Long and quality sleep for babies is essential for you as a parent and your little ones. Staying awake most of the time is frustrating not only to the baby but also their caregivers. It means more feeding, changing, and playtime, which leaves the latter tired and frustrated. Besides allowing the parents adequate time to rest, quality sleep among babies enhances their memory, learning, and attention abilities. Babies who sleep well are also physically and emotionally healthy.
There are several prerequisites for quality sleep among babies. Besides rocking and reassuring the baby, playing soft music, and dimming the lights at night, you should also be keen on dressing baby for sleep appropriately. Investing in the right baby sleep clothes is essential for any mother. The baby sleep clothes allow the little one to sleep longer and comfortably. The infant sleep clothes also eliminate any worries of overheating or adequate warmth for the caregiver.
One of the most common questions that new parents keep asking is how to dress baby for sleep. If you struggle choosing what to dress baby for sleep in, then you are not alone. Picking the right sleeping outfit and dressing baby for bed, is a challenge that affects most parents, especially first-time mothers. Please read through this baby sleep dressing guide for tips and guidelines on how to dress your bed.
The Basic Rules for Dressing Baby for Sleep
Finding the appropriate sleep dress or sleeping outfit for your little one may sound simple. It is, however, one of the most demanding and challenging tasks that any parent can undertake. You dress comes with multiple dangers such as SIDs. The sleep dress you choose also determines the chances of your baby staying asleep for longer. Please read this baby sleep dressing guide to understand how to dress baby for sleep and the basic rules involved.How Many Layers of Clothing for Baby to Sleep Comfortably
The general rule of the thumb for dressing baby for bed requires you always to put them in an extra layer than you would put on at night. If you are always wondering how many layers for baby to sleep, then you have the answer. It is sensible to have the additional layer as baby experts do not recommend blankets and loose crib sheets. Investing in quality baby sleeper gowns or a newborn sleep sack is thus an effective trick on how to dress baby for sleep.Ideal Room Temperature
Before applying the extra layer on the infant sleep clothing, you should also ascertain the room temperature. The ideal temperature in the baby's sleeping room should range between 68 degrees and 72 degrees. Depending on how hot or cold the sleeping environment is, you should act accordingly by removing or adding a layer.
As you stress about keeping your baby warm, you should also understand the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs). What newborns wear to sleep at this point often creates a significant conflict between you and your older-generation loved ones. While the latter focuses on bundling multiple layers on your little one, you are likely to worry about overheating. Overheating is a reality and the primary cause of SIDs.
It is advisable to have the baby slightly underdressed rather than overdressed to minimize overheating and SIDs. While the dangers exist right from birth, they are more prevalent among six-month-old and older infants. It will help if you put extra attention on how to dress 6 month old for sleep. Indoor thermometers and home thermostats play a significant role in enhancing your confidence in selecting baby sleeper pajamas.
With time, common sense and your instincts should also come in handy. As parents feel good in cotton jammies, babies are likely to feel the same way. It is best to consider the softest baby pajamas when shopping for infant sleep clothing and baby sleeper pajamas.
Swaddling
Swaddling is an ancient parenting technique helpful in putting the baby to sleep. It brings a range of benefits as highlighted below:- It ensures better sleep by protecting your baby against its natural startle reflex
- It is essential in calming colicky babies
- It minimizes scratching by keeping the baby's hands-off its face
- It teaches self-soothing as the baby imitates your touch
- It encourages the baby to sleep on its back
It minimizes SIDs by eliminating unnecessary items in the crib, including pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets. Despite being a vital trick for enjoying extra sleep as your baby sleeps along, swaddling is primarily an art that you must learn and practice. It may seem not very easy at the start, by practicing regularly should make you a pro. It helps make your baby feel safe, soothed, and secure like they were in the womb.
For effective swaddling, you need a breathable and lightweight muslin (or cotton) swaddle, which allows flexibility during tucking and wrapping. For the baby's safety, you should stop swaddling the moment they start rolling over. At this point, it is advisable to upgrade to wearable blankets and sleep slacks. The stated options are also excellent options for newborns who dislike swaddling from the start.
It would help if you did not despair when both sleep slacks and swaddling do not work for you. Some babies do not like both alternatives, which makes footed sleepwear and warmer fabrics a significant part of your infant sleep clothing.
Should I Swaddle My Baby with Clothes On?
The above is a popular question that keeps arising anytime swaddling is mentioned. Whatever the baby wears under the swaddle depends on various factors. Some of these factors include humidity, room and outdoor temperature, the season, the material and thickness of the swaddle, and how your baby feels and looks.
The rule of the thumb, however, requires you always to treat the swaddle as a layer. A sleeping onesi (long sleeve), if warm, plus a sleep slack or swaddle, should be enough in warm seasons when you feel comfortable in a single layer. The rule for one extra layer should form the basis on how to dress your baby at night, how to dress baby for sleep in 70 degree room, and what baby should wear to bed in host weather.
Examples of Infant Sleep Clothing You Should Consider
In addition to the above tips, I also recommend some concrete examples of infant sleep clothing that you should consider. The recommendations consist of the softest baby pajamas, baby sleeper gowns, a newborn sleep sack, a sleeping onesi, warm baby pajamas, and quality baby pajamas (toddler pajamas). The guide provides guidelines for dressing your baby for sleep for both warm and cool nights alongside additional tips regarding hats, snaps, and snug fits.Lighten Up During the Summer (Nights)
It is challenging to find what baby should wear to bed in hot weather.You should dress your baby light and breezy on warm nights. The ideal options for baby pajamas (toddler pajamas) at this point comprise a t-shirt or short-sleeve cotton bodysuit underneath the swaddle or newborn sleep sack.
The tee or bodysuit without the swaddle should also be ok during the hottest nights. If you have the AC running, you can stick to the baby sleeper gowns or baby pajamas with footies. The baby pajamas or infant sleep clothing for cool and warm nights should be lightweight and breathable for comfort. With all the oozing heat on such nights, the babies feel comfortable in light baby pajamas like us.
Prepare for The Winter Chill Suitably
Like the summer nights, the chilly winter nights come with unique requirements for your baby's sleep (comfort). The best baby pajamas for such nights should be heavy infant sleep clothing with several layers. As you layer up the warm baby pajamas, always remember to get rid of anything loose.
The trick for these cold nights is a pair of snuggly and fleece baby pajamas, a heavy microfleece swaddle, or an asleep sack with the standard cotton baby pajamas underneath should work effectively.
Do I Need A Hat as Part of Sleep Pajamas for Baby?
Hats may seem attractive, especially when you come across them on the online baby pajamas stores and during infant sleep clothing shopping. Being loose items, you should never include them as part of sleep pajamas for baby. You should save them for accessorizing your photoshoots rather than making them part of baby pajamas. The hats also pose a significant risk for suffocating and overheating.
They are a loose item that can easily slip off a baby's face and prevent them from breathing. They can also lead to overheating, considering that babies self-regulate, releasing a lot of heat. For your baby's safety, you should never make hats part of baby pajamas.
Snug Fits Are a Great Necessity
Some baby pajamas brands start providing flame-resistant baby sleep and play pajamas at nine months. The items are made from chemically treated materials to minimize the risks of flammability. Some pediatricians and child matter experts question the possible health effects of the chemicals used. The best alternative to safe is sticking to made from natural fibers (snug-fitting) or cotton.
These baby pajamas are not exposed to flame retardants and fit close to the baby's body to minimize fire risks. Additionally, the snug fit baby pajamas are preferable over the loose options that can easily ride up and cover the baby's face while asleep.
Remain Functional Rather Than Fashionable
Convenience is a significant determinant when dressing your baby for sleep—the early days of parenting involving multiple diaper changes during the night, which fortunately reduce with time. You do not wish to struggle with complicated buttons or infant sleep clothing at 3 AM. Strategically positioned zippers and snaps are your ideal options for nappy changes in the middle of the night for efficiency. The trick is to save the complex ensembles for daytime.How to Determine If Your Baby Is Comfortable
Your baby can't talk but communicates through cooing and crying. As their parent, your role is to decode every sound they make, which you may get right once and fail in the other. As time passes by, you quickly learn to understand your baby's look and cues. If they are well fed and dry but still seem distressed, it may be due to too much hotness or coldness. There are multiple physical indicators that you should look out for at this point. For overheating, you should check out rashes, perspiration, quickened breathing, wet hair, and red cheeks are some of the potential signs of overheating.
The baby may be overheating despite their cold extremities to touch due to their minor circulatory system that is still developing. In case you feel doubtful, you should feel your bay's chest, tummy, and neck. If the areas feel hot and sweaty, you should consider reducing the layers, among other cooling off the baby. Preventing overheating is a significant step towards preventing SIDs. Besides reducing the layers, you should also reduce the room temperature and keep checking to ensure that the baby cools off safely.
While preventing overheating by all the possible means, you should also be keen to protect your little one from freezing. Signs of too much cold include the baby's hands and feet turning slightly blueish. You shouldn't panic at this point but instead raise the room temperature, layer up and apply any technique to keep them warm. The little fingers and toes should resume their original color in no time.
Additional Safety Tips
Besides the baby pajamas and quality infant sleep clothing such as bamboo baby pajamas, you should note many other baby-safe sleep tips. Read on below for some extra bedtime and nap-time safety hacks. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), your baby should always sleep on a firm surface and on their back. Once they begin rolling over, they can sleep however they like.
Swaddling stops when your infant learns to roll over Loose items should never find their way to the baby crib. A pacifier is the only advisable item as it soothes the baby and prevents SIDs. Place the baby crib or bassinet in your room for the first six months or one year for close monitoring and prevention of SIDs.
Co-sleeping in the same bed is not advisable. Fans are essential for cooling your baby, enhancing air circulation in the room, and minimizing the risks of SIDs. Dressing your baby for sleep determines their safety, comfort, and peace of mind. The tips for proper dressing, however, change as the baby grows. While blankets are not recommended at birth, you may introduce a light one at one year when they are slightly grown. As you consider the above tips, you should also put in mind their age.
Quality and best baby pajamas, especially bamboo baby pajamas, however, remain essential across all levels. Every parent should have great baby sleep and play pajamas regardless of their baby’s age to minimize the stress of finding the right baby pajamas and what to dress baby in for sleep. Investing in the right baby sleep clothes works magic when you are stressed about what to dress baby for sleep in.
