So confused about dressing baby

[Podemos]

Due any day now with first and suddenly had a panic that I've no idea what the hell I'm doing.

I've completely confused myself over what the baby should be wearing. Have been gifted so many clothes so haven't done any clothes shopping myself. Was looking at guides for what the baby should wear in what temperature.

Vests keep getting mentioned but when I Google are they just the short sleeve/ no leg body suits? Looks like you can get cheap multipacks of plain ones but I've got lots of short/no sleeve ones with pictures on that look like they should be worn alone - would that only be in really warm weather? Do I need to be buying packs of 'vests' to go under every daytime and night time outfit? So would night time in average temp be a vest, a sleepsuit and then sleeping bag?

Need to reconsider my hospital bag!!!

I go by the motto 'if I'd find this too hot, baby finds it too hot'.

When my daughter was born at the end of August, we just put trousers/leggings over her short-sleeve babygro (no socks or hat) and a cardy when it got colder. Later on, we put something over the babygro, thicker trousers and a jumper.

As to sleeping: at the moment DS 6.5 months just sleeps in his sleepsuit and a cotton blanky. Sleeping bag would be far too hot.

If you're not sure, feel baby's neck in the fold. It should be warm and not sweaty or cold.

This grobag chart was in a better format when I had my DD but might still be helpful.

Another good motto to remember is that the baby will let you know if she's cold (by crying) but not if she's too hot and that's the danger, overheating. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it soon enough. Involve your partner in your concerns as s/he will probably be doing much of the dressing at first.

My daughter wears a short sleeved vest under every outfit but we are in the north of Scotland so warmth isn't an issue!

I wouldn't worry about 'outfits' in the early weeks. They're cute but sleepsuits are much easier - my DD didn't wear a proper outfit until at least 8 weeks I think! Honestly, when they're here you really don't stress too much about this kind of thing, but it seems super important before they arrive, I know.

Everyone has said to me one layer more than I am wearing.

This said, I completely understand where you're coming from! I feel like I have no idea what to do bedding wise. I keep hearing such different advise and I've frozen and not bought any. Same goes for baths! Need to get a tub and a thermometer but can't work out what is best.

I keep trying to remind myself that babies are hardy and the best way to learn is on the job!

One extra layer than yourself is always a good guideline, also remember a babies hands and feet always feel cold so that is not an accurate way of checking their temp. As already mentioned the back of their neck Is a good guide . If you go into a hot shop remove a blanket or unzip their coat . Gives me the rage when I see a mum In Shorts and vest and a baby wrapped in a fleecy blanket with the pram hood up.

In summer one layer is fine in the house, with a cardi or thin coat ontop outside. Obviously depends on just how hot it is.

At night a babygro and sleeping bag should be fine unless it's very warm then just a babygro or vest would be ok.

You will get the hang of it. Hands and feet are always cold, the best place to check if their body is too warm is their neck/chest.

One layer more than you but never more than 4, blankets being a layer each and if folded over that's 2 layers etc. Vest under onesie in summer, with or without feet on it depending on how warm the day is. Cardigan if it gets cooler.

Thanks everyone. That's really helpful

Check the thickness of the sleeping bag (tog rating), get a room thermometer (e.g. gro egg) and then look at the gro bag chart to see what they should be sleeping in. In the day a vest/body suit plus babygro is fine, unless it’s hot in which case go for just a babygro (or vest and nappy if REALLY hot). Worry about clothes later.

My son is currently in long sleeved bodysuit plus 1.5 tog sleeping bag at night but his room is around 19-20 degrees so pretty warm.

I always did baby best baby grow hat and socks in winter no hat at night time never.
Summer usually just a vest and baby shorts. My baby is due January so I'll expect to stock up on lots of vests and snow suits!

As a new born we dressed her in a short sleeved or sleeveless vest, with a baby grow on top. Best baby grows have feet attached and integrated scratch mitts. Long sleeved vests we use under eg dungarees when she was a bit older. I found without a vest the nappy didn't stay in place and we had leakages!
Now she still always has a vest on under her clothes unless it is very warm, but this is Scotland so that doesn't usually happen!

Babies often have cold hands and feet so never judge their temperature by that, feel their chest or belly instead. If you feel too hot, chances are your baby definitely will do.

No idea where you are based but here in Yorkshire it’s still not getting much above 17-18 degrees which isn’t overly warm. My baby DS is in a long sleeved top with cotton dungarees over it today and that’s fine.

Newborns are fine just in a babygrow most of the time indoors with a jacket or cardigan over the top and a hat outdoors depending on outside temp.

I never bothered with vests and I have four DC. I use them occasionally as a T-shirt under dungarees/rompers but that’s it.

Just be aware, the 0-6 month sleeping bags are no use at first if you have a small baby. My daughter is 10 weeks and have just hit the minimum weight for them! Up TIL now we’ve used blankets, but you can get grosnugs which are smaller.

My daughter mainly wears a vest (yes, some of these are designed to be worn with leggings or something in warmer weather) with a baby grow over the top. When we had some very hot weather she just wore a baby grow or romper suit. If we go out and it’s chilly I’ll put a blanket over her in the pram (easier than a coat).

The general rule I was told is one more layer on baby than you’re wearing yourself. I find it a good guide but in very hot weather I wouldn’t put baby in more than me.

Remember as well that if you're holding baby, they will share your warmth, and car seats, pram seats etc are a layer too. I always put ds (January baby) in a vest and babygro and then added layers to go outside, socks, mitts, hat, blanket as needed. Once we got into warmer weather and he was a bit bigger he went into just a babygro.

Awww, a new baby! Congratulations.

Even tiny ones are pretty good at letting you know if they're too hot or cold. If he's fussing without showing signs of being hungry or tired always check his temp - just feel the back of the neck, or give his face a kiss (lips are a good temperature indicator) and get an idea that way - there's no need to whip a thermometer out! Don't go by how cold little hands and feet feel as extremities are usually on the chilly side. Even if they're bluish that's normal, but if the arms and legs are that's a good indicator he's too cold.

How cool is this (pun kind of intended!) - when you lay baby on your bare chest your body adjust its temperature to warm baby up or cool him down!

Make sure he's not wearing a hat indoors and NEVER when put down to sleep.

If you breastfeed your milk will adapt to the perfect consistency for his temperature. So if he's too warm with all this brilliant summer weather we're having (ha. ha.) or he has a fever, it'll be watered down to perfectly hydrate and cool him.

If you use a sheepskin liner for his pram or moses basket do keep an eye on his temp as they can warm up very quickly.

If you have him next to you in a sling, the sling counts as a 'layer' so make sure he doesn't get too warm.

Random fact of the day - in Sweden babies in nurseries are left to sleep outside until the temperature dips to MINUS 10!!

No advice on the specific layers for you if it's cold as I live in an extremely hot and humid climate all year round. My baby is often in just her nappy. But I just wanted to jump in and say that I've felt exactly the same way as you. It's a nightmare trying to guess if something will be too hot/cold for them. I don't think anyone really knows for sure...