Short, long, or crossover... How to choose the right bodysuits for your baby?

When your midwife gave you the list of essentials for your maternity bag, you probably saw "10 bodysuits" on it. Then, you rushed to your favorite baby store and were met with endless options: short-sleeved, long-sleeved, crossover, non-crossover… and let’s not even mention the different sizes!

To help you make sense of it all, Adeline, our pediatric nurse, shares her expert advice on choosing the best bodysuits for your newborn.

The Crossover Bodysuit

This is the ideal bodysuit for a newborn’s first weeks, as it is perfectly suited to their psychomotor development. At this stage, babies have limited muscle tone and cannot hold their heads up yet. As Adeline explains:

"The crossover bodysuit is also reassuring for parents. In the beginning, they may feel a little overwhelmed and afraid of 'breaking' their tiny baby, especially when handling their delicate head with the soft spot (fontanelle)!"

The good news is that with a crossover bodysuit, you hardly need to move your baby:

• Simply lay the bodysuit flat and open on the changing table.
• Gently place the baby on top of it.
• Wrap the bodysuit around them and fasten it.

In the first few weeks, babies need to feel secure, wrapped, and swaddled. A crossover bodysuit provides that comforting sensation.

The Classic Bodysuit

As a baby’s psychomotor skills develop (which varies for each child), they typically gain better muscle tone around 4 to 6 months. By then, they can hold their head up and start rolling over. At this stage, they generally prefer being dressed in a semi-seated or sitting position.

This is also a safer position, as it prevents the baby from rolling over on the changing table, which is often elevated.
Since the baby is more active, parents usually switch from crossover bodysuits to ones with an American-style neckline, making it easier to slip over the head.

Short or Long Sleeves?

Long sleeves are ideal for a newborn’s first days, as they cannot yet regulate their body temperature and need to stay warm.

After a few weeks, especially in summer, you can switch to short sleeves. By then, babies have developed a layer of body fat, helping them regulate their temperature better.
So, if the weather is warm—opt for short sleeves!

Tip: The ideal temperature for a baby’s room is between 18°C and 20°C (64-68°F).

When to Size Up?

Since babies can’t express discomfort, parents need to watch for signs that their clothes are too small. If you find yourself pulling hard on the snap buttons at the crotch to close the bodysuit, it’s time to move up to the next size!