When do babies stop wearing sleepsuits?

There is no set age

Some babies move to two-piece pyjamas before their first birthday; others sleep in sleepsuits until well past two. Neither is right or wrong. Most families find daytime sleepsuits fade out once their baby walks, while night-time sleepsuits last much longer, especially through winter. Our own sleepsuits come in every size from 0–3M up to 18–24M, and the question is really which suits your toddler’s nights better.

Signs it may be time to switch

• Potty training has started. Getting a one-piece off in a hurry is hard for a toddler and for you; see our post on what toddlers should wear for potty training.
• Your toddler walks around a lot in the evening and slips on tiled floors in covered feet.
• They want to dress themselves and get frustrated with snaps.
• They are long in the body, so one-pieces pull at the shoulders before the legs are too short.

Reasons to keep them a while longer

• Cold nights. Toddlers kick off blankets all night, and a footed sleepsuit keeps legs and feet covered without covers staying put.
• Nappy escape artists. Some toddlers learn to take their nappy off in the cot. A sleepsuit with snaps makes that much harder.
• Travel and stays with relatives, where rooms are colder or warmer than home and one piece is easier to pack.
• Your child sleeps well and likes them. There is no reason to change what works.

Pyjamas versus sleepsuits for toddlers

Two-piece pyjamas are easier for nappy changes on a standing toddler and for potty trips, and they last longer because top and bottoms can be different sizes. Their weak point is the gap at the waist: tops ride up as toddlers roll, leaving the tummy and back uncovered on cold nights. A bodysuit underneath, or a baby sleeping bag in the right size, solves that. In summer, the gap doesn’t matter, which is why many families switch in the warm months and keep a couple of sleepsuits for winter.

• Choose pyjamas with ribbed cuffs and a soft, flat waistband, so legs stay down and nothing digs in.
• Keep the same bedtime routine, so the change in clothes is the only new thing.
• Let your toddler pick between two pairs. Choice makes the change feel like theirs.
• Keep one or two sleepsuits for illness, travel and the coldest weeks.

Summer and winter nights for toddlers

In a Pakistani summer, most toddlers sleep happily in a short-sleeved top and shorts, or just a vest and nappy in a hot room, so sleepsuits often drop out of use from about April anyway. In winter, the choice matters more. A footed sleepsuit is the simplest way to keep a restless toddler warm in Lahore, Islamabad or Peshawar, and in Quetta or the north a sleepsuit inside a toddler sleeping bag may be needed. Dress for the room, not the season, and feel the back of the neck once they are asleep: hot or sweaty means one layer less.

Sizes beyond 24 months

Our ready-made sleepsuits, like the Ivory Pinstripe Baseball Footed Sleepsuit and the Sky Blue Teddy & Stars Footed Sleepsuit, go up to 18–24M. For older children, our size guide also covers 2–3Y and up for custom orders, so if your toddler still loves a sleepsuit, ask through custom orders whether one can be made in their size.

Sources

Dressing for the room, checking the back of the neck for overheating, and choosing a sleeping bag that fits: NHS and The Lullaby Trust.

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