Read This Before You Buy Another Cotton Sleepsuit: 9 Reasons Parents Are Switching Their Newborns to Merino & Silk This Winter
Babies regulate their own temperature far less effectively than adults, so the layer next to their skin does more of the work. Here's what merino and silk actually do differently, and what they don't.
Updated 10 November 2026 · 5 min read
The Merino/Silk Sleepsuit with Feet: 85% merino wool, 15% silk, made in our factory in Liepāja, Latvia.
Madara MoreFounder, Wooly Organic
Fleece = polyester fleece. Merino takes up around 17% of its weight in moisture at room humidity (up to ~35% saturated); next-to-skin merino is under 19 microns. These figures describe merino fibre in general, as published on woolyorganic.com, not lab tests of this garment.
SEE THE MERINO SLEEPSUIT →Free EU delivery over €80 · Free returns within 14 days
It works with the room, not against it
Nurseries don't stay at one temperature. Radiators click on and off, a window gets cracked, the pram goes from the cold street into a warm café.
Merino takes up moisture as vapour and releases it again, around 17% of its own weight at ordinary room humidity and up to roughly 35% when fully saturated, without feeling wet against the skin. That buffering smooths out the clammy-then-chilled swing you get from synthetics. One merino layer works across a wider range of conditions, so you add and remove layers less often.
Babies regulate their own temperature far less effectively than adults. That's why the layer touching their skin should do some of the work.
Still warm when it's damp
Almost every other fabric gives up the moment it gets wet. A cotton vest with milk down the front turns cold against the skin, and so does fleece after a damp walk.
Merino holds moisture inside the fibre rather than on its surface, so a merino layer can take on around a third of its own weight in moisture and still feel dry and warm. For a baby who drools, spits up and sweats through the day, that can mean carrying on instead of a full change of clothes.
Not the itchy wool you remember
The itch most of us remember from childhood jumpers is mechanical, not an allergy. Fibres coarser than about 30 microns are stiff enough that their ends press into the skin. Merino is far finer: usually 15–23 microns and under 19 for next-to-skin garments.
We blend ours with silk, 85% merino wool and 15% silk, for a smooth, cool drape. Both pieces carry OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Class 1 for babies.
Designed for 2 a.m. changes
- Sleepsuit: built-in feet, so there are no socks to lose, and full-body coverage.
- Wrap bodysuit: a wrap-around front, so you never pull a neckline over a newborn's head, and long sleeves for colder days.
- Cut for babies, with flat seams, wrap fronts and snaps where small people need them.
Sizes from newborn (50/56) up to 4–6 months (68/74 sleepsuit).
See the size guide →
The winter-night pair ships free
Wear the wrap bodysuit underneath and the sleepsuit on top. Together they come to €89.50 in newborn size, which is over the €80 free EU delivery threshold, so the pair ships free.
Larger sizes: €94.00 (56/62) · €98.50 (62/68)
CHOOSE YOUR SIZE →Free EU delivery over €80 · Free returns within 14 days
Less laundry in a week that already has too much
Wool isn't a friendly home for the bacteria that cause odour. Most merino only needs airing overnight and a wash when something has actually been spilled.
When it does need washing, use a wool cycle at 30°C (or a lukewarm hand wash), wool detergent and no fabric softener, then dry it flat, never in the tumble dryer.
Made to outlast the newborn months
Our merino guide puts it simply: "One set. Two children. Still perfect." Merino is washed far less often than cotton and the fibre is naturally elastic, so it keeps its shape. Parents hand these pieces down, lend them out and resell them. Counted per wear rather than per item, merino stops looking like the expensive option.
Handmade by a small team in Liepāja since 2011
Wooly Organic isn't a faceless label. Every piece is made in our own factory in Liepāja, Latvia's "City of Wind" near the Baltic Sea. The factory is GOTS-certified for our organic cotton range; the merino & silk pieces are OEKO-TEX® 100 Class 1.
"Wooly Organic is my third child, born in 2011, brought up with passion and strong values in mind: Green Behind the Seam, Proud to be Slow, and Transparent In-house Production."
Madara MoreFounder of Wooly Organic & mum of two
If the size isn't right, returns are free
Newborns grow fast and sizing is a guess the first time. That's why we offer free returns within 14 days of delivery. Keep the tags on until you've checked the fit; items must be unworn, unwashed and in original condition. (Sale items are excluded; neither piece in this pair is on sale.)
- Free returns within 14 days
- Returns processed within 1–3 working days
- Refund to your original payment method
If you've read this far, you're taking the first winter seriously. That's the point of the pair: the wrap bodysuit underneath, the sleepsuit with feet on top, and fewer outfit changes when the house warms up and cools down through the night.
Merino & silk, head to toe
Merino/Silk Sleepsuit with Feet€52.00
Merino/Silk Longsleeve Wrap Bodysuit€37.50
- Free EU delivery (orders over €80)
- Free returns within 14 days
- 85% merino wool / 15% silk · OEKO-TEX® 100 Class 1
- Handmade in Liepāja, Latvia (EU)
Goes straight to Wooly Organic's secure checkout with both pieces in your size. Prices as listed on woolyorganic.com. Ships the next business day; EU delivery typically takes 7–8 business days.
Questions parents ask
Is merino itchy for babies?
Usually not. Itch from wool is mechanical: coarse fibres above roughly 30 microns press into the skin. Merino is far finer (typically 15–23 microns, under 19 for next-to-skin garments), and this pair is blended with silk. If your baby's skin is particularly reactive, watch the first few wears as you would with any new fabric.
How many layers should my baby wear at night?
Follow your local safe-sleep guidance for room temperature, layers and bedding; it's the best source. Many parents use the wrap bodysuit as the base layer and the sleepsuit on top. Merino doesn't replace that guidance.
Can it be worn when it's warmer?
The same mechanism moves moisture away from the skin in warmth, so merino is worn in warm climates as well as cold ones.
How do I wash it without shrinking it?
Wash it less than you think: airing overnight is usually enough. When needed, use a wool cycle at 30°C or a lukewarm hand wash with wool detergent and no softener. Press water out in a towel, reshape, and dry flat. Never tumble dry.
What sizes are available?
Sleepsuit: 50/56, 56/62, 62/68, 68/74. Wrap bodysuit: 50/56, 56/62, 62/68. Sizes are European, in centimetres: newborn = 50/56; 0–2 months = 56/62; 2–4 months = 62/68; 4–6 months = 68/74. Size guide →
Where is it made?
In our own factory in Liepāja, Latvia (EU), where we've been hand-making children's clothes and toys since 2011.
Is it organic?
The merino & silk pieces are certified to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Class 1 for babies. Our factory is GOTS-certified for our organic cotton range.
How fast is delivery?
Orders typically ship the next business day. EU delivery takes 7–8 business days, Baltic states 2–3. Free across the EU on orders over €80.
What if it doesn't fit?
Free returns within 14 days of delivery. Items must be unworn, unwashed and in original condition with tags attached.
Free EU delivery over €80 · Free returns within 14 days
"Thank you for being a responsible customer with amazing taste!"
— Madara More