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A great newborn onesie is cozy, warm, convenient, cute, and easy to use. All four of my kids literally lived in their newborn onesie. There are a lot of options available in the market, so it’s important to know what to look for. In this article, I will share the key features I recommend in a newborn onesie—and which to avoid. I will also provide a review of the best, most-loved newborn onesies to help you decide which ones are right for you.

key features of a newborn onesie

When selecting a newborn onesie, there are several key features to consider to ensure both your baby’s comfort and convenience for parents.

1. Softness: Of course, first on the list is that we want baby to be comfortable and cozy in their onesie. This means we don’t want them to be too hot or too cold. Opt for onesies made from soft, breathable fabrics such as cotton or bamboo. I also used a lot of fleece onesies for my winter babies born in cold climates. These fabrics are gentle on delicate newborn skin.

   
   
   

2. Look For A Zipper, Not Snaps: I am incredibly passionate about this one. There is nothing worse than finishing up snapping your newborn’s onesie at 2am after an overnight diaper change only to realize that you missed a snap and have to undo them all and start over. Save yourself the hassle and go with zipper onesies instead! They are much easier to use for exhausted, half-awake parents in the middle of the night. You can make overnight diaper changes even easier by looking for an inverted zipper or a double zipper.

   
   
   

3. Built In Mitten Cuffs: Having the built in mitten cuffs on your newborn onesies is another feature that makes life easier. Newborns don’t have great spatial awareness yet and end up scratching themselves in the face without some sort of hand coverings. Rather than trying to keep track of separate mittens (they seem to constantly fall off!), it’s much easier to purchase newborn onesies with built in mitten cuffs.

   
   
   

4. Size and Fit: Choose onesies that provide a snug yet comfortable fit. First time parents are often surprised at how quickly their tiny newborn may grow out of newborn-sized clothes. It’s a good idea to always purchase onesies in a size larger than what your baby needs right now to have those ready to go for when your current size gets too tight. The proper size will allow for movement and growth without having too much extra fabric.

   
   
   

5. Design and Style: There are a lot of designs, colors, and styles available on the market to meet any aesthetic preference. Dressing our tiny newborns in adorable outfits is a lot of fun! Whether you love the cute baby designs or prefer a more neutral, monochromatic look, or something in between, there are plenty of great colors, patterns, and styles available.

The 3 Best NewBorn Onesies

Now, let’s dive into the reviews of the top three most popular newborn onesies that include all of the key features listed above.

1. Gerber Baby 4-Pack Sleep ‘n play footie

This 4-pack of Gerber Baby zippered onesies have both footies and built-in mitten cuffs, giving parents all of the convenience features you could want. These are made of 100% cotton that is soft and breathable. They come in many different cute patterns, colors, and designs with plentiful options for each gender. They are extremely affordable for a 4-pack and so are a great value. They are the #1 best seller on Amazon for baby onesies with footies and have over 100k positive reviews. You can order in size Preemie up through 9 months. You can’t go wrong with these!

Here is the link to the baby girl patterns.

Here is the link to the baby boy patterns.

2. Burt’s Bees 100% Organic Cotton Sleep and Play PJs

For parents who want organic cotton paired with adorable designs, the Burt’s Bees Organic Cotton Sleep and Play PJs can be a great choice! These are zippered onesies with footies. They do not have built in mitten cuffs. I love how soft these are for sensitive newborn skin. These are some of the more pricey options on our list, however, they are extremely popular with new parents and have some really unique patterns. They have many fun seasonal prints as well. You can order in size Preemie up through 9 months.

Here is the link to the baby girl patterns.

Here is the link to the baby boy patterns.

3. Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby 2-Pack Fleece footed sleep and play

Carter’s is a very popular and trusted brand in baby apparel and is known for quality and affordability. This 2-Pack of Fleece Sleep and Play onesies is a great choice. Made of soft, cozy fleece and featuring a front zipper, these are great additions to your baby’s wardrobe at an affordable price. The specific 2-pack linked here is full of netural color options that could work for either gender, however, this same onesie does come in boy and girl patterns as well as different fabrics such as cotton. You can order in size Preemie up through 9 months.

Here is the link to the baby girl patterns.

Here is the link to the baby boy patterns.

Final tips for using a newborn onesie

As we wrap up, I’ll leave you with these final tips on using newborn onesies:

• Always wash your newborn onesies before their first use using a detergent that is made for babies or made for sensitive skin. This ensures there is no residue or anything from manufacturing and shipment that could cause irritation to your newborn’s sensitive skin.

• When you’re on the go with baby for those early doctor appointments, be sure to always throw an extra one or two in your diaper bag just in case. I like the convenience of grabbing a single garment as backup instead of a top and pants when baby and I are out and about.

• Be conscious of baby’s temperature when wearing their newborn onesie and any other garments. As an example, many newborns use a swaddle for sleep. You would not want to have your baby in a footed fleece onesie underneath a fleece swaddle as that could cause them to become too warm. If you’d like more guidance on how to dress your baby for sleep, check out our recent post on that here.

If you found this article helpful, you may also love one of these others here on Mom’s First Steps:

• The Ollie Swaddle - An Honest Review

• Why I Choose Fleece Sleep Sacks

• What To Do If Your Newborn Only Sleeps When Held

Note that this post is not sponsored by any company; the opinions expressed here are my own. This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.