In many cases, a onesie can be an effective primary layer of sleepwear. As a general rule, parents and caregivers should dress a baby with only one more layer than an adult would need to stay warm in that same bedroom. This rule can help avoid over-bundling, which can lead to safety risks from overheating.
If you've just welcomed your little one into the world (hi, baby!), you might not be sure what baby sleep clothing is appropriate for newborns. Stick with something simple like a onesie and add a swaddle. If they're too hot, choose pajamas and swaddling cloths with a lighter fabric, light cotton, or muslin.
Every parent has their own preference for when their baby should stop wearing onesies. Some use them until their child starts walking (which can, of course, range from 8 - 18 mos), while others use them only for added warmth at night. I always keep my babies in onesies as long as they are wearing diapers.
Use lightweight layers
If it's a particularly warm night then a footless sleepsuit or bodysuit on its own should be fine. Whilst adults love to be fully covered whilst we sleep (even if it's very warm out), babies don't mind having their toes or legs exposed in appropriate temperatures.
A cotton sleepsuit should be enough for your baby to sleep in if it's warm; if it's especially hot, a vest may be OK on its own.
You can find toddler-size sleepers with some sort of grip on the bottom of the feet and they are great for a toddler who has started to walk. So, do babies wear onesies under sleepers? The answer is yes, they do. However, it is not necessary to put an onesie under a sleeper.
On a warm night, you can dress your baby. View Source in breathable cotton pajamas, a onesie, or even just a diaper coupled with a lightweight swaddle. On a cooler night, try layering a long-sleeved onesie or footed pajamas with a swaddle or sleep sack over top.
Baby clothing terminology summary
Onesie or bodysuit – A top with no legs that fastens over the nappy. It may have long or short sleeves. Babygrow (babygro/sleepsuit) – all-in-one outfit with long sleeves and legs, generally covering the feet but some will be footless. Footless sleepsuit – a babygrow with open feet.
If your house is below 65F at night, a long-sleeve onesie or one-piece pajamas worn under the swaddle should be enough to keep your baby comfortable. But if your house temperature is over 65F at night, dressing your baby in a short-sleeved onesie for sleep should work fine.
No hats and beanies in bed
Babies cool themselves down by releasing heat from their heads and faces. Babies can quickly overheat if they fall asleep wearing hats or beanies. So it's important to keep your baby's head uncovered during sleep. Headwear in bed can also be a choking or suffocation hazard.
Pay close attention to signs of overheating.
Check your baby's core (back or chest) to make sure they are not at all sweaty. Also watch for their face becoming red, and for rapid breathing.
How long do babies wear onesies? Everything depends on your preference and whether your child feels comfortable. Usually, babies stop wearing onesies at 12-18 months of age but this is not a strict rule.
Yes so long as it doesn't have a hood (suffocation risk). Kids pj's are often not warm enough when it's really cold. Nothing wrong with sleeping in fleecy onesie.
If your bodysuit is made of safe material, feel free to go with or without underwear. If you do choose to wear underwear with your bodysuit, go for a comfortable and thin pair that breathes well to keep your lower area happy and free of constriction.
Since baby bodysuits are usually made with a light, breathable material, they can be an outfit on their own in warm weather. But they can also be a great first layer for your baby's outfit in cold weather. A onesie ensures that your baby's skin stays protected and warm, even if those outer layers are separate pieces.
Generally speaking, a baby should sleep in a short-sleeve cotton or bamboo onesie or pajama set when using a sleep sack. During the winter months, parents can upgrade this to a long-sleeve cotton, bamboo, or fleece pajama set.
Myth: It's good to dress babies in fleece
Despite overwhelming presence in most children's stores, fleece is not a great material for babies to wear, especially at night while sleeping. Fleece is a synthetic fabric and it does not help to regulate body temperature.
A onesie keeps your baby covered properly and protected from getting irritated by all sorts of things, like a weird seam on their clothes. A onesie is also useful for protecting your baby's belly and back from hot or cold metal parts on shopping carts and car seats.
This depends on the temperature in the room. In colder months, you might want to get some bodyvests for the baby to wear under the sleepsuit. This will ensure that the baby is as warm as possible. For temperatures above 27 degrees, just a vest and nappy without the sleepsuit will do the trick.
The general rule of thumb is to make sure baby wears one additional layer than what you're comfortable wearing—if you're feeling chilly, your baby probably is too.
You can absolutely put your baby in a onesie or even pajamas underneath their sleep sack depending on the temperature. Babies, like adults, sleep better when they're cool as opposed to too warm, so keep this in mind when dressing your baby for bed.
The best outfit for your baby to sleep in follows safe sleep guidelines and accounts for the temperature of the room. Onesies, footed pajamas, and sleep sacks are all ideal in helping your baby sleep comfortably without being too hot or too cold.