Zip vs poppers sleepsuits

[Ruibies]

Hi everyone, this is such a mundane question but I'm pregnant with my first and just wondering if anyone has really strong views on whether zips on babygrows/sleepsuits make a huge difference compared to poppers?

I've had a few friends recommend zips as being easier for nappy changes, especially in the night. But I'm looking online and see far fewer options with zips than with poppers.

Also whether inbuilt scratch mitts are dealbreakers? I've seen lots of sleepsuits without them which has put me off buying, but if you had to choose between a sleep suit with a zip and no scratch mitts or one with poppers and scratch mitts which would you go for?

Definitely overthinking it but would love to hear anyone's views on these! Thanks!

I'd go for poppers and scratch mits if they have them.

I have mostly poppers and I'm happy with them. My baby is nearly 2 weeks old and I haven't actually used the built in scratch mitts at all yet.

I had a couple with zips and they seemed very uncomfortable. Poppers all the way - never had any problems with them (could probably have done them with my eyes shut - especially at night!).

Never bothered with scratch mitts, just kept nails short.

Poppers, that way you can change nappy without having to undo the chest bit or take the baby grow off, just unpop the legs and slip those out.

Built in scratch mitts for sure, separate ones just fall off.

I have the same dilemma (currently pregnant)

I settled on mandatory features being

• a footed sleepsuit
• built in cuff mitts

And then went half and half on poppers vs zippers

Get a mixture of all if possible. Then you'll work out what you like for when you buy bigger sizes.

Get a few of each and you’ll see which works with your baby. For us, it’s poppers down the middle and each leg, rather than a zip or poppers to one side. In built scratch mitts are useful not just to stop them scratching themselves but also to stop their hands getting cold, which is the main reason we use the cuffs. Your baby might be happy keeping their arms in their swaddle/blanket and might not need scratch mitts.

Poppers and scratch mits definitely for babygros or you used to be able to get like a long white nightdress type of thing for quick nighttime changes in early days (again with poppers). I had two white ones used by DS and again later by DD. Also I had vests, bibs, scratch mitts and nearly everything else white so you can bung it all in together on a hot wash (pre the sweet potato stages obv). Had gro bag type things when they were a little bit older which were fab.

Poppers seem to be more comfortable but I had a wriggler and she constantly undid them in her sleep so she had zip ones after that.. it was useful for the nappy changes though.

A lot of built in scratch mitts are rubbish, they don’t stay put. The suits from Jojo maman Bebe had the best built in mitts imo. I prefer poppers. If you do get some zip sleepsuits, get some with double zips.

Also Muslim squares (also in white) were an absolute godsend with DS who was a sicky baby but they had all kinds of uses but hardly used these at all with DD

Nightgowns or bundlers are the best! Seriously Google but discovered with our fifth!

The absolute best are the double zips so you can zip from the bottom to expose bottom half only for nappy changes. Definitely footed too until they start walking. My favourite are the Purebaby ones, you can get them at John Lewis (amongst other places).

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-baby-organic-cotton-bunny-bundler-white-0-3-months/p1713650?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5Lk1lc3NhZ2U=

www.notonthehighstreet.com/piccalilly/product/baby-nightgown-citrus?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=15168169861&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=u&cq_plt=gp&DGMKT=FID__TID_pla-1457484573506_PID_1035811_CRI_1457484573506&gclid=CjwKCAiArOqOBhBmEiwAsgeLmVXQg9BoB3ZXVIeGSZ77VqcFzCyTb4V49YxuLIJbQrFENH3lGkrZqxoCpa0QAvD_BwE

Zips. 100%.

H&M have tonnes

My baby hates hand mitts… he won’t tolerate them at all, he touches his face to soothe himself. The midwives at the hospital said this wasn’t uncommon!

We have two zip sleepsuits and the majority poppers. He’s only three weeks old but I haven’t noticed a massive difference, other than that the popper suits have more room for him to grow, he’ll outgrow the zip ones faster I’m sure.

Much preferred poppers, not sure why but I rarely used the zipper sleep suits we had. You get into autopilot with the poppers very quickly. Some have a 'copper popper' to orientate you. I liked the Next ones best, nice quality fabric and washed well.

We needed the built-in mitts in the early days as he had very scratchy nails, but that only lasted a few weeks.

I loved sleepsuits with zips once baby started to wriggle more. So much h easier to whip on and off.
Don’t think we ever really used scratch mits didn’t need to

We had a mixture of poppers and zips and we much prefer the poppers! I was always scared of getting DD’s skin caught in the zipper and they always seemed to lie in an awkward position - bunched up sort of if that makes sense. DD seems comfier with the popper sleepsuits, the inbuilt mittens are really handy!

A double zip is a game changer, but more so for once they are moving around a lot more. Newborns it doesn't really matter.

Bonds Wondersuits are amazing. If I'd known about them sooner, I'd have made my Aussie relatives send them to me: www.bonds.com.au/baby/zippys/zip-wondersuits.html

I used them with DD from 1-3.5. She had severe eczema and couldn't get her hands into them to scratch!

Not so sure about the footed thing, I had been told that too but turned out my son (September baby) hated footed onesies and sleepsuits pretty much from the day he was born, he wanted his feet "free" - otherwise poppers all the way

Wow thanks so much everyone - lots of different preferences! So far I have a couple of bonds wondersuits in different sizes, and a few poppered ones from I think Asda. Good to know that lots of people actually don't mind/prefer poppers! There just seems to be a lot more of them out there than zippered ones. I'm not going to go too mad as everyone has said baby will tell me what they like/dislike and also may grow out of stuff quickly so no need to stock up massively. But this has given me a bit more confidence to be a bit flexible and buy a few options to see what works best!

Best option for DD was poppers down both legs because she has long legs, so anything that opened only down one leg became a faff (and then impossible) to get the other leg in/out well before she'd otherwise outgrown it.