Appropriate clothing for sleeping - 2.5-3 year olds

[tudorqueenie]

Hello there,

I have a 2.5 year old who is still using sleepsuits that also cover her feet, along with footed sleeping bags. The “normal” sleeping bags don’t work because she feels annoyed and restricted. She won’t use a blanket because if it gets tangled around her legs, she gets annoyed. She is a very active sleeper, she crawls around the room in her sleep. Lately, even the sleepsuits that cover her feet have been annoying her. I’d be keen to use either sleepsuits that don’t cover the feet, or normal pyjamas. The issue with this is that she would be barefoot - I’m not sure if she’d get cold at night etc.

anyway, just wondering what people use for their similar aged children at night :) many thanks in advance

Similar issues here. We use sleeping bags which have the option to have feet covered or not (the foot part folds down or rolls up), although DC prefers bare feet and hasn't complained of cold so far. I'd check out Superlovemerino or Slumbersac for some good options!

My little one would never wear the sleep suits with feet so I just always popped a pair of socks on him if it was nippy. Though he seems to prefer barefoot even when it's cold🙄 would she be comfortable wearing socks?

Definitely pyjamas! She'll have a light duvet or blankets, so she won't get cold.

We stopped using sleeping bags around 2.

Pjs and duvet by 2. If they aren’t already they will need to be able to get to the toilet soon at night so nothing that contains.

My son just wears pyjamas (long or short depending on the weather) and uses a duvet and he's never been cold.

I didn't even realise they made sleepsuits and sleeping bags for 2.5 year olds, I've never heard of not just using normal pyjamas and bedding. Can't imagine my son letting us put him in them!

I used a zip on duvet at this age by the Gro company I think?

Doesn't spoke like a duvet is much use if they are wriggling and moving this much but a decent length pit of socks pulled up under cuffed bottoms should stay put. Probably not an issue now anyway if feet are bare but a solution for when it gets colder

Nearly 3 year old is in jammies with a pillow and duvet. I couldn't be bothered with sleep suits or sleeping bags after the age of one. He likes to wear socks every night and they never come off.

We used light soft wollen pyjamas with feet til around 5 yo then cold weather.

Thanks so much! :)

Normal pyjamas and a duvet by then.

Tried two nights with a blanket - she cannot sleep like this. She is a very active sleeper and the blanket (or duvet) gets tangled around her or it just slips off and then she can’t sleep. Will need to go back to footed sleeping bags though even they annoy her!

@tudorqueenie My DS sounds very similar to your DD. He does sleep with a duvet but within half an hour it’s wrapped around him or he’s kicked it off. He also doesn’t lie on his pillow, he just pushes it to the side. I just put DS in slightly warmer PJs than he’d need if he had the duvet 😊 I also get socks from H&M that are thick and cosy and they seem to keep him warm enough😊

I found that it took my DS a few days to get used to how to use the duvet but he did get it. Maybe give it a few more days before you give up?

Heated blanket under her sheet. This has made such a difference to us! She's had it since autumn just over 3
PJ's and vest or t shirt under if cold
Socks
Duvet propped up on one side so it's a bit like a tent seems to stay on better and not touching her as much
Electric radiator to keep her room warmer than the house overnight usually around 20-22deg

Where are you living? It's so warm in most parts of England right now it would be far too hot to use sleep bag you describe.. Surely if duvet slips off your child can easily learn to pull it back over herself. I think you need to realise your child is growing up and needs to adapt to more grown up sleeping arrangements.

@tudorqueenie gently op I agree with the above. My son is 4.5 and has been in PJ's and a blanket/duvet from about 1.5/2. There's no way at coming up to 3 he'd tolerate a sleeping bag/suit. Plus, as a pp has said, what about when they're potty training/trained?

Just put her in PJ's that are suitable for the weather and if she kicks the duvet off, so be it. Mine never wanted the duvet on and sometimes still kicks it off, but if he's in suitable PJ's then it doesn't really matter to be honest.

Two days isn't very long to get used to the change, honestly I'd stick with it. Better trying it now so she's used to it when the colder weather comes!

All very good points, thank you so much! I will give it a few more days.
we live in Scotland and it has been around 13C here every day with lots of rain :(

Short pj's and a duvet.

My DD doesn't like blankets so she has fleece pyjama and socks on.

My DS couldn’t keep his duvet on for quite a long time when he first had it. We put him in pyjamas with a vest underneath and the top tucked into the bottoms so he’s not getting cold when the duvet comes off. You could do socks too.