Gender-neutral baby colours beyond yellow

Why yellow became the default

For a long time, pale yellow and mint were the colours you bought when you didn’t know, or didn’t want to say, whether a baby was a boy or a girl. They are still lovely, but pale yellow has two drawbacks. It shows orange and yellow food stains once weaning begins, and on some babies it makes the skin look sallow, especially under indoor bulbs.

The good news is that the list of colours that suit any baby is now much longer, and most of them are easier to wear. Many of them also sit naturally in eastern wear, which helps when you want a neutral kurta or frock for a first Eid or an aqiqah.

Colours that work for any baby

• Sage green: soft, calm and flattering on almost everyone. The Sage Waffle-Knit Henley & Jogger Set is a good example.
• Oatmeal and beige: warm, earthy and easy to pair. See the Oatmeal Teddy Ribbed Top & Jogger Set.
• Grey, from light heather to charcoal: modern and practical. The Grey Bear Hooded Jumpsuit and the Charcoal Waffle-Knit Henley & Jogger Set show both ends.
• Cream and ivory: soft and classic, especially for newborns.
• Rust and terracotta: warm and a little unexpected.
• Mustard: yellow with more depth, and far better at hiding food.
• Teal and dusty blue: cooler shades that sit between blue and green.
• Forest green: rich and festive, with no strong association either way.

Neutral doesn’t have to mean beige

Gender-neutral is sometimes read as a wardrobe of oatmeal and nothing else. That can be beautiful, but it isn’t the only option. Rust, teal, mustard and forest green are all bold colours without a strong boy or girl association, and they look cheerful in photos. Mixing one of them into a soft base gives you a wardrobe that is both neutral and lively. Our post on building a colour palette shows how.

Putting them together

• Sage, oatmeal and cream: the softest combination.
• Grey, mustard and white: bright and modern.
• Rust, cream and navy: warm with a crisp edge.
• Charcoal, sage and oatmeal: calm, and good for winter.
• Teal, sand and white: fresh for summer.

Neutral colours by season

The same neutral palette can shift with the weather. For Pakistan’s long summers, lean on the lighter end: white, cream, sand, pale sage and teal feel fresh and look clean in bright light. For winter in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar or the north, move to the deeper end: charcoal, forest green, rust and mustard suit thicker knits and hide the extra handling that winter layers get.

Oatmeal and grey sit in the middle and work all year, which makes them the best colours for pieces you want to last across a season change, such as a set bought in a bigger size to grow into.

Shapes and prints matter too

Colour is only part of the picture. Henleys and joggers, sleepsuits, dungarees and hooded jumpsuits suit any baby in almost any colour, while ruffles and bows tend to read as girls’ clothes even in grey. Stars, moons, teddies, elephants and stripes are motifs that stay neutral. Our post on buying newborn clothes before you know boy or girl covers prints that suit any baby.

For gifts

Neutral colours are the safe choice when you are buying for someone else’s baby, whether you know the sex or not, because they go with whatever the family already owns. Our post on godh bharai gifts suggests choosing a bigger size so the gift fits after the newborn clothes are outgrown. If you know the baby’s name, embroidery from Rs 500 through our custom orders makes a neutral gift personal.

Quick answers