Light cotton leggings are thin, stretchy pants that fit close to the legs. They are knitted like a T-shirt, with a soft elastic waist that sits over the diaper, and they end at the ankles.
With a bodysuit (a onesie, in the US) or a T-shirt on top, they make a two-piece outfit. For a diaper change, you just pull them down.
They are worth having once your baby spends time on the floor, rolling and then crawling. They stay put while your baby moves, and after a leak or a spill you change the bottom half, not the whole outfit.
- For ages0–3years
- You'll need4–5per size
- Wear them at12–27°C54–81°F
When babies wear them
Over a bodysuit, in a warm room or on a mild day. Socks keep the feet warm on a cool floor.
Under a dress, when the legs need covering. Leggings leave the feet bare to grip the floor, while tights cover the toes as well.
Skip them on a hot day, when bare legs are cooler. On a cold day, light cotton is too thin, about as thin as a T-shirt. Use warm pants instead.
Leggings or light pants?
Both are light cotton, and both go over a bodysuit. The difference is the fit.
Leggings
They hug the legs, so nothing bunches or tugs while your baby crawls. A slim pair can feel tight on round thighs or over a cloth diaper.
Light pants
Cut looser, with room in the seat and the legs, so they suit round thighs and cloth diapers. Once your baby stands, long hems can slide over the feet and trip.
Types of leggings
Footless
The usual kind. They end at the ankle. A cuff there stays put and keeps the hem off the feet when your baby stands.
Footed
Soft cotton feet are sewn on, so there are no socks to lose. Shops also call them footed pants. Once your baby pulls up to stand, change to footless: bare toes grip the floor, and cotton feet slip.
How to choose leggings
1. A wide, soft waistband
It sits flat over the diaper instead of digging into the belly. A fold-over band can go up, to keep the belly covered when a top rides up, or fold down for a lower fit.
- Good: Soft knit band, no bare elastic
- Good: Folds up over the belly
- Not good: Thin elastic that leaves red marks
2. Stretch across the thighs
Rib knit, with its fine raised lines, stretches much further across than smooth T-shirt knit. It pulls over round thighs and a diaper without pinching.
- Good: Fine raised lines down the leg
- Good: Opens wide with an easy pull
- Not good: Stays tight, even with a firm pull
3. Knees that spring back
A few percent of elastane (also called spandex or Lycra) keeps the knees smooth after a morning of crawling, instead of bagging.
- Good: About 5% elastane or spandex
- Good: Knee springs back after a stretch
- Not good: Knee stays baggy after a stretch
Questions parents ask
Do babies need leggings?
Not in the first weeks, when a sleepsuit (a footie, in the US) covers the legs and feet in one piece. After that, leggings are one easy everyday choice, and light pants are the other.
Do leggings go over or under the onesie?
Over, like pants over a shirt. The onesie (a bodysuit) snaps under the diaper, and the waist of the leggings sits on top of it.
What's the difference between leggings and tights?
Cotton tights are a finer knit that fits like a second skin, and they always have feet. Leggings are a thicker knit that you wear as pants, and most stop at the ankle. Footed leggings have feet too, in that thicker knit.
Why are baby leggings so tight?
They are cut to fit close, and some brands cut them very slim. If the waist or thighs leave red marks, go one size up and fold the ankles over.
Can newborns wear leggings?
Yes, in a newborn size. Footed ones are the easiest at this age, because tiny socks slip off.
Can baby boys wear leggings?
Yes. Leggings are stretchy knit pants, and they suit any baby. Plain or ribbed ones look like soft pants.
Do leggings work with cloth diapers?
Usually, because the knit stretches over the extra bulk. If the seat pulls tight, go one size up, or switch to light pants.
