Top-Selling Newborn Accessories with Pricing Details
Newborn Baby Accessories: Hats, Mitts & Burp Cloths
Those first few weeks at home with a newborn are a beautiful, sleep-deprived blur. Between the endless feeding shifts and midnight outfit changes, it is the tiniest items in the wardrobe that end up doing the heaviest lifting. We are talking about the daily essentials you find yourself reaching for every single hour such as a soft hat for going outside, scratch mitts to cover tiny nails, and cloths for feeds and dribble
Our newborn accessory range is mostly from HelloBaby, ebebek's own brand, in newborn sizes and gentle fabrics like cotton interlock and ribbed knit, and it all goes in the wash at 30°C.
What newborn accessories do you actually need?
To be honest, the newborn baby accessories you really need aren't as many as the internet will make you think. We all know how incredibly tempting it is to fill our online shopping cart with every little thing we see in the final weeks of pregnancy. But the truth is, you won't use almost half of those cute items because your baby grows so fast, or you'll probably forget about them in a drawer.
Actually, it might be the smartest move for you to start with minimal necessities that are small, lightweight, and easy to wash. This way, once you learn your baby's habits, you can easily stock up on things you realize are running out, saving you both money and time.
For most families getting through the fourth trimester, the genuine checklist is surprisingly short:
- two or three soft hats for trips outside
- three or four pairs of scratch mitts
- a pack of burp cloths for feeds
- a few mouth cloths for dribble and quick wipes
If you’re packing for the birth, our hospital bag checklist covers what goes in alongside them, and our newborn hospital packs and newborn bodysuits take care of the clothes.
Newborn Hats
An important criterion for you when choosing a hat is that there's no need for size adjustment. In other words, it stretches to fit snugly around the baby's head and doesn't require any adjustment.
Every hat in this collection is made in a newborn, one-size fit. There's no fiddly sizing: they stretch to sit around the head without needing to be adjusted.
Interlock, ribbed and knitted hats
The type of fabric makes a big difference in many areas, such as warmth and feel.
If you're unsure which option to choose, take a closer look at our suggestions below, considering the season your baby is expected to be born in.
Interlock hats have a flat, smooth surface. They're soft, light and easy to layer under a pram hood. Our HelloBaby interlock hats come in plain colours like yellow, green, pink and grey melange, plus prints with cats, hearts and animals.
Ribbed hats have a stretchier knit that grips gently without feeling tight. They come in calm shades like beige, brown, navy and salmon, and a couple of styles carry a small slogan print.
Jacquard knit hats, like the Bebetto one in this range, have the pattern knitted into the fabric rather than printed on top. That gives a slightly raised texture and a bit more warmth.
If you're not sure which to pick, a newborn baby hat in interlock is the easy all-rounder. Add a ribbed or knitted one if your baby is due in autumn or winter.
When Your Baby Should Wear a Hat
Babies are wonderful at many things, but regulating their own body temperature isn't one of them. They also release a lot of heat through their heads. Therefore, the use of baby hats is of vital importance. The golden rule is beautifully simple: hats are strictly for outdoor adventures. The NHS advises taking hats and extra layers off as soon as you come indoors or get into a warm car, bus or train, even if it means waking your baby. Yes, this applies even if it means accidentally waking your beautifully sleeping baby.
The Lullaby Trust is also very clear about the fact that babies shouldn't wear hats while sleeping or indoors. It’s worth noting that the recommended room temperature for a baby's room is about 16 to 20°C. If you want to check your baby's temperature, feel the back of their neck or their tummy rather than their hands, which often feel cooler.
Newborn Hats for Cold Days
On a cold, windy day, a newborn winter hat is worth having in the changing bag. Layers work better than one very thick hat, because you can take them off easily when you get somewhere warm. For older babies who've grown out of newborn sizes, our baby beanies, gloves and scarves pick up where this collection stops, and a couple of pairs of baby socks finish the outfit.
Scratch Mitts and Mittens
It is incredibly common for new parents to get a little confused here, mostly because the word "mittens" pulls double duty in the baby world.
Think of this way, scratch mitts are thin breathable cotton covers for your newborn's hands. They have nothing to do with keeping warm. Instead, they designed like a shield to your newborn's delicate face from their own sharp little nails. On the flip side, mittens and gloves are for cold days outdoors, and they're usually tailored for slightly older babies.
We stock both varieties to cover every stage of your little one’s growth. Here is a quick look at why those tiny hand covers are important in the early days.
Why Newborns Scratch
Many parents are shocked to discover that their newborn has arrived with a set of surprisingly long fingernails. During those first few weeks at home, babies don't have much control over their hands. A sudden startle or a stretch can end in a scratch on the cheek. The NHS suggests keeping those tiny nails short by trimming them with baby nail clippers or small round-ended scissors. Gently filing your baby's cute nails with a fine emery board while they are in a deep sleep or in a state of deep relaxation after feeding can also be a good alternative.
If you are building your nursery toolkit, you can find precise clippers, files, and soft brushes right in our curated baby grooming collection.
Scratch Mitts
Parents who have experienced this will read this with a smile and a nod of agreement, these tiny cotton mitts have a magical ability to go missing. They vanish into the depths of the washing machine or drop out of pushchairs without a sound. That's why buying three or four pairs means there's always a clean one to hand.
Our HelloBaby scratch mitts come as a pair in a newborn, one-size fit. We have designed them in three distinct styles:
- Interlock scratch mitts in plain colours, some in 100% cotton, with a smooth surface against the skin
- Ribbed scratch mitts in soft neutrals like grey, beige, brown and light brown
- Printed scratch mitts with hearts, polka dots and small patterns
Most families use newborn scratch mittens for the first few weeks. As your baby grows and begins exploring the world by bringing their hands to their mouth, bare hands become much more important. Leaving their fingers free allows them to feel different textures, soothe themselves, and practice those very first milestones of gripping and touching.
Mittens and Gloves for Cold Days
The fingerless mittens and full-finger gloves in this collection are a different thing. They're knitted, one-size pieces designed to keep little hands warm outside, in colours like black, navy, purple, grey and ecru. They're a handy extra for autumn walks, but they aren't a replacement for scratch mitts in the newborn weeks.
Hat and Mittens
There is something undeniably adorable about a matching hat and mitten combo. It effortlessly pulls a tiny outfit together and makes for a wonderful and thoughtful gift. While we don't sell a boxed baby hat and mitten set in this range, many of our signature HelloBaby hats and scratch mitts are crafted from the exact same fabrics, dye lots, and patterns. This means you can easily build your own bespoke pair. Coupling a soft ribbed hat with ribbed mitts in the identical neutral shade, or pairing a delicate heart-print hat with its matching heart-print mitts creates a beautiful, cohesive look. You also have flexibility to choose the exact sizes your baby needs.
Burp Cloths and Mouth Cloths
Let’s be completely honest, feeding time is a mess. Whether you breastfeed, bottle feed or do a bit of both, you'll soon find out that a tiny bit of spilled milk has a magical ability to travel surprisingly far. And that's not all, you'll always need clothes for situations like vomiting and drooling.
Burp Cloths
A burp cloth sits over your shoulder while you wind your baby, so the spit-up lands on the cloth rather than your favourite top. Our HelloBaby burp cloths come in a pack of six. A pack of six might sound like too much at first, but once the first major growth spurt hits, you will understand why they are sold in multiples.
Each one measures 24 x 24 cm, which is perfectly sized to offer generous shoulder coverage while remaining small enough to easily fold and hold in one hand. They're crafted from 100% cotton interlock, so they're soft against your baby's face. When the day is done, you can toss them straight into the washing machine at 30°C.
Mouth Cloths
The Baby Me mouth cloths come in a pack of ten and are made from 100% double-layer cotton, which is gentle on delicate skin. They're for the small stuff: dribble, milky chins and quick wipes after a feed. They're suitable from birth, and a pack of ten covers you for a good few days between washes.
If you are looking for even larger, highly versatile swaddling options or larger feeding shields, be sure to explore our bibs and muslins to find the ultimate match for your nursery.
How many newborn accessories do you need?
Every baby is unique and different, so please treat this numbers guide as a friendly starting point rather than a rigid rule.
Here is a practical breakdown of what a normal first week actually looks like:
You will want to start with two or three newborn hats. The math here is simple: you want one on their head, one sitting in the laundry basket, and a spare tucked into your changing bag just in case.
When it comes to scratch mitts, aim for three or four pairs. Because these cotton covers are so small, as we mentioned before, they have a habit of vanishing into thin air, so having backups is always good.
For cleanups, a pack of six burp cloths is the sweet spot, giving you roughly one fresh cloth per feed on your busiest days.
Finally, secure a generous pack of ten mouth cloths. Between the constant dribble and quick milky wipes, you will easily burn through these before your next laundry day.
If your baby is due in winter, you might add an extra knitted hat. For a summer baby, you'll need warm hats less, and shade matters more. the NHS advises keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight.
Caring for Newborn Accessories
• Wash everything before the first wear: Brand new fabrics can arrive feeling slightly stiff. A quick cycle with a gentle baby detergent softens the cotton fibers instantly.
• Invest in a mesh laundry bag: This is the single best trick to stop tiny scratch mitts from disappearing.
• Always check the care label: While cotton is incredibly forgiving, our delicate knitted and jacquard pieces keep their shape best when you use a gentle cycle and let them dry flat.
• Keep a permanent backup set in your changing bag: Dedicate a small pocket for one clean hat, one pair of mitts, and a single burp cloth. They may completely save the day when an unexpected mess happens on the go.
Newborn Accessories as a Gift
Small, soft and useful, newborn accessories make a lovely present, especially if you're not sure what the parents already have. A couple of hats with matching scratch mitts and a pack of burp cloths is a thoughtful little bundle, and it will actually get used.
Two quick tips if you're buying for someone else:
- Stick to newborn sizes for hats and mitts, as they're only worn for a short time.
- Don’t forget to think about the season.
If you'd like something a bit bigger, our newborn starter sets bring several pieces together, and our newborn gift ideas include practical extras for the first months. You'll find the rest of the first wardrobe in newborn clothing.
FAQs
Do newborns need to wear a hat indoors?
No. Babies lose heat through their heads, so take hats off as soon as you come indoors or get into a warm car, even if it means waking them. A room temperature of about 16 to 20°C is recommended for babies.
Are scratch mitts necessary for newborns?
Some babies are born with long nails and can scratch their faces in the first weeks. Scratch mitts are a simple cover while you keep nails short by trimming them with baby clippers or filing them with a baby emery board.
How long do babies wear scratch mitts?
Most parents use them for the first few weeks. Once your baby starts exploring with their hands, bare hands are usually better so they can touch and grip.
How many newborn hats do I need?
Two or three is usually enough: one on, one in the wash and one in the changing bag. Add a knitted hat if your baby is due in the colder months.
What's the difference between a burp cloth and a muslin?
A burp cloth is a smaller, absorbent square for your shoulder during feeds. Ours measure 24 x 24 cm and are made from cotton interlock. Muslins are larger and more multi-purpose.
How should I wash newborn accessories?
Our HelloBaby hats, mitts and burp cloths can be machine washed at 30°C. Washing small items in a mesh laundry bag stops single mitts going missing.
*This guide is general information. For advice about your own baby, speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP.
