changes, they have thought of it. Carter's toddler and kid's clothes are made with the same great quality. From darling dresses, mix and match sets and cozy pajamas, Carter's makes dressing kids easy. Carter's is possibly the number one brand of children's sleepwear in the United States. Trusted by generations since 1865, Carter's full range of quality clothes have provided solutions for real life.


Gymboree Infant Clothes: The Gymboree Corporation is a specialty retailer operating stores selling high-quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 brands, as well as play programs for children under the Gymboree Play and Music brand. The Gymboree Corporation's history begins with the founding of Gymboree Play & Music in 1976, making it one of the oldest companies in its field. The appeal of the Gymboree brand was so broad that in 1986 Gymboree entered the apparel business·designing, manufacturing and retailing unique, high-quality merchandise for children.


Little Me: at Little Me, they create unique clothing that celebrates those fleeting years when newborns transform into young toddlers. At the heart of Little Me is this time of exploring and delight—the magical years of discoverhood. Our products let little ones be little—whether they're napping, throwing cereal on the floor or crawling through deliciously muddy grass.  They are constantly developing innovative apparel, accessories and products that nurture discoverhood.  They never use tweed, leather or any other “grown-up” material.  They use fabrics like soft cotton, terrycloth and velour.

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Everyday Infants' Wear and Gift Sets

Infant departments divide into everyday clothing and gift clothing, and the construction differs accordingly. Everyday pieces are engineered for laundry: reinforced snaps that survive hundreds of fastenings, fabrics that wash hot, and cuts that dress a baby lying down, with fronts that open flat. Gift and keepsake pieces use finer fabrics, smocking, embroidery and lace, and are bought in the size the baby will wear at the event or photograph rather than the size of the day. Retailers stock both, and staff can advise which lines run small or generous, knowledge worth using when buying gifts without the baby present.

Season and climate guide the finer choices. Newborns need a layer more than adults in cool rooms, so infant stores stock hats, cardigans and blankets year-round, while summer ranges add sunsuits and wide-brim infant sun hats. For sleep, follow the care and safety labels on each garment, keep sleepwear snug as designed, and size up rather than using a loose garment. A simple rule used by infant specialists: dress from the chart, wash before wearing, and keep one size ahead in the drawer.

Common Questions

How do infant clothing sizes work?

Infant sizes are labeled by age, such as newborn, 0-3 months and 6-9 months, but each brand maps those labels to weight and length ranges. Use the baby's current weight and length on the store's chart, and choose the size the baby is growing into, since infants typically move through the early sizes quickly.

What are the essential infant clothing pieces?

A working set includes bodysuits for layering, footed sleepers for day and night, soft pants, a hat, socks, and sleep gowns or sacks for easy night changes. Stores bundle these as layette sets, and most families add outfits in the next size before the current one is outgrown.

What safety details matter in infant clothes?

Sleepwear should be snug fitting or labeled flame resistant, garments should have no drawstrings, and snaps, buttons and appliques must be firmly attached. Choose flat seams and tagless necklines for comfort, and wash new infant clothing before first wear.

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