A cloth bundle arrives from the family a few weeks before your due date: soft, faded cotton jablas that an older cousin wore, with a message to use these first.
Many Indian families dress a baby in old, washed hand me downs before any new newborn baby clothes. Families give two kinds of reasons. Some are practical: well washed cotton is soft and has no stiffness or loose dye left. Others are traditional, such as passing on blessings or not drawing too much attention to a new baby.
If you are a new mother sorting through a bundle like this, you do not have to pick a side. The tradition and a short shopping list can sit in the same drawer. This guide explains why families follow the custom, what is genuinely practical about it, and which first clothes are still worth buying new from a newborn and infant clothing collection and washing before use.
Customs differ from one family to the next. In some homes the first clothes come from an older sibling, in others from a cousin, and some families have never followed the practice at all. All of these are normal.
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Why Do Indian Newborns Wear Old Clothes First?
Ask three families and you may hear three explanations. The custom is common across many Indian communities, but the reasons are passed down by word of mouth, so they vary by region, community and household.
The reasons families give
Softness. The most common answer, and the easiest one to check with your own fingers. Cotton that has been washed many times feels softer than cotton fresh from a shop.
Blessings and continuity. Some families see the clothes of a healthy older child as a way of passing on good wishes and welcoming the baby into the family line.
Keeping things low key. In families who believe in nazar, plain old clothes are seen as a way of not attracting too much attention to a new baby in the first weeks.
Thrift. Newborns outgrow the smallest sizes quickly, and earlier generations simply did not waste good cloth.
Whether the beliefs hold meaning for you is a personal matter. This article does not try to prove or disprove them. What is worth looking at is the practical side, because that part applies to every family.
What Is Practical About Hand Me Down Baby Clothes?
Set the beliefs aside and a good share of the custom still makes everyday sense.
Washed out finishes. New fabric can feel slightly stiff and may release some loose dye in its first few washes. Clothes that have been through dozens of washes are past that stage.
Fewer scratchy bits. Older handmade jablas often have no printed labels or tags at the neck.
Simple, open shapes. The traditional jabla ties or fastens at the front and slips on without pulling anything over a floppy newborn head.
Less waste. A piece worn for three weeks by one baby still has plenty of life in it. The guide to sustainable newborn clothing covers this side of reuse in more detail.
The catch is condition. Clothes that sat in a trunk for years can come out with stiff knotted ties, loose buttons, tired elastic or a musty smell. The tradition works best when every piece is checked and washed, which is exactly what most grandmothers would say too.
How to Talk About It With the Grandparents
Picture this: your mother in law hands over the bundle with a smile, and you have already washed and folded a drawer of new clothes. Nobody needs to win this conversation. A few approaches tend to help.
Ask before you decide. A simple "Why old clothes first?" usually gets a warm answer about softness, a cousin who wore them, or what her own mother did. Listening costs nothing and often explains a lot.
Agree on the shared ground. Soft, clean cotton for a newborn is something both generations want.
Sort the bundle together. Going through each piece side by side, checking ties, buttons and elastic, turns a possible disagreement into a joint job.
Be clear about the few things you will replace. Mittens with slack elastic or a cap that slips over the eyes are easy to explain as fit problems, not as a judgement on the tradition.
Most families end up using both: the old jablas for the early weeks at home, and a handful of new basics for the gaps.
Newborn Baby Clothes: What to Borrow and What to Buy New
A simple way to sort a bundle is by how hard each item works. Anything that goes near the mouth, depends on elastic, or must fasten reliably is better bought new. Soft outer layers are usually fine to borrow.
| Item | Borrow? | Buy new? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton jablas and vests | Yes | A few, to fill size gaps | Well washed cotton is soft. Bundles are often all one size. |
| Onesies and bodysuits | If every snap closes firmly | Some | Worn snaps pop open during feeds and changes. |
| Mittens | Rarely | Yes | They end up in the mouth, and old elastic is often too loose or too tight. |
| Booties and socks | Rarely | Yes | Stretched elastic slips off. Tight elastic marks the ankle. |
| Caps | Only if the shape holds | Usually | A cap that has lost its shape can slide over the eyes. |
| Anything with ties or strings at the neck | No | Choose snaps or zips | Loose strings near the neck are a safety risk. |
| Swaddles and muslin cloths | Yes | Optional | Old muslin is often softer than new. |
On the strings point, the American Academy of Pediatrics' tips for dressing your baby suggests choosing clothes with no ribbons or strings that could wrap around the neck, and garments that snap or zip down the front. Many older jablas tie at the neck, so swap those for snap fastened versions or keep them for supervised photo moments only.
Which First Clothes for a Newborn Are Worth Buying New?
Keep the new list short and buy after the family bundle arrives, so you only fill real gaps. The tips on buying newborn baby clothes in India without overbuying are useful here, because the smallest size is outgrown fast.
| Gap to fill | What to check | Example from our range | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onesie for quick changes | Snaps at the crotch and shoulder | I Have Arrived Baby Onesie | Rs. 699 |
| Mittens, booties and cap | Soft cotton, sized for 0 to 3 months | Mittens, Booties and Cap set, City Drive | Rs. 249 |
| Jabla in the next size | Snaps instead of neck ties | Puppy In The Garden Infant Romper (Jabla Style) | Rs. 699 |
| Full cover for cooler nights | Two way zip, full sleeves, built in footies | Elephantastic Infant Zipper Romper | Rs. 699 |
Prices are what our site shows at the time of writing.
Onesies for night changes
Older family bundles rarely include onesies with crotch snaps, and that is the one feature that lets you change a nappy at night without undressing the whole baby. Our baby onesies range is mostly plain cotton with snaps, which sits comfortably alongside old jablas.
Mom's pick
100% cotton with snaps at the crotch and shoulder, in Preemie to 6 to 9 months. Rs. 699. View product
Mittens, booties and caps
These are the pieces most likely to have gone slack in storage. Elastic that has relaxed lets mittens slip off, and a cap that has lost its shape can slide down over the eyes. A fresh set costs little and fits properly.
Mom's pick
Mittens, Booties and Cap set, City Drive
A 100% cotton set for 0 to 3 months. It is non returnable, so check the size first. Rs. 249. View product
A few jablas in the next size
Family bundles are often all in one small size, and many babies move up within the first month or two. A couple of new jablas with snaps keep the familiar shape without the neck ties. The Puppy In The Garden Infant Romper (Jabla Style) is one option, in 100% cotton with snap buttons throughout, from Preemie to 9 to 12 months.
Should You Wash Newborn Clothes Before First Use?
Yes, both old and new. This is the one point where tradition and modern advice agree completely. Old clothes have usually been stored for months or years. New clothes have passed through a factory, a warehouse and a shop. The AAP's guidance on cleaning baby clothes notes that newborns tend to have sensitive skin and that it is generally a good idea to wash all clothes before use.
Wash the hand me downs as their own load, then check every seam, snap and tie while folding.
Wash new pieces with similar colours, since some prints release a little dye in the first wash.
Use a mild detergent and rinse well.
Dry everything fully, in the sun where possible, before storing.
For water temperature, detergent choice and drying, the step by step method in how to wash newborn baby clothes safely covers the details. If you notice redness, a rash or dry patches after a particular outfit or detergent, set it aside and check with your paediatrician.
Mom tip: Wash and sort the family bundle before you buy anything new. Once you can see what fits, what fastens and what is missing, the new list usually shrinks to a few onesies, one mitten and bootie set and a couple of jablas in the next size. |
When Do the New Clothes Come Out?
This also varies by family. In many homes, the first new outfit appears for the naming ceremony, a temple visit or the first festival, and the baby goes back into soft cotton once the photos are done. Other families switch gradually as the baby outgrows the bundle.
If your baby's first festival falls this season, choose new outfits with the same checks as above: soft lining, no neck ties and easy access for changes. The ideas in baby's first Diwali twinning outfits follow that comfort first approach.
Final Thoughts: Old Cotton and a Few New Basics
The custom of dressing newborns in old clothes carries meaning for many families, and its practical core, soft and well washed cotton, is sound. Pair it with a short list of new pieces that need a reliable fit, and wash everything before the first wear.
Sort and wash the family bundle first, then buy only what is missing. For onesies, jablas, mittens and the next size up, start with our newborn baby clothes collection.
