they are two of the questions I'm most frequently asked, "what's a layette?" and "do I need one?" the answers are: a layette is a complete set of clothing and other accessories for a newborn baby. the word itself is french, meaning "little box," suggesting that when the term came into being, a newborn's necessities were a lot less than what we consider necessities nowadays. by today's standards, a layette for babies can consist of as many items as the parents choose. the basics usually include items of newborn baby clothing, including bodysuits, side-snap shirts, convertible gowns, footed sleepers (aka footies), socks, hats, blankets and bedding. in a nutshell, if it's meant to be worn somehow by a newborn baby, then it's likely to be part of your layette.
and, yes, you will need a layette. even if it's just the basics.