There are a few elements to consider when choosing an outfit before swaddling:
- Temperature, both outdoors and inside
- Humidity levels
- Thickness of the swaddle blanket
- Ask yourself: How does your baby feel to the touch? Do they look warm/cold?
The ideal room temperature for newborns is between 20 and 22 celsius. This is when a baby might be most comfortable in just one extra layer, such as a short-sleeved bodysuit or vest, underneath their swaddle. For colder nights, parents can wrap their baby in a sleepsuit, or a bodysuit underneath a sleepsuit, depending on how chilly it is and the child’s reaction.
Dressing a baby in a short sleeve bodysuit and cotton sleepsuit can be just right under a swaddle during colder nights, while just one long sleeve vest or sleepsuit is commonly worn underneath swaddles in milder temperatures.
As a rule of thumb, count the swaddle as a layer of clothing, and consider the following guide:
- Temperatures 16 - 18 ℃ — short sleeve bodysuit or vest and sleepsuit
- Temperatures 18 - 20 ℃ — sleepsuit
- Temperatures 20 - 22 ℃ — short sleeve bodysuit or vest.
Beyond any rules for how to dress your baby for swaddling, individuality is the order of the day. Parents must be mindful to check babies by watching their behaviour and noticing if they are warm or cold to the touch. This should always be the final test to see if a baby is at a comfortable temperature.
One of the best types of fabric for baby clothing, especially for sleeping, is cotton. This is a breathable material and can help regulate temperatures. Little Seeds’ easy-to-use swaddles are made with a super-soft and breathable organic cotton, which can ensure babies do not overheat.
Organic Cotton Baby Clothes for under a swaddle
Short sleeve bodysuits
Perfect to wear underneath a swaddle on warmer nights, Little Seed’s short sleeve bodysuits are 100% organic cotton, feather-soft to the touch and completely breathable. These gender-neutral baby grows come in plain white or with a simple design, all in packs of three.
Sleepsuits
The ideal base layer for chiller times of the year is a Little Seeds’ sleepsuit. Also made from organic cotton, these are complete with a full-body zip and fold-over safety mittens — designed with super-speedy nocturnal changes in mind.
Cotton Swadling Blankets
Little Seeds also has a range of super-soft swaddling blankets. Another high-quality baby essential, they too are made from organic cotton. Unlike traditional swaddles, where you have to create the correct shape yourself, these easy-to-use swaddles allow parents to snuggly wrap up their babies safely and securely, achieving the perfect fit every time.
Want more information on swaddling? Check out Little Seeds’ visual swaddle instructions, or watch our swaddling blanket how-to video here.
