Suddenly the mornings are chilly, the sun is still out at lunchtime – and you're wondering what your baby should actually be wearing. Summer clothes are too thin, the thick winter snowsuit is far too early. Here's what an autumn baby in Switzerland really needs, without the wardrobe bursting at the seams.
Why an autumn baby is dressed differently from a summer baby
Newborns can't yet regulate their body temperature very well on their own. They cool down faster than adults – and overheat just as quickly if they're wrapped up too warmly. In autumn, the temperature also swings a lot within a single day: 8 °C in the morning, 20 °C on the thermometer in the afternoon. Add wind, fog across the Swiss Plateau, heated flats and the constant switch between indoors and outdoors.
The answer isn't thicker clothing but several thin layers that you can put on and take off while you're out. That's exactly why newborn essentials for an autumn baby aren't a different world from those for a summer baby – the balance just shifts a little: more long sleeves, more long trousers, a few pieces to pull on over the top.
The basics: long-sleeved bodysuits and long trousers
The bodysuit is the first layer, right next to the skin. For autumn, it's best to plan like this:
- 5 to 7 long-sleeved bodysuits – the foundation for every day. With a baby, you change clothes more often than you think.
- 4 to 5 pairs of long trousers or leggings – ideally with a wide, soft waistband that doesn't press on the belly button.
- 2 to 3 sleepsuits or all-in-ones for cooler days and for when you're out and about.
- 1 light cardigan to pull on when it cools down in the evening.
- Little socks – baby feet get cold first, usually more than you'd like.
Soft ribbed cotton is especially practical in autumn: it's stretchy, a little warmer than smooth jersey and still lets the skin breathe. Our 5-pack of long-sleeved bodysuits in pastel rib covers the first layer for a whole week, and the 5-pack of baby leggings goes well with it as the second layer.
A tip on size: in autumn, it's better to go one size up than to pick one that only just fits. Otherwise the pyjamas will be too tight over a bodysuit, and clothes that are too tight keep your baby less warm because there's no layer of air in between.
How many layers at what temperature?
As a rough guide for outdoors – in the pram, where your baby hardly moves and therefore produces less heat:
| Temperature | How to dress your baby |
|---|---|
| approx. 15–20 °C | Long-sleeved bodysuit, long trousers, thin socks, light jacket to hand |
| approx. 10–15 °C | Long-sleeved bodysuit, trousers, cardigan, thin hat, socks |
| below 10 °C | Long-sleeved bodysuit, trousers, warm mid layer, all-in-one, hat, mittens, blanket in the pram |
The best way to tell whether it's right is the back of the neck: if the skin there feels pleasantly warm and dry, you've got it right. Cold hands and feet are normal in babies and not a reliable sign. If the neck is sweaty, there's one layer too many.
Out and about: hat, blanket and a cloth that does it all
Your baby loses a relatively large amount of heat through the head – from around 15 °C, a thin cotton hat belongs in the pram basket. For the trip to nursery, the shops or a visit to the grandparents, a muslin cloth is also worth having: it works as a light blanket, as a privacy and wind screen on the pram, as a mat for a spontaneous nappy change and as a burp cloth. That's why a 3-pack of cotton muslin swaddles always lives in our changing bag.
What you don't need: thick down snowsuits in September, shoes for a baby who isn't walking yet, and more than two hats. Most of that gets outgrown before it's been worn twice.
In the car seat: thick layers don't belong under the harness
One point that's easily overlooked in autumn: thick jackets and all-in-ones don't belong under the straps of the infant car seat. The soft material gets squashed when you buckle up, so the harness sits looser than it feels. For car journeys, dress your baby in thin layers instead and put the jacket or a blanket over the buckled straps. Rule of thumb when tightening: there should only be room for a flat hand between the strap and the chest.
For short trips in the pram, one layer more than you're wearing yourself is usually enough – plus a blanket you can take off as soon as you get into the shop or onto the tram. Changing clothes somewhere warm is a hassle; taking off a blanket takes two seconds.
Sleeping in autumn: room temperature and sleeping bag
As soon as the heating comes on, night-time becomes a topic. A bedroom temperature of around 16 to 18 °C is often recommended – cooler than many people think. For the night: a sleeping bag instead of a loose blanket, and underneath, depending on the room temperature, a long-sleeved bodysuit or thin pyjamas. Pillows, cot bumpers and soft toys don't belong in the cot.
If you're unsure how warmly your baby should be dressed at night, or if they often sweat or sleep noticeably restlessly: bring it up at the next check-up with your paediatrician. That's time better spent than any rule of thumb from the internet.
Your autumn checklist at a glance
- 5–7 long-sleeved bodysuits, 4–5 pairs of long trousers
- 2–3 sleepsuits or all-in-ones
- 1 light cardigan, 1–2 thin cotton hats
- 5–6 pairs of little socks
- 1 sleeping bag to suit the room temperature
- 2–3 muslin cloths for out and about
- One size that fits now – and one that will fit in two months
If you're starting from scratch, a ready-made set is the easiest way. Our “Hello World” newborn essentials set includes eight coordinated pieces made from 100% cotton and covers the early weeks completely – a safe choice as a birth gift, too.
The bottom line
An autumn baby doesn't need expensive specialist kit, just good layers of soft cotton and a little attention to the back of the neck rather than the feet. Better a few pieces you can mix and match than a full wardrobe with something for every kind of weather.
You'll find all our bodysuits, trousers, sets and muslin cloths in our shop – made from 100% cotton, shipped from Switzerland. Browse the sunnozy shop now and complete your baby's autumn wardrobe.