A babygrow, babygro, sleepsuit, or sleep suit in
British English
British English (BrE, en-GB, or BE) is, according to Lexico, Oxford Dictionaries, "English language, English as used in Great Britain, as distinct from that used elsewhere". More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in ...
is a one-piece item of
baby clothing with long sleeves and legs used for
sleep
Sleep is a sedentary state of mind and body. It is characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and reduced interactions with surroundings. It is distinguished from wakefulness by a de ...
and everyday wear. They are typically made from
cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus ''Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor perce ...
and closed with
snaps
Snaps ( ) is a Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal. A ritual that is associated with drinking snaps is a tradition in Scandinavia, especially in Denmark and Sweden, where ...
, although they may also be made from
fleece or closed with
zips
Zips (also ''Siggies'' or ''Geeps'') is a slang term in the United States that was especially in use in the early 20th century. It was often used as a derogatory slur by Italian American and Sicilian American mobsters in reference to newer immi ...
. The feet are often enclosed, but they may be footless. They are distinguished from
bodysuits by having legs and long sleeves.
This terminology is common in the United Kingdom, where the trademark is not registered. In the United States, where the trademark is registered, the name is uncommon as other manufacturers of the item use different terms.
Synonyms
In
American English
American English, sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the set of variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United States. English is the Languages of the United States, most widely spoken lan ...
, different terms are more usual. The most common are sleeper or sleep and play. If made of
fleece, they are considered
blanket sleepers. They may also be referred to in American English simply as pajamas or one-pieces, or if they have feet as footie pajamas or footed one-pieces. If closed with a zipper, they may be referred to as zipper pajamas, zip up pajamas, or simply zip pajamas.
History
Babygro is a trademark brand, invented in the U.S. in the 1950s by Walter Artzt.
See also
*
Romper suit
A romper suit, usually shortened to romper, is a one-piece or two-piece combination of shorts and a shirt. It is also known as a playsuit. Its generally short sleeves and pant-legs contrast with the long ones of the adult jumpsuit.
History
R ...
*
Infant bodysuit
An infant bodysuit or onesie (American English) is a garment designed to be worn by babies much like a T-shirt; they are distinguished from T-shirts by an extension below the waist, with snaps that allow it to be closed over the crotch. The purp ...
References
{{clothing-stub
Nightwear
One-piece suits
Children's clothing
Infants' clothing