What should I dress my baby in during the summer?

Light clothing, less uncertainty, and a relaxed summer with your baby

As soon as temperatures rise, questions often arise:
What should I dress my baby in during summer?
  • Is my baby too warm?
  • Are they too cold?
  • Do they need long clothing despite the sun?
  • Are they sweating?
  • Is a bodysuit enough?
  • What is suitable at night?
The truth is:
There isn’t one perfect summer outfit for every baby. Every child experiences temperatures a little differently.
That’s why what matters much more than rigid rules is:
to learn how your baby feels and how to recognize whether they are comfortably warm.
And simple, natural materials and uncomplicated clothing are often the most helpful here.
Babies regulate heat differently from adults
Newborns in particular cannot yet regulate their body temperature themselves like older children or adults. That’s why many parents understandably become cautious as soon as it gets hot outside.
In summer, the general rule is:
Don’t put on too much, but choose the right things..
Too many layers can quickly cause heat to build up in babies, preventing it from being released.
Light, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing helps the body regulate temperatures better.
How can I tell whether my baby is too warm or too cold?
Many parents instinctively feel their baby’s hands or feet – but these are often cooler in babies and are not a reliable indication of body temperature.
It’s better to:
Checking the neck or upper back by touch.
You can usually tell quickly there:
  • pleasantly warm = all good
  • sweaty/hot = probably dressed too warmly
  • noticeably cool = possibly one more layer
A slightly warm neck is completely normal.
Do babies sweat at all?
Yes – although babies often sweat differently from adults.
Babies, especially young ones, often sweat:
  • on the head
  • on the neck
  • or on the back
Not every baby visibly sweats a lot. That’s why regularly checking by touch is often more helpful than relying solely on signs of sweating.
If clothing or the neck becomes noticeably damp, one fewer layer will usually be enough.
Which fabrics are particularly suitable for babies in summer?
In summer, materials are especially important if they:
  • breathable
  • soft
  • lightweight
  • are gentle on sensitive skin
That’s why at PETIT COCHON, we consciously choose natural materials that give babies freedom of movement and feel comfortable to wear even on warm days.

Cotton muslin – soft, airy, and pleasantly lightweight

Muslin is considered by many families to be one of the best summer fabrics of all.
The loose cotton fabric is:
  • soft
  • lightweight
  • breathable
  • pleasantly airy
Grow-with-me muslin pieces are especially wonderful for warm summer days because they fit loosely and allow babies to move freely.
Many parents also love muslin because the fabric:
  • dries quickly
  • is uncomplicated
  • also looks beautifully crinkled
Perfect for real summer days with your baby.

Linen—naturally cooling on warm days

Linen is a wonderful summer fabric for babies and children.
The natural fiber is:
  • temperature-regulating,
  • breathable,
  • pleasantly lightweight
  • and dries quickly.
Especially on very warm days, many children find linen particularly comfortable against their skin.
Loose-weave linen also offers natural protection from the sun without feeling heavy or warm.
That’s why our grow-with-me linen favorites are perfect for babies throughout warm summer days—indoors and outdoors.

How much clothing does a baby really need in summer?

Often much less than you might think.
On warm days, at home, this is often enough:
  • a lightweight bodysuit
  • a lightweight top
  • or sometimes just a diaper
  • Dimportant outdoors:
  • no direct sun for babies under 6 months
  • be sure to protect the head and neck
  • take your baby’s individual temperature into account

Babies don’t need to be constantly “bundled up” in summer.
Light clothing is usually more helpful than lots of layers.

Why grow-with-me clothing is especially worthwhile in summer

In summer, parents often change their babies more frequently:
  • because clothes get wet
  • sweats
  • is simply worn less
Grow-with-me clothing makes everyday life much easier.
Our favorite grow-with-me pieces fit across several sizes, allowing them to stay in use for many months or even years.
Loose summer fabrics like muslin or linen in particular fit:
  • comfortably loose at first
  • later looser and shorter
  • always fits
This saves you:
  • constantly buying new clothes
  • size-related stress
  • many unnecessary decisions in everyday life
It’s especially lovely that many summer pieces aren’t intended for just a few warm weeks. Many of our favorite grow-with-me pieces can be worn throughout the year and combined in flexible ways.
Long-sleeved bodysuits, baby knickers, or knickerbockers are wonderfully suitable as a soft base layer under boiled wool or knitwear in autumn and winter. Short muslin dungarees can also be worn with tights underneath on cooler days, and many families later use our wrapover rompers as cozy pajamas for autumn and winter.
This way, you don’t buy many items just for one season, but for many months and different seasons.
Loopbodys – soft, lightweight, and perfect for layering
Our Loopbodys accompany many families throughout the summer.
Depending on the temperature, they can be:
  • wear on their own
  • combine with lightweight trousers
  • layer easily in the evening
Especially comfortable on warm days are:
  • Loopbodys made from bamboo viscose
  • or our cashmere micromodal blend
The fabrics are:
  • soft
  • lightweight
  • snug
  • pleasantly breathable
Many parents also appreciate that the grow-with-me cuts fit for a long time and give babies plenty of freedom of movement.
Baby knickerbockers – lightly dressed yet protected
Especially in summer, loose trousers are often more comfortable than tight clothing.
Our grow-with-me baby knickerbockers are intentionally loose-fitting and give babies:
  • freedom of movement
  • lightness
  • light protection from the sun and wind
Combined with a lightweight Loopbody, this creates an uncomplicated summer outfit that doesn’t restrict babies.

And at night?
The same applies when sleeping:
it’s better to think in terms of something lighter.
How much your baby needs at night naturally depends greatly on:
  • room temperature
  • sleeping situation
  • individual sensitivity to temperature
Often, the following are enough:
  • a Loopbody
  • a Loop romper
  • or an airy sleep outfit made from natural materials
Lightweight baby sleeping bags or wearable blankets made from cashmere micromodal are especially comfortable in summer. The fabric feels soft and pleasantly light against the skin and is wonderfully suited as a lightweight summer sleeping bag for warm nights.
This is important here too:
to regularly feel the back of your baby’s neck instead of relying solely on charts or general rules.
Do I need short-sleeved bodysuits for my summer baby?
Not necessarily.
Many parents immediately think of as little fabric as possible when they have a summer baby and buy almost exclusively short-sleeved bodysuits. However, lightweight long-sleeved materials can also be very comfortable in summer.
What matters less than sleeve length is:
  • the fabric
  • the lightness
  • how comfortable your baby feels in it
Even with long sleeves, lightweight Loopbodys made from bamboo viscose or cashmere micromodal feel pleasantly soft and help regulate temperature. At the same time, they offer sensitive baby skin somewhat better protection from the sun, wind, or cooler mornings.
Especially outdoors, many parents therefore find loose, lightweight long-sleeved bodysuits often more suitable than very short clothing.
The same applies here:
There is no “right” or “wrong.”
If your baby feels comfortably warm and isn’t sweating, the clothing is usually just right.
Back to blog