What Clothes Should a Newborn Sleep In?

You’re a new parent getting ready for bed on a cold fall night. You pull on your own fleece-lined flannel pajama pants, but when it comes to your newborn baby, you’re not quite sure how to dress them to make sure they’re comfortable and safe during the cold weather. You may even ask yourself: how many newborn clothes do I need?

Because the baby clothes your newborn baby wears to bed are an important factor in the quality of their sleep, knowing how to properly dress them can be the difference between a restful slumber and a fussy night.

To learn what newborn clothes your baby should sleep in throughout the year, follow along as we exploresafe sleep basics, as well as seasonal sleep options.

Can a Newborn Sleep in Just a One-Piece?

One of the first things you may wonder about dressing your baby for sleep is if it’s safe for them to sleep in a one-piece.

The short answer is yes—a one-piece is a safe and comfortable sleep choice that you can find in both warmer and cooler options. Snaps and zippers on the front of one-pieces, as well as down both legs, also make dressing and undressing easy, especially during those midnight diaper changes in your baby’s room.

Seasonal Sleep Needs

Whether your baby’s pajamas are one-piece or two, you can adjust fortemperature by considering the following factors:

• Fabric
• Layers

Across all seasons, cotton is a versatile and effective baby clothing fabric. Manufacturers can adjust the thickness of the cotton to be more or less insulating for newborn babies. For example, fleece-lined pajama pants made of cotton will retain more of your little one’s body heat to help keep them warm.

While cotton is the ideal material for baby sleepwear, organic cotton is specifically the best option for your little one because it’s free from pesticides and chemicals that are used to grow conventional cotton.

Let’s take a look at bedtime baby clothing examples for each season to better answer the question, what baby clothes should a newborn sleep in?

Spring

Some say that spring comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb—and often, it’s true. Springtime can bring a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. Since there will be so much variety in your infant’s nighttime sleep needs, you’ll want to have tops and bottoms to layer. Err on the side of letting your newborn sleep cooler rather than warmer, so they don’t overheat. If you’re on-the-go, also consider what to pack in your diaper bag to keep your baby comfortable.

We recommend having:

• 3-4 two-piece pajama sets
• Several one-piece pajamas

Wearable blankets, with their ample room, are also ideal for layering over tops and bottoms.

If you want to have some fun and play up the springtime angle, look for pajamas printed with images of little lions or lambs.

Summer

If it’s going to be over 75 degrees Fahrenheit, your baby may only need one layer of clothing to be comfortable all night long in the hot weather. However, you should also consider the temperature of your thermostat. With central air conditioning, your house may be chilly inside even if it’s boiling outside.¹

For your newborn’s greatest comfort during the summer, dress them in lightweight cotton. Cotton is a natural and breathable material that will keep the baby’s skin dry and happy all night.

Fall

Fall, like spring, is another season during which your baby will benefit from options and layers. On wintry fall nights that are cold enough for snow, keep a set of footed one-pieces on hand. With their feet covered, your baby will retain more of their body heat, and footed one-pieces ensure those feet stay covered throughout the night.

Wearable cotton blankets can also provide warmth while giving your baby wiggle room, even when they’re layered over one-piece pajamas.

Winter

Although you may be tempted to bundle your baby as tightly as possible to protect them from the cold on wintry nights, it’s important not to cover your baby’s head or face with hats or blankets.

Like you, your baby regulates their body temperature by releasing heat through their head, so trapping that heat in could result in overheating. Signs of overheating include:

• Sweating
• Flushed skin

You’ll also want to keep loose fabrics away from your newborn’s face and out of the crib so that they can breathe safely all night long.

That said, you should dress your baby in several layers of clothing on cold nights. Start with a diaper and baby shirt, then layer a roomier one-piece or wearable blanket on top. Thick, fleece fabrics can also help keep your baby cozy.

Other Bedtime Essentials

The clothes that your newborn sleeps in are a huge factor in their comfort throughout the night, but so is the surface they sleep on. Consider adding the following to your sleep essentials:

• Organic cotton mattress – A crib mattress filled with organic cotton will help keep your baby cool in the heat and warm in the cold, just like organic cotton sleepwear.

• Fitted crib sheets – GOTS certified organic cotton crib sheets further work to regulate your baby’s body temperature. Plus, they’re soft as a cloud. For your baby’s safety, choose fitted sheets that won’t become loose during the night.

When Picking Newborn Pajamas, Pick Monica + Andy

While you’re shopping for the best sleepwear for your newborn, make sure that you have articles of clothing for every season. Once you have the practical bases covered, you can add a variety of adorable prints, patterns, and colors to make bedtime more fun.

Monica + Andy offer both baby pajamas and baby blankets in limited edition prints. Most importantly, all of our products are made from GOTS certified organic cotton. That means our sleepwear options are soft and safe for your newborn’s sensitive skin and can help them regulate their body temperature throughout the night. Now that’s a dream come true.

Sources:

1. "Tips for Dressing Your Baby." Healthy Children.  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Dressing-Your-Newborn.aspx
2. Pacheco, Danielle. "How to Dress Your Baby for Sleep." Sleep Foundation. 22 January 2021, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/how-to-dress-for-sleep