Parentpedia

What Experts Say

Those floppy new babies poop, pee, and spit up a lot, which means you'll be dressing and undressing your little one many times a day (bibs and spit-up cloths help). While this allows you to showcase all the new outfits from your in-laws, dressing can also become a bit tiresome (especially since some newborns hate it and will cry every time you dress them).

So choose clothes that are easy to get on and off, and have fun while you're doing it. Turn dressing into a game, with smiles, giggles, and tickles. Take the time to look at your baby, and talk and play with him.

Parenting expert Dr. Spock writes, "The hardest question for a doctor to answer, in a book or in the office, is how much covering to put on a baby." Spock goes on to say that parents commonly overdress their children, which interferes with the body's ability to adjust to heat changes and actually makes a baby more chilled.

However, according to expert Penelope Leach, an unclothed newborn is most comfortable when her body temperature is at 85 degrees F (29 C). One of the reasons babies fuss when being undressed is that they get cold easily. Leach recommends dressing a newborn in three layers of clothing and keeping the ambient temperature between 65 and 68 degrees F.

Studies have shown that a baby's ability to conserve warmth improves as the baby grows and gains weight, which means babies can be dressed more lightly as they mature.

How to Dress Your Baby

• Be gentle. With their floppy heads and uncooperative limbs, newborns can be hard to dress. Many parents worry about hurting them but newborns aren't easily breakable. With practice, you'll get used to dressing your baby.
• Hold her close. The easiest way to dress a newborn is to sit next to her, or even hold her on your lap, as you put on her clothes.
• Have fun. When his arms get stuck, ask, "Where's the baby's hand?" When you finally find it, exclaim, "Here it is!" and look surprised. At first he won't understand (though the talking will stimulate his language ability), but this will quickly become a favorite game.
• Think layers. Babies go from hot to cold quickly. While the temperature might be cool outside, inside it may be overheated. Dress your baby in layers that are easy to take on and off, starting with a onesie, then pants and a shirt or dress, and then a blanket.
• Big heads. Since babies' heads are so much bigger than their bodies, it's important to find clothes that are easy to get on and off their heads. Stretch the necks yourself or, better yet, buy wrap-around onesies that don't go over the head. While we're on the subject, babies lose a lot of heat through their heads, so a little cap for a newborn is always a good idea, especially in the winter.

Safety Notes

• Parents often worry their baby is too cold. But your baby's hands and feet are often colder than the rest of her body. Feel her chest. If it's too cold, she's not dressed warmly enough; if it's warm, she's fine.
• They may be irresistibly cute, but avoid putting your baby's feet in hard shoes, which can interfere with foot development before she starts walking and make walking more difficult once she learns how.
• Tags can irritate a baby's soft skin.
• Tight synthetic material can irritate your baby's skin, cause diaper rash, and make your baby sweat.