Can a baby wear a sleepsuit all day?

Yes, especially in the early months

Despite the name, a sleepsuit is not only for sleeping. For the first few months, most babies spend their days feeding, sleeping and being held, and a sleepsuit suits all three. The NHS list of newborn clothes starts with sleepsuits for exactly this reason, and many families dress their baby in nothing else until three or four months. There is no rule that says you have to change into day clothes in the morning.

Why it works so well for young babies

• Nappy changes are quick through the leg snaps, and you will change a lot of nappies before evening.
• Arms, legs and feet are covered without socks falling off or tops riding up.
• There is no waistband pressing on a full tummy after a feed.
• One piece to wash instead of three, and nothing to match.

When day clothes start to make sense

• Your baby is awake for longer stretches and you want a clear difference between day and night.
• It’s hot. A romper or bodysuit is cooler than a full-length sleepsuit on a summer afternoon.
• Your baby is crawling or pulling up to stand, and covered feet slip or wear through at the knees.
• You are going out or expecting guests and want something a little smarter.

Keeping one sleepsuit fresh all day

The main reason a daytime sleepsuit gets changed is milk. A soft bib during feeds, and a muslin over your shoulder when burping, can keep the same sleepsuit clean until bedtime. Change it straight away if it is wet with spit-up, though: damp fabric at the neck can make the skin sore in the folds, and a cool, wet sleepsuit is uncomfortable in an air-conditioned room.

Many families then put on a fresh sleepsuit for the night, which means about two a day, so you will need more than the minimum on a newborn list, particularly in the monsoon when washing dries slowly. Our newborn clothes checklist gives a starting count.

Think about the weather

A sleepsuit all day works easily in winter and in air-conditioned rooms. In a Pakistani summer without AC, a full-length sleepsuit can be too warm by the afternoon, even for a newborn. Feel the chest or the back of the neck through the day; if it is hot or sweaty, swap to a short-sleeved bodysuit or romper and save the sleepsuit for the cooler night. Our guide to rompers, sleepsuits, jumpsuits and dungarees explains which suits warm days.

Day sleepsuits and night sleepsuits

Some parents keep a few sleepsuits that look more like outfits for daytime and softer, simpler ones for night. The Ivory Pinstripe Baseball Footed Sleepsuit, with its navy raglan sleeves and “Little 01” embroidery, looks like a day outfit, while the teddy and star print on the Sky Blue Teddy & Stars Footed Sleepsuit feels made for bedtime. It is only a habit, but it can make mornings feel like mornings. Browse the full range on rompers and sleepsuits.

Sources

The newborn clothing list, and checking a baby’s temperature at the chest or the back of the neck to avoid overheating: NHS and The Lullaby Trust.

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