Vests, sleepsuits and onesies?

[igot99problems]

Hi there, I was hoping for some guidance on something that should make sense but to me right now it doesn't? Baby brain maybe?

I am a first time mum to be with a due date in February. I am checking that I have enough clothes etc and starting to buy things I will need for my hospital bag in the sales.

I have looked at lists of what to dress a newborn in and lots of people mentioned bringing a few sleepsuits, onesies and vests to the hospital for baby. Then a going home outfit.

My question is...what is the difference between a sleep suit and a onesie? Also, don't you bring the baby home in a onesie with a cardigan or something on top? And vests are all in one undershirts right? And baby always has one of these on regardless of what they are wearing on top - onesie, sleepsuit (if his is different from a onesie), or separates?

If you can help or offer guidance on this and how to best dress a winter newborn I would appreciate it so so much..

Congratulations OP!

My daughter was a winter baby too. I had her in a vest and a sleepsuit (I think onesies don't have feet but I've never bought any!) for going home, plus a car seat blanket. That was plenty. The hospital was so warm she just needed a vest most of the time! In my experience cardigans and going home outfits are a pain in the bum - if I could have my time again I'd dress DD in nothing but sleepsuits for the first three months! So much more practical and very adorable.

Babies don't always need a vest under everything - it depends how hot it is. My daughter runs hot so she doesn't wear a vest under her sleepsuit at night (she has a 2.5 tog sleeping bag) but in the winter she wears one during the day under her clothes. In the summer she sleeps in a vest with a 1.5 tog sleeping bag.

They'll soon let you know if they're too hot or cold and you can check by feeling their tummy or the back of their neck (not hands and feet which often feel cold). Blankets are great for the pram as you can layer them and remove easily when you go into a shop.

When in doubt remember that it's safer for a baby to be too cold than too hot, especially at night.

Sleepsuits and babygrows are the same things and are all in ones ie onsies perhaps sleepsuits are just for sleeping?!

For a Feb baby you will need vests (all in ones to go under any outfit, short sleeved best, long sleeved babygrow on top. Then a cardigan on top or pram suit

All good questions.

Onesie/babygro/sleepsuit: all the same thing. In my opinion, the best thing for babies to wear. Comfy and practical.

Vests/bodysuit: these go underneath any outfit to keep the baby warm and keep the nappy in position too.

Knitted cardigans are the best as they're easiest to get their arms in! Also comfy and cute. Avoid hooded cardigans for indoors as you have to keep folding the hood back to avoid their face being covered.

Going home outfit: i think this is a commercial ploy to get you to buy more stuff! They can go home in a babygro, vest and cardigan. Bring a couple of cellular blankets to tuck around baby in the car seat. They can't wear coats or snow suits in the car seat.

To keep warm in the puschair/pram: cardigan, snowsuit and a hat. Layer blankets under a footmuff/cosytoes.

Sling: be careful of hoods and snow suits as you need to keep a clear flow of air. Remove layers when you go indoors.

If wearing trousers, I find tights much better than socks as they stay on!

Hope this weird list is helpful!

Vests - Can be no sleeves, short sleeved or long sleeved. Long sleeved ate difficult to her baby grows over the top of when the baby is small. So short sleeved are best. Plus babygrow/sleepsuit. And cardy and hat. I didn't do outfits until they were much older

My November baby usually wore a long sleeved vest, baby grow and cardigan during the day. That’s what he wore to cone home too. If you can get some hand knitted wool cardigans they are great, stretchy so easy to get on and breathable.

YMMV but I found snowsuits completely useless. Great for when they're older and running around but they just overheat in them as babies - layering blankets in the pram is much better.

Imo we have a tendency to put babies in too many layers. I hate seeing sweaty-haired babies being peeled out of snowsuits. But my daughter was sick every time she got too hot so I'm biased - plus I had a very useful and definite "too hot" indicator!

This is incredibly useful..thank you so much! I have lots of 'all in ones'
but no vests so need to pick up a pack or two I think (I will go for short sleeved). I have a knitted cardigan but will keep an eye out for a few more (at least one without a hood). January sales should be good for this I guess?

All of the 'all in ones' I have for newborn etc have feet included. So I'm guessing I don't need to worry too much about his little feet? Socks won't be needed? I will just make sure I have a few pairs of scratch mitts and a few hats?

Also, did you use bibs with your newborn? Is it worth picking up a few of these?

Sorry for bombarding you all with more questions...it is just so reassuring to benefit from your experience...too many websites etc that I am getting confused!!

I used bibs for catching little milky burps. I agree snow suits are not great, or pram suits. The baby us just too small, they don't look at all comfy. Even my giant nearly 11lber!! Layering, blankets, cosy toes etc. I used a carrier so the baby was next to me under a coat which was nice and cosy.

Re scratch mitts, check the babygros you have brought, some have integral ones built in. So much easier than trying to keep mittens on.

I know M&S ones do for definite but think Primark ones did too.

Nearly all of my babygrows have built in mitts, seperate ones are a pain and never seem to stay on.
I have a couple of babygrows that zip up, so handy when have to dress/ undress out and about or at an appointment etc.
I have a morrck blanket for my car seat and it's so much easier than layering on/ off all the time with the added bonus he can't kick it off :0)