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're a really good idea for outerwear, as 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 you'll want everything to be machine washable. Avoid buying those fancy outfits. 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, the climate where you live and the season in which your child is born determine your initial layette needs. If you're not sure what you need, you can talk to other parents and get some helpful ideas, 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, especially when there is hot weather. If you want a guide, put as many layers of clothing on the 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 generally made of cotton, which has a tendency to 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 ? You'll probably want four to six pairs of socks. Make sure that they fit your baby's feet snugly, but not too tight. Cuffed booties and socks made of stretchy material seem to work best, since babies often kick off 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. The advantage of gowns is that they allow for easier diaper changing, aside from allowing more freedom of movement for the older infant. If you do select sleepwear with feet, forget about putting socks on your baby. They will cause the baby's feet to become too warm, and this may cause a condition known as sweaty sock dermatitis.

Hats and Caps ? Two hats or caps should suffice. Baby hats and caps come in all sorts of styles and made out of a variety of fabrics, from stretchable cotton to acrylic. The type you choose depends upon the climate. When buying caps or hats, check to see that they are small enough to stay on your baby's head and allow you to position them away from the infant's face, so he can't turn his head and suffocate in them.