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When you purchase baby clothes, it's a good idea 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, 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.

Speaking of the weather, 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, you can talk to other parents and get some helpful ideas, or you can start observing how other babies are dressed. Newborn-sizes are only good for most infants until around 2 to 3 weeks. Overdressing your baby is a definite no-no, particularly when the temperature is hot. 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 usually made of cotton and has a tendency to shrink to some degree. Undershirts with side snaps are easy to put on babies, so they're popular with parents. Undershirts typically come in white, prints, and solid colors.

Socks and Booties - You'll probably want four to six pairs of socks. Make sure they fit the infant's feet snugly. Get cuffed socks and booties made out of stretchy material, since babies often kick off other styles.

Sleeping Wear - You will need around 6 to 10 sleeping outfits initially. Stretchy, footed, or gowns all work great. Blanket sleepers, which are heavier than stretch garments, are good for colder climates. 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. 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. 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 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.