Newborn - footed sleepers vs sleeper gowns?

pb_bride

I have quite a number of footed sleepers already, but only 2 sleeper gowns?  LO is due end of October and we are in Boston (and we keep our house cool), so it seems like the footed sleepers will be warmer; plus many of mine are made of a thicker material.

OTOH, I read somewhere that sleeper gowns are great esp at the beginning b/c of the ease of diaper change.  The gowns I have are just cotton, kind of thin, so I don't know if they'll be warm enough?  Are they really that much better, more convenient for the frequent diaper changes?  I'm just not sure if I should go buy some more gowns.

juliane2004

Footed sleepers. We tried gowns, but they make it tough to swaddle IMO. And footed sleepers are better for all around similar warmth distribution.

g8trkim

I never liked the gowns. DS would always wiggle around and the gown would ride up and his legs were totally exposed. Yeah, it's a little easier for diapers changes, but if you use the zipper sleepers it's pretty easy as well.

chardonnay24

I preferred footed sleepers with zippers (TCP has great ones). The gowns ride up and on the odd occasion that I'd be changing a diaper when he was asleep, I would wake him up 100% of the time trying to hike the gown all the way up.

pitch77

juliane2004:

Footed sleepers. We tried gowns, but they make it tough to swaddle IMO. And footed sleepers are better for all around similar warmth distribution.

Ditto this exactly. And like another poster mentioned, I like zippers much more than snaps. 

naybird

I've only used the feety pajamas.  I have a few sleeper gowns, but I haven't used them because LO sleeps in the RNP and I wouldn't be able to strap him in, while in the sleep sack.

MouseInLux

We had one gown and it was a pain to get on to DD. We used it maybe 4 times and put it away, we much preferred footed sleepers.

MintBerryCrunch

Everyone always recs the gowns but I found them to be a PITA. Hated pulling the thick elastic bottom over the head and arms. I used one twice with DD and switched to snapping shirts and pants or footed sleepers.

Leinistar

I liked the footed pajamas but I prefered a zippered sleep sack rather than a sleep gown. They were super easy to get on, and the good ones zip from the top down so it makes diaper changes easier.

CrazyToast

We had 2 gowns (we didn't need them and barely used them).  They were awesome for changing easily...but the footed sleepers kept DD warm on all parts. Better heat distribution as a PP said.

lulu8109

lucy460:

g8trkim:

I never liked the gowns. DS would always wiggle around and the gown would ride up and his legs were totally exposed. Yeah, it's a little easier for diapers changes, but if you use the zipper sleepers it's pretty easy as well.

Same. I really didn't like the gowns very  much, and especially for warmth, fleece sleepers are the way to go. (Really, any sleepers, it's just that fleece are the warmest.)

Ditto.  DS had a couple of gowns and they were retired quickly.  I wouldn't buy them again.  I loved the footed sleepers and DS wore those all the time.

superned

I guess I'm in the minority.  I loved the gowns for nighttime with DD.  I could change a diaper in no time with my eyes closed.

As with anything though, don't buy any more until you try them out.  All babies are different.  : )

bearkatjen

I liked both.

Jen748

g8trkim:

I never liked the gowns. DS would always wiggle around and the gown would ride up and his legs were totally exposed. Yeah, it's a little easier for diapers changes, but if you use the zipper sleepers it's pretty easy as well.

We were the same with DD.

joie12

I, too, am in the minority - I love the gowns, and DD still wears them. We keep our house super cold, and she was born in Feb. I'd put her in a onesie, a sleeper gown, and a halo sleep sack with swaddle wrap. And a hat. Once it warmed up, I put her in a light cotton nightgown, and a sleep sack. I just found them to be SO much easier than trying to wrangle her legs into a footed sleeper.

 I had a couple Circo ones from Target that are great - they have a much thinner elastic band at the bottom and don't seem to ride up or down too much.

katieh1017

In theory the gowns were what I wanted to use and made the most sense for convenience. But we tried them and they rode up her legs. I love footed PJs and also agree that the zipper ones are the easiest especially in the beginning when you are changing a lot! Now that the baby STTN I still buy zippered ones when I can but snaps are getting to be ok now.

karen_loy

g8trkim:

I never liked the gowns. DS would always wiggle around and the gown would ride up and his legs were totally exposed. Yeah, it's a little easier for diapers changes, but if you use the zipper sleepers it's pretty easy as well.

Totally agree, footed sleepers are way better

wawa84

I feel like I have to defend the gowns here. lol. I LOVED the gowns when DS was born.  I didn't have any problems swaddling him when he was in a gown.  I swaddled using blankets and one of those swaddle blanket/sack things (I can't remember the technical name).  DS's room was always cold and he didn't have any issues.  They only need 1 more layer than we do. But, I would say just wait and see what you like best.    You get a vote for gowns from me. 

lookame3639

Footed sleepers with either zips or snaps. I tried my son in the gown once and it was miserable he'd wake when I changed him in the gowns and when he exposed his legs he'd cry(October baby as well and his legs got cold) plus it was difficult to put him in his carseat

Mrs.MLR04

Footed sleepers with zippers are the way to go!  I had a few gowns for DS, but literally used them a total of two times!  I really disliked them.

lotus88

Overall, I didn't like the gowns because they would ride up. Also, she'd have to wear socks with it and they were always falling off.

However, we used them a lot in the very beginning because DD was jaundice and we needed to put the wallaby against her bare back. The gown was perfect for this. Pretty much for the first 5 days she was in a gown, wrapped in a blanket, with the giant cord hanging out.

carolinah

superned:

I guess I'm in the minority.  I loved the gowns for nighttime with DD.  I could change a diaper in no time with my eyes closed.

As with anything though, don't buy any more until you try them out.  All babies are different.  : )

Ditto this. I really think the gowns were easier, especially at night. It was easy to change diapers and such. I also had no problem swaddling while DD was in a gown. I HATED the footy pajamas that buttoned. it was so time consuming to button all the little buttons and usually by the time that i got to the top the buttons were all off and mismatched, prob had something to do with being sleep deprived also.  

Dncr251

I loved the gowns for early on around the house, but we used the footed pajamas as well. We used the sleep sacks or socks if he seemed to get too chilly, but the gowns made diaper changes really easy.

AliciaS1411

We used the gowns for two nights, both nights LO would wake up SCREAMING because he'd stick a foot out of the gown and he'd be cold. We switch the the sleepers.

raefre

I loved the sleeper gowns and didn't have too much of an issue with them riding up or swaddling. However, when DS was born it was 72F and really didn't get colder than 68F. 

 

credcat7

Hey RANDOM STRANGER thanks for the great advice... tee heee  saw spikeys pic and knew this was you.. ! 

cougarlicious

I only used gowns - had a bunch of footed pjs but with all the diaper changes a newborn goes through I didn't want to deal with them.  Never had an issue swaddling with the gown on. I started using sleepers at 3-4 months and then only cared for the zippered ones. 

Joeypnut

This is totally personal preference.  I would have a handful of each and then get more of what you like.  I didn't like the gowns because I didn't like the way they rode up, they seemed drafty, and I couldn't strap her into anything (swing, bouncer) with them on unless I wanted to hike them up and expose her legs.  I actually preferred the button up footed pajamas for the daytime because I hated the way that some of the zippers bubbled out.  I am just really particular I guess, but whatever it works for me   I did use the zipper ones for nighttime though.  Super easy to change.  I never had issues with getting her legs into them.