Dressing Your Baby for Developmental Success (Without Overcomplicating It)
Written By: Dr. Alli Chisholm, PT, DPT
Our second practicing her side lying in our favorite clothing brand, Little Sleepies ♥️
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and love with my own family and clients.
Why I Keep Baby Clothes Simple
If you know me, you know I’m a simple person—especially when it comes to clothing. You’ll usually find me in yoga pants and a plain tee (jeans = “dressing up” for me). I’m not about frilly, complicated, or high-maintenance outfits—and that mindset has spilled right over into how I dress my girls.
That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the fancy stuff. There is absolutely a time and place for the ruffles, sparkles, and mini fashion statements. If dressing up your little one (or yourself) brings you joy? Please keep doing it. Truly. Motherhood is hard enough without anyone telling you what you “should” or “shouldn’t” dress your baby in.
What I’ve found, though, is that even if you love those extra-cute outfits for photos or family gatherings, it’s also worth balancing them with practical play clothes—because what your baby wears every day actually matters for how they move and develop.
Why Clothing Matters for Baby Development
Your baby is working hard on big milestones—rolling, scooting, crawling, pulling up, walking. These skills require freedom of movement. If you’ve ever worried whether stiffness or muscle tone could be affecting your baby’s milestones, I break that down in this post on what muscle tone actually means.
If clothes are stiff, too tight, or constantly covering hands and feet, they can slow down progress. Small changes—like breathable fabrics, leaving toes out, or giving your baby diaper-only floor time—make a huge difference for motor skill practice.
Four Simple Rules for Dressing Your Baby
Here’s what I tell the families I work with:
Flexible, breathable, lightweight.
Choose fabrics that move with your baby, not against them. Cotton and bamboo blends are my top choices.Hands and feet free when possible.
Babies need to discover their toes and fingers. That exploration is a key part of fine and gross motor development. One of the simplest ways to encourage this is through tummy time, even if your baby doesn’t love it yet. I share my favorite stress-free tummy time tips here.Not too tight.
Clothes should be snug enough to stay put, but not restrictive. A quick note on headbands: they’re adorable, but use them sparingly since they can impact cranial development, especially the thin, tight bands. If you’ve noticed your baby favoring one side or a flat spot developing, you may find my post on head flattening prevention really helpful.Naked play is gold.
Time in just a diaper (or nothing at all) gives your baby the full sensory experience of the floor. If you use cloth diapers, try occasional breaks in a disposable one since bulkier cloth can limit hip movement during play.
My Early Mom Fail (And What I Learned)
When I was a brand-new mom, I remember struggling with one of those snap button sleepers in the middle of the night, sleep-deprived and thinking: Why would anyone choose these over zippers?! I swore I’d never put my baby in one again.
But then a parent shared with me that their baby had been in the NICU, connected to tubes and wires. For them, snap sleepers weren’t just convenient—they were essential. That conversation my perspective.
It reminded me that there’s no “one right outfit” for every baby. What works best depends on your little one’s needs, your family’s circumstances, and sometimes, just what helps you get through the day. That’s the same mindset I share in my post about creating a ‘yes’ space for your baby, where the focus is on practicality and freedom rather than perfection.
So if the fancy clothes make you happy—enjoy them. If snaps work better for your baby than zippers—amazing. If yoga pants for life is your vibe—you’re in good company. What matters most is balancing practicality with what makes you and your baby comfortable.
Mom Life Moment: The Smell of Laundry
This might sound silly, but hear me out—clothes aren’t just about how they look or feel, they’re about how they smell, too.
I was chatting with my husband the other day about how much we missed that sweet, flowery scent of freshly washed clothes. For years we’ve had to use fragrance-free detergent for our girls’ sensitive skin. Last weekend, though, we visited relatives who washed our laundry in that classic fresh-smelling detergent—and honestly, it felt so good to put clothes on again 😅.
So, if you’re in the season of washing both your clothes and your baby’s together and crave that nostalgic “fresh laundry” smell, one brand we like to splurge on is Dreft. It’s safe for sensitive skin and gives you that cozy, clean scent without the worry.
My Personal Favorite Baby Clothes
Now that you know my rules (and lessons learned), here are the outfits that consistently check all the boxes: cozy, breathable, and milestone-friendly.
Little Sleepies → My absolute favorite. They’re buttery soft bamboo, stretchy, and grow with your baby. The fold-over foot cuffs mean your baby can explore their toes—or stay warm when it’s chilly. They also hold up really well to washing, which is basically a requirement when you live in the land of spit-up and blowouts.
GunaMuna → Another cozy, flexible option that was actually founded - and is located - in Amesbury, MA for any other local New Englanders reading this!
Easy Peasy (Wal-Mart brand) → A budget-friendly pick that still allows plenty of movement.
Amazon hack → Search “baby foot cuff pajamas” and you’ll find lots of similar movement-friendly options made of flexible, breathable material.
👉 Want my #1 tried-and-true choice? Shop Little Sleepies here.
Suggested Reading for You
If this post is hitting home, you might also love these:
Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Clothes and Shoes
1. Do babies need shoes before they walk?
Nope. Barefoot is almost always best while learning to crawl, pull up, and take those first steps. Bare feet strengthen the tiny muscles in the feet and ankles, in addition to improving balance, coordination, and sensory awareness. When it’s chilly, soft booties like these are better than structured shoes for those littles who are not yet walking and won’t necessarily be trying to do so out in the community.
2. Should babies always wear socks?
Socks are great for warmth, but barefoot is best for practice. Your baby grips the floor, explores toes, and improves sensory awareness that way (not to mention - when littles are starting to learn how to walk - more wipeouts tend to happen when socks are being worn due to the slip factor).
3. What fabrics are best for baby clothes?
Breathable, natural fabrics like bamboo and cotton blends. Avoid stiff fabrics that restrict crawling or squatting.
4. How many outfits does a baby really need?
Less than you think. A few cozy basics on repeat is totally fine. Babies don’t need a new “look” for every day—they need comfort and mobility. But, of course, having some extra options for babies post-blow out or spit up incident is always helpful!
5. When should my baby start wearing real shoes?
Once they’re confidently walking outside on varied surfaces. Stay tuned by by joining my mailing list for a to-be-released blog post on recommended shoe options for new walkers. When inside, barefoot is still best for building strength.
Keep It Simple (For You and Baby)
At the end of the day, I don’t believe in overcomplicating baby clothes. Just like I grab yoga pants instead of jeans, I reach for the simplest, softest, most functional outfits for my kids.
Because here’s the truth: your baby doesn’t need 17 Pinterest-worthy outfits. They need comfort, freedom, and opportunities to move.
So here’s your reminder—dressing your baby can be simple, practical, and still totally adorable. And the right choices actually support their development.
👉 Want to make it even easier? Try my favorite Little Sleepies and let your baby move, stretch, and explore with ease.