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When you purchase baby clothes, it's a good idea to stick to one color scheme. Bright colors are the best, since they aren't easily soiled like pastels, more easily seen, and are unisex. They are also great for babies' 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 getting machine-washable clothing will be invaluable. 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. Clothes made of cotton and other natural fabrics are more comfortable, especially when the weather is hot.

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 start observing how 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 - Get at least 4 to 6 undershirts for 3 to 6-month old sizes. 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. Undershirts typically come in white, prints, and solid colors.

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. Parents like sleeping gowns because it makes diaper changing easier, and they also allow an older infant more freedom of movement. If you select sleepwear with feet, forget about putting socks on your baby. Doing so will make the baby's feet become too warm, and this may cause a condition known as sweaty sock dermatitis.

Hats and Caps - Two hats or caps should suffice. They come in various styles and fabrics, lightweight cotton stretchable caps 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 that he won't suffocate himself when he turns his head.

Julie Vega is a researcher and writer working for http://www.gobohemian.com, where you can get all your infant and children's clothing at the best prices. Visit us for all your designer babies.