What To Dress A Newborn In At Night
Nighttime can be challenging when taking care of a newborn. You might feel like resting from all the hard work, but your infant may have some other ideas. Babies’ unrest may be due to wrong clothing, and knowing what to dress a newborn in at night can be essential to sleeping better.
It often takes a lot of patience, trial, and error to find the right formula for your baby’s good night's sleep. Clothes play an enormous role in that because your baby can struggle to sleep as a result of feeling too warm, cold, or discomfort from the fabric.
Dressing your newborn properly is necessary for its comfort but also for its safety, as overheating is a genuine concern for the baby’s health. Loose clothing is another safety hazard because it can potentially cause suffocation.
This article will cover all the items needed for a good slumber for your baby, using our own and other people’s experiences.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Tanya Yatsenko
What to Dress a Newborn in at Night
Early parenthood is a period with many uncertainties and confusion. Not only do you need to learn many things, but you also have to be selective of the sources of information.
Knowing how to dress your baby will allow you to have a carefree sleep and enable the baby to develop properly, so it is not an area where you should be improvising.
For best results, determining what to dress a newborn in at night requires following science as well as the advice of experts. Though they may have experience with bringing children up, older people may not be the best source as they will be quick to give you conservative advice, which almost always includes overdressing your infant.
The best thing is to do some shopping and find newborn baby girl clothes that you find the most comfortable for your little bud. But before doing that, check out the clothes list below.
Considering some factors
Having too many clothes on your baby will create discomfort, limit the range of motion, and can cause health concerns. It is better to dress lighter than potentially letting them have too many clothes on.
Clothes that are adequate for nighttime are made out of natural, soft, breathable fabric like cotton or linen. It is imperative for them to be of the right size in order to not fall off or be too tight.
Accessories like mittens are convenient for preventing your baby from hurting itself by scratching, so it’s best to have a pair or two ready. Hats are usually unnecessary, although, in certain cold conditions, they ould do the job.
Room temperature plays a key role in determining what to have the baby wear during nighttime. The ideal temp would be 68°F to 72°F, but that is not always possible, so choosing the ideal wear can require adapting to your circumstances.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Andrii Orlov
Dressing a Newborn at Night
Diapers
Choosing the right diapers is important, and for sleep, there are special nappies called “overnight diapers.” They are more absorbent and allow for longer periods of dryness compared to regular ones.
You can also use regular diapers, but changing them when your baby wakes up to eat will be necessary. Various brands claim that overnight diapers offer up to 25% more absorption than regular diapers.
Onesies
The most important item for any time of the day. Onesies are absolutely essential, and your baby loves them even though it might not seem that way, as they tend to protest when they’re being put on.
Onesies are one-piece bodysuits that come with short or long sleeves and a snap at the crotch for a tight fit. They are typically made of cotton, which is the right material for all baby clothes.
They provide comfort and serve as the foundation upon which other clothes are dressed, and they keep the diaper in check. Onesies are easy to put on and take off and offer a comfortable feeling to your baby, which is crucial to having a good night’s sleep.
Sleepers
Your baby’s first few months will be all about eating and sleeping, so the clothes you buy should reflect that. Sleepers are typically the first choice for nighttime for newborn babies.
They are one-piece suits that cover the whole body, including the hands and feet. They provide a comfortable, warm, and cozy feeling for the baby, which is essential for quality sleep.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Stanislav Uvarov
Pajamas
Pajamas come in one or two pieces. Baby PJs are a great nighttime choice for your baby, and they’re typically worn over the onesie.
Go for comfortable fabric, and preferably get ones with footing at the bottom because it will help keep your baby’s feet warm. If you get PJs without footing, then you will need to put on socks.
It’s not often that comfort and style can be combined for newborn babies, but PJs allow you to do just that. Your baby can have a stylish look in the pajama sets you’ll choose, and they will also be comfortable to wear while snuggling under the blanket.
Swaddle
Swaddling is an ancient practice dating at least over 6,000 years ago. It is the act of wrapping a cloth around the baby’s body to provide them with warmth and a sense of security. The environment inside a swaddle reminds the baby of when it was still in its mother’s womb.
Another benefit to swaddling is that it limits reflex movements which can disrupt the sleep session. To do it properly, your baby’s hands should be by its side.
The type of fabric of the swaddle is the same as for the other clothes i.e. cotton, linen, or another natural material that will feel pleasant and comfortable.
There are other products on the market similar to swaddles, like wraps and sleeping sacks, which require less technique.
Socks
Babies don’t have the capacity to maintain body temperature the same as grownups. Without socks, their feet might get cold, which can cause discomfort or potentially have a negative impact on their overall health.
Socks need to be of the right quality and size. Having the wrong fabric can cause skin irritation and agitate your baby. Bigger socks will fall off, and smaller sizes can constrict the blood flow.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: LeManna
Mittens
Having your infant wear mittens for the purpose of warmth is unnecessary. However, mittens can be a convenient way to prevent scratching, especially if you’re having trouble trimming its nails.
Mittens should also be soft and of the right size in order to prevent irritation, falling off, or blood constriction. Mittens can be part of the sleeper outfit or as part of a pajama top.
Hats
Whether or not to wear a hat at night time depends on the conditions, and it will be entirely up to you to make that judgment. Sometimes a colder environment may require a hat to keep the baby’s head warm, and there are hats designed just for that purpose.
You should know that babies cool themselves by releasing heat from their heads, and a hat can interrupt that process and cause overheating. It is advisable to be very careful when using hats for sleeping, as well as making sure they don’t have any loose parts which may cause problems.
Blankets
Although technically it is not part of the outfit, the blankets are an integral item to the baby’s comfort and quality of sleep. Always choose a soft blanket, and the best way to regulate the temperature in the sleeping area is by first adding more layers and removing the blankets as needed.
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: New Africa
Conclusion
Dressing your baby properly is very important for the quality of its sleep, and some irregularities may be related to improper outfits. Overheating is a common occurrence, and it is caused by too many outfits with the idea of keeping the baby warm.
Some of the essentials for a good night’s sleep include diapers, onesies, sleepers or pajamas, swaddles, socks, and mittens. A good blanket is a must, and it’s optimal to first use more layers and remove them as necessary in order to regulate the warmth.
Knowing what to dress a newborn in at night requires following science and expert advice, but people often fall victim to pseudoscientific practices which may cause health issues for the infant.
Sam Milam, author
Sam Milam is a freelance writer, photographer, and yoga teacher. She is passionate about educating herself and others about attachment parenting, social justice, and living an authentic, empowered life. When she isn't working, she can be found exploring the Pacific Northwest with her two kids. Sam is a regular contributor for Washington Post, POPSUGAR, USA Today, Parent Map, and Gronk Nation.
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