It is difficult to find cute clothing for premature and low birth weight babies. (1093 hits)
Premature and low birth weight newborns account for approximately 12% of all births. I've had two healthy, but very tiny, newborns myself. My first experience with this issue occurred eleven years ago when my niece was born at 26 weeks gestation. She was a whooping 1 lb 9 oz! Of course, as a doting Auntie the first thing I wanted to do when she was released from the hospital was to shower her with gifts. I was grateful to God for having His hand on her from the beginning, and where did I head to find clothes for a 12 inch baby? TOYS R US, of course! What a totally humiliating experience... I was so disheartened to have to shop for this precious human being (who was created in the image of God, no less) in a faceless, mechanical toy aisle. Yes, the dresses would fit and there was quite a variety of styles to choose from, but not suitable enough for my little one. The seams were rough and scratchy, the colors were horrible, and the styles were much too mature looking for that Angel face. Long story short...right after I had my own 2lb 10oz micro-preemie four years ago here in the mid-west, I began to inquire of the nursing staff where to find reasonably priced preemie clothes. The only known place was the local Super Wal-Mart, but as it turned out, they only sold 1-2 items at a time. Not only that, but if you didn't hit the store just when the shipment arrived- too bad, man! I figured there had to be a better way, but when I searched online (by this time my daughter was out of preemie size) all I could find was expensive, boutique style (and high priced) items. So I convinced my husband to start our home-based business offering clothes on eBay. It's been a slow, not-very-profitable, endeavor so far on eBay. However, The Bitty Baby Shop was re-launched earlier this year, and I pray that I can reach all the new parents and grandparents of preemies who are sickened by the thought of shopping in TOYS R US for their precious one. I hope I'm not alone in that feeling...
WOW! I could hae used you like running water back in 1986 when my son was born weighing 1.12ozs. He left the NICU six months later at just under 5lbs. The best I could find was Cabbage clothes (hahaha).
I spent a lot of time re-seaming clothes for a tailored fit until he was able to wear normal clothes. You are a blessing and I hope you stay blessed and prosperous in God's name.
Agnes ~ Too Wise Not To Praise Him! Author of "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" ISBN 0975461206 Winter Release Pending - www.myspace.com/coolingwellwater
