Ask a parent who's been through one hot summer with a baby what they'd buy again, and the answer is almost always the same: muslin. Not cotton jersey, not linen, not a clever technical fabric — plain, old-fashioned cotton muslin. There's a reason it has survived centuries of babywear while trends came and went, and once you've felt how much cooler a baby stays in it, you don't go back. Here's why muslin works, and the six pieces we'd actually buy.
Why Muslin, Specifically
Muslin is cotton woven loosely, usually in a double layer (double gauze). That loose weave is the whole point:
- Air actually moves through it. Babies can't regulate their temperature well and overheat fast. Muslin lets heat escape instead of trapping it against the skin — the single biggest comfort factor on a hot day.
- It gets softer every wash. Most fabrics degrade with washing. Muslin does the opposite — it breaks in, like a good linen shirt.
- It's forgiving on skin. Pure cotton with nothing synthetic against the skin, which matters for babies prone to heat rash or eczema.
- It's light without being flimsy. Double gauze has body — it drapes and holds shape instead of clinging.
The trade-off, honestly: muslin creases. If ironed perfection matters to you, this isn't your fabric. If a cool, comfortable baby matters more, it is.
1. The Everyday Muslin Romper
This is the piece that ends up in the wash twice a week. Sleeveless, snap-fastened, cut roomy so nothing clings. Our Watercolor Tulip Muslin Romper ($37.90) and Strawberry Fields Muslin Romper ($39.90) are the two we'd start with — buy two, because you'll want a clean one while the other dries.
2. The Muslin Romper Dress
Same fabric, more of it — the loose skirt means even more airflow, which on a properly hot day makes a visible difference to a baby's mood. The Cherry Print Muslin Romper Dress ($45.90) comes with a matching bow headband, so it doubles as the piece you put her in for photos.
3. The Short-Sleeve Muslin Romper
For slightly cooler days, or babies who scratch, a short sleeve in the same breathable weave. The Little Dino Muslin Romper ($39.90) has a 3D dinosaur detail and the same crinkled softness — proof muslin isn't only for the frilly end of the catalogue.
4. The Muslin Dungaree
Overalls in muslin are a quietly brilliant combination: loose through the body, nothing tight at the waist, and easy to layer a bodysuit under when the evening cools. The Floral Bear Muslin Dungaree Romper ($35.90) is the cheapest way into the fabric, and the one that fits longest as they grow.
5. The Muslin Swaddle — buy this even if you buy nothing else
The most useful object in the changing bag, full stop. It's a light blanket, a sunshade clipped over the pram, a picnic mat, a burp cloth, a nursing cover, a floor mat in a café. Our Botanical Print Muslin Swaddle ($33.90) is 100% cotton double gauze at 120×110cm — the generous size matters, because a small swaddle won't stay tucked or reach across a pram.
6. The One You Buy for Someone Else
Muslin is the safest baby gift there is: it fits a range of sizes, suits any nursery, and every parent uses it. A swaddle plus a muslin romper is a gift that gets used to death rather than photographed once and outgrown — which is more than can be said for most baby presents.
The Honest Summary
- Buy two everyday muslin rompers — they're the ones in constant rotation
- Buy one swaddle, minimum. You will use it every single day
- Add a dungaree or romper dress depending on the weather where you are
- Accept that it creases. That's the fabric doing its job
Every muslin piece we make is 100% cotton, cut roomy, and gets better with washing — and the whole line is in the Summer Vibes Sale, up to 50% off while stock lasts. Muslin sells out fastest in high summer, and babies don't wait for restocks: if you're between sizes, size up (our size chart will tell you which).