For new parents

Baby Clothes Field Guide

Every baby garment I had to google, with its name in four languages. How to spot it, what's worth buying, and what's actually safe.

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Basics

Long-sleeve bodysuit
Photo: retailer product shot

Long-sleeve bodysuit

UKlong-sleeve vestUSlong-sleeve onesieESbody manga largaFRbody manches longues

The underlayer. A stretchy top that continues between the legs and closes with snaps at the crotch, so it never rides up. No legs.

Spot itEnvelope folds at the shoulders and three snaps at the crotch. No legs.
Choosing oneGet the envelope folds. After a poonami you can peel the whole thing down over the legs instead of dragging it over their head. In winter it's the base layer, long sleeves under everything.
Peel it down
1 Open the shoulder folds2 Stretch the neck wide3 Pull down over the body, not the face
SafetyTug every snap before you buy second-hand. A snap that detaches is a choking hazard, and worn ones can crack or develop sharp edges. Government of Canada, dressing baby for sleep
Short-sleeve bodysuit
Photo: retailer product shot

Short-sleeve bodysuit

UKshort-sleeve vestUSonesieESbody manga cortaFRbody manches courtes

Same garment, short arms. Under warmer layers in winter, on its own in summer.

Spot itIdentical to the long-sleeve version except the arms stop above the elbow.
Choosing oneIn summer this is the whole outfit. In winter it goes under a long-sleeve top, so you'll end up with both. Check the body is long enough, because short ones ride up under the nappy.
Wrap / kimono bodysuit
Photo: retailer product shot

Wrap / kimono bodysuit

ESbody cruzadoFRbody croisé

A bodysuit that opens completely flat and folds across the front like a tiny dressing gown, closing with side snaps or ties. Nothing goes over the head.

Spot itA diagonal V front that crosses over, fastening at the side. Nothing goes over the head.
Choosing oneSide snaps beat ties. Ties work loose and need two hands and daylight. Useful mainly for the first weeks while the cord stump heals, so a couple is enough.
SafetyAvoid any version with cords or long ribbon ties at the neck or chest. The European standard EN 14682 allows no cords or drawstrings in that zone for children under seven, with only small decorative items under about 3 cm. CEN/TR 17376 guidance on EN 14682, via Intertek
Trousers / footed leggings
Photo: retailer product shot

Trousers / footed leggings

ESpantalón con pies, leggingsFRlegging avec pieds

Soft pull-on trousers, often with enclosed feet so socks become optional. Worn over a bodysuit.

Spot itElastic waist, no fly, no buttons. Footed versions end in closed pouches instead of hems.
Choosing oneFooted means no hunting for socks. Footless lasts longer, because the feet get tight before the rest does. Either is fine. Go for a wide soft waistband that sits over the nappy, not a tight bit of elastic.
SafetyNHS guidance is that the foot part should be long enough not to squeeze the foot, and to check it regularly. Socks and tights need the same check at the heel and toes, and they shrink in the wash, so footless plus socks moves the problem rather than removing it. Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
Tights
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Tights

ESleotardosFRcollants

Adult tights, miniaturised. The warm layer under trousers or dresses, and they stay on where socks give up.

Spot itThin knit, high waist, closed toes. Legs much slimmer than leggings.
Choosing oneLook for a proper gusset and a high waist, or they end up around the knees. Cotton-rich, since synthetic ones slide.
SafetyCheck the foot length as often as the waist. Tights are outgrown fast and the toes are where it shows first. Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
Shorts / light trousers
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Shorts / light trousers

ESpantalón cortoFRshort

Summer bottoms over a short-sleeve bodysuit. Ignore these until it actually gets warm.

Spot itElastic or drawstring waist, bare legs. Bloomers are the puffy version of the same thing.
Choosing oneElastic or a soft drawstring. Skip anything with a stiff button fly. You don't need one more thing to undo on the changing mat.
Romper
Photo: retailer product shot

Romper

UKromper, playsuitUSromper, bubble romperESpelele corto, monoFRbarboteuse

A one-piece for daytime. Legs, usually no feet, often short sleeves. Basically a bodysuit and shorts stuck together, so it's one thing to wrestle on instead of two.

Spot itLegs but bare ankles. That is what separates it from a sleepsuit, which always has feet.
Choosing oneGet snaps down the inside leg, so a nappy change doesn't mean stripping them off completely. A wide neck or shoulder snaps make it easier to get on.

Sleep

Sleepsuit, a.k.a. babygrow
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Sleepsuit, a.k.a. babygrow

UKbabygrow, babygro, sleepsuitUSsleeper, footie pajamas, sleep and playESpelele, pijama con piesFRdors-bien

The all-in-one: long sleeves, legs and enclosed feet, closing with a front zip or a row of snaps. Day and night uniform for the first months.

Spot itFeet. If the one-piece has enclosed feet and long sleeves, it is a sleepsuit.
Choosing oneZip versus snaps matters more here than anywhere else. A two-way zip opens from the ankle up, so at 3am you unzip the bottom, change the nappy, zip back, and the baby barely surfaces. Snaps mean lining up ten poppers in the dark. Zips are faster. Snaps are easier to find second-hand, and you can open just part of the suit. Get one with a chin guard so the zip doesn't rub.
SafetyCheck the foot has room, since that is the part that feels snug first. Check the zip pull has no long cord or loop. Sleepwear that is too big is its own problem, because loose fabric can ride up over the nose and mouth. Government of Canada, dressing baby for sleep
Sleeping bag
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Sleeping bag

UKsleeping bag, GrobagUSsleep sack, wearable blanketESsaco de dormirFRgigoteuse

Basically a duvet they wear. No sleeves, zips up, sized by age range, not cm. It replaces loose blankets in the cot completely.

Spot itArmholes but no sleeves, and a bag instead of legs. Rated in tog.
Choosing oneA bottom or side opening lets you change a nappy without taking the whole bag off. Shoulder snaps help. Go by the weight band on the label, not the age on the front. And don't use a bag below its stated minimum weight. That's usually around 3 to 3.5 kg, but it varies by brand.
After the swaddleThis is where they go once swaddling stops, usually when they start to roll. Arms out, legs free to bend. Skipping the swaddle and using a bag from day one is fine too, as long as they're over the bag's minimum weight.
SafetyThe neck and armholes must be snug enough that the baby cannot wriggle down inside. Safe-sleep authorities do not publish their own tog charts, so follow the one printed by your bag's maker, and when unsure choose the lower tog. Never add a blanket over a bag or stack two bags. Nothing weighted, at any tog, under one year. The Lullaby Trust, dress your baby for sleep
Swaddle
Photo: aden + anais

Swaddle

ESarrullo, muselina de envolverFRlange d'emmaillotage

A big stretchy or muslin square you wrap a newborn in snugly, arms in, so their own startle reflex doesn't wake them up. You can also get shaped velcro ones.

Spot itA large thin square of muslin or cotton, roughly 120 cm. Shaped velcro or zip pods do the same job.
Choosing oneA velcro or zip pod is way easier than learning to wrap a square. Two is plenty, because you only swaddle for the first few weeks. Not keen? Skip it and go straight to a sleeping bag.
How to swaddleThe trick is snug at the chest, loose at the hips. Watch the how-to videos from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute
SafetySnug at the chest, loose around the hips, so the legs can bend up and out. Legs wrapped straight and pressed together raise the risk of hip dysplasia. Keep the wrap below the shoulders, use a thin fabric, add nothing over the top, and always place the baby on their back. Stop arms-in swaddling at the first sign of rolling, which can be as early as eight weeks and sometimes sooner. That's when you switch to a sleeping bag. Not when bed-sharing, and not when the baby has a fever. International Hip Dysplasia Institute, hip-healthy swaddling

Layers

Cardigan / knit jumper
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Cardigan / knit jumper

ESrebeca, chaqueta de puntoFRcardigan, gilet

Knitted, buttons up the front, goes on without touching the head. The indoor layer for a cold flat.

Spot itButtons all the way down the front. Goes on without touching the head.
Choosing oneButtons, not a zip. This is the layer that goes on and off all day. On second-hand knits, check none of the buttons are hanging by a thread.
SafetyNothing with cords or ties at the neck. Tug every button hard before buying, because detached buttons are a choking hazard and second-hand knits are where they work loose. US CPSC, drawstrings in children's upper outerwear
Fleece / soft jacket
Photo: retailer product shot

Fleece / soft jacket

ESchaqueta polarFRveste polaire

Light zip-up warmth for outings and the pram.

Spot itCentre zip, small collar, fuzzy fabric.
Choosing oneGo thin and fitted over thick. It works indoors and out, and it can stay on in the car.
SafetyA thin, fitted fleece can be worn in a car seat; US highway safety guidance actually recommends lightweight fleece over puffy materials. A thick or bunched one comes off first. If unsure, run the harness test on the dressing page. NHTSA, keeping children warm and safe in car seats
Pramsuit / thin snowsuit
Photo: retailer product shot

Pramsuit / thin snowsuit

ESbuzo, mono de inviernoFRcombinaison pilote

An outdoor all-in-one with a hood, often with fold-over mittens and feet. For the pram in January.

Spot itLike a sleepsuit but for outdoors, with a hood and heavier fabric, often with fold-over mittens and feet.
Choosing oneBuy for the weather, not for the car. A thick pramsuit is the right thing for a cold pram walk. Fold-over mittens and feet mean nothing to lose, and two-way or side zips make getting a floppy baby in far easier than a single centre zip.
SafetyWhatever the thickness, it comes off before the harness is buckled. Padding flattens in a crash and leaves the harness too loose to hold the child. For warmth in the car, put a blanket or a cover over the buckled harness instead, and keep the face clear. A footmuff is fine only if it is made or approved for that carrier, with nothing between the baby and the harness or the seat shell. AAP, winter car seat safety

Accessories

Cotton hat
Photo: retailer product shot

Cotton hat

ESgorro de algodónFRbonnet naissance

Light jersey or fine knit, covers the ears, no brim. The hospital wants one on her for day one.

Spot itThin, soft, covers the ears, no brim, often with a knot at the top.
Choosing oneSoft and snug. The hospital will want one on for the first hours.
SafetyHats are for outdoors. Take one off as soon as you are inside or in a warm car, even if it wakes the baby, and never leave one on for sleep. Babies lose heat through the head, and overheating raises SIDS risk. NHS, how to dress a newborn
Warm hat
Photo: retailer product shot

Warm hat

ESgorro de inviernoFRbonnet

Knitted or lined, often with ear flaps and ties, sometimes a pompom. For winter outings.

Spot itThicker knit than a cotton hat, covering the ears properly, often with flaps or ties.
Choosing oneTies or ear flaps, or it comes off and stays off.
SafetySame rule as any hat: outdoors only, off as soon as you are inside, never for sleep. The Lullaby Trust, dress your baby for sleep
Sun hat
Photo: retailer product shot

Sun hat

ESgorro con visera, sombrero bebéFRchapeau, bob

Wide brim or legionnaire neck flap, ideally with a chin strap she cannot immediately remove.

Spot itA brim all the way round, bucket style, or a legionnaire flap down the back of the neck.
Choosing oneA chin strap, and either a full brim or a neck flap. Look for a UPF rating on the label. Don't just assume cotton will do.
Scratch mittens
Photo: retailer product shot

Scratch mittens

ESmanoplas antiarañazosFRmoufles anti-griffures

Tiny fabric bags for the hands, no thumbs. They stop a newborn scratching her own face before you dare trim nails.

Spot itSmaller than any glove, no thumb, elastic cuff.
Choosing oneBarely bother. Trim the nails and the problem's gone, and fold-over cuffs on sleepsuits cover the hands with nothing to lose. One pair for the hospital bag, though, as some hospitals ask for them.
SafetyAny closed-end fabric, mittens, socks and footed sleepsuits alike, can trap a loose thread or a hair around a finger or toe. Check hands and feet at changes; unexplained crying is often the first sign. Cleveland Clinic, hair tourniquet
Socks
Photo: retailer product shot

Socks

EScalcetinesFRchaussettes

You know socks. Baby ones vanish at twice the adult rate.

Choosing oneOne brand in one colour, so every orphan still pairs. A ribbed ankle or a little elastic is what keeps them on.
SafetyCheck the heel and toe fit regularly, and again after washing, since socks shrink. A tight sock cramps toes the same way a small sleepsuit foot does. Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
Booties (soft)
Photo: retailer product shot

Booties (soft)

ESpatucosFRchaussons

Soft-soled fabric or knit shoes whose only real job is staying on better than socks.

Spot itNo hard sole. Anything with a rigid sole is a shoe.
Choosing oneUntil they walk, feet just need to be warm. They don't need shoes. Go roomy and soft-soled, with an elastic or tie ankle so they actually stay on.
SafetyCheck knitted booties are not tight around the toes, since the weave can constrict. Proper shoes are for walking outdoors, not before. NHS, leg and foot problems in children

One-size essentials

Muslins
Photo: retailer product shot

Muslins

ESmuselinasFRlanges

Big squares of loose-woven cotton, roughly 70 to 120 cm. Burp cloth, sunshade, emergency bib, blanket, mop. The one thing everyone tells you to overbuy, and everyone is right.

Spot itGauzy, slightly crinkled cotton that softens with every wash.
Choosing oneBigger is better: 70 cm squares for burping, 120 cm if you want to swaddle with them too. Double gauze softens fastest. Buy more than you think you need.
Bibs
Photo: retailer product shot

Bibs

ESbaberosFRbavoirs

Around the neck, snap or velcro at the back. Small dribble bibs early, bigger wipeable feeding bibs once solids start around 6 months.

Spot itBandana shapes are for dribble. Full coverage with a plastic or silicone back is for food.
Choosing oneSnaps at the back are easier to undo one-handed than velcro. Bandana shapes now, full coverage with sleeves once solids start around six months.
SafetyTake the bib off after every feed and before every sleep. Anything that sits around the neck is a strangulation risk on a sleeping baby. HSE Ireland, strangulation risks
Blankets
Photo: retailer product shot

Blankets

ESmantasFRcouvertures

Cellular cotton or knit, pram-sized at roughly 70 by 90 cm. For the pram and the sofa.

Spot itCellular blankets are visibly holey. Pram sized is around 70 by 90.
Choosing oneCellular is breathable and easy to layer. But the holes don't make it a safety feature, whatever the packaging says. No safe-sleep authority treats them as one.
SafetyIf a blanket is used in a cot, it must be lightweight, firmly tucked in, no higher than the shoulders, and never doubled over, since a doubled blanket counts as two. US guidance advises no loose blankets at all and a sleeping bag instead. The Lullaby Trust product guide
Burp cloths
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Burp cloths

ESgasas, pañosFRlanges

A plain absorbent rectangle that lives on your shoulder. A muslin folded twice does the same job, so put your money into muslins instead.

Spot itSmaller and thicker than a muslin.
Choosing oneOptional, honestly. A muslin folded twice does the same job, so buy more of those instead. Towelling backing absorbs more than plain cotton.
Hooded towel
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Hooded towel

UKhooded towel, cuddle robeUShooded towelEScapa de bañoFRcape de bain

A bath towel with a hood sewn into one corner, so you can wrap the baby and cover a wet head in one movement while both your hands are busy.

Spot itSquare or rectangular with a triangle of fabric on one corner.
Choosing oneGet one big enough to still wrap a one-year-old. Newborn-sized ones are outgrown in about five minutes.

Why the names do not match

A babygrow is a sleepsuitIf you keep seeing babygrow (or babygro, originally a US trademark from the 1950s), it is the British name for a sleepsuit: one piece, long sleeves, legs, feet usually enclosed. Americans call the same thing a sleeper or footie pajamas. One garment, three passports.
The three that get mixed upA bodysuit has no legs and snaps at the crotch; the British call it a vest, Americans a onesie. A sleepsuit has legs and feet. A romper has legs but usually no feet and is daytime clothing. Since "onesie" means a bodysuit in the US and often a whole babygrow everywhere else, ignore the word and look at the garment: feet means sleepsuit, legs but bare ankles means romper, no legs at all means bodysuit.

Sizes follow European centimetre sizing, which most brands print next to an age. Petit Bateau (whose photos are above) runs NAI 50 cm, 1M 54, 3M 60, 6M 67, 9M 71, 12M 74. The month on the label is the age it fits until, so a 3M is worn from about six weeks to three months.