When it comes to dressing up a baby, parents are always super excited! From cute dress-ups to comfy rompers, there is a long list of outfits parents make even before the baby is born. Wondering how to dress your baby for sleep? Use these 9 steps to buy baby sleepwear that is cute, comfortable, and keeps your baby giggling.
Parents try to prepare for everything before a baby arrives and keep adding more when the baby is born. And you may think you have everything you need for your baby? But have you considered the right baby sleepwear?
Just like daywear, a baby’s sleepwear needs extra care. Every parent needs to know how to choose the right sleepwear and keep the baby safe during their bedtime. And knowing and following all this doesn’t even need to be very complex!
It is a parent’s responsibility to dress their baby for a restful sleep, and their clothes play a significant part in it. But what should you do to ensure you are doing the right thing? We have good news; you are looking at the right article to find all your answers.
Get reading and know about the 9 essential tips every parent needs to choose the perfect baby sleepwear. At the end of this well-researched and informative article, you’ll know what to choose and how to tuck your baby to a good night’s sleep. Are you ready to keep your baby cozy and happy? Let’s start!
What should a baby wear at different temperatures?
You can’t change the weather, but you can definitely adjust your baby’s clothes according to it. Of course, it can not be a single temperature all day, all night, throughout the year. There will be a rise and decline in temperature as the seasons go by.
If you can adjust the temperature in your baby’s nursery, it is advised to find the perfect temperature and maintain it. But even if you can or can’t do it, you need to know what your baby should wear depending on the temperature.
Besides the rise in temperature, the summer season brings humidity, sweat, rashes, and irritation. Winters aren’t the best time either; they call for a lot of care and contemplation for the right baby clothes. To help every parent choose the right outfit, here is an easy-to-follow table to help you out:
| Temperature (in Celsius) | Ideal Sleepwear |
| Less than 16 degrees | GlovesSocksHatPajamasBodysuit |
| 16 to17 degrees | SocksPajamasBodysuit |
| 18 to 19 degrees | PajamasBodysuit |
| 20 to 21 degrees | PajamasBodysuit |
| 22 to 23 degrees | Full body pajamas |
| 24 to 25 degrees | Bodysuit |
| ~26 degrees | A light bodysuit |
| 27 degrees and above | A simple diaper |
Why choose the right sleepwear for the baby?
Choosing the right sleepwear for a baby is absolutely essential, irrespective of the weather or season. It is common for parents to choose warm clothes for their baby and wrap them in layers of warm clothing. But this effort to keep the infant warm can lead to flustering, irritation, and an increased risk of SIDS.
The sleepwear you choose for your baby should also suit their body, weight, and age. On top of that, the fabric of your baby’s clothes matters too. Even during winters, you can’t go for heavy or furry materials as they may prove fatal.
How to dress a baby for sleep time?
1. Choose thin for summer
The warmer it is, the lighter you want to go, applies for both kids and adults, so it is much easier to relate to parents. When the temperature is higher, you should use more breathable and lighter fabrics.
Although, even if it is hot outside, you would need an extra layer for your baby to keep them warm and comfortable. In the case of infants, it is suggested that you use a sleep sack or a swaddling blanket. In the case of older babies, you may use a light baby onesie and a light blanket.
A basic short-sleeved t-shirt will be the perfect top to wear in the summers for infants and kids. If you have the air conditioner on, you can add a lightweight blanket.
Here are some tips for choosing the right summer baby sleepwear:
- Ensure the fabric is airy and allows airflow through it.
- Keep the layers less and minimal.
- Choose thin swaddle blankets and sleep sacks.
2. Swaddle safely
Newborns are used to the warmth from their mom, and they aren’t used to voluntarily moving their bodies. So to gradually welcome them into the new environment, babies are swaddled. Wrapping the baby in a swaddle blanket, like a cute burrito, helps the baby fall asleep, feel comfortable, and provides them a safe position to sleep.
But this isn’t all you need to know about swaddling your baby; you need to know how to wrap a baby properly.
- Choose the fabric of the swaddle blanket carefully. It is advised to purchase cotton or muslin blankets as they are light and breathable.
- Ensure the baby is wrapped to the baby’s shoulder. It absolutely should not cover the baby’s neck or any area above.
- You don’t want to wrap the blanket so tight that they can’t even move a little. Leave enough space around the baby’s legs, chest, and hips; it will allow them to shift a little.
- Around four months, the baby can move and turn around in their sleep. It is a sign the baby is growing, and you need to stop swaddling.
3. Snuggly fits for winters
Since they are used to warmth, winters can be especially hard for newborn babies. You need to gear up for the winter season with careful clothing choices for baby sleep time.
You might be thinking of cute fuzzy sweaters, hoods, and warm blankets, but stop your train of thought right there. These outfits and fabrics may be great for the daytime when the baby is under your supervision, but not otherwise.
A critical thing to note is, you should avoid heavy fuzzy clothes and loose blankets! Here is what you can do instead:
- When it comes to winters, thin wool and fleece are two optimal fabrics that you can add over light, breezy layers.
- Buy some cute fleece pajamas for your baby to feel cozy and cuddly.
- Invest in a thin sleep sack, or microfleece swaddle blanket.
- If you want to be extra careful, go for the good old cotton pajamas.
- Layer! Layer! Layer! Layer warmer clothes in winter over cool cotton t-shirts.
- Avoid hats, beanies, and warmer headgear during baby’s sleep time and save them for the day.
Insight: Loose clothes, like big blankets and caps, can cover the baby’s face and hinder their breathing. It can be a recipe for a hazard. Moreover, you don’t even need a cap to keep your baby’s head warm at night because their body regulates the temperature and releases heat through their head. And a warm hat can lead to overheating.
4. Invest in sleeping accessories
Baby’s hands and feet are as essential to take care of as any other body part. The back of your baby’s neck and back indicates the baby’s body temperature, so it is good to keep the baby comfortably warm. Even though hands and fingers do not give the right idea of the baby’s temperature, but it’s good to keep them warm too.
- If your baby’s hands and feet remain cold, you can get them socks and gloves as they get older. But do not keep them on all night, as they can cause excessive sweating.
- You can buy warm crib bedsheets during the wintertime as well. But to avoid any overheating, only use these bedsheets when the child gets old enough to leave their crib or convey their emotions.
- If you add warmth, make sure to reduce the layers of the baby’s sleepwear or keep other things breezy. For example, if you use warm bedsheets, keep the baby’s clothes light and airy.
- Always go for cotton clothing as they can absorb sweat well.
5. Avoid overdressing
It is almost impossible not to dress a baby in super cute dresses. Babies look adorable in over-the-top dresses and cute outfits, but nighttime is not the right time to play dress-up with your baby.
As an adult, you have a different sense of comfort than children and babies. First of all, overdressing the baby during their bedtime can be extremely uncomfortable. Second, the layers can cause overheating, and third, dresses with lace, embellishments, and decorations can cause irritation or chafing.
Even if it is freezing, you need to ensure the layering is done with care. Here are some tips to mindfully dress your baby for sleep:
- Avoid any sleepwear with embellishments. They look cute, but it’s better if they stay only for photoshoots.
- Do not layer warm clothes, even during the day.
- Avoid layering synthetic clothes. They trap sweat and can cause rashes and irritation.
Insight: Ideally, the baby’s healthy skin is dry and cool to the touch. If you feel the baby’s neck or back are hot and sticky, it indicates that the baby is too hot, so something needs to change.
6. Add lightweight layers
When it comes to baby clothing, there are a lot of layers involved. No matter which tips you follow, there is one thing in common, layering.
Rather than one warm outfit, it is always advised to make your baby wear several light layers. It helps avoid flustering, keeps the baby comfortable and, makes changing easier.
- Fabrics like cotton, linen, and muslin are perfect for layering purposes during summer.
- Cute short-sleeved baby bodysuit and short-sleeved t-shirt act as a perfect base to layer other clothes on. This will make easy and comfortable baby sleepwear.
- You can consult your doctor if your baby is allergic to a particular fabric and choose organic materials.
- If your baby is still swaddling, you go for a light swaddle blanket (or use your receiving blanket!) or a breathable sleeping sack.
7. Keep things snug
Many brands suggest the use of flame retardant clothes for babies. As babies grow older, they tend to grab random things, and this may cause issues. Mostly, this can lead to many forms of hazards, such as a fire hazard.
To prevent the child from any danger, companies promote fire-retardant pajamas. The fabric of these pajamas is treated with chemicals, and they come in a snug fit.
Although it may sound incredible, many researchers probe the effectiveness and risks of fire-retardant chemicals. But the fact that kids are prone to fire hazards remains the same.
So to make your child feel safe as they sleep, you need to come up with other methods. Here are some baby’s sleepwear suggestions so you and your baby can have a safe good night’s sleep:
- Buy clothes made up of natural fibers like cotton. Unlike synthetic materials, these fabrics are not as prone to fire and do not spread any flames as fast.
- Look for snug-fitting pajamas and t-shirts. Buy baby t-shirts according to the baby’s size, so they fit right and choose well-fitting pajamas too.
Insight: A flame spreads when there is a constant oxygen supply to it. Tight clothes cut the supply of oxygen and prevent fire from spreading, so snug fits are an excellent fire minimizing outfit.
- Avoid loose-fitting clothing as baby’s sleepwear because they may choke or suffocate them if they ride up.
8. Adjust according to age
The same baby’s sleepwear would, of course, suffice as they grow older. Parents need to adjust and buy different sleeping essentials for the baby as they grow in size, independence, and more accustomed to the environment around them.
- When the baby grows up and starts to turn in their sleep, you need to stop using the swaddling blanket.
- Similarly, you can stop using a sleeping sack. You can look for size and activity-appropriate sleep sack, but as the baby starts to move on its own, it is better to let go of the sack.
- After the baby gets a year old, you can experiment with blankets. First, supervise the baby seeping with a blanket; if that seems fine, it is your green light. If you are still skeptical, you can always consult your doctor.
- You can experiment with clothing layers as well. You can buy cute rompers and dress your baby up in lesser layers and add a banket.
You know your baby and their habits better than anyone so that you can adjust according to their needs. But do not be hasty with it; take things slowly and observe your kid’s behavior as you introduce them to new clothes, blankets, or other accessories. Do not process until you are satisfied and feel 110% safe.
9. Choose comfort over fashion
Yes, your child may have grown older, but still, they require comfort while they sleep; everybody does. And the recipe for a good night’s sleep for both parents and babies includes comfort and utility.
- In the case of parents, you not only need to ensure your baby is sleeping well, but you also need to have a good night’s sleep. So it would help if you had clothes that are functional and easy to change.
- Buy clothes that are convenient to undo when kids require a diaper change. You can dress your baby in a baby bodysuit or pair a comfortable baby t-shirt with pajamas. This will help the baby sleep comfortably, and you can change quickly, and if the pajamas get stained, you only need to change them.
- You can also consider clothes with comfortable zippers to help diaper changes and unzip from the limbs. So they can be used as baby’s sleepwear.
Keep in mind functionality over fashion.
What are the baby’s sleep time safety tips?
All the above tips give you an idea of which baby sleepwear you need to go for. But there are still some well-researched safety measures every parent should know and follow. These bedtime tips will help you take care of your baby and be expert parents!
- Contrary to popular belief, your baby’s mattress shouldn’t be too squishy. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises you should lay the baby on a firm surface and that too on their back. As the baby grows and starts to toss and turn, it is perfectly fine for them to sleep on their belly.
- Avoid any big pillows, loose blankets, bed sheets, crib bumpers, or stuffed toys in the crib. As mentioned in the article above, it can cause suffocation. However, you can keep the baby’s pacifier.
- Although you want to have your personal space and have a dream nursery for your baby, it is a great idea to let the baby sleep in your room (not your bed). Shift their crib into your room till they are used to sleeping without supervision, or you can sleep without worrying about them too much. It can help diminish the risk of SIDS.
- Fans are an ideal way to cool down your baby’s room. Consider installing a ceiling fan or getting a table fan to cool the room and improve air circulation efficiently.
Now that you have an idea of the right baby’s sleepwear, it’s time you get shopping. Take care of the factors you need to consider before buying baby bedtime outfits, get the basics, and keep your baby giggling. Hope this article helps you with your parenthood journey and makes it awesome!
Summary
- Choose thin for summer: Ensure the fabrics you choose are airy and light. Also, keep the layers less and minimal.
- Swaddle safely: Choose cotton or muslin blankets and leave space for movement while wrapping. As the baby grows and starts to show movement, stop swaddling.
- Snuggly fits for winters: Choose fleece and wool and avoid warm headgear till the baby is older.
- Invest in sleeping accessories: Go for age-appropriate accessories to avoid suffocation or overheating.
- Avoid overdressing: Keep layering and clothes minimal. Avoid synthetic fabrics.
- Add lightweight layers: Buy t-shirts and bodysuits made up of cotton and linen to layer up.
- Keep things snug: Invest in snug-fitting clothes to protect the baby from fires.
- Adjust according to age: Adopt and change the clothes and accessories as the baby grows. Stop swaddling, add blankets, and supervise every step.
- Choose comfort over fashion: Choose clothes that make diapering easy and go for simple clothes like t-shirts, pajamas, and rompers.
Don’t forget to check out our collection of awesome baby t-shirts!
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