Baby Bodysuits

Our baby bodysuits are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton — soft on newborn skin from day one, with room to stretch as they grow. Choose from short-sleeve, long-sleeve and singlet styles to suit the season. All come with snap-button openings... Read more

Frequently asked questions

"Onesie" is the word most people reach for, but on this site it covers two genuinely different pieces, and knowing which one you actually need saves a lot of confused browsing. A bodysuit is a snug, short-bodied piece that snaps at the nappy and is designed to be worn under other clothes, not as a full outfit by itself. It is the base layer, not the outer layer.

A romper, by contrast, is a complete outfit with shorts or a short leg built in, meant to be worn on its own. So when someone searches for an infant green onesie, they are usually picturing exactly what we would call a bodysuit: a simple, snug base layer in a single colour that works under dungarees, cardigans or dresses without adding bulk.

The confusion is understandable because both are one-piece garments with a snap crotch. The practical test is simple: if it is meant to go under something else, it is a bodysuit. If it is meant to be the whole outfit, it is a romper or jumpsuit.

If you are building a newborn wardrobe and unsure which to buy first, bodysuits are the more essential piece. They layer under almost everything else in the wardrobe, while rompers and dresses only work on their own.

Most parents find five to seven bodysuits is the right amount for the newborn stage, sometimes more if you are stretching laundry days further apart. Bodysuits sit closest to the skin and catch the brunt of spit-up, leaky nappies and general newborn mess, so they get changed more often than almost anything else in the wardrobe.

A mix of sleeve lengths is worth having from the start rather than buying all short sleeve or all long sleeve. Short sleeve bodysuits work as a base layer under dungarees or a romper in most conditions, while long sleeve versions add warmth on cooler days without needing a full extra layer on top.

Snap styles are worth prioritising over pull-over styles for the newborn stage specifically, since getting a top over a newborn's head repeatedly is more disruptive than undoing a row of snaps. Once your baby is a bit older and more settled, pull-over bodysuits become easier to manage.

As with most newborn basics, buying slightly ahead in size is a good idea. A bodysuit that fits well in week one can feel snug by week five or six, so having a few in the next size up avoids a mid-week emergency shop.

Not usually, and for most of the country a short sleeve or sleeveless bodysuit is the more practical choice through summer. Long sleeve bodysuits are more useful as a layering piece for cooler mornings, air-conditioned indoor spaces, or the shoulder seasons either side of summer, rather than for the middle of a hot day.

Where long sleeve bodysuits do earn their place in summer is sun protection. If your baby will be outside for any length of time, a lightweight long sleeve bodysuit under a sun hat and light outer layer covers more skin than sunscreen alone, and a breathable organic cotton fabric keeps this from feeling overheated.

Air conditioning is the other factor worth planning for. Australian homes, cars and shopping centres can swing from very warm outside to quite cool inside, so having a couple of long sleeve bodysuits in the newborn rotation even during summer gives you a quick way to add warmth without a full outfit change.

If you are only buying one type for a summer baby, short sleeve should make up the bulk of the wardrobe, with two or three long sleeve pieces kept aside for cooler moments rather than everyday wear.

Newborn size bodysuits are cut for babies roughly up to about 4-5kg, but actual weight and length vary enough between babies that it is worth watching fit rather than relying purely on the newborn label. A baby born larger, or tracking on higher growth percentiles, may move into the 0-3 month size within the first couple of weeks.

Because sizing varies slightly between brands like Frugi, DUNS Sweden, Kite and Toby Tiger, checking the specific size guide on each bodysuit is more reliable than assuming a newborn size fits identically across brands. A bodysuit that is snug through the body but has room in the length is usually more comfortable than one that is tight all over.

If you are buying ahead of the birth and do not know how big your baby will be, it is worth splitting your first bodysuit purchase across newborn and 0-3 month sizes rather than buying everything in one size. That way you are covered whichever way your baby's actual size falls.

Snap crotches with a couple of spare popper positions are also worth checking for, since they let a bodysuit flex slightly in length as your baby grows, buying you a bit more wear before you need to size up again.

In warm weather, yes, and plenty of parents do exactly this at home or for short, casual outings. A bodysuit paired with just socks or bare legs is a completely reasonable outfit for a hot day, especially for very young babies who spend a lot of time lying down or being carried rather than crawling on rough surfaces.

Where it gets more practical to add a layer is once your baby starts spending real time on the floor. A bare-legged bodysuit offers no knee protection for crawling, so many parents add leggings, shorts or a light bottom once mobility kicks in, even if the top half stays as just the bodysuit.

For outings, a bodysuit alone can look a little bare depending on the occasion, so it is worth keeping a couple of options on hand, like simple shorts or a wrap skirt, that can be added quickly without overheating your baby on a hot day.

If you like the minimalist, easy-dress approach a bodysuit-only outfit offers, look for styles with a bit of print or colour rather than a plain white piece, since it reads more like an intentional outfit and less like an undergarment on display.

Snap bodysuits close along the crotch with a row of poppers, usually running from the front of one leg, around the nappy area, to the front of the other leg. For a nappy change, you only need to undo this row rather than removing the whole bodysuit, which keeps your baby's top half covered and warm during the change.

This is what makes snap bodysuits faster than pull-over styles for newborns especially, since you are not lifting anything over your baby's head or arms for a routine change. It also means less disruption if you are trying to change a sleepy baby without fully waking them.

Most snap bodysuits include two or three popper positions at each point along the row, which lets you adjust the fit slightly as your baby grows rather than needing an exact size match from day one. A slightly looser popper setting also makes for a roomier fit if your baby is going through a growth spurt.

For a newborn's day-to-day wardrobe, snap bodysuits are generally worth prioritising over pull-over styles, simply because the number of nappy changes in the early weeks makes the time and disruption saved add up quickly.