Baby Clothes

[EdithGrantham]

First time mum-to-be here and I have what is potentially stupid/trivial question!
I'm a bit confused about baby clothes, and when people generally use different items of clothing. For example, we have a few what I would call baby grows long and short sleeves with poppers, some are labelled as baby grows others are labelled as sleepsuits. I'd imagined using these as pyjamas and the baby would just have one of those on and blankets/sleeping bag type thing depending on weather.

We then also have a few what are labelled as vests, these are the sort that don't have legs, poppers for nappy access and then poppers or flap bits on the shoulders, again some short sleeved and some long sleeved, do these generally get used as underwear under any of the outfits, are they only for colder weather, if you had leggings and a dress outfit for instance (which seems like a fiddly option but quite cute) would you automatically put a 'vest' underneath, and what about when it's very hot, I know the rule of one extra layer to what parents are wearing but would you forego the vest in favour of a top in very hot weather or vice versa?
This has ended up very long and I know the baby won't care what they're dressed in as long as they're comfortable but it seems strange that I don't know the normal protocol!

Hi, I was also baffled with DD1, you are not alone!

So: in autumn, spring I would usually put a sleeveless or short-sleeved poppered vest under an outfit. In winter, I'd probably use a long-sleeved poppered vest. In summer on warm days I wouldn't use a vest at all. Sometimes, I might just use a pretty vest like a T shirt layer (eg under dungarees or a dress, if it wasnt too hot). Some of them are too cute to be underwear!

Regarding the sleepsuits/babygrows: yes exactly, you can use them as sleepwear but also my babies found them so comfy that when baby was very young, we often left the baby in a babygrow in the daytime too, unless we were going out somewhere or grandparents visiting, then the cute outfits would come out!

In winter I put a poppered vest underneath the babygrow (we have a cool house ao depending on temp I'd use sleeveless, short or long sleeved vests).

You can also buy Rompers, which are short-legged and short-sleeved or sleeveless babygrows.that can be worn as sleepwear or as daytime wear. My son lived in Rompers in his first summer, we had some very cute ones!

Thanks @RainingZen, that's really helpful! Did panic a bit when you I first read rompers thinking "Oh no, that's a other thing I don't know what it is!!" But I have one already and had put that in the "outfits" category, good to know it makes sense to use these as daytime and nighttime because I've seen some lovely ones around. I'm due in 5 weeks so really need to get organised and figure out how many of each thing we have and still need!

Mine have worn sleep suits during the day for the first 4 months or so - they are easy to get on and off, comfy for baby, easy to wash and dry and there's no really difference between night and day for the first few weeks anyway! Outfits are cute but can be a real hassle to change, especially with a massive poonami.

I remember feeling the same! I had an early summer heatwave baby and not really a fan of 'outfits' although we did have some as gifts so used them sometimes.

Bedtimes we used grosnugs so used their guide and a Groegg to decide what she wore, this would be either a sleepsuit/babygrow or a long sleeved vest mainly but a normal vest or even just a nappy when it was really hot in the room.

Normal daywear was a sleepsuit, generally with a vest (the one layer extra thing). If it was cooler it would be a long sleeve vest underneath. Cooler again, added a cardigan. Really cold, socks under the sleepsuit feet or booties over the top.

Warmer weather would be a romper, maybe vest under maybe not. Or some form of vest and leggings. Didn't do t shirts really as liked the poppers to help catch nappy explosions! There were super hot days where she was just in a vest and nappy.

If I was having another June baby I'd definitely have more rompers, you can add cardigan and socks really easily if it cools down while you're out. I've got leggings that she never wore but have kept them for if/when we have another in case it's a cooler time of year.

I should have said this outfit regime was one we kept til she started crawling- she used to get sleepsuit feet in a muddle so that's when we went to tops/leggings/socks during the daytime.

Thanks @Getawriggleon, I've been given some clothes 2nd hand from a friend and some immediately went in the "Thanks but no thanks" pile because of how fiddly they looked! I think it's the vests I need to buy a few more of as I bought one pack not really understanding their use.

My DS was born in early July so we got given a groegg from my sister to use. It was really helpful.
Some nights he would just be in his vest with his swaddle if the room was too warm.

Babygro's (sleepsuits) I used for when he was newborn. They look so cute and they grow out of them so quick. We did also put outfits on him as it was so hot.

Vests are just what go under clothing, you don't have to use them but I did.

Rompers are just short sleeved mainly I'd say for the day but you could use them at night if it was warm.

You'll work it out! You stick a finger on the baby's chest and it'll tell you if they're too hot or cold.

Generally I did short sleeved vest + baby gro/sleepsuit until 4/5 months, then vest plus trousers and top. If it was hot then maybe just a vest or romper (short sleeves and legs but basically a babygro). If cold then long sleeved vest and or cardy on top.

When they're tiny they're on you a lot so you don't need to worry too much about cold, it it's hot then just vest or nappy.

I was so confused by this pre baby, only 6 weeks in but it's not so bad when your baby gets here and you get to know them. I'd assumed they'd live in sleepsuits as didn't want the faff of outfits but mine runs hot and with this weather its more about rompers, or vest plus leggings.

But in the early days I definitely wasn't changing clothes without a reason just because it was day/night as no one needs extra work and baby doesn't know or care.

Will say that vests are handy for keeping the nappy in place and providing a bit of protection against leaks - you're not ruining an outfit. So I tend to use them more than I expected as an under layer or instead of a top

DS2 lived in playsuits (rompers) until the end of October, we had a heatwave in October. After that, vest, babygrow, sleeping bag in bed, snowsuit in the buggy. I didn't really use anything else.

Thanks everyone (sorry @Heyha I wasn't ignoring you, think your reply must have popped up as I was typing!) Feeling much clearer on what's what now!

Ooh one other thing I've just thought I meant to ask, will little cotton hats be needed in warm weather or are they more for when it cools down?

We only used the little cotton hats whilst in hospital. Once we got home they never saw the light of day again.

Wool bobble hats in winter and a summer hat that covers their neck in summer) though those are almost impossible to keep on unless they tie under their chin once they're old enough to pull them off.)

Our baby lived in vests and sleepsuits for the first 3-4 months. Now at 9 months with it being warmer he spends a lot of the day in just a nappy if we're in the house. Recommend sleepsuits that zip. So so much quicker and easier than doing up poppers at middle of the night nappy changes.

@EdithGrantham

Ooh one other thing I've just thought I meant to ask, will little cotton hats be needed in warm weather or are they more for when it cools down?

I used a cotton hat for when he was born. He was born in the evening so kept the hat on him that night in hospital and left hospital the next morning. Kept the hat on when we left. Took it off when we got home then went to my mums and he had it back on but took it off once indoors. Didn't use it after the first 24 hours.

He was a summer baby so used it initially to regulate his temp the best I could. If I had a winter baby I'd have kept it on more. But the advice is once they're indoors to take it off and not let them sleep in it. The hospital didn't say anything about me keeping him the hat the night I stayed there though but he was only a couple of hours old.

Thanks @PixieDust28 and @FourEyedFreak13 I think I have one in the donated lot of clothes I've been given so won't rush out to buy more just yet!