There are many choices to make as an expectant parent when it comes to buying baby gear. With many brands, materials, and styles, it can get a big confusing. This article is about newborn sleeper gowns and will help you decide which is the best for your baby. We will review and compare the most popular newborn sleeper gowns available on the market. We will also talk about the benefits of a sleeper gown compared to other options for newborn attire. As an experienced mom of 4 kids, I have had enough newborn baby clothing experience to know exactly what works best.

What Is A NewBorn Sleeper Gown?

A newborn sleeper gown is a one-piece garment that has ties or elastic on the bottom. It is very roomy near baby’s feet rather than having two separate legs with zipper or snap openings. Sleeper gowns are comfortable, soft, and made for delicate newborn skin. Fabrics most often include cotton, muslin, or bamboo.

You likely know by now that there are many different options for newborn attire, including newborn sleep gowns, newborn onesies, swaddles, and sleep sacks, to name just a few. You may want to know why someone would choose a newborn sleeper gown instead of these other options.

newborn Sleeper Gown vs. Newborn Onesies

Compared to newborn onesies, newborn sleeper gowns:

• Are easier for nighttime diaper changes. The key difference is you don’t have to shove those tiny legs in and out of the leg holes of a onesie. Anything that makes life easier on exhausted parents during those half-asleep nighttime diaper changes is a win in my book!

• Likely can be used for a longer period of time. Newborns grow very quickly. Newborn onesies, with defined feet and legs, won’t fit more than a few short weeks. Newborn sleepers have ties or elastic that are more flexible for sizing and

• Are faster to get baby in and out of. - Not having to mess with zippers or snaps makes using a sleeper gown quick and easy. With 8-12 or more diaper changes each day with a newborn, any little bit of convenience helps.

  
  
  

Key Features to look for in a newborn sleeper gown

Here are the most important features to look for when choosing the right newborn sleeper gowns for your baby.

1. Built In Mitten Cuffs - Newborns tend to scratch themselves in the face a lot unless their hands are covered by mittens. Rather than try to keep track of separate mittens that may fall off easily and get lost in the laundry, look for a sleeper gown with built in mitten cuffs. This makes life a bit easier for you during the newborn phase and helps ensure your little one doesn’t scratch themselves.

2. Soft, Breathable Fabric - Sleeper gowns can be worn on their own or under another garment such as a swaddle. It’s important for the fabric to be soft and breathable to ensure baby doesn’t overheat. Look for cotton, muslin, or bamboo. Some also contain a small amount of spandex or other material that can provide a little extra stretch. You want fabric that is soft not only for the first wear but also over time after going through the washing machine several times.

3. A Knot or Elastic At The Bottom - Elastic closures are popular, but I personally prefer newborn sleeper gowns with a tie on the bottom. It ensures that baby’s delicate skin is fully covered and that no cool drafts can chill those tiny toes. Elastic are even easier to get on and off than a tie you have to knot.

4. A Flexible Neckline - With ANY, and I repeat, ANY, newborn garment, you want to be able to get it off either from the top or the bottom in case of a code yellow (if you know, you know. If you don’t, you soon will). Look for sleeper gowns that have a flexible neckline that allows you to pull it down their body without having to bring it back up over their head. The technical term for this is “lap shoulder neckline”. This basically means that fabric in the back panel overlaps the fabric in the front, allowing for easier exit in case of emergencies.

5. Machine Washable - Let’s face the facts: newborns lead to a lot of laundry. All of the newborn gowns recommended on our list are machine washable, which to me is a non-negotiable for any newborn attire.

The 3 Best sleeper gowns for Newborns

Here are the best of the best sleep gowns for newborns available on the market today. I based this list on having the most important features of a great sleeper gown from above, quality of fabric, my personal experience with the products, affordability, and customer reviews.

1. Gerber baby Boy and Girls 4-Pack Sleeper Gown

This 4-pack of Gerber Baby sleeper gowns have built-in mitten cuffs and a lap shoulder neckline. They are made of 100% cotton and are machine washable. Impressively, it has over 31k reviews and is the #1 best selling newborn sleeper gown on Amazon with an average rating over 4.8 out of 5 stars. It’s extremely popular and well-reviewed. These are very affordable, with a 4-pack costing less than a single garment from other brands. This product gets an extra boost in our rankings because there are 25 different color and pattern options to choose from, so you know there will be something for everyone.

2. Touched By Nature Baby Organic Cotton Gowns

This 3-pack of sleeper gowns from Touched By Nature makes our list for a number of reasons. They have the built-in mitten cuffs and the lap shoulder neckline. The material, which is 100% organic cotton, may appeal to parents who want to avoid clothing made with chemicals during the manufacturing process for their newborn. They have an incredibly impressive 60+ different color and style options including some holiday or themed designs. Also, they are extremely well-reviewed on Amazon with nearly 17k customer reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars.

3. Aden & Anais comfort knit knotted newborn baby gown and hat

The aiden & anais Comfort Knit Knotted Newborn Baby Gown rounds out our list and is an excellent option for your newborn. Again, built-in mittens and lap shoulder neckline provide convenience and ease of use. The material in this garment is 95% cotton with 5% spandex, which makes it a little bit stretchy. Also, it comes with an adorable matching hat, which can look very cute for photos and also are functional for keeping tiny newborns warm and cozy. This newborn gown has a tie on the bottom. Although this is the least affordable option on our list, the quality of fabric from aiden & anais is excellent and provides great value.

final tips for using a newborn sleeper gown

We’ll finish up with these final tips on using sleeper gowns:

• Always be sure to wash your sleeper gowns (and any other newborn clothing) before first use. It’s best to use a detergent made for babies or for sensitive skin without scents, dyes, and irritants. This ensures there is no residue from manufacturing or shipment that could cause irritation to your newborn’s sensitive skin.

• Your baby can use a sleep gown alone or under another item, such as a swaddle. Swaddles can be wonderful for ensuring better sleep for newborns. If you’d like more guidance on how to dress your baby for sleep, check out our recent post on that here.

You may also enjoy these other related articles 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.