Last updated on March 17, 2025
Ever since I started shopping for my son over two years ago, I’ve learned a lot about different baby clothing brands—what’s worth buying and what’s not. From quality and fit to style and price, some brands stand out while others fall short.
In an ideal world, I’d love to shop exclusively at boutiques that offer high-quality, stylish baby clothes while supporting small businesses. However, babies grow incredibly fast, and constantly replacing their wardrobe can get expensive. That’s why I purchase about 70% of my child’s clothing from big-box stores and 30% from designer brands and small businesses.
Let’s dive into what I’ve discovered about some of the most popular big-box stores for baby clothes.
H&M
I was pleasantly surprised by H&M’s baby clothing. The quality, price, and style are all fantastic, and they even offer a conscious collection with more sustainable options. Their outfits are trendy, and they go beyond the usual baby blue for boys and pink for girls, which I appreciate.
One thing to note: H&M runs large, so I had to size down for my son. Another huge plus is that most of their pants have elastic or adjustable waistbands, which is a must-have for babies with smaller waists.
Best Picks:
Trendy outfits in stylish colors
CITRUS TIP: H&M offers a wide range of affordable baby bodysuits in different colors and prints, which are essential for the first year!
Here are some of my favorite styles…
Baby Gap
Baby Gap is known for its high-quality cotton, which is thick, durable, and wears well. The fit is larger than normal, but their pieces are great for dressier occasions. Button-down shirts and dress pants for boys and adorable dresses and colorful leggings for girls are among my favorites.
Their bodysuits are also well-made, but they are pricier than other brands, so I only buy them occasionally. Baby Gap is also my go-to store for baby gifts because their quality is worth it.
Best Picks:
CITRUS TIP: Baby Gap frequently offers 40% off sales, so wait for those to snag great deals!
Here are some of my favorite styles…
Zara Baby
Zara Baby has one of the most stylish and fashion-forward collections for babies. If you love modern, neutral tones, fun graphic tees, and cozy knitwear, this store is perfect. Their “Sets” section makes it easy to find coordinated outfits.
However, Zara’s sizing runs large, so I had to size down. Thankfully, their pants come with adjustable waistbands, making the fit more flexible.
Best Picks:
CITRUS TIP: Check out their “Sets” section for easy outfit coordination—no thinking required!
Here are some of my top styles …
Old Navy
Old Navy is like Baby Gap’s more budget-friendly sibling. Their prices are affordable, but the quality is hit or miss. Their fabric tends to be thin, and some pieces lose shape after multiple washes. The onesies have large neck openings, which can make them less secure.
That being said, they do offer decent basics like leggings, sweaters, and T-shirts. I also really like their baby pajamas, which often come with built-in mitts which I wrote about in this post on newborn essentials.
Best Picks:
CITRUS TIP: Old Navy is almost always on sale, so never pay full price!
Here are my top styles ….
Joe Fresh
Joe Fresh offers affordable and simple baby clothing, but the fit isn’t great. Their onesies tend to be wide and short, with large neck openings, and their pants lack adjustable waistbands, making them hard to keep on.
I also find that their styling for boys is very basic and repetitive—lots of blue, red, and white. Girls’ clothes are mostly pink with limited variety.
Best Picks:
CITRUS TIP: Their gift boxes include a full outfit with accessories, making them a quick and easy present option.
Here are a few of their styles ….
Carter’s / OshKosh (also sold at Costco & The Children Place)
Carter’s is one of the most widely available baby clothing brands, sold in their own stores, online, and even at Costco. Their clothes are known for being affordable and cute, but the quality is basic—fabric is thin, and many pieces have repetitive designs (often the same 3-piece outfits in different colors).
The fit is narrow and small—my kids wore size 3-6 months at one month old! If you’re shopping here, always size up. I like their clothes more for summer and layering pieces.
Best Picks:
CITRUS TIP: Carter’s socks are high quality, stay on well, and don’t wear out quickly—definitely worth buying!
Here are my top styles …
Final Thoughts: Which Stores Are Worth It?
Best for Quality & Style:
Baby Gap (best cotton & formal outfits) Zara Baby (fashion-forward & stylish basics) H&M (trendy, affordable, and adjustable fits)
Best for Budget-Friendly Basics:
Old Navy (affordable everyday essentials) Carter’s (great for bulk shopping & layering)
Skip If Fit is a Priority:
Joe Fresh (inconsistent sizing & poor waistbands)
When shopping for baby clothes, my top tip is to prioritize fit and durability—not just price. Elastic waistbands, soft fabrics, and easy-to-wash materials make life so much easier.
Which stores do you love for baby clothes? Let me know in the comments! 
Color your style, color your food, color your life!
Christiane xxx
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My nephew is 6 weeks old, and I’ll be doing a lot of clothes shopping for him. Thanks for the tips!
Happy Saturday
http://www.lovecompassionatelee.com/thinkoutloud/sleepwear
HI!
You are very welcome, they are all tips that I have learned along the way through my shopping experience with my son. It would have made things much easier if someone would have told me these things in the beginning. :-))
In the start i bought so much expensive and high branded clothing, because i thought it was the best quality. I later found out with number two that the quality is not the thing i should think about, because they are growing fast and i need more clothing than few expensive ones.
One of my favourite online shops is this one: https://baby-turtle.com/collections/clothing
Good quality and i find everything that i need at all time
Hi Suz,
I haven’t heard of that website. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I found that buying from smaller local businesses quality and wear is amazing…especially when they are items by moms for moms and babies. But basics like socks and onesies and tanks I usually buy from big box stores. Learning as a go along what is better for me and my kids works wonderfully especially because the sizes vary greatly everywhere!
I found this article to be informative! Thank you for the content I had never heard of Joe Fresh before. Shopping for littles can be weird sometimes with the different fits from different stores. I happened upon this looking for sizing reviews / info on h&m baby clothes.
Good Day Leeann!
Oh I totally get it, it can get very frustrating because you can’t just buy based of sizes anymore…happy my post could guide you for sizing.
You actually gave me an idea to update it and do a podcast episode about it.
If there are some labels that you’d like me to add then please let me know and I’ll test it out on my little ones to review them.
Have a beautiful day mama!
christiane