Baby Pajamas

From LoveToKnow Baby

When you begin assembling your baby's wardrobe, one of the most common items you'll want to buy is baby pajamas. You might be surprised to discover, however, that you really have several choices in how to get baby ready for a good night's sleep.

Baby Pajamas: Gowns

Baby gowns are typically used for both girl and boy infants. Why would you want to dress your baby in a gown? In the past, gowns generally had drawstrings at the bottom that could be pulled together and tied to keep baby from kicking them off of her legs. This presented a safety hazard, however, as the drawstring could be a strangulation hazard, or a baby's leg could be wound too tightly in the string, cutting off circulation.

Today, most baby gowns have elastic bottoms. If you've ever had to get up in the middle of the night to change your baby's diaper, you know how important easy access is! You can change your child's diaper easily and quickly when he is dressed in a gown.

Sleepers

While gowns are great for newborns, once your baby has grown a little and become more active, it may be difficult for you to keep his little legs covered in a gown. As he grows stronger, he'll learn to kick his legs, and his gown will begin to creep up his body. Since you don't want to use any blankets or loose sheets because of the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), you'll need to dress him in something different.

Sleepers are an ideal choice! They come in a variety of styles and colors. Some of them are made of a cotton/polyester blend, while others are terry clothed. Most of the pajamas snap all the way down the front. You should look for pajamas that are fire retardant, also.

Blanket Sleepers

When winter rears its chilly head, it may be time to break out some warmer baby pajamas! Blanket sleepers are the perfect choice, and they come in small sizes for babies up to larger sizes for elementary school aged children.

You might want to dress your baby in a light sleeper first, and then zip him up snuggly in a blanket sleeper, especially if your house is very cool at night.

Sleep Sacks

A new type of pajamas has arrived on the baby scene. The sleep sack is becoming a very popular choice for parents everywhere. The sleep sack is basically a blanket that has been sown into the shape of a sack. You can place your baby into the sack and pull her arms through the arm holes. The sleep sack will fit comfortably across her upper chest, but it won't be able to reach her face, eliminating the worry of suffocation as your baby tosses and turns during the night.

Baby Pajamas: Comfort and Safety

Finally, as your baby grows, you'll want to keep two words in mind with regards to choosing her pajamas--comfort and safety. While you don't want to dress her too warmly at night, you do want her comfortable. Think about how you dress for bed, and how many covers you use, and try to recreate this amount of warmth for your child.

You should always be safety conscious. You don't want to place excess blankets, pillows, loose sheets, or stuffed animals in your baby's bed to eliminate the risk of suffocation and SIDS. Choosing your baby's pajamas doesn't have to be complicated. Remember, you have lots of choices available!