There's a common misconception that resurfaces every autumn as soon as temperatures drop. Moms ask me: "Don't you have velvet pajamas? In winter, jersey isn't enough, is it?"
I understand the intuition. Velvet is thick, it feels warm to the touch, it's reassuring. But here's what I've learned, as a designer and especially as a mom.
My sons and velvet: a skin story
When my first son was a baby, I did what everyone else did. In autumn, I took out the velvet pajamas. Warm, soft to the touch, reassuring. What all moms do.
A few days later, rashes appeared. Redness in the folds, dry skin, itching. Eczema. I changed the cream, I changed the detergent, I looked everywhere. And then I changed the pajamas. I switched to jersey.
The rashes disappeared.
When my second son was born, I immediately put aside the velvet. Same result: his skin never tolerated nights better than in his jersey pajamas. Two children, same story, same answer.
It's this experience, as much as my research as a designer, that definitively convinced me. At Maison Piou Piou, there will never be velvet.
What countries where it's truly cold do
In Scandinavian countries, England, Canada, velvet for baby pajamas is extremely rare. Parents dress their little ones in cotton jersey for sleep, even in the middle of winter, even when it's minus ten degrees outside.
It's not due to lack of means. It's because they've understood something essential: a well-dressed baby shouldn't be an overheated baby. And an overheated baby is a baby who doesn't sleep, who sweats, whose skin reacts.
The real danger: overheating
Overheating is one of the main risk factors for infant sleep. Babies don't regulate their body temperature well yet. When they're too hot, they get agitated, wake up, and sweat. And in the most severe cases, excessive heat can be dangerous.
Velvet retains heat. Jersey, on the other hand, breathes. It keeps baby at a good temperature without creating a heat spike. It's this breathability that makes all the difference at night. And for sensitive skin, skin prone to eczema, it's often the material that changes everything.
The secret: the sleeping bag
The real warmth at night doesn't come from the pajamas. It comes from the sleeping bag.
Pajamas are the first layer, light and breathable, directly against the skin. The sleeping bag is the warm layer, adjustable according to the season. It's the sleeping bag that does the thermoregulation work, not the pajamas.
The rule is simple: the same jersey pajamas all year round; only the TOG of the sleeping bag is varied according to the room temperature.
The complete guide according to room temperature
Room at 16-18°C — cold winter Jersey pajamas + TOG 3.5 sleeping bag. Baby is well wrapped, without risk of overheating. No extra blanket.
Room at 18-20°C — classic winter Jersey pajamas + TOG 2.5 sleeping bag. This is the ideal combination for most French winters. The one I use for my sons.
Room at 20-22°C — mid-season, spring, autumn Jersey pajamas + TOG 1 sleeping bag. The room is temperate, jersey alone is sufficient as a layer close to the skin.
Room at 22-24°C — summer Light jersey pajamas + TOG 0.5 sleeping bag, or jersey pajamas alone depending on the heat. No thick sleeping bag, no blanket.
Room at over 24°C — heatwave Jersey bodysuit alone, without a sleeping bag. And ventilate the room as much as possible.
The golden rule: if you're hot in the room, baby is hot too. The ideal sleeping temperature is between 18 and 20°C, for adults and infants alike.
The materials I choose at Maison Piou Piou
I mainly work with cotton jersey: supple, stretchy, soft directly against the skin. It follows baby's movements without ever constricting them. It's easy to wash, dries quickly, and retains its softness wash after wash.
For some models, I use stretch terry cloth, a fabric composed of 80% cotton and 20% polyester. This material provides even more softness, elasticity, and plushness, while remaining breathable. The polyester, well-dosed and Oeko-Tex certified, strengthens the fabric's hold and durability without compromising baby's comfort.
All my fabrics are Oeko-Tex certified, regardless of their composition. This certification guarantees the absence of harmful substances. For sensitive skin and babies prone to eczema, it's non-negotiable.
In summary
The same pajamas, all year round. We vary the sleeping bag, not the pajama material. Jersey breathes, doesn't retain heat, respects sensitive skin. And the room, ideally, doesn't exceed 20°C.
My sons have been sleeping in jersey since birth. Their skin is doing well. And so are their nights.
Discover my handmade baby pajamas, hand-sewn in France, in Oeko-Tex certified fabrics, designed for all four seasons.
Odile, creator of Maison Piou Piou and mother of two little boys
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