Wondering What Clothing to Put My Son in at Night for Sleeping?

I've always had issues with this, since I didn't let my kids have blankets in the crib until they were 2yrs old (extreme, I know!)

We've had the air on lately, so I have closed my son's vent and have him in a cotton pj with long pants and short sleeves. If it's really cool, I simply put his pj bottoms on with a long-sleeved, comfy t-shirt. My son hates when his legs are cold!

Ideally, I put him in a lighter-weight cotton footie-pj. But these are difficult to find this time of year. In later summer, these will come out again (before the heavy fleece winter pjs). Buy a size ahead so you can be ready for next Spring and Summer.

With all five of my children we always had a sleeper on them. Whether it be light weight or a heavy one. Now I have only one who sleeps with covers to her neck everynight regardless of how hot or cold it is, the other five use pretty much nothing besides what they are wearing.

Good luck!

I always just put my babies in a sleeper in the winter. If it was really cold I used a light-weight sleep sack I made that had arms. If it is really warm I just put them in a onesie (not on with feet, I have never seen them, unless it's what I call a sleeper, not sure). I also do use blankets though- when I had my first baby I didn't know you weren't supposed to (or maybe back then it was okay?) Anyway, last night was very warm and my baby slept in a short sleeve onesie with a light blanket and seemed comfortable.

Hmmm, when my baby was 5 months it was July. We put him in a very light/thin cotton footed jammie thing that either snapped or zipped. We never used a sleep sack or anything since all but his hands and face were covered.

We followed the "dress him similarly to how you would dress" theme. Can you imagine wearing a long-sleeve, footed sleeper with a flannel blanket on you during the summer? I'd roast to death! Even though he's little, his needs are very similar to yours.

Hi what you can do if it's warm and you have the fan or air conditioner on, is put a light weight receiving blanket over him or light weight one piece or two piece pajamas.

Alison, unless it is very hot, we have just put our daughter to sleep in a light weight (cotton) sleep sack with a short-sleeve onesie underneath. Unless your house is very air-conditioned, your baby should be fine. If it's chilly in your home, do a long-sleeved onesie (without feet or socks) instead.

Best,
R.

I also put my little guy in a long sleeved onesie no socks and the sleep sack.

My ped says one layer more than you. So if you wear pj's, they can wear pjs and a swaddle, etc.

I think it all pretty much depends if you have the air condtioning on or not. If you do I would keep dressing him like you are (footed onsie w/sleep sac.) Otherwise if its warm in there then I would just take off the sleep sac. I wouldnt go short sleeve though. A doc once told me that you should dress them the way you would dress yourself. Hope I was helpful. :)

I also did what Amy did below. Long sleeved cotton onesie with the cotton sleepsack over that. Sometimes I'd use the fleece sleepsack since I tend to crank the A/C up at night!

My son was a July baby and I put him in short sleeved onesies in August. I know many will say that is too young but my son did not like be swaddled or in anything tight. He liked the feel of being free.
He is now almost 19 years old and he is the same way. Will only wear boxer briefs to bed summer or winter. Never wears tight jeans or tight shirts. Always got to feel breezy and free.
So look at what does your son like. Does he like being tight and warm or free and breezy.
It also depends on if you have the AC on or not.
You know your son best.

for summer, i would get rid of sleep sack and just have him in a onsie or little cotton pjs. The one layer more than you is for the cold. Babies have less surface area than we do and so they overheat and chill more than we do. So in the summer when it is hot, they have a little less clothing than you and in winter the reverse.

Hi Alison,

We just used lightweight sleepers without t-shirts underneath. I definitely would NOT put any blankets in his crib. I had always used blankets with my children thinking that my babies would always be okay. Then one night with baby no. 3 my husband checked on our little guy (10 mos at the time)before coming to bed to find the blanket wrapped around his head and neck. We have never used blankets since for our infants. We adjust the clothing they wear and they have been fine (we have 4 children -last one is 16 mos now.) They will wake up if they get too hot or cold and you will know from there what kind of clothing is right for your little ones.

Blessings,
L.

Allison,

My little guys are 8 months old, and we love sleep n' plays. They are light enough that they don't get overheated, but keep them warm when we have the air on.

Oh to hold a little 5 month one again! I'm jealous. Anyway, I always swaddled my babies at that age (to no ill effect!). Can I just recommend some kind of lovey/blanky type item to put in with the baby. These special soothing transitional objects really pay off when babies go thru periods of troubled sleeping. You want them to have something that comforts them in addition to you. I know everyone seems to think you can't put anything in that crib or it will be a death-trap, but really its not that extreme. Just use your common sense. Enjoy that baby!

Hi Alison:

I just went through this with my 10 month old.

I decided on a long sleeve onesie (the ones that snap in the crotch with no legs...like a t-shirt) and the lightweight halo sleepsack. That way his arms are covered and he is not too hot.

I hope this helps,
A.

I would just put him in a onesie or leave him in just his diaper depending on how warm it gets in your house.

My pediatrician's advice with my newborn (6 weeks old) was - dress the baby as you would dress in that temperature and then add one more layer.

I'd go with light weight cotton pjs or sleeper and have a fan running on low in the room, just not directly toward the crib. A fan is important for air circulation in the room, and the "white noise" helps them sleep too.

Hi Alison!
Congratulations on your new little guy! I still put my 15-month-old in a sleep sack, simply because she kicks any blankets I try to put on her off. During warmer weather, she is in a short sleeved onsie with a sleevelss sleep sack. In the winter, I have found long-sleeve sleep sacks that work well. To make sure she doens't get too hot, I keep a fan on low in her room. I've heard that a fan is a good idea for infants as well because it reduces the risk of SIDS. Good luck!

I have found that Children's Place has some nice footed PJs that are light material. I put a onesie on my 10 month old and those type of pajamas. We also closed his vent partially. I do the same for my 2 year old. Both of them tend to come uncovered during the night and still sleep pretty well, so I think it works.

My son is 6 months old & I have been putting him in a short sleeve onesie since he was 5 months old.