What to newborns sleep in?

[MissMilly88]

Hi all, a bit of a strange question maybe. I'm due to be a first time mum in May. I've bought some sleeping bags for baby but they all say not to use for babies under 8lb 4oz. I've also read mixed reports on swaddling. So is it a case of placing them at the bottom of the crib with a blanket? I'm confused! Thanks in advance :)

I've read you shouldn't out them in anything but a baby grow/onesie.

No blankets as they can pull it over their face and suffocate.

Put them in a plain crib with nothing but appreciate baby grow/vest/onesie on.

Due end of April. We have bought some GroSnugs.

Gro-snugs are great. My DS slept really well in his. You can get different tog depending on room temperature/time of year.

He also had a gro-swaddle but only used that in the first few weeks as started to prefer having his arms free which you can with gro-snug.

I put a blanket on them when new or a large muslin when it was warmer weather. Tucked in tightly at the sides of the moses basket and set at mid chest level, arms at the side. They aren't able to pull it up when newborn. Then I was quickly using gro bags. You can get gro swaddle wraps too.

As PPs, we have used GroSnugs - they are suitable for newborns. It's a teeny tiny sleeping bag that you can choose to keep their arms in or out of.

Guidelines don't recommend blankets as these could in theory be wriggled onto a baby's face which is a SIDs risk. Have a read of the lullaby trust guidelines.

Grosnugs. DD fit in hers until she was 3 months then we moved her into normal sleeping bags.

I gave birth in July. In hospital and was skin to skin with a blanket over us both. At home it's baby grows and a swaddle, she has some of those sleeping bags but it will be too warm in May I imagine

Ah thanks all. I'd never even heard of a growsnug so this is really useful :) I'll go down that route I think for now, but if it's warm in May I may end up with just the baby grow I suppose. Thanks for taking the time to reply :)

Bought gro snugs, had DS this May in the middle of the 3 month heatwave moat nights he just wore a nappy! But, barring extreme weather, gro snugs are great. I would go for a lower tog as you can alter what's underneath.

Thanks :) I've just bought some grosnugs. Would they wear a baby grow underneath if it's cold?

They have an indicator of what to put underneath. I wouldn't over think it though. They mostly just wear sleepsuits, if it's really really cold then swaddle or sleeping bag although I swaddle for comfort also but to be honest they rarely need anything else, the sleepsuits keep them warm and they're generally warm especially if you Co sleep and breastfeed.

Thank you :) I'm definitely over thinking things! X

On the grosnug packaging they will have a guide of what to wear in what temperature, if you have a groegg or room thermometer that helps too.

DD wears a sleepsuit and a sleeping bag as our room is between 16-20 degrees.

I used cotton blankets to start because her head was too small for the sleeping bag. I thought she might wriggle down inside it, although looking back I think I over estimated how much she might be able to move.

The blanket was laid down under her and came up to just below shoulders, then I folded each side over her front. I had it so the blanket was hanging down below her feet outside of the Moses basket so if it did slip down it would just fall out.

She was an October baby and looking back I think she woke sometimes because she was a bit cold. For a May baby though if it's anything like last summer your baby might be in a vest and a single thin cotton blanket! Our baby just had a nappy and a sleepsuit on a lot last summer. No vest as too hot.

If you do want to use blankets cellular blankets are breathable so they are pretty safe. I've always used them till they are big enough for a proper sleeping bag, tucked into the end of the mattress and arms out. They are pretty cheap and dry quickly which is great.

Been 17 an a half years since mine were that small, I was going to suggest a cotton sheet with cotton cellular blankets too..
Is that not recommended any more?