Rock-a-bye baby: Do you have everything your little one needs for a snuggly night’s sleep?
In their first year of life, babies sleep up to 16 hours a day. So without a doubt, pajamas are the most important pieces of your baby’s wardrobe.
Here’s a rundown of the various baby cotton pajamas you can shop for.
Onesies
Some call them onesies, others call them body suits. But no one who knows anything about dressing little babies disputes the need for this baby clothing essential.
Onesies are available with long sleeves, short sleeves, or as tanks. At first glance, they look like tee shirts, but they have snaps at the baby’s middle to secure their diapers.
Onesies are a great baby pajama choice for warm nights. You can also pair this type of body suit with a pair of footed pants for a more complete sleep outfit.
Footless Body Suits
If you live in a temperate climate and you like to see your baby covered up for the night, you’ll love footless body suits for sleeping.
These suits are typically made of thin fabric rather than fleece or microfleece. They are designed to keep a baby warm while allowing for breathability.
Look for body suits made of organic cotton. Brands like Hanna Andersson make quality footless jammies from pure organic cotton that is soft to the touch and easy on baby’s soft skin.
Also, check your baby’s hands, feet, and head for signs of being too cold throughout the night. There’s no need to wake baby up to check their warmth and comfort level; you’ll know if they’re too cold when you pick them up for a feed or diaper change throughout the night. If baby is too cold wearing a footless pajama, simply add some cozy socks to keep their feet warm.
Thin Cotton Footed Body Suits
During their first few months of life, a baby’s body isn’t very good at regulating its own temperature. So even if you live in a mild climate, you might want to invest in quality footed jammies.
These body suits, also known as sleep-and-plays or coveralls, are very similar to ones without room for the feet. They either feature snaps or zippered closures which start at the feet and go all the way up to the baby’s neck.
Furthermore, footed PJ’s are perhaps the most convenient outfits for hectic new parents. They can be used as daytime outfits as well.
In fact, some parents rely on footed baby pajamas as the only type of outfit for their little ones. These outfits are a cinch to put on, easy to deal with during diaper changes, and available for dressing up or staying casual.
Fleece Footed Baby Cotton Pajamas
Do you live in a cool climate?
If you’re gearing up for winter weather, cotton fleece footed pajamas can keep your baby warm and cozy through the night.
Fleece footies are heavier than any of the body suits mentioned above, but they’re just as breathable. That said, pay attention to an outfit’s fabric TOG unit to minimize the likelihood that your baby will overheat during sleep. The TOG, also known as the unit of thermal resistance, determines how insulated or how breathable a certain fabric is. Even fabrics on the thinner side may have a high TOG rating.
Baby Night Gowns
Does your baby like to sprawl out and flop around in their sleep? If so, you can promote free movement with a lighter, less restrictive baby pajama. Baby nightgowns are almost as light and free as onesies, but they keep baby warm almost as well as a full body suit.
there are two types of baby nightgowns. Both cuffed and free-flowing nightgowns are available with long sleeves and short sleeves.
That said, cuffed nightgowns with long sleeves are more common. For younger babies, the sleeves feature tiny pockets that can flip into makeshift baby mittens.
Most night dresses for babies feature an elastic cuff on the bottom. That cuff is supposed to encourage your baby to keep their legs nestled within the cozy pajama. However, the cuff is gentle and loose enough for the little one to stretch out and poke their toes out if they please.
The more traditional nightgowns for babies are free-flowing. Their bottoms are unrestricted, but they’re typically longer than cuffed nightgowns.
Free-flowing night shirts usually have a knotted or buttoned closure. This is to keep baby from accidentally tangling up in the fabric.
Admittedly, though baby pajamas with knotted closures are cute and unique, they’re much less convenient than those with snaps. the last thing you want to do after a midnight diaper change is to figure out how to fasten a knot in a baby nightgown.
Baby Sleep Sacks
Perhaps the most popular type of baby pajama is the sleep sack. These tiny sleeping bags are sought-after for good reason.
Studies suggest that babies are safer in sleep sacks than swaddled in a traditional blanket. Though their movement is slightly restricted in a sleep sack, a baby can still safely move around and lift their head if need be. There’s no risk of suffocation or entanglement with sleep sacks like there is with loose blankets.
Sleep sacks come in every style to suit your preference:
- Sleeveless microfleece sacks for colder nights
- Lighter cotton sacks with full cuffed sleeves
- Thin sleeveless sacks for summer nights
- Swaddle sacks for newborns
Most sleep sacks feature zippers down the middle as well as a snap at the baby’s neck.
Swaddle sacks are prefolded and much easier to use than receiving blankets. They feature loops and Velcro to help guide your hand with a successful tight swaddle.
Sleep Tight, Baby
What kind of baby cotton pajamas are you planning to buy for your little one? If you’re like most new parents, you’ll collect a variety of sleep outfits to see what your baby feels most comfortable wearing.
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