Baby shorts are short pants that end above the knee, most with a soft elastic waist that pulls on over the diaper. A short-sleeve bodysuit or a T-shirt goes on top.
They're for warm days, and never a must: a romper, the top and shorts in one piece, covers a hot day too. Shorts earn their place once your baby crawls or walks, as the half of an outfit you can change on its own.
- For ages0–3years
- You'll need3–5per size
- Wear them from20°C68°F
Types of baby shorts
Jersey shorts
Pull-on shorts in soft T-shirt knit, or in French terry, which has soft loops on the inside. They stretch with every crawl and squat and wash without fuss, so they're the everyday pair. Thin jersey stays cool, and terry suits a milder day.
Linen and gauze shorts
Linen and double gauze (two thin layers of airy cotton) let the air through, so they're the coolest pair for a hot day. Most pull on with an elastic waist.
Denim and chino shorts
Jeans fabric or smooth cotton twill (chino), sometimes with a button and a zip, sometimes with a pull-on waist made to look like one. They suit a toddler who walks steadily, because a stiff waistband presses into the tummy of a baby who crawls and sits on the floor.
Bike shorts
Close-fitting stretch shorts that end around mid-thigh. They go under a dress or a long top, so the diaper stays covered when the skirt flies up.
Shorts or a romper?
Shorts and a top
A food stain means a clean top, a leak means clean shorts, and the other half stays on. Later, a toddler learning the potty pulls them down in one move.
- Good: Change one half at a time
- Good: Quick down for the potty
- Not good: A T-shirt can ride up
Romper
One piece from the shoulders to the thighs, so nothing rides up or slides down, and no waistband sits on the tummy. Snaps between the legs open for a diaper change.
- Good: Nothing rides up
- Good: No waistband on the tummy
- Not good: A spill means a whole change
Bare legs in the sun
In the sun, shade and light clothes protect bare legs before sunscreen does. Keep a baby under 6 months out of direct sun. From 6 months, sunscreen goes on the legs the shorts leave bare, and for a long walk in full sun, light linen pants cover them and stay cool.
Bare thighs also sit on whatever the sun has heated. A metal slide or metal steps in full sun can burn skin in seconds, and the buckle of a car seat in a parked car gets hot enough to burn too. A young child may stay sitting on something hot instead of getting off, so lay your hand on it first.
How to choose baby shorts
1. A soft waist that stays up
A baby's round tummy has no waist to hold shorts up, and crawling pulls them down at the back. A wide, soft elastic band and a roomy seat keep the diaper covered, and an adjustable elastic inside the band takes them in for a slim child. Pull-on beats a button and a zip, at every change and later on the potty.
- Good: Wide, soft elastic band
- Good: Roomy seat over the diaper
- Not good: A stiff button and zip
2. The right length
Shorts that reach toward the knee cover more leg on rough ground, hot seats and slides. Short ones are coolest on the hottest days. Lengths vary a lot, and some shops cut girls' shorts far shorter than boys' in the same size, so check the inseam (the inside leg seam) in the description.
- Good: Inseam given in the description
- Good: Hem near the knee for crawlers
- Not good: Rides up to the hip when sitting
3. Thin, airy fabric
Thin cotton and linen let sweat dry and air reach the skin, so the legs stay cool. Thick denim and fleece-backed sweat shorts hold the heat in.
- Good: Thin cotton, gauze or linen
- Good: Sits loose on the thigh
- Not good: Thick denim or fleecy inside
Questions parents ask
When can babies start wearing shorts?
Indoors and in the shade, at any age once it's warm enough for bare legs, and shorts are sold from newborn sizes. Out in the sun, a baby under 6 months is better off in light clothes that cover the legs.
Can babies crawl in shorts?
Yes. On a smooth floor or a soft rug, bare knees are fine, and shorts never catch under the knees the way a dress can. On rough carpet, concrete or bark the knees get scraped, so for daycare and playground days, shorts that reach the knee or light cotton leggings are kinder.
What are baby shorts called?
The little pants that go under a dress are bloomers, also sold as diaper covers. Shorts with bib straps are shortalls, the short kind of overalls.
Can toddlers wear shorts when it's cooler?
Yes, over cotton tights or light cotton leggings, with a long-sleeve top.
Are shorts OK in the woods or long grass?
Long pants are better there. Ticks wait in long grass, brush and woods, and long pants tucked into socks keep them off the legs, with insect repellent on the skin that's left bare. After the walk, check behind the knees, between the legs and around the waist.
Can my baby swim in shorts?
Not in everyday ones: cotton soaks up water and stays wet and heavy. Swim shorts are made for the water, with a swim diaper underneath.
How many pairs of shorts do I need?
Three to five per size, if you wash every two or three days. A toddler gets through one pair most days, and two on a messy one.
What size shorts should I buy for summer?
The size your baby will wear in summer, not the one that fits today. Shorts bought in a winter sale in today's size are often too small by July, so buy for the season they're for.
