Sleeping

Generally, the warmer a room is, the less your baby needs to wear under their sleeping bag. Remember that all babies are different, and you'll soon learn what your baby is comfortable in. 

Your baby shouldn't become too warm in their sleeping bag, as long as you choose the correct tog for the room's temperature and they're not wearing too many layers underneath it. 

If you can, choose a sleep bag with no sleeves or detachable sleeves, and don't use any clothes or bedding that your baby could get tangled up in. 

Consider removing or adding layers of your baby’s clothing during sleep depending on whether they seem too hot or too cold. Remember, they should be cooler rather than too hot. 

Signs a baby is too hot can include them... 

• Feeling hot or sweaty to touch on their tummy, neck or back 
• Having damp hair 
• Flushing in the cheeks 
• Increasing their breathing rate 

The Lullaby Trust recommends feeling your baby's chest or the back of their neck to monitor their temperature (their hands and feet will usually be cooler, which is normal).  

If your baby's skin is hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of bedclothes. 

You can use our baby sleeping bag tog guide to help you dress your baby safely for bed.  

The amount of sleep bags you need depends on your baby and how often you need to wash their sleepwear! But as a general rule, stocking up with three of each style (either swaddle bag or sleep bag) will mean that you’ve always got one in the wash, one to wear, and one to spare.  

The temperature of the room your baby sleeps in will influence the tog that's required.  

Here's a breakdown of which tog should be worn when... 

To see you from one season to the next, you might want a few sleepbags in different togs for each season, or a middle-of-the-road bag like our All-Season Sleepbag to cover year-round wear. 

Your baby's head shouldn't be able to pass through the neck hole when their sleepbag is fastened. If it can, the sleepbag is too big for them. Remember to check the weight of your child and refer to the chart below. 

Remember, these are recommendations only as all babies are different... 

If your baby doesn't wear a sleepbag to sleep in, you should dress them in lightweight sleepwear suitable for their age.  

If you use sheets and/or blankets they should be lightweight and not weighted, thick, fleecy or padded.  

You should position your baby in the feet-to-foot position with their feet at the bottom of the cot, and firmly tuck in any sheets or blankets, no higher than their shoulders, helps to avoid the risk of your baby’s head becoming covered. 

If you think your baby is cold, add an extra lightweight blanket or layer of clothing.