A quilted sleepsuit is a warm one-piece with thin padding stitched between two layers of soft fabric. It covers the body, arms and legs, and zips down the front. It is warmer than an ordinary cotton sleepsuit, and much thinner than outdoor clothes.
In the UK it is also called a padded sleepsuit or a quilted baby grow. In the US it is a quilted sleeper, and a fleece sleeper does the same job.
At night it goes on instead of a sleep bag, so your baby stays warm without a loose blanket in the crib.
- For ages3+months
- You'll need2–3per winter
- For a room at16–19°C61–66°F
When to use one
It is made for a cool bedroom, at about 16–19°C (61–66°F). For other rooms, the sleep guide has an outfit for every room temperature.
Quilted sleepsuit or sleep bag
Quilted sleepsuit
Separate legs let your baby kick, roll, crawl and stand in the crib. It suits a busy baby who fights a sleep bag.
Sleep bag
The feet stay together inside the bag, and it cannot be kicked off at night. It goes over an ordinary cotton sleepsuit, and you change the warmth by choosing a thicker or thinner bag.
Quilted cotton or fleece
Fleece is one thick layer of soft, fuzzy polyester, with no padding. It feels warm to the touch and dries fast. Quilted cotton feels cooler on the skin, but its padding usually makes it the warmer of the two.
Most warm sleepers in the US are fleece, because loose pajamas there must resist flames, and polyester does that by itself.
Either is fine in a cool room.
How to choose a quilted sleepsuit
1. Room through the hips and seat
Padding takes up room inside the suit. A baby's legs rest bent up and out at the hips, the frog position, so the seat and thighs need space for that.
- Good: Knees bend up and out freely
- Good: Roomy seat over the diaper
- Not good: Tight across the hips and thighs
2. Cotton inside
Open the zip and look inside. Most quilted suits are lined with smooth cotton jersey, so cotton touches the skin whatever the padding is made of. The label lists the lining on its own.
- Good: Lining: 100% cotton
3. Open cuffs or closed feet
With cuffs, the feet can stay bare, or socks go on for a cold night. With closed feet, check that the toes have room, as on any footed sleepsuit.
- Good: Ankle cuffs fit for longer
- Good: Closed feet need no socks
- Not good: Closed feet outgrown sooner
Using it safely at night
A quilted sleepsuit goes on over a short-sleeve bodysuit and a diaper. Nothing goes on top: the suit takes the place of the sleep bag.
To check how warm your baby is, feel the chest, or the back of the neck under the collar. The skin should feel warm and dry. If it feels hot or sweaty, take off a layer. Hands and feet normally feel cooler than the rest of the body.
Questions parents ask
Is a quilted sleepsuit or fleece sleeper too warm for sleeping?
Not in a cool room. In a room warmer than 20°C (68°F), a light cotton sleepsuit is the better choice, so your baby does not get too hot.
Can my baby wear a quilted sleepsuit with a sleep sack?
No. A quilted sleepsuit already has its own padding, so a sleep bag on top traps too much heat in a normal bedroom. Use one or the other. If the room is very cold, dress your baby in an ordinary cotton sleepsuit under a 2.5 TOG or 3.5 TOG sleep bag (TOG is the warmth number on the label) instead.
What TOG is a quilted sleepsuit or fleece sleeper?
A single-layer cotton sleepsuit is roughly 0.5 to 1.0 TOG. A fleece sleeper is usually around 1.0 to 1.5 TOG. A quilted sleepsuit with padding is typically between 1.5 and 2.5 TOG.
Can newborns wear fleece sleepers or quilted sleepsuits?
Light cotton layers suit a newborn better. Newborns cannot control their temperature well yet and get too hot quickly. In a cool room, use a cotton bodysuit and a cotton sleepsuit under a newborn sleep bag.
Is a quilted sleepsuit the same as a swaddle transition suit?
No. A quilted sleepsuit is everyday warm clothing with light padding. A transition suit is thicker and stiffer, made to soften the startle reflex in the weeks after the swaddle, and you stop using it as soon as your baby shows any sign of rolling.
Can my baby wear a quilted sleepsuit in a car seat?
Only a thin one. Buckle up and tighten the straps until you cannot pinch a fold of strap at the collarbone. If the padding is thick, dress your baby in a plain sleepsuit for the drive and lay a blanket over the straps instead.
Can babies wear a quilted sleepsuit during the day?
Yes. On a cold day it is an easy outfit at home and for naps. To go out, put a jacket or an insulated pram suit over it, with a hat and booties.
How many quilted sleepsuits do I need?
Two or three are usually enough for winter. One is on your baby, one is in the wash, and a spare handles overnight diaper leaks.
