Ideal Sleepwear for Infants

We all are aware that kids can get cranky during the day as well as a night if they are not in their comfort zone. It is critically important to understand that an infant is more sensitive to the environment compared to an adult. If you as an adult are wearing light clothes in summer and covering your little bundle of joy in 2-3 layers of clothes that are not right. Did you know, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that infants should be dressed in no more than one additional layer (i.e. 2 layers maximum) of clothing than an adult would wear to feel comfortable in the same environment. Please note: A diaper or underwear is not considered a layer.

In warm weather like summers in India, a single layer of clothing is recommended, such as a cotton onesie and diaper, which is enough for a baby to sleep comfortably in. On the other hand, in winters you will need those additional layers to keep your little one warm. Breathable newborn baby leggings made from gentle soft cotton can be used along with a sleep sack. Let’s break it down for better understanding. 

Ideal Winter nightwear for an infant:

In winter’s you have to try and keep your little one as warm as possible with more layers compared to in summers. 

a. Cover the chest area: With winds flowing to and fro in your room, you need to maintain a certain amount of body temperature for the little one. We advise you to cover the chest area with an additional layer. Could be an extra top or could be a warm blanket on the baby. 

b. Leggings for lower body warmth: Consider buying soft material leggings for your little one in order to keep the lower body warm.

c. Consider botties and mittens: you must be aware the feet of not only a kid but also of an adult is the most sensitive to the weather change. If you as an adult are wearing socks while going to bed in the winter probably your little one also needs a pair to keep warm. Investing in a pair of booties and mittens for your baby will be fruitful. 

d. Soft cotton Infant caps: If the winds are too heavy, you must ensure the ears and the head of the kid is well protected. Making him/her wear an infant cap is a great idea.

e. Full sleeved rompers: This is an all in one product you can consider buying for comfortable winter nightwear for your baby. Additionally, a full-sleeved romper for an infant has its own cons of being wearable only in the winters due to its coverage area. The above items if purchased individually can be utilised in multiple weather conditions as per the situation. 

Ideal Summer nightwear for an infant:

In summer’s we Indians have a habit of still covering up our children with more than required layers out of over protection. If we feel hot, so does a 3-month-old child. Though they cannot communicate their discomfort but can get cranky affecting your daily schedule. 

a. Frocks and Jhablas: Ideally a kid would want to be nacked in a summer situation like in metropolitan cities where the temperature rises to 35-40 degrees celsius too often. Hence, to keep the kid cheerful yet covered we recommend you make them wear a light material frock or jhabla at night time. Frocks and Jhablas are also considered to be the most comfortable wear for infants. This will ensure less sweating and in turn less irritation in the middle of the night keeping your sleep undisturbed.

b. Sleeveless baby bodysuit:  The most widely used and easy to wear is a baby’s bodysuit. Make sure this one is sleeveless with no long pants. Our main aim is to cover the baby with the least we can to avoid rashes, heat boils and irritation. 

Word of advice:

If we as adults feel cold, a child also does. Similarly, if we feel stuffy and hot, so does your little one. We often tend to overcover our children due to our overprotective nature at the cost of our newborn’s crankiness and discomfort. As a modern parent, you may also be keen to know how to handle your infant’s crankiness.