Welcoming a new baby is one of the most exciting times in anyone’s life! With so much to learn and do before your baby arrives, it’s a good thing you have 40 weeks to prepare.
There are plenty of resources that can help you figure out all the items you need in your baby’s first year and beyond (spoiler alert: it’s a lot), but every child is different and has different preferences, so it’s helpful to know what options are available to you.
Take baby pajamas, for example. Dressing a baby for sleep sounds simple enough, but the smallest details in these important sleep garments can make a big difference in how quickly your baby drifts off to sleep, and how long they (and you) stay asleep.
Best Options for Baby Pajamas
There’s nothing cuter than seeing your little bundle of joy snuggled sweetly in soft footie jammies or an adorable gown in their crib. When it’s time to dress your baby for bed, there are several options available to you—and each has its own advantages as your baby grows and changes.
Footie Baby Pajamas
Footie pajamas can’t be beat for cuteness or convenience! Keep those tiny toes nice and toasty with built-in socks to ensure your baby stays comfortably warm all night long. Footie baby pajamas also work for daytime play because they’re a one-piece outfit that keeps your little one comfortable without fabric riding up or slipping down. An additional perk is that they help you avoid losing those tiny baby socks that never seem to stay on!
Footie baby pajamas work for all ages but are particularly nice for babies who aren’t yet walking. Footies help keep toes warm without restrictive socks and shoes, which can hinder foot development and actually make it harder for them to walk. Once your baby begins pulling up and cruising, keeping them barefoot can help avoid slipping, but footie pajamas with grips on the soles also tackle this issue.
Footless Baby Pajamas
Footless pajamas, also called rompers, are helpful for babies as they begin to explore their world more independently by cruising. While footies are a year-round favorite for many, its footless counterpart helps your baby’s feet grip the floor and enhance their sensory experience. Consider switching to footless baby pajamas when your little one is around nine months old when your baby’s mobility and development really begin to kick into high gear.
Using Gowns Instead of Footie Baby Pajamas
It’s true that a gown makes one of the most adorable outfits for your newborn—but it’s actually one of the most practical options, too. It offers top-to-toe coverage to keep them comfortably warm, but the open bottom makes diaper changes a breeze! Newborns require round-the-clock care, and having easy access can make those middle-of-the-night diaper changes that much easier. Opt for a gown set with a matching hat for a photo-worthy and practical coming-home outfit that you’ll reach for time and time again during those precious first weeks.
What are Bundlers?
A bundler is an innovative take on the classic gown. Many gowns are designed to be pulled over your baby’s head, which can be especially cumbersome in the early days when they have such limited head control. A bundler, however, features snaps up the front to make dressing quick and easy. A single snap and fold-over bottom provides quick and easy access for middle-of-the-night diaper changes.
Knotted Baby Gowns
If you love a classic look for photos or just for everyday wear, a knotted gown is the answer. These gowns are available in both our super-soft original fabric made from bamboo, as well as a stylish ribbed option. Wooden buttons and fold-over mittens are sweet details that will make this gown a favorite in your baby’s layette. An extra-long body leaves plenty of room for easy knotting, and keeps diaper changes simple.
Baby Pajama Closure Options
One-piece baby pajamas like footies and rompers feature full-length closures that extend from one foot up the front of the garment, all the way to the neck. These closures are typically either snaps or zippers and are truly a matter of personal preference.
Snaps give your baby’s pajamas a sweet, vintage look, and are the preferred option for NICU babies because they keep them warm while still accommodating the tubes and wires needed for their care. Although some parents may love the look of snaps, others may find them cumbersome.
When you’re changing your baby’s diaper for the millionth time at all hours of the night during the newborn months, you may prefer the convenience of simply zipping their outfit closed over fastening snaps. Dual zippers are particularly easy to use because you can change your little one’s diaper by unzipping from the bottom and keeping their top half covered. Footie pajamas with zippers are a popular sleep solution when simplicity and ease are a top priority.
How Can Baby Pajamas Help Little Ones Get Better Sleep?
One of the most common questions new parents have is how they can help their little one sleep better and longer. Contrary to what the phrase, “sleep like a baby” might suggest, a lack of circadian rhythm and the adjustment from womb to world makes it hard for babies to sleep well. Repeating a familiar routine each night before bed helps establish good sleep hygiene for your baby, and can help them fall asleep faster with fewer tears. Soft and cozy baby pajamas are an easy step in a comforting bedtime routine and can function as a sleep cue to let them know it’s time for bed.
For example, a nightly sleep routine might begin with a warm bath, followed by a gentle massage with baby lotion. Next, dress your baby in soft footie jammies and a wearable blanket, then enjoy some cuddles while reading a book together before turning off the light. After a few nights, your baby will learn to anticipate each step and associate the order with falling asleep. You’ll both be off in dreamland before you know it!
Why Bamboo Pajamas?
There are many benefits to fabric made from bamboo, but the most obvious is the buttery soft feel. Our pajamas are soft, gentle, and oh-so-snuggly, which is why even grown-ups want them, too! Babies have particularly sensitive skin, which is easily irritated by rough fabric. If your little one is eczema-prone, it’s even more important to choose a fabric that’s soft, breathable, and non-irritating to prevent a flare-up. Bamboo is a favorite for those with eczema because it’s silky smooth, highly breathable, and soothing on the skin.
Many children’s pajamas are made from synthetic fabrics, like polyester and fleece, which don’t breathe well and can make your baby overheat. Choose a fabric like our rayon made from bamboo to wick away moisture and keep your baby cool and dry so they can sleep comfortably as their body develops their ability to thermoregulate. Fabric made from bamboo has many benefits over synthetic fabrics, and even over natural fibers like cotton, including:
- Is 3 degrees cooler than cotton
- Buttery soft feel
- Naturally hypoallergenic
- Requires 30% less water to produce than cotton
How to Choose Correct Size Baby Pajamas
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. Your baby did grow overnight! Babies can triple in size within their first year, and those growth spurts are breathtakingly fast—sometimes literally overnight! With such rapid growth, it’s tempting to size up to get the most wear out of your baby’s pajamas. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that parents dress their children in snug-fitting pajamas for fire safety.
Because Kyte Baby pajamas are made without harmful flame retardants, they are sized with this recommendation in mind to support safe sleep for your little one. Our baby pajamas are available in sizes Newborn through 24M, our toddler pajamas can be found from size 2T to 6T, and our big kid sizes range from 7 to 12.
Baby Pajamas Sizing
- Newborn: up to 7 lbs. and 19 inches long
- 0-3M: 6-9 lbs. and 21-23 inches long
- 3-6M: 9-12 lbs. 23-27 inches long
- 6-12M: 17-22 lbs. 27-29 inches long
- 12-18M: 22-25 lbs. and 29-31 inches tall
- 18-24M: 25-27 lbs. and 31-33 inches tall
Toddler Pajamas Sizing
- 2T: 27-30 lbs. and 33-35 inches tall
- 3T: 28-32 lbs. and 35-37 inches tall
- 4T: 33-36 lbs. and 37-40 inches tall
- 5T: 37-42 lbs. and 41-43 inches tall
- 6T: 43-53 lbs. and 44-46 inches tall
Big Kid Pajamas Sizing
- 7: 48-53 lbs. and 48-50 inches tall
- 8: 54-65 lbs. and 50-52 inches tall
- 10: 65-75 lbs. and 53-55 inches tall
- 12: 75-95 lbs. and 55-60 inches tall
Can Baby Wear a Onesie to Bed?
Perhaps the most versatile piece in your baby’s layette is the bodysuit, an adorably tiny onesie that’s a true essential. These pieces of baby apparel are the backbone of the wardrobe, and you’ll never regret buying them in multiple colors to keep in the diaper bag, car, or stashed at a grandparent’s house for those inevitable, ill-timed messes.
Onesies can even stand in for pajamas, although we recommend only using them alone in this way when the nursery temperature is very warm. Our rayon made from bamboo is highly breathable and perfect for layering, making our bodysuits suitable as a base layer underneath footies or footless pajamas when it’s cold.
Use a onesie as a base layer under daytime clothes for an extra layer of warmth to dress baby for winter or even under pajamas if you keep your house especially cool. You can also layer a wearable blanket on top of a onesie for super easy, middle-of-the-night diaper changes.
Layering Wearable Blankets Over Baby Pajamas
Pajamas are just half of the equation when it comes to dressing your baby for bed. Keeping your little one comfy and cozy often requires more than just footie pajamas, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep guidelines advise that parents do not introduce loose blankets to a baby’s sleeping space until they are at least 12 months of age.
To keep your baby both safe and warm, consider adding a wearable blanket, also called a sleep sack, to your baby’s pajama drawer. These cozy sleep sacks zip over pajamas to provide a warm layer that is still safe for sleep. Choose from a variety of styles of sleep bags to suit differing needs as your baby grows and develops.
Wearable Blanket Sizing
Because sleep sacks are intended to be worn over pajamas (whether those pajamas are footies, a onesie, or a gown), they have a slightly more generous fit. The sleep sack’s extra-long length ensures that your baby has plenty of room for kicking and stretching those precious legs for hip health development. Avoid sizing up, as a sleep bag should fit snugly across the chest and shoulders to prevent the garment from riding up and covering your baby’s face. Kyte Baby sleep sacks are available in the following sizes:
- XS: 7-13 lbs. and 20-25 inches long
- S: 14-20 lbs. and 22-27 inches long
- M: 18-30 lbs. and 26-33 inches tall
- L: 28-42 lbs. and 33-40 inches tall
- XL: 38-50 lbs. and 37-47 inches tall
What is a Sleep Bag Swaddler?
A swaddler is a specialized sleep sack alternative to a traditional swaddle blanket. These sleep sacks zip up the front and have a removable Velcro closure wrap that secures your baby’s arms. Securing the arms gently to your baby’s chest can aid in better sleep by preventing your little one from startling awake by their Moro reflex.
Because it is unsafe to swaddle a baby after they learn to roll over, Kyte Baby Swaddlers are available only in size extra-small. Many babies begin to roll over around four months of age. When your baby shows signs of approaching this exciting milestone, simply remove the wrap and use your swaddler as a traditional sleep sack until your little one is ready to size up.
What is a Sleep Bag?
A sleep bag is just another term for sleep sack and is a sleeveless wearable blanket with a zip-front closure that is intended to be layered over your baby’s pajamas or a simple onesie. Kyte Baby sleep bags feature our signature rayon made from bamboo and are the ideal layering piece to keep your baby comfy at night.
Sleep bags are appropriate from birth onward. They can be used for newborns and until as long as your little one wants to wear them. Some babies may become frustrated with a sleep sack around the time they begin walking because they are unable to access their feet. At this point, you may consider switching to a walker-style sleep bag.
Sleep Bag Walker for Babies on the Move
When your baby or toddler takes their first steps, you may decide to swap your sleep sack for a Kyte Baby sleep bag walker. This version of our sleep sack features soft ankle cuffs that allow your little explorer to move safely. Sleep bag walkers are available in sizes medium through extra-large.
Stay Toasty in a Slumber Bag
Similar in style and function to the original Kyte Baby sleep bag, our slumber bag also features the same dual zipper and buttery soft fabric. The slumber bag comes in a heavier weight and adds long sleeves that make this style ideal for cooler weather. The breathable fabric keeps baby snug without overheating in cool climates, even when layered over footie pajamas.
How Warm Should Baby Dress for Bed?
Dressing baby for bed is almost a science. Underdressed, your baby will wake prematurely because they are cold and uncomfortable. On the other hand, overdressing your baby or keeping the room too warm can increase discomfort and the risk of SIDS. Experts recommend keeping your baby’s nursery temperature between 68ºF and 72 ºF for comfort and safety.
When dressing baby for bed, choose your baby’s pajamas and sleep sack based on the room temperature, not the outdoor temperature. Enthusiastic use of either the furnace or central air conditioning may mean that your baby’s sleepwear doesn’t necessarily match the weather forecast! Using the appropriate TOG rating for your sleep environment can help ensure that your baby sleeps safely and comfortably all night long.
What is a TOG Level?
TOG refers to a system of grading apparel warmth. Blankets, coats, and sleep sacks all have various TOG ratings, which helps you understand how warm a particular garment will keep your baby. Kyte Baby sleep sacks are available in three different TOG ratings for different temperatures.
Which TOG Level is Right for Baby?
When choosing the right TOG for a sleep bag, consider the temperature of your sleeping environment, rather than the outdoor temperature. Our 0.5 TOG sleep sacks are our thinnest layer and are perfect for hot summer nights. The 1.0 TOG sleep bag is considered an all-season sleep bag because it can be used year-round by adjusting your baby’s pajamas, and the 2.5 TOG sleep sack is best for cold winter nights.
TOG Ratings by Room Temperature
- 0.5 TOG: 74-78°F
- 1.0 TOG: 69-73°F
- 2.5 TOG: 61-68°F
What NOT to Wear – Baby Sleep Edition
Following the AAP’s safe sleep guidelines can help you rest easy, knowing you are keeping your baby safe as they sleep at night. Avoid loose articles like toys, blankets, socks, and mittens in your baby’s crib. Avoid dressing baby in pajamas with long strings or tassels, which can be a strangulation risk.
Dress your baby in warm footie pajamas or a gown with fold-over mittens, and top the ensemble with a cozy sleep sack in the correct TOG rating to keep your little one at the perfect temperature all night long for optimal sleep.
When the baby sleeps better, the whole family sleeps better.
