What should a baby wear to sleep?
Swaddles, sleeping bags, sleeping bags with sleeves, sleeping bags with legs, bodysuits and layers, arm warmers… with so much (adorable) sleepwear available, it can be hard to know what your baby should wear at bedtime.
Here at ergoPouch, our first priority is safety, so we’ve packaged up our best resources on what your baby should wear depending on their age, the time of year, and the temperature of their nursery or baby room.
Importance of temperature regulation for safety
Babies can’t do much to control how warm or cool they are, and there are risks to their health for both. According to Red Nose, “research shows a clear link between overheating and increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.”
One of the most important aspects of dressing your baby for safe sleep is choosing sleepwear that’s right for their room temperature. A TOG rating (which stands for ‘Thermal Overall Grade’) is a helpful tool for selecting sleepwear that is insulated and warm enough for the temperature.
Read more about TOG ratings and how to use them to select sleepwear.
The ideal temperature in your baby’s room
Did you know the perfect room temperature for a newborn or infant is between 20 and 22 Celsius? That sounds ideal to us, too, but it can sometimes be difficult to control their room temperature in the months when outdoor temperatures are more extreme.
How to dress baby for sleep in summer
During hotter summer months, babies require minimal layers for sleep (for example, a 0.2 or 0.3 TOG may be all they need when temperatures surpass 26 Celsius). They also may need some help staying cool in their nursery or on the go.
How to dress baby for sleep in autumn or winter
When the temperature drops, it’s common to worry about whether your baby will be too cold - or too warm, depending on how many layers they’re wearing! If you’re not sure what sleepwear to choose or are concerned about whether you’re underdressing or overdressing your baby in cooler months, follow our guide on how to dress baby for sleep in autumn and dressing for sleep in winter. We also recommend reviewing Red Nose’s article Protecting baby from overheating during sleep.
Layering baby’s sleepwear for the right temperature
Sometimes, using only one item of sleepwear isn’t enough. Layering is a tool to create the right temperature for your bub. It’s also why we created an entire Layers range to help ensure you can create a safe-sleep environment!
Use our What to Wear Guide to see what layers (including singlets) you should pair with swaddles and sleeping bags in various TOG ratings based on your nursery or child’s room temperature.
How to check if your baby is too warm or cold
If you’re still unsure how to dress your baby, check out our ergoPouch product Guide for suggestions based on your child’s age, sleepwear preferences, and room temperature, or get in touch!
