Buyer's Guide

 

Thank you for taking the time to visit us. Since 1993, we’ve been dedicated to providing clothing made just for preemies, and we truly understand the whirlwind that comes with the unexpected arrival of an early baby. Finding yourself in the world of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can feel overwhelming—especially if you had never even heard of it before your little one arrived.

We know you have many questions, and our hope is that you’ll find some answers here. You might be wondering, “What clothes can a preemie baby wear?” or “What can I do to help?” These are excellent questions! Our goal is to guide parents, relatives, and friends through the options available and help you discover clothing and gifts that support both your baby’s needs and your family’s journey.

 We also address more questions on our Blog: "The A-Z of the NICU" where we break down what all those new terms you hear mean. Another post explains the difference between Adjusted Age and Chronological Age. For those who are a friend or family member of preemie parents, here is a blog post that might help with some great suggestions: How can I help?

We want you to know that we are here to help, if you have any questions email us at customercare@preemie.com.

So, where should you start?

Our number one suggestions for you is our NICU Journal:

Preemie Journal
This unique journal, published by the Preemie Store, is a wonderful tool for parents. It provides a place to jot down all the new information shared by doctors, nurses, and caregivers—whether it’s medical terms, procedures, milestones, or personal notes. It becomes both a practical reference and a treasured keepsake for the journey.

🎁 Gift Certificates
When you’re unsure what size or style to choose, a gift certificate makes the perfect present. Parents can shop once their baby is ready for clothing, ensuring the right fit and timing. Beyond practicality, it also gives parents something to look forward to during the long days in the NICU.

Now for the fun part—clothing! Preemie sizing is unique, and every pound makes a difference in how well garments fit. We offer two standard preemie sizes: Micro (1–3 lbs) and Preemie (3–6 lbs), along with some Newborn (5–8 lbs) pieces and larger options for PICU use. Perfectly Preemie also provides a special Teeny size (2–4 lbs), which is perfect for babies who fall right in between. For example, if your baby is around 2 lbs, the Teeny (2–4 lbs) size offers a comfortable fit with room to grow.

NICU-Friendly Styles – Designed for Medical Needs
NICU-friendly clothing is created with your baby’s care in mind. These styles feature thoughtful details like open shoulders, easy front access, and footless designs to make dressing simpler around medical equipment. Of these, the open shoulder option is often the most requested, as it makes dressing and undressing much easier. Choosing NICU-friendly clothing ensures that parents can care for and dress their little ones with confidence and ease.

Perfectly Preemie NICU Gowns are a wonderful choice for your little one. Available in soft, breathable Cotton or gentle Bamboo, these gowns prioritize comfort and ease. They come in four sizes, starting at Micro, ensuring a perfect fit for even the tiniest babies.

Perfectly Preemie’s NIC-Suits are a clever two-piece design that velcros easily around your baby, making dressing simple and stress-free. This style also comes in a reversible option, giving you two adorable looks in one lightweight layer. Available in Micro (1–2.5 lbs), Teeny (2–4 lbs), and Preemie (3–6 lbs) sizes, these bodysuits are as practical as they are cute.

In the NICU, a baby’s body temperature is carefully monitored, and sleeve length can make a real difference in keeping them comfortable. To help you find exactly what you need, use the filtering options on the left side of our product categories. You can search by sleeve length, colors, gender, style, fabric content, and closure type, making it simple to select the best clothing for your little one.

 

We couldn’t forget about the sweetest option for little preemie girls—our NICU-friendly dresses. Designed with the same open-shoulder styling and easy-access features parents love, these dresses make dressing simple while keeping your baby comfortable. Available in both Micro and Preemie sizes, they’re as practical as they are adorable.

One of our longtime customer favorites, the NIC-Jumpsuit is designed to be both NICU-friendly and practical for home use. With quick Velcro closures, dressing and diaper changes are fast and stress-free—something parents truly appreciate. Loved by hundreds of families over the years, this style has become a staple in our collection. Now available in Teeny, Preemie, and Newborn sizes, and offered in your choice of Stretch Cotton or Bamboo for softness and comfort.

To help you find all the NICU-Friendly items click here.

Many times parents are unsure of what a specific hospital's requirements might be regarding preemie clothing. We suggest you first check with them, but as this customer so wonderfully shared:

"A while back, I ordered many items from you for my 2lb 8.6oz 29-week old grandson. I wasn't sure the hospital allowed clothing from the outside. You called me, and I had a nice conversation with you about the possibility of sending them back. In the end, the NCU nurses at UVM hospital loved all of the clothes and were told by the daughter-in-law and son that they should get all the babies those outfits. Thank you for what you do. Brenda"

This list would not be complete without me suggesting little caps, mittens, leg warmers, bows and socks. Maybe I should have put them up below the gift-certificates because many times, preemies are allowed to wear a hat before clothing! I have a soft spot for clothes! We have many different caps, mittens, and leg warmers in prints and solid colors. Match them up with your favorite gown and they can make a statement on there own.

Perfectly Preemie makes our number one selling preemie socks. Everyone who tries them LOVES them! They are available in 3 different 3pk options: white, blue/gray/white & pink/gray white. Enjoy a 20% off discount for purchasing multiple packages of these great little socks.

We don't stop at NICU-Friendly options, we have great Sleepers, Footies, Outfit sets and Outerwear for your little one. These footies from Luxie Charm are made from soft bamboo and are wonderful for use in the NICU and beyond at home!

and from Baby Vision, these little sets are a great price and size for your little one on the way home!

This guide is designed to show that we’ve got you covered at every stage of your preemie’s journey. Use code BUY10 at checkout for 10% off your order. If you have any questions, our team is here to support you.

Thank you and Happy Shopping,

 

Cressie & Melissa