Dressing Your Baby For Sleep Time

For first-time parents knowing what to dress your baby in when it’s time to visit the land of nod may not be that clear and worrying about what your sweetheart will be most comfortable in is certainly not uncommon. After all, this precious new little one is delicate and relies on you entirely for its’ survival. So while it may not seem so important to dress your baby appropriately for sleep time, it can be the difference between your baby getting good and restorative sleep, or your baby tossing and turning and getting more overtired by the minute!

So, what should you consider when thinking about dressing your baby for sleep time?

Newly born babies move a lot during sleep time

Little ones find themselves making a lot of reflexive movements, whether napping or fully awake, and they have virtually no control over their arms and legs. Bearing this in mind, a safe swaddle is perhaps the best way of keeping babies’ snug, safe and secure while their delicate nervous systems are developing and enable them to feel more comfortable as they drift in and out of sleep. Certain sleep sacks can offer a safe swaddle for your baby. Avoid adding blankets or heavy wraps that your baby can get wrapped up in. 

Your baby’s nervous system will quickly develop

The nervous systems of newborn babies do begin to mature quickly though, and when your little one reaches 3 to 6 months (the timeline will vary for each baby), they will be far more capable of moving their limbs in a regulated manner, with more control over their arms and legs. You will also notice their internal clock – otherwise known as the ‘circadian system’ – beginning to signal to them that nighttime is when they should sleep. As your little one grows, you should always be evaluating their attire and find a form that allows them to move more freely without inhibiting their arms and legs. Pajamas are often seen as being the most appropriate form of nighttime attire for small babies when they reach this stage, especially if they are all-in-one and lightweight, preventing them from tangling or bunching up while your baby is resting. Have a variety of fabrics available, so that as evenings get warmer or cooler, you are well-equipped. 

Allow your baby to explore their crib

Tumbling around, crawling and trying to stand are all normal behaviours for growing children, and provided they are safe and cannot harm themselves should they fall over, this exploration within the confines of their crib is no problem. You may find that having the ability to move around more freely while in their crib might disorient your baby to begin with, but they will soon grow accustomed to it, and in time, it should help them get to sleep, since they can freely choose what position is most comfortable for them.

Try not to wrap your baby up too warmly

It can be easy to assume that a warm, snug baby, equals a baby who will sleep more soundly, but the truth is in fact, often the opposite. Just as with adults trying to sleep, if you’re in a warm room and wrapped from head to toe in something heavy and hot, you will feel uncomfortable and doubtless begin to perspire. Cool rooms are conducive to a good night’s sleep for all humans, young, old, large or small! The ideal temperature for a good nights sleep is 19-20 degrees Celsius (67 degrees Fahrenheit). 

What your baby should wear in bed depending upon the season

In cooler weather: Pop a onesie under your little ones footie pajamas, and if the climate is quite cold, then you can add a fleece pajama over the top of a thin pair of cotton pajamas. Sleep sacks can be very helpful as well, to safely offer an additional layer. 

In warmer weather: Dress baby in a one-piece pajama suit made from cotton, or pajamas that have no feet. We, as adults, may not be able to sleep without something covering us because that’s what we’ve grown accustomed to, but babies haven’t yet developed that feeling and will sleep happily with their toes or legs exposed, in much the same way as they will sleep soundly without a pillow.

The best advice to take onboard when dressing your baby for sleep time, is that after the first couple of months, they will need to establish their own freedom of movement and comfort levels to sleep soundly in their chosen position. Restricting their movements is often not helpful as they grow. Allow them the freedom to find their ideal sleeping position.