How to Make Clothes for Preemies

Make simple outfits that fit premature babies.

A preemie is a baby born at 37 weeks or earlier and who generally weighs under 6 pounds. Finding preemie clothing can be difficult at many stores, or the selection may be sparse. Because these babies are so small, almost all newborn clothing hangs loosely and sometimes affects their ability to move. Making preemie clothing is similar to making doll clothing. If you have basic sewing skills, you can use the following steps to create preemie clothes.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern (optional)
• Fabric (at least 1yard)
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Snaps
• Newborn body suit
• Doll
• Straight pins

Instructions

Take in Newborn Clothing

1. Place a newborn body suit on a doll that is about the same size as the premature baby.

2. Gather the fabric on one side and pin it to mark how much material to take in. Do this on each side of the doll's stomach area so the garment will be centered. If your child is well enough to be handled, you can try the body suit on your preemie and tape the fabric rather than pinning it.

3. Pull up the flap of the body suit and mark with pins where it should fasten. You will add a second row of snaps here.

4. Remove the body suit from the doll and turn it inside out.

5. On each side, remove the pins and sew a seam where you marked the fabric. Attach a second row of snaps at the marked place so the body suit can snap tighter at the bottom. The newborn body suit will now fit the preemie.

6. Remove the seams and use the garment as a regular newborn-sized body suit once your baby has grown to full-term size.

Tips & Warnings

• Many hospitals and churches have programs where preemie clothes are donated by women who knit them. Contact them for patterns or ideas.

References

• Preemie Sleeper
• Preemie Shirt
• Taking your preemie home