The ideas here run from budget-friendly basics like bodysuits and pants to soft knit sweaters, ribbed rompers and organic cotton at a higher price, and the one fact that picks between them is whether this outfit has to work for a second baby.
If this is the only baby, a colorful pattern or a printed romper costs you nothing. Either way, a piece that goes with at least 3 things already in the drawer earns its spot.
1. Footed Pajamas
A zip-front footed sleeper covers the whole baby in one piece, so there are no loose socks to lose and no gap at the ankles.
The soft beige floral print reads as quiet rather than sweet, which is why I’d pick it for a second child of either gender.
A zipper beats snaps in the middle of the night, when you’re half asleep and the baby is fully awake. Choose a print over a pastel solid and it hides spots better, too.
2. Colorful Pattern Gender-Neutral Clothing
Olive green and checks give a baby plenty of pattern without any pink or blue, and both colors pair easily with other neutrals.
Keep the pattern to one piece and let the other stay solid. Earthy tones like olive and brown hold up better across siblings than bright primaries.
Unlike in the past when “gender-neutral clothes” meant yellow or grey, really any color can be considered gender-neutral.
— Babylist
3. Charming Printed Rompers
White with one earthy accent color is the easiest palette to reuse.
I like a romper over separate pieces for newborns: one item, one change. Buy the hat and romper together if you want the set look, since the print needs to match.
4. Soft Knit Sweaters
Hand-knit sweaters in dusty rose and beige are small, soft layers that slip over a bodysuit or romper. The little bow details are the only fussy part, and they’re easy to skip if you want something plainer for a boy.
Muted shades like these pair with nearly everything in the drawer. Hand-knits usually cost more than store-bought, so I’d save them for pieces you plan to hand down.
5. Stylish Neutral Color Sets
A tan romper, cream cardigan, beanie and shoes bought as one set take the guesswork out of getting dressed. Tan and cream blend with almost anything, so the pieces keep working alone later.
The bows on the beanie and headbands are the girlier part. Leave them off and the same outfit suits any baby, which makes it simple to reuse for the next one.
6. Organic Cotton Baby Clothes
A cream floral dress with a matching bonnet is a soft, understated way to buy organic.
Floral is the one risk for a gender-neutral wardrobe. A small cream print keeps it subtle, and the bonnet and white socks come off easily if you want to dress it down for a boy.
7. Baby Recycled Teddy Fleece Hooded Jumpsuit
Brown teddy fleece sits well with every neutral in the drawer.
Recycled fleece is the sustainable pick if you’re weighing that. Buy a size up, since a one-piece outer layer gets reused only if the next baby can still fit it.
8. Bodysuits
White and beige bodysuits hung in a row are the cheapest way I know to build a hand-me-down wardrobe. Plain colors go with any pants, overalls or sweater, so nothing gets retired when the next baby is a different gender.
Stock more of these than anything else, because they get changed most. Stick to solids and the whole stack stays interchangeable.
9. Pants
Cream corduroy pants do the heavy lifting in this outfit. Off-white goes with a striped shirt, a plain tee or a sweater, and the texture adds interest without any color at all.
I’d pick corduroy over thin cotton for a baby who’s starting to crawl or sit up, since knees take the wear. Choose a pair with a soft waistband and they work for either child.
10. Neutral Knit Overalls
Brown knit overalls with built-in feet cut out the sock problem, and layering them over a white collared shirt makes a full outfit from 2 pieces. Brown is a calm, earthy shade that suits any baby.
Knit is warm but bulky, so I’d save it for lying-down and car-seat-free moments. Keep the shirt plain and the overalls do all the talking.
11. Linen Overalls Outfit
Blue-grey linen overalls with a grey and white checkered collared shirt make a tidy outfit that isn’t tied to boy colors. Grey-blue is quiet enough for a girl and the checks keep it from looking flat.
Linen wrinkles, so expect a rumpled look and don’t fight it. I’d buy the shirt and overalls separately, since each one pairs with other neutrals later.
12. Ribbed Knit Rompers
Matching beige ribbed rompers are an easy call for twins, but they work just as well for siblings a few years apart. Ribbed knit stretches, which helps at the next size when a baby is between fits.
The parent who posted this photo wrote that these two are growing fast, and that’s my reason to buy a size up. Add the matching hat only if you want the coordinated look.
Sustainability in Baby Clothing
Organic cotton is the easiest place to start if you want to buy greener.
It’s breathable and gentle on sensitive newborn skin, and clothes made well enough to outlast one baby are the real savings for the planet and your wallet.
For organic cotton, L’ovedbaby is a label I’d check first: it’s based in Southern California, and every piece is made from 100% organic cotton. The price range is $$, and its seafoam and sage palette suits boys and girls alike.
Buy fewer pieces and buy them to last. Wash them gently, store them folded in a bin labeled by size, and the next baby inherits clothes that still look good.
Budget-Friendly Options
Multi-packs are where the savings are, and pants are the best example. They often come in sets with soft elastic waistbands, and they mix with any bodysuit you already own.
Burt’s Bees Baby is a good brand to check first.
Its price range runs $-$$, the cotton is GOTS-certified, and many prints are unisex. It also sells caps, bibs, gowns and burp cloths, so you can fill out a basic stack from one place.
Watch for sales before you buy, and skip packs with loud prints you wouldn’t want to reuse. A set only saves money if you’d put every piece on your baby.
Mix and Match Clothing
Pick one color family and stay inside it. When every top works with every bottom, 6 pieces can make far more outfits than 6 matched sets.
Start with solids in white, beige, cream or tan. Then add one patterned piece at a time, so each print has plenty of plain items to pair with.
Before you buy, hold the new piece against what’s already in the drawer. If it goes with at least 3 things you own, it earns its spot; if it only works with one, leave it on the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best gender-neutral baby clothes?
Plain white and beige bodysuits are the best place to start, since they go with any pants, overalls or sweater and get changed more than anything else.
Add a zip-front footed sleeper, a romper in one earthy accent color, and corduroy pants for a baby who is starting to crawl.
Plain solids work for any baby, so the whole stack can be handed to the next one no matter who shows up.
What colors are considered gender-neutral?
Light gray, green, yellow and earth tones such as sage, beige, cream, tan, khaki and camel all work.
Purple and deep jewel tones count too, since almost any color can read as neutral now. I stick to one color family, like white, cream and tan, so every top goes with every bottom.
How do I mix and match neutral baby clothes?
Pick a single color family for the base, and fill the drawer first with plain white, beige, cream or tan pieces. Patterns go in one at a time, which leaves every print surrounded by plain pieces it can wear with.
In the store, I hold the new piece up against what’s already at home, and if it works with 3 or more of those items, it comes home too.
